Microsoft Windows XP Networking Inside Out

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Part 2

Internet Networking

4	Configuring	81
	Internet Connections
5	Using Internet	117
	Connection Firewall
6	Using Internet Explorer	137
	Advanced Features
7	Using Outlook Express	181
	Advanced Features
8	Using Windows	219
	Messenger
9	Using Internet	249
	Information Services

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Chapter 4

Internet	81
Connections 101
Types of
Internet	85
Connections
Configuring
Modems and
Broadband	96
Hardware
Creating
New Internet	103
Connections
Managing
Dial-up	106
Connections
Managing
Broadband	114
Connections

Configuring

Internet

Connections

To access the Internet from your Microsoft Windows XP computer, you must have some kind of Internet connection. In the recent past, workstation Internet connections were typically made via dial-up modems or over corporate local area networks (LANs). Today, more networking options and features are available and supported by Windows XP. If your Windows XP computer resides on a small office network and needs Internet access, the decision of which connection type to

use can be complicated and confusing. Once that decision has been made, however, the tools and wizards provided in Windows XP greatly ease the process of configuring Internet connections.

In this chapter, you will learn about Internet connections and how to set them up. You’ll discover what is available to you and how to configure and manage the connection once you have decided which type of connection is right for you.

Internet Connections 101

If you have not used Internet connections in the past or if a connection has always been provided to you via a corporate network, it is important to understand the basics of Internet connections before contemplating which type to use.

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The Role of an Internet Service Provider (ISP)

You can think of an Internet connection as your access point to the Internet. One common metaphor describes the Internet as a busy freeway. Extending this metaphor a bit further, ISPs serve as the on-ramps. Just as you must locate an on-ramp to enter the freeway, you must have an Internet connection to access the Internet. Many resources available on the Internet are free, but access to those resources costs a certain amount of money per month, depending on the kind of Internet connection you choose. An ISP gives you the on-ramp so that you can request and receive information from the Internet.

note In the past, there were various free Internet access options, ranging from communitysponsored dial-up servers to companies that provided free dial-up accounts in exchange for requiring their users to view advertisements. Most of these options have since disappeared. To gain access to the Internet, users who are not granted free dial-up accounts through their work or schools will most likely have to pay an ISP. Many public institutions, such as libraries, still maintain computer labs and provide free Internet access to local patrons.

To access your ISP, your computer must be equipped with the appropriate computer hardware, which you can learn more about in the next section. You must also have an account with an ISP. The account is simply a user name and password that gives you access to the ISP’s network resources, and therefore the Internet. Once you are authenticated by the ISP, you are free to use the Internet’s resources. As shown in the following illustration, an ISP is like the middleman between your computer and the Internet. Without an account (user name and password) on an ISP’s server, your computer cannot access the ISP, which prevents anyone who is not a customer of that ISP from using their resources to connect to the Internet.

Internet Service Provider
Links Client to the Internet	Internet

Broadband link

Client’s link to ISP

			Workstation
							ISP server

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Can You Surf Without an ISP?

ISPs provide access to the Internet, generally through backbone connections. Backbone connections tie directly into the Internet and are high bandwidth connections that often utilize fiber-optic technology. A backbone connection is capable of very high bandwidth transfers, which allows numerous clients to connect to the ISP for Internet access. Just as you need an ISP to connect to the Internet, so do large corporations. Although some large corporations function as an ISP to all internal network clients, the Internet access these corporations purchase costs thousands of dollars every month (and the companies who lease them this bandwidth are still technically ISPs). So, for the home or small office user who needs Internet access, be sure to find an ISP that can service your needs. Fortunately, there are many ISPs and many different plans to choose from.

What an ISP Provides

An ISP essentially provides access to the Internet. In the past, this access was often sold on a per hour basis, but in recent years, most ISPs offer a flat fee for unlimited access. No matter whether you are dialing up to the Internet using a modem or if you have an always-on broadband connection, the flat fee applies. You can use the Internet a few hours every month or during every waking moment for this set price.

