Networking people - the unsung heroes

Database News - Wednesday December 19, 2007

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Networking people - the unsung heroes

JAMES HEIN

Last week we looked at virtual private networks (VPNs), which raises the issue of the one person in an organisation who keeps things running - otherwise known as the "networking guy." This week I'd like to pay tribute to these individuals who typically get called when things break down and have to suffer through all the complaints on a day to day basis.

When you create your web site for people to access, you are relying on a whole network that consists of servers of different types (for example, the domain name server), routers, cables and sockets. Then there's the issue of the right protocol layers being installed and not crashing when the next Windows update comes out and a whole lot of other arcane bits and pieces that keep it all working.

Without a network we would not have the World Wide Web. If you are working in a business and have a server then someone will have set that server up for you and keeps it running. When you sign up for a hosting service the server that your web site lives on is maintained by a similar individual or group of people.

If you are connected to the Internet then you will have at least one connection. Right click on My Network Places and then click on Properties and you will find something like "Local Area Network" or "My Connection" or some other entry that is not the New Connection Wizard. Pick a connection, right click on it and select Properties again. This will open up a dialog box. Under the General tab see if you have an item labeled Internet Protocol, select this and then click on Properties one more time. If you are really lucky the "Obtain IP address automatically" radio button has been selected. This means that the networking person has set your system up so that your IP address is done for you and probably the DNS server address also.

If not you need to know what IP address to use, what the subnet mask is for your location and where the default gateway might be. The latter is your router modem, a router, the IP address of your service provider and so on. If even one part of this is wrong then you will not be able to connect to the network.

Now click on Advanced and you will see more detailed settings that you may or may not need to use. Exit from these panels back to the main connection properties dialog box. Now click on the Authentication. Depending on a number of factors, the available types will vary. Click on the EAP drop down, pick one and then click on properties. Check the Certificate properties and you will probably see that you have a simple certificate activated. We have covered these in previous articles but scan the list of Trusted Root Certification Authorities and note that you can block the ones you are not sure about.

How do you know what you should be doing in these advanced areas? Ask the networking person, of course. The standard answer will be "don't mess with that stuff."

Last week we looked at VPN networks and mentioned PPVPN in passing. An example of some of the language the networking person uses might go something like this: "Depending on whether the PPVPN is layer 2 or layer 3, the building blocks required may be L2 only, L3 only, or combinations of the two but remember that MPLS functionality blurs the L2-L3 identity."

Right, it doesn't make much sense to me either ,which is why I have my "go to" networking guy. If you find a good person treat them well but make sure they stay long enough to check that everything is working the way you want it. These people tend to be in such demand that they will do exactly what you asked but no more. Unless you check, this can mean another call and visit.

Email: jamesh@inet.co.th

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