• Microsoft Vista Home Networking Setup and Options
The most daunting part of upgrading to Windows Vista may be trying to figure out where in the layers of menus the networking and file-sharing options are hidden.
• Tips for Securing Your Home Router
Seemingly minor and easily overlooked settings can still have profound security implications. Here are some steps you can take to make sure your wired or wireless home router — and by extension, your network — is as secure as possible.
Most Popular Reviews
• Microsoft Windows Home Server
If you have a home network, you'll welcome the easy file sharing, remote access and the image-based backup features of Windows Home Server.
• Iomega StorCenter Network Hard Drive
Iomega's fourth generation StorCenter Network Hard Drive brings many of the features found in higher-end storage devices down to an attractive price.
• MikroTik's The Dude
This free tool delivers many of the same capabilities that you'd find in pricey network monitoring tools. As long as you don't mind tinkering, The Dude is a decent network utility that should be worth the download.
So you don't really believe any of the horror stories about running your own webserver, or
you just want to see for yourself if it's as much fun as advertised!
At any rate, you
want to set up your own webserver. Since I haven't done this myself, I can only
offer a few pointers and some links to places more knowledgeable than here.
High Bandwidth, all the time. The key thing you'll need is a high bandwidth, 24/7 connection to the internet.
You shouldn't attempt to host a webserver on a 56k dialup connection.
You should have at minimum
a "nailed up" ISDN connection, but preferably a full
duplex cable modem or 'DSL connection. (If you are going to use a cable modem
connection, be sure that running a webserver is ok under your ISP's Conditions of
Service.)
Most ISPs do not assign permanent IP addresses unless you pay for a dedicated
line, so in most cases you'll have a dynamic IP address. (Cable modem ISPs
usually assign IPs dynamically using DHCP.)
Since you need a static IP address in order to host a domain, you'll need
to sign up for a dynamic DNS service. See this
page for more info.
For a good step-by-step on setting up a web server on a DSL or cable
modem connection, hop on over to Brian
Lee's DSLwebserver.com site. He'll take you through the
whole process, including how to set up DNS Zone files.
Get yer webserver here...
Once you have your connection, you'll need a dedicated computer and webserver
software. You can run a webserver on just about any OS platform that you like,
but Linux seems to have the most options for "free" (or nearly free) webserver
software.
is a good place to start. Info and comparison reviews on webserver packages and useful info for the
webmaster-to-be. Be sure to also check their resources link.
Security!
If you run your own server, and especially if you run your own
mailserver, prepare for unwanted visitors!
You might want to first check out AntiOnline or
Rootshell.com The stories here might just
convince you to let someone else worry about getting hacked or cracked. Lots of good
info, and very readable.
After visiting AntiOnline, you'll be ready to visit the CERT
and CIAC sites for both
tutorials and information on the latest happenings in the world of computer security.
These sites are also good places to go if you want to see whether the
virus warning you just received is real or a hoax (the McAfee
Virus Library and Virus
Alert pages are also excellent places to check for hoaxes and
latest viruses). CERT also has a good Q & A style document on Home
Network Security that's worth a look.
The WWW
Security FAQ from the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) is worth checking out, if you
prefer a FAQ format.
You'll need a firewall of some sort to protect your site. ICSA
Labs Firewall Buyers Guide (free, but you'll need to register
in order to access it) has info on stateful inspection and probably
everything else you'd want to know about firewalls!
Last, but by no means least, read the book, "Hacking
Exposed". It's very readable by non-experts and gives
coutermeasures to every hacking method that it describes. Well worth
the $40 or so. The Web site also contains comprehensive lists of
Tools, Scripts and other links.
