Chapter 1. Hardware Annoyances

Networking hardware is annoying on general principle. In fact, most people (including computer professionals) find installing routers, hubs, and network adapters boring. Worse, hardware troubleshooting is frequently quite difficult because the devices are stubbornly noncommunicative. Unlike software, hardware doesn't display error messages to help you determine what to do. I've spent many hours pointing a screwdriver at a computer in a threatening manner and muttering, "I hate hardware."

However, because a simple black box the size of a paperback novel can turn a bunch of individual computers into a network, there's no way to avoid messing around with hardwarethis is where your network building starts. In this chapter, you'll learn about various types of network adapters and how to solve the most annoying problems associated with installing an Ethernet, phoneline, powerline, or wireless network.