What is Broadband?
What type of a system do I need to have to enjoy Broadband ?
Error: Could not connect to server?
Why do download start FAST, then slow down?
What is ping?
If I am on the net 24hrs a day, will I get hacked?
Do I Need a Firewall? Which is best?
What is the way to repair IE if it doesn't appear in the Add/Remove programs?
How do I remove NetBIOS from TCP/IP or DUN connections?
I am unable to connect to some sites recently.
What is Fiber Optics?
Advantages of Fiber Optics
Why can I not ping my IP address?
How can I protect my computer from getting a virus? Has my computer been infected?
Why should I get broadband service?
What's the difference between upstream and downstream speeds?
What does static IP address mean?
What does dynamic IP address mean?
What is a network firewall?
Why would I want a firewall? |
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Error: Could not connect to server?
A: This error is generated when " server name " was contacted but would not establish a connection. |
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Why can I not ping my IP address? |
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A: First you must distinguish between Public IP address and Private IP address. Your public IP address is that which the world believes you are on. Your PC private IP address may be something else entirely.
You may find your public IP address by using the Broadband Reports IP tool: /ip.
Your private IP address is that reported by your PC. For example, in Windows,
Start->Run->Winipcfg (or "ipconfig /all in a command line window) will bring up a utility that describes the IP address the PC has.
Be careful, your PC may have several IP addresses!
If you cannot ping your public IP address, it may be because the machine this represents simply does not respond to ping. If you cannot ping your private IP address, you may have installed a firewall that refuses to acknowledge ping packets.
If neither of these cases applies, you may not have correctly identified your public or private IP address. |
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Why do download start FAST, then slow down? |
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| A: Actually, they're not really slowing down. After you click on the download button, the download begins while you're typing in the file name. If you take a while to do that a considerable amount of data will be saved before the download speeds start registering. That's why it seems to be zipping along at first. But, after the buffer has caught up, it will then start showing your true download speed. Speed too, will fluctuate as the servers that you're downloading from get busy, and you'll get speeds going up a little, then down a little. |
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Q: What is ping? |
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A: Ping is a basic Internet program that lets you verify that a particular IP address exists and can accept requests. The verb ping means the act of using the ping utility or command. Ping is used diagnostically to ensure that a host computer you are trying to reach is actually operating. If, for example, a user can't ping a host, then the user will be unable to use the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) to send files to that host. Ping can also be used with a host that is operating to see how long it takes to get a response back. Using ping, you can learn the number form of the IP address from the symbolic domain name.
Loosely, ping means "to get the attention of" or "to check for the presence of" another party online. Ping operates by sending a packet to a designated address and waiting for a response. The computer acronym was contrived to match the submariners' term for the sound of a returned sonar pulse.
Ping can also refer to the process of sending a message to all the members of a mailing list requesting an ACK (ACKnowledgement code). This is done before sending e-mail in order to confirm that all of the addresses are reachable. |
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If I am on the net 24hrs a day, will I get hacked? |
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A: Short answer: probably not. Longer answer... probably not because you are one of millions of computers and there are not enough hackers to go around. Anyway, any spare ones are not interested in your digital family photo album or excel expense worksheets... but they could get to your files if you don't care to learn about security.
NAT offers good security, because by its nature it does not allow incoming connections, it is for sharing an IP address amongst several computers for outgoing purposes only.
Apart from NAT, basic security is to have a router with firewall features, which only allows in what you decide to allow in. Your DSL connection options usually include the choice of a router. Although not strictly speaking a full firewall, a router is the first line of defense against intruders. With the modern router, setup correctly and refusing to route any requests by outside IP addresses for inside resources, things are a little tough for the hacker. However, you may want to open things up a little more, for example to allow yourself to telnet into your own computer from other places, run an FTP service, or your own web server. In this case, you need to look carefully at (a) the security setup for anything that is "public", (b) encrypting any files you really care about, and (c) avoiding transmission of any passwords in plaintext form.
If you are doing anything serious with your DSL connected equipment, it is also a good idea to look at getting or writing some kind of small monitoring system that will play cop inside your own network... Like an ignition cutout on a car, these can be simple, yet very unobtrusive. |
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Do I Need a Firewall? Which is best? |
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A: "Good fences make good neighbors." With your new broadband (DSL or cable) connection, your computer is potentially visible to others on the internet every moment it has power applied to it.
The general consensus is that cable users are more vulnerable than DSL subscribers. But no one without a firewall is without risk.
