Finally, there's an authoritative guide to home networking. Absolute Beginner's Guide to Home Networking goes far beyond traditional printer or Internet sharing, and is geared to help readers:

* Understand home network types and concepts.

* Install, configure and interconnect various types of wired and wireless networks to achieve the desired goals of entertainment, information access, and home security/control with Windows, MacOS, and Linux-based systems.

* Use the home network to share and enhance entertainment (digital audio and video) and recreation (Internet access, online gaming, IM and video chat) options.

* Integrate business network hardware (notebooks with Intel Centrino technology, Wi-Fi or Intel PRO/100 or PRO/1000 wired Ethernet) with a home network to exploit telecommuting, work-from-home, and remote education opportunities via Internet, VPN, and remote-access connections.

* Manage and control home lighting, HVAC, and security within the home and remotely.

* Manage, protect and troubleshoot the home network.