Homegrown Networks
Readers share their stories about building their own home networks. We look at three systems, one of which takes an especially unique approach to component integration.
How To
How To: Diary of a New Home Network – Part 3
In this final installment, Tim Higgins makes a bonehead move during cable termination and shares lessons learned from the whole escapade.
How We Test Wireless LAN Products – Five Location Open Air Method
In late 2005, I moved into a new home and had to establish new test locations. Since this essentially wiped the slate clean in terms of being able to compare wireless test results going forward to those from my previous reviews, I also decided to establish new test methodology and add a scoring system.
How To: Building an Embedded Asterisk PBX
The Asterisk open source Voice over IP (VoIP) PBX is usually set up on a standalone PC. But Michael Graves shows how the combination of a special Asterisk distribution and a single board computer can provide a compact, quiet and low-power alternative.
How To: Convert your Xbox to a NAS – Part 3
In the final part of Kevin Herring's series, he shows how to tame BitTorrent bandwidth use and checks out file serving performance.
How To: Convert your Xbox to a NAS – Part 2
In Part 2 of our series, Kevin Herring provides the how-to for installing and configuring the software you'll need for file sharing and downloading Torrents.
How To: Convert your Xbox to a NAS – Part 1
With the arrival of the Xbox360, there will soon be a buyer's market for its older sibling. Kevin Herring shows how to give an Xbox a new lease on life as a full-featured NAS.
How To: Diary of a New Home Network- Part 2
Tim Higgins is back with Part 2 of his new home network adventures. This time it's all about the connections - wall plates and patch panels, that is.
How To: Diary of a New Home Network- Part 1
Designing a system to distribute communications and electronic entertainment services around a new home can be a daunting task. But with the right approach, you don't have to be a master of the home networking universe to do it, and you might even have fun! Tim Higgins recently did just that.
How To: Sniffing the Air
The nice thing about wireless LANs is that you don't have to be physically connected to use them. But that strength also opens the door to security problems. Derek Boiko-Weyrauch shows you how a popular open source tool can be used to keep tabs on WLAN activity.
How To: Building a BlueSniper Rifle – Part 2
It took longer than we expected, but the second and final part of Humphrey Cheung's BlueSniper Rifle How To is here. Boot up your Linux machine and get ready to make some firmware!
LAN Party How To – Part 3: LAN Management and Troubleshooting
Chris Dickens' series has so far shown you how to organize a smooth-running LAN party and get it powered properly. This time he offers tips on choosing networking gear, installing it and handling the problems that come with the territory.