A good firewall makes your computer invisible, or at least less visible, to others on the internet. There are other users that will try to probe your machine looking for ways to see what is on your computer's hard drive. Some may only be curious, but others may be trying to be very malicious - even to the point of erasing files on your system. They could potentially gain access to your passwords and other private information you may have stored in files on the computer.
You may ask 'which is the best firewall'. There are special setups that actually involve hardware and these hardware firewalls are considered the best choice. The down side of the hardware solution is cost. Many users therefore choose to install a software firewall. These have the advantages of low cost and easy setup. Which solution is best for you is a question you have to answer for yourself. |
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What is the way to repair IE if it doesn't appear in the Add/Remove programs? |
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| A: If Internet Explorer does not appear in the Add/Remove Programs box in the Control Panel (because you have no backup IE) there is another easy way to access the repair tool. Go to Start, Programs, Accessories and, on the drop down menu, click on System Tools and, finally, on System Information. On the System Information window, click on Tools and in the drop down box click on Internet Explorer Repair Tool. |
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| For Windows XP users. |
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| Here are two ways to reinstall Windows IE for Win XP: |
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The above will let you reinstall the Internet Explorer 6 browser component. To reinstall Outlook Express 6, change the IsInstalled value from the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Active Setup \ Installed Components \ {44BBA840-CC51-11CF-AAFA-00AA00B6015C} |
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How do I remove NetBIOS from TCP/IP or DUN connections? |
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A: The Network Basic Input/Output System (NetBIOS) is a session layer communications service used by client and server applications in IBM token ring and PC LAN networks.
NetBIOS provides applications with a programming interface for sharing services and information across a variety of lower-layer network protocols, including IP.
By closing or disabling NetBIOS when you don't use it, you can have increased security and possibly increased transfer speed. This fix only applies to users that have a connection established through dial-up or broadband. Make sure you are NOT already using the NetBIOS (Network Basic Input/Output System) protocol or a network/LAN/WAN/peer-to-peer/etc hookup, or this will seriously impair your connection. |
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I am unable to connect to some sites recently. |
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| A: When you connect to some servers, they have to be converted into an IP address in order to connect. A file called HOSTS stores these IP addresses. When the address changes it becomes invalid and you are unable to connect to that website. |
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| To fix this |
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Close all browsers. Go to Start, Find and select Files or Folders. |
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Find a file called "hosts" (without the quotes) that has no extension and rename it to hosts.bak |
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No reboot is necessary. The changes are immediate. If this does not fix the problem, then likely it is trouble with the owners. |
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What is Fiber Optics? |
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A: Fiber optics (optical fibers) are long, thin strands of very pure glass about the diameter of a human hair. They are arranged in bundles called optical cables and used to transmit light signals over long distances.
If you look closely at a single optical fiber, you will see that it has the following parts:
Core - Thin glass center of the fiber where the light travels.
Cladding - Outer optical material surrounding the core that reflects the light back into the core.
Buffer coating - Plastic coating that protects the fiber from damage and moisture.
Hundreds or thousands of these optical fibers are arranged in bundles in optical cables. The bundles are protected by the cable's outer covering, called a jacket.
Optical fibers come in two types:
Single-mode fibers - Used to transmit one signal per fiber (used in telephones and cable TV) Multi-mode fibers - Used to transmit many signals per fiber (used in computer networks, local area networks) |
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Advantages of Fiber Optics |
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A: Compared to conventional metal wire (copper wire), optical fibers are:
Less expensive - Several miles of optical cable can be made cheaper than equivalent lengths of copper wire. This saves your provider (cable TV, Internet) and your money.
Thinner - Optical fibers can be drawn to smaller diameters than copper wire.
Higher carrying capacity - Because optical fibers are thinner than copper wires, more fibers can be bundled into a given-diameter cable than copper wires. This allows more phone lines to go over the same cable or more channels to come through the cable into your cable TV box.
Less signal degradation - The loss of signal in optical fiber is less than in copper wire.
Light signals - Unlike electrical signals in copper wires, light signals from one fiber do not interfere with those of other fibers in the same cable. This means clearer phone conversations or TV reception.
Low power - Because signals in optical fibers degrade less, lower-power transmitters can be used instead of the high-voltage electrical transmitters needed for copper wires. Again, this saves your provider and you money.
Digital signals - Optical fibers are ideally suited for carrying digital information, which is especially useful in computer networks.
Non-flammable - Because no electricity is passed through optical fibers, there is no fire hazard.
Lightweight - An optical cable weighs less than a comparable copper wire cable. Fiber-optic cables take up less space in the ground.
