This easy-to-follow, hands-on guide walks readers through the construction of a wireless network Explains how to get a handle on the 802.11 Wi-Fi standards, choose the right equipment, and put it all together Shows how to set up the basics: file and printer sharing, user accounts, and WEP and WPA security Demonstrates how to move beyond PCs and connect almost anything to a wireless networkPDAs, video game consoles, home entertainment systems, even smart home devices to control lights and appliances Includes great solutions for the office and shows how to take wireless connectivity just about anywhere

You have a family computer for e-mail and browsing the Internet. Your son and daughter have their own computer for school work and your spouse has a laptop that he or she brings home from work every day. With your family spread out all over the house on their computers, wouldn't it be nice if you could make them all work together? Create Your Own Home Networks is a unique book that will show you how to make your home computers talk to each other while sharing files, music and printers. The most common networking tasks are presented in project-format that doesn't require any in-depth understanding of computer systems or networks beyond that of a typical computer user.You'll also get tips on choosing the right networking equipment, hiding wires and patching holes in your drywall, and when to call the pros. Create Your Own Home Networks is all that you need to get started on creating your very own home network.

It used to be that two laptops, sitting side by side, couldn't communicate with each other; they may as well have been a thousand miles apart. But that was then, before the advent of Zero Configuration Networking technology. This amazing cross-platform open source technology automatically connects electronic devices on a network, allowing them to interoperate seamlessly-without any user configuration. So now you don't have to lift a finger! Needless to say, it has completely changed the way people connect to devices and programs for printing, file sharing, and other activities.Zero Configuration Networking: The Definitive Guide walks you through this groundbreaking network technology, with a complete description of the protocols and ways to implement network-aware applications and devices.Written by two Zero Configuration Networking experts, including one of Apple's own computer scientists, the book covers more than just file sharing and printing. Zero Configuration Networking also enables activities such as music and photo sharing and automatic buddy discovery on Instant Messaging applications. In fact, Zero Configuration Networking can be used for virtually any device that can be controlled by a computer. And this handy guide has the inside scoop on all of its capabilities-and how you can easily apply them in your own environment.For the technically advanced, Zero Configuration Networking: The Definitive Guide examines the three core technologies that make up Zero Configuration Networking: Link-Local Addressing, Multicast DNS, and DNS Service Discovery. It also reviews a series of APIs, including C-API, Java API, CFNetServices, and Cocoa's NSNetServices.Whether you want to understand how iTunes works, or you want to network a series of laptops and other devices at your office for maximum efficiency, you'll find all the answers in this authoritative guide.