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Understanding Internet Domains

Internet addresses, such as http://www.microsoft.com, are built on the Domain Name System (DNS) and use Internet domains. A domain name is resolved, or translated, into a numerical address, or Internet Protocol (IP) address, that the Internet uses to route its content. In an Internet address, the elements of the domain names are separated by periods. These domain names are resolved by DNS servers, which are computers dedicated to maintaining millions of pairs of domain names and IP addresses.

For more information about DNS, see “Domain Name System (DNS),” page 24.

In addition to Internet access, ISPs usually offer additional services and features that you should read about before you purchase a plan from an ISP. Generally, you can expect to find features such as:

●E-mail. Most ISPs provide you with an e-mail address and a certain amount of storage space for your mailbox. Some provide you with several

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e-mail addresses so that different family members or office members can have their own. The e-mail address you use is most often based on the ISP’s domain, such as [e-mail]. For example, if you have access to the Internet through the Microsoft Network (MSN), your e-mail address will be [e-mail]. If you have access through another ISP, for example, EarthLink, your e-mail address will be [e-mail]. Of course, you need to replace username with the account name you chose or were given by the ISP when you signed up. Therefore, everyone at msn.com or earthlink.net must have a unique user name to keep everyone’s mail and accounts separate.

tip Some ISPs also provide a feature called personalized domains where you can use your own name as the domain name in your e-mail address, such as [e-mail]. This feature, which often costs a little more, simply translates curtsimmons.com to the ISP’s domain name. In other words, curtsimmons.com serves as an alias for the ISP’s real domain. Having your own domain name can be handy because it looks nicer, is easier for people to remember, and allows you to maintain the same public e-mail address when you move from ISP to ISP.

●Web page. Some ISPs give you a nominal amount of Web page space on their Web servers (usually 5–10 MB). This is usually enough room to create a home page with information about you. Generally, you have to create the Web page yourself, but some ISPs provide an automated system where you can set up a home page by answering questions and uploading pictures. Of course, the automated Web pages usually look the same except for small amounts of customized content, so if you want something more interesting, you’ll need to design your own page using a full-featured Web authoring tool such as Microsoft FrontPage.

caution If you are planning to create a Web site with FrontPage, make sure you understand how much Web space you are getting from your ISP and make sure the ISP supports FrontPage extensions, a set of components available for both Windows and UNIX-based Web servers that enable many of FrontPage’s advanced Web development features. If the ISP does not, you can still create Web pages, but a number of FrontPage’s advanced features (such as hit counters, navigation bars, and forms, as well as the ability to seamlessly edit your Web pages from within FrontPage without separate file uploads) will not work when the page is posted on the ISP’s server. Instead, you’ll have to program these from scratch using Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Common Gateway Interface (CGI), or another programming language.

●Technical support. Most ISPs offer technical support, and some even make that support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you can get help when you need it. With some ISPs, the technical support is good—others

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seem to know very little. It’s a good idea to ask about the technical support personnel’s training.

●Access portal. Some ISPs offer an access or search portal, such as MSN. These sites, although they are available to the public, also contain a number of features that are only available to members. You might want to set your Web browser’s home page (the first Web site that appears when you open your browser) to the access portal and use it as the doorway to the Internet. Access portals are usually only provided by national ISPs and can be useful if you take advantage of all they have to offer.

●Extended service contracts. Some ISPs offer you the option of getting your Internet access cheaper if you sign up for a longer service contract. This means you are locked into a deal and might face early cancellation fees.

If you are fairly certain that you will be comfortable with the ISP’s service, you can often save money by signing up for extended service.

●Type of Internet connection. As with most purchases, it is important to shop around before making a decision about the type of Internet connection you want (and what you are willing to pay), as discussed in the next section.

Types of Internet Connections

A few years ago, modems running at speeds as slow as 3 kilobits per second (Kbps) were the only way to access the Internet from a single computer or a small network. Luckily, at that time, a dial-up modem connection was really all you needed. After all, the Internet primarily consisted of static, text-based pages with hyperlinks to other static, text-based pages.

In recent years, however, the Internet has become more of a multimedia resource. Web sites routinely run interactive and graphical scripts, provide audio and video downloads, and provide other interactive elements that tax today’s 56 Kbps dial-up modems to the limit. This trend has led to the popularity of broadband Internet connections.

