| Just as people communicate using a language, so | | | | to Windows Vista in terms of basic functionality. |
| do computers in a network. And the language | | | | Yes, there are some new features, and yes, |
| spoken by Windows Vista-along with just about | | | | some of them are quite significant, such as the |
| every other computer on the planet today-is the | | | | inclusion of IP version 6. But functionally speaking, |
| Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, | | | | if you know how to install a network card and set |
| better known by its acronym, TCP/IP. | | | | it to "Obtain an IP address automatically," most of |
| The TCP/IP settings on your machine will in many | | | | the time you'll be in good shape. |
| ways be the foundation for a happy computing | | | | In other words, although the click-steps and tools |
| experience. Without them, you can forget about | | | | might take a bit of getting used to, the underlying |
| sending an email, surfing the Web, chatting, | | | | goal of the administrator will remain the same. |
| remote access, accessing a shared folder, | | | | In this 5-part series, we will be discussing |
| receiving a software update, letting a gadget | | | | configuring TCP/IP in Windows Vista - what is the |
| receive a weather update . . . OK, I've made my | | | | same as previous Windows versions and what's |
| point, and you already know all this anyway. | | | | new. As I'm sure you're aware, this is just the tip |
| Without a fairly good understanding of TCP/IP, | | | | of the proverbial iceberg. I'm always happy to |
| administrators are very limited, and will likely | | | | provide additional assistance for free via my |
| spend many laborious hours of troubleshooting to | | | | website. However, as for TCP/IP, we're just |
| get computers to talk to one another. | | | | getting started. |
| Fortunately, not much has changed in the upgrade | | | | |