Archive for July, 2008
When you are planning on using Linksys routers for your internet connection, regardless of the work environment you will need to check out which of these router types is best suited for the work at hand. Currently you will find that you can Linksys router setup connects to the internet with a minimum of fuss.
These Linksys routers that you can choose should provide you with an easy Linksys router setup. It should not matter whether you are planning on using a wired connection or that of a wireless router type.
These Linksys routers can be used in a variety of situations. For instance you can use these network routers for home use, small businesses and for companies which need to manage the use of a multitude of computers.
For each of these systems you should look at the different Linksys router setup routines. This is necessary as both the wireless and wired routers have a different way to install and setup router programs. To gain an idea of the capabilities of these two router types you can look on the internet for information.
This information will help you when you are buying the router. Having bought the router type that you like, you can look at the instruction manual in order to see the Linksys router setup routine. As each of the routers has different installation procedures you will find that this manual is very useful.
Now as you carefully go through the Linksys router setup procedure you should make sure that any notes which are included with the installation program are also read. In these notes you can find additional information.
This information for the most part will be about the best ways to configure the router. You can follow these steps or you can try another variation – the manual for example – to gain some knowledge about installation tips. Once you have successfully installed and configured your router you are ready to give the system a trial run.
By looking at the different Linksys router setup routines you can see how to gain more speed and efficiency from your Linksys router. Since the different models of Linksys routers have different ways for the Linksys router setup you should familiarize yourself with this procedure.
The main item to remember when you are installing your Linksys router is not to worry. The Linksys router setup is easy in their installation process as well as the configuration routines. At the end of the procedure you will have a well setup and configured internet connection that will provide you with the high speed Linksys internet facility that you desire.
Like any other wireless system, a wireless router gives you freedom to free the valuable workspace from the tangling wires. Technically speaking, a wireless router is a special network router that connects different workstations wirelessly and routes network traffic between workstations and an existing Internet connection.
Some of these routers are actually wired routers with wireless access points built in so you can have wired and/or wireless at the same time. Another choice is a router with a built-in DSL or cable modem. You can also consider a hardware & software security combo box to connect and protect your home network or office network. The wireless device is capable of sharing Internet connections amongst several computers via 802.3 Ethernet and 802.11b/g wireless data links.
These routers are quite popular among the network users. Moreover it is as good as using the wired networks with absolutely no compromise on the connectivity, speed, and security. A wireless LAN router generally adds a built-in access point function to a multi-port Ethernet router.
With this it combines multiple Ethernet networks with wireless connections as well. A typical wireless LAN router includes four Ethernet ports, an 802.11 access point, and sometimes a parallel port so it can function as a print server. This gives wireless users the same ability as wired users to send and receive packets over multiple networks.
There are many manufacturers of these wireless devices, popular of them are D-Link, Netgear, Actiontec etc. Out of these, the D-Link routers is what we find is the popular product amongst the home and commercial users. These routers have an uncanny ability that delivers superior performance capability to transfer large files and handle heavy network traffic.
Most of these routers offer many important benefits in the home and small office setting. For instance, you can opt to a cable modem service that provides a single IP address through DHCP to the router, and the router then provides IP addresses via DHCP to clients on your local network. This helps to a great deal whenever that client needs to access the Internet.
Routers are very much ideal for wireless networks in commercial or public areas, especially if there are multiple networks that are accessible. These routers if considered in an enterprise environment give network administrators an extra way to monitor and update their networks.
As these routers only send packets to specific, directed addresses, they do not forward the broadcast packets that are sent out by other devices. A big advantage of such routers is that they provide an added layer of security, both on the wired side and wireless side. The wired side is usually protected by a firewall and has extensive access control filters.
That is why, not only the wireless routers are more user friendly and space saving, they are also great on speed, and have an ability to handle multiple networks with ease and without sacrificing the security.
