OT: Computer Networking
 

I was wondering if any of you know how I would go about setting up a home network? I want to rip all my dvds to one computer, put all my music onto it as well and then have wireless access to those files from any computer on my network. Is this possible? What do you think I would need in order to accomplish this?

Also for you FireFox users, is there a way to permanently set the page size so that I don't have to increase the text size manually every time I open FF? On the LapTop the font size is way way way to small and I have to size up two or three X in order to be able to see the text.

Thanks.

Re: OT: Computer Networking
 

A wireless router (and wireless network cards for each computer, assuming you want to do it wireless) would do it. The router is what plugs into the Internet, and then shares it to the computers on your local network, also protecting them from many direct attacks. Though do set up security on the router and your computers so you're not allowing anyone in radio range to access your computers...

For FireFox, I'm not sure. All I see is Tools/Options/Content/Fonts&Colors, which lets you set default font size, but it's not as good as Opera's Zoom feature, and might not have any effect on pages which set font sizes...

Re: OT: Computer Networking
 

FF has a minimum font size (under the advanced button) which affects every font, regardless of how it is set. "zoom" is overrated, but available for most browsers via plugins.

Slim Server is an excellent way to stream music over a network from a central store (or even over the internet).

VLC can play movie files from another PC on the same network.

Windows Media Player 11 is supposed to have network streaming capabilities as well, but I'm not sure if you have to access it from a PC with windows media center or not...

Re: OT: Computer Networking
 

or just stick all your music in a shared folder and access it from whatever music player you are using

Re: OT: Computer Networking
 

Like was already said, if you want to do a wireless home network, get a wireless router and wireless cards for all the computers that do not already have them. If it's an all Windows network, you're pretty much done; set up all the computers to be in the same workgroup, turn on folder sharing for the folders you want to be on the network, and optionally map a drive letter to the shares. If you have linux boxes or macs, use samba sharing on those.

I have a home network with one Windows PC desktop (which I hardly use anymore), an old dell laptop I bought from a friend that's running Ubuntu, and a powerbook. The dell I use as a fileserver, and I have itunes on both the powerbook and the desktop point to the share as their music directory. I use the desktop for basically only PBW turns these days, and my daily use computer is the powerbook. I have kinda paranoid security on the wireless... set up 128-bit WEP encryption, set a MAC filter on the router to only accept connections from the two laptops, turned off SSID broadcast.

Firefox, go to about:config. Filter on font.minimum-size, set the value to a minimum font point that you want.

Re: OT: Computer Networking
 

Why resort to about:config when there is an easy control in the options ui?

Re: OT: Computer Networking
 

Because it's a lot easier to describe how to do it in about:config than to walk through how to find it in the gui?

Re: OT: Computer Networking
 

Even though I already described where it was in the UI?

Re: OT: Computer Networking
 

WEP encryption is a Piece of S***. The keys are easily hacked and can only withstand 10-15 minutes from your amatur hacker, only a couple of minutes or less if you're facing a dedicated attack.

Upgrade to a WPA standard, install a good firewall, and -if possible- reduce the signal power of your wireless transmitter by as much as possible. The average wireless router from big box retailers has a range of 150-200 feet and most of your neighbors are less than that.

Re: OT: Computer Networking
 

Thanks guys you all have been a great help. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: OT: Computer Networking
 

It's ok, I also ROT-13 everything. Twice.

Re: OT: Computer Networking
 

here is a good question for you guys to ponder. I was told that all laptops sold since 2005ish are shipped with a GPS devices. Is there any truth to this, and if so, how would I identity my laptops GPS?

Re: OT: Computer Networking
 

I don't think this is true. As far as I know it's fairly rare for a laptop to have built in GPS. A lot of my dad's friends are fishermen, and they use a laptop plus GPS for navigation, and all of them have a seperate GPS that plugs into the laptop.

Re: OT: Computer Networking
 

But think of all the possibilities for paranoia and conspiracy theories if it is true... OMG the govt is tracking everywhere you go!

Re: OT: Computer Networking
 

I have a bridge for sale in Brooklyn, I'll give you a good deal on it.

Re: OT: Computer Networking
 

Actually I think they were talking more along the lines of theft recovery. IE some spun out crack head college student breaks into their car and steals their laptop kind of thing. They report the theft to the Police who then call the manufacture and get the GPS information for that specific laptop and use that information to locate it when it next powered up and logs onto any network. IE it gives its location each time it logs onto a net work much like a phone publishes its own number when calling someone else.

And Fyron in all fairness, your dislike for those paranoid "the govs out to get me" types is most evident in your sarcasm. Some people do take the new world order crap way to seriously, but that does not dismiss their allegation of invasion of privacy.

Most of us know that it doesn't matter, if someone wants you found, your going to be found. America's Most Wanted has proven that. For me I would just like to be able to recover my laptop if it is ever stolen and I would love to see the face of the idiot who has it when the cop comes knocking on the door.

Re: OT: Computer Networking
 

Personally, if my laptop ever was stolen, I'd like the battery explode on them while it's in their lap.

Re: OT: Computer Networking
 

You have 10 seconds to enter the disarm code or be blown to bits by the defensive anti tampering nuclear explosive devices attached to this laptop. 9 - BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

Re: OT: Computer Networking
 

If font is a concern, a quick remedy is holding ctrl while scrolling your mousewheel - it makes all fonts on the page 1 bigger or 1 smaller per wheel click. I know this works on firefox but I'm not sure about other browsers.