Because of these advantages, you see fiber optics in many industries, most notably telecommunications and computer networks. |
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What is Broadband? |
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| Broadband is an always-on connection to the internet. TRAI has defined Broadband as "an always-on data connection with minimum speeds of 256Kbps”. |
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How can I protect my computer from getting a virus? Has my computer been infected? |
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| It is very important to have Anti-Virus software on your computer. If your computer is infected by a virus this could lead to email problems, intermittent connection and an array of other problems. Sometimes it is not obvious that your computer is infected, instead you might think it's a problem with your Internet Service Provider. |
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Why should I get broadband service? |
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Broadband Internet allows you to receive more information quickly and do more on the Internet by giving you:
An always-on connection - no busy signals or dial-up frustrations
Blazing speed - up to 70 times faster than dial-up (speeds vary by service provider)
The ability to surf the Web without tying up your phone line
Multiple e-mail accounts
Fast video and music downloads
What types of broadband service are there?
Fiber or Cable Modem - The Internet service provided by a cable company. The Internet connection is provided on the same type of cable that you plug into your television for Cable TV service.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) - Transforms copper telephone lines into carriers of digital data. DSL uses the same copper wires that carry voice traffic to your telephone to carry high-speed data.
Satellite - One-way high-speed Internet technology that uses satellites orbiting the Earth to transmit data downstream through a satellite dish attached to your home. |
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What's the difference between upstream and downstream speeds? |
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| Information passes between your computer and the Internet in two directions: upstream and downstream. Information that flows upstream is sent from your computer to the Internet, such as sending e-mail attachments or playing two-way games. Information that flows downstream is from the Internet to your computer, such as surfing the Web or downloading files. Please note that broadband service speeds are an estimate. The actual speed varies by provider and may vary. |
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What does static IP address mean? |
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| A static Internet protocol address is a unique number assigned to your computer by your service provider. Static IP's are permanent numbers that always identify your computer to others on the Internet. Many providers limit the number of static IPs they assign. Some providers also charge additional fees for additional static IPs. Certain two-way applications such as VoIP (Voice over IP) require static IP addresses in order to work correctly. |
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What does dynamic IP address mean? |
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| A dynamic Internet protocol address is a temporary number assigned to your computer by your service provider. This number or "address" allows other on the Internet to communicate with your computer. A dynamic IP is typically assigned for a certain length of time after which the address is returned to a pool of IP addresses. The next time you log on or begin a new session, a new dynamic IP will be assigned. |
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What is a network firewall? |
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| A firewall is a system or group of systems that enforces an access control policy between two or more networks. The actual means by which this is accomplished varies widely, but in principle, the firewall can be thought of as a pair of mechanisms: one which exists to block traffic, and the other which exists to permit traffic. Some firewalls place a greater emphasis on blocking traffic, while others emphasize permitting traffic. Probably the most important thing to recognize about a firewall is that it implements an access control policy. If you don't have a good idea of what kind of access you want to allow or to deny, a firewall really won't help you. It's also important to recognize that the firewall's configuration, because it is a mechanism for enforcing policy, imposes its policy on everything behind it. Administrators for firewalls managing the connectivity for a large number of hosts therefore have a heavy responsibility. |
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Why would I want a firewall? |
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The Internet, like any other society, is plagued with the kind of jerks who enjoy the electronic equivalent of writing on other people's walls with spray paint, tearing their mailboxes off, or just sitting in the street blowing their car horns. Some people try to get real work done over the Internet, and others have sensitive or proprietary data they must protect. Usually, a firewall's purpose is to keep the jerks out of your network while still letting you get your job done.
Many traditional-style corporations and data centers have computing security policies and practices that must be followed. In a case where a company's policies dictate how data must be protected, a firewall is very important, since it is the embodiment of the corporate policy. Frequently, the hardest part of hooking to the Internet, if you're a large company, is not justifying the expense or effort, but convincing management that it's safe to do so. A firewall provides not only real security--it often plays an important role as a security blanket for management.
Lastly, a firewall can act as your corporate ``ambassador'' to the Internet. Many corporations use their firewall systems as a place to store public information about corporate products and services, files to download, bug-fixes, and so forth. Several of these systems have become important parts of the Internet service structure (e.g., UUnet.uu.net, whitehouse.gov, gatekeeper.dec.com) and have reflected well on their organizational sponsors. Note that while this is historically true, most organizations now place public information on a Web server, often protected by a firewall, but not normally on the firewall itself. |
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What type of a system do I need to have to enjoy Broadband ? |
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