Routers are the critical part of all the networks and can be both security aid and security vulnerability. A router basically has more network interfaces through which network traffic is forwarded. Or it might be blocked. The router decides when to forward packets between the networks based on internal routing table.
The routing table can also be static. That means where each route is explicitly defined or dynamic where the router learns new routes by the use the routing protocols.
A router also supports access control lists that specify which packets to allow or blocked. Every packet going through a router will be checked against the ACL to see if the packet is allowed to be forwarded. Lots of current routers offer security capabilities along with their routing functionality. Segmenting the network using routers limits the amount of the data flowing through segments. It also applies to broadcast traffic.
Routers also allow technicians to explicitly deny a few packets the ability to be forwarded between segments. Using just the internal security features of some,
routers can prevent users through internal network from using the Telnet to access external systems. Telnet are always a security risk as the passwords and all communications are transmitted in cleartext. Because of this, it’s best not to create Telnet sessions between the internal network and an external network. Without a firewall, the rule can be put in place within the router to drop packets attempting to connect to port 23 on any external systems. After all of this is done by properly con- figuring the ACLs for the router. Spoofed packets are packets that contain the IP address in the header that are not the actual IP address of the
originating the computer. Routers combat this by giving the technicians the ability to drop packets which are coming through the interface from the wrong subnet. . If the packet comes in from the router’s external interface by using an IP address from the network on the router’s internal interface, the router can be instructed to drop the packet and not forward it. There are two types of access lists available to filter traffic on Cisco routers. One of them is a standard access list. It allows technicians to filter traffic from specific addresses or subnet ranges. Cisco also provides extended access lists, which allow technicians to filter based on a variety of criteria. This access list allows technicians to use source addresses, destination addresses, and specific network services as the basis of filtering rules.
It is an incomplete computer network without a router. So, what all it does within a network. A router actually transfers data packets along networks. It requires at least two networks for a router to connect, commonly it connects two LANs or WANs or a LAN and its ISP network. As a connecter device, routers are positioned at gateways, where two or more networks are connected.
Routing in the Internet
Routing is the technique using which data get its transfer path from one host computer to another. To say technically, routers uses headers and tables to determine the best path for transferring data packets among networks, and for this they use protocols such as ICMP to communicate with one other and thus configures the best route between any two hosts.
Difference between Routers, Switches and Hubs
Many people understand routers, switches and hubs for one another beside their different type of functionalities.
Today most routers are integrated into a single device having the features of a router, switch and hub. Still a router, switch and a hub are all quite different from one another, even after integrating all into a single device.
A switch and hub are two devices, which do similar task on a network. Both serves to be as a central part of your network and transfers data, which are known as frames. A transferred frame from a computer is received and improved to transmit it to the port of the destination computer. The difference here between these two devices is in the way by which frames are transferred.
On another side, routers are completely different from a switch or hub. Where a hub or switch job is to transmit frames, a router role is to route the data packets to other networks where its task is to submit the data packet to its destination ultimately. The major difference here of the data packet is that it contains destination address together with the data, which guides it to its destination.
All routers have a port to connect to a DSL or Cable modem and the integrated switch facilitate users to create a LAN. This makes possibility for the computers on a LAN to connect to the Internet.
How a Wireless Router Work
A router is connected to the broadband modem and in turn, it is connected to your computer to connect the Internet. There are wide ranges of wireless routers available in the market. In the wireless router category, for the transmission speed of data, they do not actually compete with each other.
The data transmitting speed is an important aspect and should be high. People who want to have a router should also find it easy to install as well. The array of its OS support should be versatile. A wireless router working well with Windows, Mac and Linux should be the best one among all.
While Setting up Your Wireless Router…
Once you have decided to go wireless for your Internet, then your laptops/computers should have in-built wireless points to carry it around your workplace or at home without any LAN cables. It will be astonishing to work so.
But you also need to know a little background to set it up. Generally, a wireless router features many, a router, modem, firewall, port switch and a wireless access point. It makes your broadband easily sharable among others in you office or at home.
