New to networking. Please point me in the right direction

[taltos1]

Hello,
I have a few computers at home, just bought a networked printer, and a NAS device and I want to set up a wired & wireless network. I already have things set up and they are "working" but I want to start from the ground up and really configure things and tweak things and learn things.

I just found Network Magic but is the software junk? I like to be more hands on rather then just let some software do everything (you learn nothing that way right?)

So I am looking for some advice:
1. Are there any good web sites/guides that you folks suggest I read.
2. Is there any free software that can help with networking.

Thanks a lot

 

[jlazzaro]

ezlan and practicallynetworked

theres an infinate amount of software, but you have to be more specific about what you're looking for.

 

[taltos1]

Thank you.
This is just a stab in the dark, again I am learning. But software to map the network, to diagnose problems (IP addresss etc..), to see statistics about bandwidth, and other software that is suggested...

 

[TheWick3dOne]

My personal suggestion would be to not use any software at all. Just read the forums here and browse the internet. Dig in to your network and learn stuff in other words. There's tons of information out there. Just a matter of reading it all.

On a side note, there is software that will just "monitor" your network. It doesn't actually do anything other that let you know when something is wrong or if you just want to see what's going on. That way you can see the problem, then fix it yourself.

 

[bwatson283]

RUN!

 

[taltos1]

TheWick3dOne, what software are you referring to please? Please keep the advice coming.

 

[jlazzaro]

any network monitoring software...ipswitch whatsup, nagios, intermapper, openview, etc, etc. again, the list is never ending, and none of this is something you're going to run at home.

for bandwidth / interface statistics, check out MRTG.

there is no end all software that will configure and troubleshoot everything for you. you use software in conjunction with what you know to aid in configuration and troubleshooting...its not a substitute. my advise, get off the software kick and start learning