The term broadband refers to connections that have greater throughput than a modem connection. While narrowband connections use a limited number of frequencies to transfer data, broadband connections use a greater range of frequencies, which results in faster data transfer. Although a modem connection typically provides at most 48 Kbps of throughput, broadband connections often provide throughput of 400 Kbps or higher. With a broadband connection, you can easily surf the Internet, use advanced multimedia features, and download files and programs quickly. A 1 MB file download will take a few minutes with a dial-up connection, while the same file download takes only seconds with a broadband connection.

Despite the fact that most home Web users currently access the Internet via a dial-up connection, the trend toward Web sites requiring more bandwidth will continue as broadband solutions develop further and become more affordable.

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So, what kind of Internet connection do you need? That depends on a few primary factors:

●Availability. You are limited by the type of connections available in your area. In large cities, you can purchase nearly any service, but if you live in a more rural or suburban area, you will have fewer options.

●Money. Broadband solutions cost more, so you should decide on an Internet access budget before you shop.

●Network. You need to determine if the connection will serve a single computer or a home/office network.

●Access. You need to determine if you require always-on access with faster access and download speeds.

So, what is available? The following sections review the types of Internet access that might be available in your area. You’ll also find a quick review table at the end of each section that gives you a helpful summary of the features and issues of each connection type.

Dial-up Connections

Dial-up connections are the most commonly used Internet connection, with millions of Internet users dialing up on a daily basis. A dial-up connection uses a modem that connects to a phone jack in your home. When you want to access the Internet, the modem dials a phone number (preferably either a local or a toll-free phone number, so you will not incur additional telephone charges) belonging to your ISP. Your user name and password are then authenticated, and you are able to access the Internet. The following diagram shows how the dial-up connection links you to your ISP and, in turn, the Internet.

Telephone System Links	Internet
Dial-up Clients to the ISP

Phone	Broadband link
outlet
	Public
	telephone
	system
Workstation	ISP server

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tip Dial-up connections are sometimes referred to as narrowband connections because the available bandwidth is limited, or narrow, resulting in slower transmission speeds.

There are a few basic advantages with a dial-up connection:

●Availability. Phone lines for dial-up connections are available nearly everywhere.

●Inexpensive. Most computers come equipped with a modem, so there is no additional hardware to buy.

●ISPs. There are many available ISPs that service dial-up connections, so you’ll have a number of options to choose from.

●Low monthly fee. The dial-up connection is the least expensive Internet connection, typically costing around $20 a month for unlimited access.

There are, however, some disadvantages as well:

●Speed. Dial-up connections use standard 56 Kbps modems that ship preinstalled on almost every new computer. You can also purchase a standalone or internal modem for any computer for around $50–$70 if necessary. However, with current FCC power regulations, the best downstream bit rate you are likely to get with a 56 Kbps modem is approximately 48 Kbps. Depending on noise, line conditions, and your ISP, you might only get speeds of 34–38 Kbps. These speeds will work, but you will spend a lot of time waiting for pages to download, and you will have a difficult time using multimedia elements, such as Internet radio and video files. With a 56 Kbps modem, the upload speed is usually limited to a maximum of 33.6 Kbps, but the download speed is faster.

tip Kbps represents the number of kilobits (1000 bits) that can be transferred per second. Divide this number by 8 to calculate the number of kilobytes (KB) per second. For example, a 32 Kbps connection would enable you to transfer a file at the rate of about 4 KB per second. Because files are typically measured in kilobytes, this might be a more useful measure of transfer capacity.

●Access. A dial-up connection is designed to give you access while you are using the Internet. It is not designed to give you an always-on connection, so you will have to dial out each time you want to use the Internet. You might also experience busy signals if your ISP is overloaded with users.

●Connection. Because a modem uses a phone line, your connectivity will be disrupted from time to time with line noise, particularly in older homes and rural areas. You might even get disconnected periodically, either due to line noise or timeout restrictions on the remote dial-up servers, and be forced to reconnect.

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