While installation, it needs to be careful about which socket on your router is the correct one for connecting it to the port on the wall. Improper connection may lead to temporary access loss consuming hours together to fix it. So please make sure that the cables you are supposed to connect are of right match.
Setting up a wired router should be comparatively easy by simply following the instructions manual given with the router. However, for installing a wireless router, it needs to be little trickier. Usually the instructions should be sufficient but checking out to have few tips on setting a wireless router will make you secure doing it.
Isn’t it interesting how we always seem to take for granted some of the most significant technological breakthroughs that have helped propel our society into the 21st century? Internet access is one such technology that has changed the way we work, live, and play. The Internet has become such a necessity in most of our daily lives that we hardly even give its significance a second thought. We use the Internet for personal communication, our finances, entertainment, dating, news, research, and much more. However, it’s amazing when asked, “Who created the Internet?” the usual answer is a simple “I don’t know”. The creation of the Internet was a pretty large technical undertaking that took many years to perfect and would require a great deal of your time if explained in complete detail. However, this editorial cuts to the chase and explains its development in a clear, concise, non-technical manner.
In the late 1960s, the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) developed by ARPA of the U.S. Department of Defense created a network of computers that were all linked together. This network was referred to as ARPANET and was specifically designed to be redundant. The reason for the network redundancy ensured that if any one section of the network became damaged in a large scale military conflict, the remaining computers on the network would still be able to communicate with one another. Back then, the military understood the potential of computer networks and they also understood that in any military conflict reliable battlefield communication is paramount to a successful outcome. This is what led the military to research a way to reliably network computers for such a scenario.
By the mid 1980s, the National Science Foundation created NSFNET. This used the ARPANET technology that was originally developed for military application to allow universities and researchers to connect to each other. By 1987, NSFNET was no longer capable of handling the amount of information that was being transferred, so the National Science Foundation made improvements to the network in order to increase information transfer speeds. This high speed network technology was the key advancement that made the future of Internet access practical. As a result, this improved high-speed network laid the groundwork for the application of commercial Internet access.
In the 1980s, the majority of individuals with Internet access were mainly comprised of scientists and researchers. By the early 1990s, many companies, now more commonly referred to as Internet service providers (ISP’s) started offering Internet access to average home users. This was the key transition point that allowed the average individual with a simple modem and computer configuration to acquire Internet access.
The World Wide Web (www) was created in the early 1990s by a European Laboratory. Their goal was to develop a way for researchers to work more closely together and to make the sharing of their research easily accessible amongst other researchers. As a result, the first publicly accessible Web site was created in 1993.
By the mid 1990s, well over 30 million people had acquired Internet access. These vast numbers of Internet surfers enticed large corporations to invest their marketing dollars into Web design and promotion in order to sell or provide information about their products and or services. As a result, today there are millions of companies vying for the attention of anyone with Internet access. Moreover, it has become a standard requirement for just about every business model to acquire an Internet presence.
In conclusion, the birth of Internet access can be attributed in large part, to the combination and sharing of individual ideas and talents from thousands of people around the world. If it were not for this collective effort, the Internet and the access to it that we have become so dependant on would not exist today. Imagine for an instance what life would be like without the Internet. You would probably feel more or less confused and lost without even realizing why. Think about it, to a lot of people the Internet has become their sole source for personal banking, investing, driving directions, Online education, tickets for entertainment events, hard to find items, health related resources, music, dating, Online gaming, shopping, and work/school research. These are just a few examples of the many uses that the Internet brings into our lives. As you can see, Internet access has become such a common requirement in our lives that without it we would literally be lost.
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Joseph Muhvic is the chief editor for an Internet service provider’s directory where consumers can compare rates, features, and promotions for standard dial-up, high speed dial-up, and broadband Internet access. In addition, visitors have access to an ISP buyer’s guide, FAQ’s, consumer reviews, and user submitted ratings. For more information visit |
A broadband router is a basic device to set up a wired or wireless network. Broadband routers ensure that all the computers on a network can send and receive data to each other and across the Internet. These routers are of both wired and wireless but their features are very similar.
