Networking

The function of a network is to share resources between computers. In order for this to happen the computers must be able to "talk" to each other which is accomplished with the use of protocols which are essentially a set of "rules" that govern communication over a network. Computers must be configured with a common protocol in order to be able to communicate. Below are some of the most common protocols:

• IPX/SPX - The fastest routable protocol and is used on Novell Netware networks.
• TCP/IP - TCP/IP is the most largely used protocol as it is the foundation for communication over the internet.
• NETBEUI - The NetBios Extended User Interface is a non-routable protocol that establishes connections between computers with the use of NetBIOS.
• HTTP - Stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol and is the set of rules for exchanging files and multimedia on the internet. HTTPS denotes that it is a secure connection.
• SMTP - Stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol and is used to reliably send mail over the Internet.
• POP3 - This is the Post Office Protocol and is used for the receiving of email.

Most networks are governed by a network operating system(NOS) such as NT or Windows 2000 Server. The servers are responsible for providing and denying access to resources with the use of shares, rights and permissions for the various users. In order for a resource to be accessed across a network, it must be shared first. There are a couple of different ways to create shares in Windows.

Computers are given unique names to help identify them on the network. In Windows 9x the computer name can be up to 15 characters long and cannot use spaces. In Windows 2000, the name can be up to 63 characters and should only contain letters, numbers and hyphens.