Chapter 12. Networking

12. Networking

In this section:

• Connecting to a Network Computer

• Exploring Your Network

• Sharing Files, Folders, and Printers over the Network

• Creating a Connection to a Network Folder

• Connecting to a Public Wireless Network

• Connecting Without a Network

• Hosting a Network Meeting

• Controlling a Computer over the Network

• Holding a Wireless Meeting

• Using a Network Projector

Networking, once a requirement only in large corporations, is now almost a necessity in a multi-computer household, a home office, or a small business. With two or more computers connected, you can access files and folders on other computers that have been set up for sharing, and you can share the files and folders on your computer with other people, either in Public folders or directly from your computer. If there are items to which you want to limit other people's accessyour private files, for exampleyou can do so. If you're working from home, you can easily connect to your office network by creating a VPN (Virtual Private Network), which ensures a secure connection to a computer on the network.

When you're away from your workplace, Windows Vista recognizes the wireless networks that are within rangesome of which are open and free, and others that ask for a security key or a passphrase before you can connect wirelessly. If you don't have a network, you can still connect using an ad hoc, or improvised, network. Using Windows Meeting Space, you can hold virtual meetings, with up to ten participants, and you can send invitations to the meeting via e-mail and provide handouts in the form of shared files. There's even a network projector you can use for PowerPoint presentations or other types of demonstrations.