A router actually transfers data packets along networks. It requires at least two networks for a router to connect, commonly it connects two LANs or WANs or a LAN and its ISP’s network. As a connecter device, routers are positioned at gateways, where two or more networks are connected.
Key Role of Broadband Routers
Routers enable sharing your broadband internet among computers or laptops in your office or home network. It directs data to travel along the computers on your network and out over the internet to distant computers and to networks located elsewhere.
Routers are first to face any possible outside viruses, hacking threats and so they are vital in a network. But most internet user may not know this, practiced using anti-virus softwares only. A router safeguards your network by working as a filter between the outside internet world and your computers. In general, broadband modems don’t usually have sophisticated built-in security features, so having a network without a router can leave the door open to hackers and other online threatens. Using a router with an in-built firewall makes your wired or wireless network safer and secure, without being vulnerable for internet threats.
Broadband Router Categories
If broadband is classified into two types in major then the routers also has to be of two types. ADSL modem routers for ADSL broadband users and cable routers for cable broadband users are that two.
Both type of broadband router perform the same function of being an interface between your network and the internet and enabling you to share your internet connection among other computers. The main dissimilarity between these two broadband routers is the way in which they connect to the internet.
Actually, ADSL broadband is accomplished by upgrading your existing telephone line for high-speed internet services. Here ADSL modem routers work by just plugging directly into the upgraded telephone line and thus avoids the need of a separate modem. Once connected, the ADSL modem router is automatically able to share the broadband internet with all the computers in your network.
Cable broadband users connect to the internet via cable modem that is plugged into the cable socket. Cable routers work by plugging it into the provided cable modem’s in-built networking port. This is also known as Ethernet port or RJ-45 connection and you need this to share your cable internet with in your network. Once connected to the modem, which in turn is connected to the cable socket, the cable router shares the broadband internet with all the computers in your network.
DSL is an abbreviation of Digital Subscriber Line. You may be wondering what a DSL filter is. Most of us ordinary people don’t have a clue to it although we may be using it! This in-line device is a small one and is often needed in installing DSLs. It is also known as a micro filter and it helps to filter interference in your telephone equipment when it is sharing the same line as a DSL service. The full form is Digital Subscriber Line. It is used in Internet service provided through in-place telephone line. A unique DSL modem is needed and often DSL filters are also needed. It depends on which method you have chosen for installation.
The DSL service can be installed using any one of two methods: split, or without a splitter. In case the split method is put in use, there is no need for a DSL filter. In case you have chosen split method then you don’t need a DSL filter. However, a technician has to come to your place to install a splitter in the main telephone cable which will provide you the services. Two lines come out of the splitter. One of them feeds the RJ11 phone jacks, and the other is used solely for the DSL modem. You don’t need a filter in this case. The only disadvantage is that the technician has to be called in.
In the second method of installation technician’s visit is not required. You can install it yourself. The service provider sends you a modem which has fitters in it. The DSL service goes via the main service line which means you only have to connect the DSL modem to any existing RJ11 wall jack. But since the phone is servicing many areas like your fax machine so there may be noise. Filters are then used in these cases to remove disturbances.
A DSL filter is a small matchbox-like gadget that is connected on both ends to RJ11 connectors. All that the subscriber has to do is simply unplug the telephone line from the wall jack and insert the filter into the RJ11 jack. He can then plug the telephone line back into the filter. It is also required for Fax machine lines and answering machine lines
You can surf the Internet using DSL service and talk on the phone at the same time.
DSL filters are not costly devices and you should use them to protect yourself from noise and interference from telephone devices in your office or house. Thus it is important for all phones to have a line filter placed between them and the wall outlet.
