| Todays Secret : Why big stores love home | | | | click on “Share a Folder” and a software |
| networks. | | | | setup program known as a “wizard” |
| More and more of us are adding devices to our | | | | walks you through the steps. If you want to see |
| home networks, extra pc for the kids, xbox or | | | | what folders are shared on one computer, or all |
| wii, media sever to store all our music and photos. | | | | of your networked computers, you can do that |
| The ability to share music, photos and videos | | | | as well. Cisco Network Magic even puts a shortcut |
| across all the pcs in your house has never been | | | | on your desktop, making it easy to access all the |
| easier. Yet with all this growth a recent survey | | | | music, photos, videos and other files available on |
| conducted by ABI Research, showed one in three | | | | your networked computers. With multiple |
| consumers reported difficulty in setting up and | | | | computers in a household, it becomes very |
| maintaining their home network. 25% of all | | | | cumbersome and expensive to outfit each one |
| wireless devices are returned to the store simply | | | | with its own printer. If you want to share a |
| because it was too hard to setup, and not a | | | | printer among multiple computers, Cisco Network |
| defective product. This notion is further enforced | | | | Magic has an easy setup process. The program |
| by Best Buy’s Geek Squad founder Robert | | | | will make the printer available to all computers on |
| Stephens who acknowledged that the complexity | | | | the network, and will even automatically install the |
| of installing a wireless network is evidenced by | | | | printer drivers on the different PCs for you. |
| the fact that return rates on wireless networking | | | | Parental Controls |
| devices drop to nearly zero when his installers do | | | | If you’re like millions of concerned parents, |
| it. Really there are a lot of great network | | | | you worry about the content that your children |
| products out there but fortunately they do not | | | | are exposed to on the Internet. Perhaps you |
| always do a good job of explaining very simple to | | | | would also like to control when your children have |
| set up. | | | | access to the Internet. With the Internet Access |
| This is one of reasons that big stores love home | | | | Controls in Cisco Network Magic, you can do all of |
| networks , it seems complex and hard to set up. | | | | this and more. Access pic Cisco Network Magic |
| Its easy to get frustrated with it. So if you return | | | | offers controls that allow you to manage when |
| a wireless router to the store how hard do they | | | | and where your networked computers access |
| have to sell you on letting them ease your | | | | the Internet. You can restrict Internet access to |
| frustrations by having them install it for you. | | | | certain times of the day, making sure your kids |
| Another reason they love home networks is the | | | | are doing their homework and not surfing the |
| time it can take to set up a network. Usually | | | | web or chatting with their friends online. All of this |
| there's software to install, pc will need a reboot, | | | | can be done remotely, via a password-enabled |
| add security passwords and need another reboot | | | | tool so the controls you put in place stay there. |
| and we all know how long that can take. So if | | | | |
| you have two pcs on your network the time | | | | Computer Reports and Network History The |
| needed is doubled, want to add a printer you can | | | | reports feature of Network Magic offers a |
| all use, time doubles again as more software is | | | | convenient way to keep track of what sites have |
| added to each pc and yet more reboots. | | | | been visited on your connected computers. The |
| Final reason is maintenance. Want to add a new | | | | program can be setup to email a link to a detailed |
| pc or printer they will gladly come out and spend | | | | report each day, showing when the computer |
| more time adding the new device. If the network | | | | was online, the programs that were used (and |
| stops working do you know where to start | | | | when they were used) computer health status, |
| troubleshooting? | | | | each website that was visited, and the Internet |
| Truth is home and small business networking is | | | | bandwidth consumed by each computer. Network |
| not that difficult if you have some technical | | | | history shows you which computers and other |
| knowledge. Setting up times and maintenance can | | | | devices have connected to the network, along |
| be greatly reduced with the right software. With | | | | with any intruders that may have attempted to |
| great software you do not even need the | | | | connect. |
| technical knowledge to get a mult device network | | | | Troubleshooting One of the most frustrating |
| running. Whenever I go to someones home to | | | | aspects of managing a home network is |
| set up a network I show them them Network | | | | troubleshooting when one of your devices gets |
| Magic. This software is by cisco one of the leading | | | | disconnected. Your computer’s operating |
| companies in business high tech networking. I | | | | system offers limited solutions for fixing a |
| explain how by using this software their network | | | | problem with the PC, and no help for reconnecting |
| can be set up quicker, be more secure and easier | | | | other devices like game consoles or |
| to maintain | | | | Internet-connected TVs. Network Magic offers a |
| Setting up | | | | variety of troubleshooting solutions for your |
| Simply install Cisco Network Magic to each pc in | | | | network connection, as well as file and printer |
| your home. The Essentials version has licenses for | | | | sharing. When your connection is lost, the |
| upto 3 devices. The Pro version lets you connect | | | | Network Map will clearly show you where the |
| upto 8 devices. Cisco Network Magic adds a level | | | | break is. Click on the “Repair Connection” |
| of simplicity to many of the most common setup | | | | button from the map to have the software walk |
| problems encountered. These issues include | | | | you through a step-by-step guide to fix your |
| enabling wireless security and discovering and | | | | network connection. The “Troubleshoot |
| adding each device to the network, whether | | | | Sharing” task will do the same when you |
| wired or wireless. With Cisco Network Magic, you | | | | have file and printer sharing problems. If your still |
| can instantly connect all of your devices to the | | | | having trouble after using Network Magic then its |
| network, without the usual difficulties. | | | | worth having someone come in and help you. |
| | | | So why do I recommend Network Magic to my |
| Once your network is up and running, Cisco | | | | clients if it means less work and money? Because |
| Network Magic makes it easy to see what is | | | | I would rather my clients only need to call on me |
| happening on the network through a Network | | | | as a last resort and to know that when I a |
| Map which is a visual representation of of all the | | | | working for them I'm not wasting their time and |
| devices that are connected to your home | | | | money on tasks that can be made simple and |
| network, as well as possible intruders. The map | | | | easy Top 5 Home Network Problem Areas 1. |
| also provides additional details about those | | | | Wireless Network Connection 2. Printer Sharing 3. |
| devices, including IP addresses, connection status, | | | | Troubleshooting 4. Connecting New Devices 5. |
| alerts about software updates, as well as easy | | | | Wireless Network Security I'll add a sixth to that |
| access to any tasks related to each device. By | | | | 6. Cost. Network Magic reduces all of these. Its a |
| utilizing the features of the map, you can view | | | | great price and is a one off fee, no yearly |
| and control many aspects of your networked | | | | subscriptions like some software |
| devices, without having to go to each device | | | | Bonus Secret : Most times when your network is |
| individually so no more running back and forth. | | | | down a simple restart will get everything back |
| | | | just follow this procedure. |
| File and Printer Sharing | | | | 1. Shut down all the pcs and network devices |
| ABI Research has also found that more than | | | | 2. Shut down your router |
| 33% of home network owners said they use | | | | 3. Shut down the box provided by your cable |
| their network for file sharing, and 40% share a | | | | company or phone ne for internet access |
| printer among multiple computers. Cisco Network | | | | 4. Wait 5 minutes and then start up the cable |
| Magic helps make the process a snap, with built-in | | | | phone box again |
| file and printer sharing tools. | | | | 5. Wait five more minutes and start up your |
| | | | router |
| To share files with your other computers, simply | | | | 6. |