Computers in business environments become exponentially helpful and critical for daily operations when they're linked together in local area networks (LANs) that enable coworkers to share files, Internet access, and valuable resources like printers and plotters. Building a network of IBM-compatible PCs requires careful strategic planning, and Networking for Dummies, Fourth Edition, will help you sort out the technical details as painlessly as possible.

This book helps you figure out whether you need a LAN at all--the author isn't shy about recommending simpler solutions such as printer switches--and then helps you get everything hooked up. Mainly, Lowe describes LANs in an accurate and comprehensive, though somewhat generic, way.

Once it has been determined that you need a network operating system, Lowe describes the characteristics of several good ones (including NetWare 4.2, NetWare 5, Windows NT 4, and LANtastic). He also explains network architectures, cabling systems, and security issues. New to this edition is information on transforming your LAN into an intranet by adapting internal protocols to Internet standards. There's lots of solid information on troubleshooting and optimizing performance too.

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