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Rory Hawkins writes about “A User’s Guide to the DSL Filter” to visit it:alarm system dsl filter,dsl alarm filter and dsl filter rj31x. |
The router is one of the most versatile tools in the workshop. With the correct bits you can form edges, add decorative inlays and even make raised panel doors. Practice is the key to successful routing. However, the right bit is just as important. In this article I’ll offer a basic guide to ensure you choose the bits you need for the job.
Before you get started I’d like to offer some important tips to make things easier. First try to use sharp bits. They will retain their sharpness for a long time in normal use. A dull bit can damaged the work. Try to get the feel of the most efficient cutting movement. The bit should cut easily with only slight reduction in motor speed. Moving it too slowly through the wood may burn it and ruin the temper of the bit. Moving it too fast slows the motor and causes overheating. Practice on scrap wood and watch your performance carefully. The sound of the tool is an excellent guide, once you achieve efficient cutting. At the beginning, stop the tool frequently and check the cut for burned areas caused by too slow movements. It only takes a few minutes of practice to get the knack of using a router.
Router Bits And Their Uses
Dovetail – Creates strong joints for frame, shelves, bookcases, and cabinets.
Spiral – Edge smoothing and trimming of plastic laminate and fiberglass.
Combination Panel – Veneer trimming.
V-grooving – Lettering and sign work.
Straight, single flute – General usage for grooves, dadoes, and rabbets.
Stair routing – Stair tread bit for setting steps and riser grooves.
Rabbeting – Step-cutting edges for joints in cabinet doors and drawer fronts.
Cove – Decorative edges.
Chamfering – Angle cuts for concealed joints and decorative edges.
Beading – Decorative edges for veneered table tops, other furniture parts.
Straight – For wood and tile inlay in table tops and wooden game boards.
Roman Ogee – Decorative edges for furniture emulating previous time periods.
Veining – Decorative freehand, raised, or cut-in designs or letters.
Core Box – Fluting and reeding of flat surfaces.
As you can see the choice of the right bit seems a bit daunting. Fear not and start with simple projects and work your way into the more difficult jobs that require the use of several routers. With time and experience you should become adept at picking the right bits with little to no trouble.
Just as important in picking the right router bit is learning how to change them, adjusting the cutting depth, and using a router guide.
Inserting router bits: Disconnect router from the power supply. Using two wrenches (unless your router comes equipped with a locking device to prevent the shaft from turning) hold the lower nut in place and turn the collet until the bit is easy to remove. Insert the new bit; again hold the lower nut in place while tightening the collet nut. Make sure it is tight as the last thing you want is for the bit to come out while it’s turning at high rate of speed.
Adjusting the cutting depth: Place router on a flat surface. Loosen locking nut and turn the collar until the bit just touches the surface of the work. Slide the router to the edge of the work until the bit is just past it. Turn collar until the bit is at the desired depth. Lock collar and tighten locking nut.
What is a router guide? The guide keeps the bit at the exact desired distance from the edge of the work. The guide adjusts to and from the router base and is held in place by locking screws. These guides are available for most models.
By know you should have a basic understanding of the types of router bits and their uses, as well as some tips to help you along the way.. Just remember to take your time and watch your work area, and above all be safe.
The movie Extra Terrestrial (ET) coined the phrase “phone home” and each year American’s look for more cost effective ways to do just that. The past 10 years have seen the development and growing popularity of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technologies to achieve cost savings over the traditional circuit-switched telephone networks. The two dominate technologies used for VoIP are: (1) the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and (2) Peer-2-Peer (P2P). For business and educational institutions SIP VoIP solutions have produced substantial savings. For home voice users, however, SIP VoIP is still value challenged.
