Windows XP includes a number of advanced networking features—more than any other client operating system. Windows XP includes stronger support than ever for the TCP/IP protocol and also includes advanced networking features such as ICS, ICF, and Remote Desktop. Windows XP also makes it easier than ever to connect to a network or to the Internet.
As a DST, you should know how to configure local area network connections and dial- up connections in Windows XP. You should understand how TCP/IP connections work and how to troubleshoot them when they do not work. Each device on a TCP/IP network is assigned one or more unique IP addresses that identify it on the network. Computers running Windows XP can be assigned a static (unchanging) IP address or can be configured to obtain IP addresses automatically from a DHCP server on the network. In addition to IP addresses, DHCP servers provide other TCP/IP information, such as subnet masks, default gateways, and DNS server addresses. Should a computer running Windows XP not be able to obtain an address automatically from a DHCP server, the computer can assign itself an address using Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA).