Going Unplugged


LANs were once so expensive and difficult to manage that they were found only in big corporations. Now, networks are found in most businesses and many homes. Internet access is available nearly everywhere, even in coffee shops and airports. We're becoming more and more used to being connected. In fact, with the advent of wireless networking, some people believe that the Internet is going to evolve into the Evernet: a global network that's available everywhere, all the time.

We don't have an Evernet yet, but it's become easyand even expectedthat we should be able to connect to our office and home LANs and work wherever we are. Windows XP has several features to help make this possible:

  • Dial-Up Networking lets you connect by modem to a remote network and use it as if you were directly connected. File sharing, Active Directory, and network printing are available just as if you were wired right to the LAN.

  • Virtual Private Networking lets you exploit the Internet or a wide area network to get from a computer to your own LAN, with a high degree of security.

  • Roaming profiles let you have access to your "global" My Documents folder and desktop, even from your mobile computer. (Roaming profiles are available only if you're connecting to a Windows domain-type network, though.)

  • Offline Folders let you view and use shared network folders you've designated as important, even when you're not connected or dialed up. Windows gives you this capability by keeping copies of network files stashed away on your own hard drive and invisibly keeping them up-to-date. From your point of view, the network folder is just always there and available.

  • Offline Web pages let you mark Web pages and sites for perusal when you're disconnected from the Net.

  • Remote Desktop lets you use your Windows XP Professional computer from afar as if you were there.

  • Remote Assistance lets you remotely see and control another user's desktop to render assistance or to work cooperatively.

  • Built-in support for secure wireless and infrared connectivity lets you walk into remote offices (or coffee shops) and just start surfing and working… no wires.

Going "unplugged" is not perfectly effortless, but it's very close, and you'll find you take to it very quickly. You learned about Offline Web pages in Chapter 9, "Browsing the World Wide Web with Internet Explorer." Now it's time to tackle the network features.



Special Edition Using Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Special Edition Using Microsoft Windows XP Professional (3rd Edition)
ISBN: 0789732807
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 450

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