A typical circuit-switched landline phone costs about $19.95 per month (plus tax). The good old American landline phone should be graphically depicted beside the word “reliable” in the dictionary. Not only does it keep working, even when all electrical power fails, but it can even provide you with a light to dial with. At $15 dollars per month SIP VoIP is still value challenged due to the lack of full support for E9-1-1 emergency services and of course the reliability issues inherent with using a real time application over a “best effort” network like today’s Internet. Although few VoIP articles still reference Internet Request For Comments (RFC) 3714 “IAB Concerns Regarding Congestion Control,” the technical challenges associated with VoIP are widely known. Further, even with the recent dubious edict by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that VoIP service providers will provision support for E9-1-1 within 90 days, this still leaves the reliability issues unresolved. The use of adaptive rate CODEC’s to prevent congestion collapse is a swell idea if it applies to my neighbor’s service but not my own. Using adaptive rate CODEC’s to elicit voluntary user preemption has no appeal in the modern world. Technology is supposed to be getting better and it is clearly not better that users receive disconnects or degraded service quality in order to constrain network bandwidth consumption.
Quality of Service (QoS) has been the four letter word of the Internet for a very long time. Yet, we know that real time applications such as video and voice are a mismatch for “best effort” service models. Cost savings are important, but not if they require users to accept backward technology leaps. After 9/11 the United States should have begun standardization efforts to insure that VoIP QoS levels would be equivalent to circuit-switched networks, especially where emergency E9-1-1 calls are concerned. The recent FCC order only requires that E9-1-1 call center traffic be properly routed. It does nothing to insure QoS of the connection once the call is completed.
As for SIP VoIP in the home, there is too little incentive for savvy consumers to part with more of their hard earned communications dollars for an industry offering that simply does not meet the needs of the user. Until something concrete can be done to move SIP VoIP forward, service based on P2P such as Skype seems to be the only sensible choice on the kitchen table. Why should home users pay $15 or more per month for less reliable communications than they already have with their land line? Skype gives users the ability to experience “best effort” voice over the Internet for FREE. Could this be the reason why more than 125 million copies of Skype’s P2P software has been downloaded? And for the occasions where interconnection with the existing circuit-switched telephone networks is required, Skype offers a very competitive 2 cents per minute interconnection rate. With Skype you can talk for 12
When you buy a wireless router it is not secure and its default configuration will allow unwanted users that are in the vicinity of your router to connect to the internet and “steal” your wireless router internet connection. They could also gain access to your PC and steal files and folders of data. Manufacturers leave the configuration “open” so that the user can easily set up the router and get it up and running quickly. However, there is a risk if the router is not secure.
Accessing Your Wireless Router’s Configuration
To gain access to your wireless router settings and configuration menu then connect to the router either wirelessly or via a Ethernet cable. Open a web browser and type either:
http://192.168.1.1 or
http://192.168.2.1
1) Change Admin password
Most wireless routers ship with a blank password. It is essential that this is changed else a potential hacker could get into your router configuration and lock you out of your own hardware.
2) Change The Network Name (otherwise known as the SSID)
The default network name is usually made up of the name/model of your wireless router. This information gives a head start for a hacker and makes it easier for them to break into your network. Don’t rename it to something like your surname or house name as this unnecessarily exposes personal information. Rename it to an alpha-numeric string – this can be up to 32 characters long.
3) Turn off SSID broadcasting
By default, a wireless router’s SSID is broadcast so anyone in the vicinity of your wireless router can see that it. SSID broadcasting can be turned off thus making your wireless router virtually invisible.
4) Enabling Encryption
This is switched off by default. There is a choice of WEP, WPA and WPA2. Currently the latest encryption method is WPA2 so use this where possible. Both your wireless router and wireless PC adaptor must be configured to use the same encryption.
5) Mac Address Control
All hardware has a unique MAC address associated with it, including your PC adaptor card. This MAC address can be added to access control list in the wireless router. Only devices added to the router’s access control list are allowed to be connected.
6) Update router firmware
It is recommended that the latest router firmware is downloaded from the manufacturer’s website and installed in the router. This will hopefully fix any bugs that have been found for your router and also help with any known security flaws in the router itself.
7) Backup settings
Finally, backup all router settings. If you reset the router back to its factory default settings for whatever reason, your configuration can later be easily and quickly restored back into the router.