EtherCAT stands for "Ethernet for Control Automation Technology." It is an open standard and high performance system that aims to use Ethernet protocols (the favored system for Local Area Networks) in an industrial environment, especially for factories and other manufacturing concerns which make use of robots and other assembly-line technologies. The outstanding and unique functional principle of EtherCAT is processing the Ethernet frame “on the fly” within an EtherCAT network. Ethernet Ethernet is the established (and favored) communications standard for local area networks, originally designed to connect different computers to Read More

A wireless bridge connects two or more networks such as LANs or parts of LANs that are physically separated from each other. The majority of wireless routers on the market today feature a “Bridge” or “Repeater” mode that connects dissimilar or similar protocol types. Wireless bridges can work in a point-to-point or point-to-multi-point configuration, with the ultimate goal being to share network access or resources such as printers or scanners. The most common reason for setting up a wireless bridge is to extend a wireless network’s current range across a Read More

Unix Shell Scripting Tutorials This Unix shell scripting tutorial provides samples and instructional materials that are easy to understand and useful for Unix shell scripting. It also offers illustrated samples that will helps users explore different avenues of Unix shell scripting.   Bourne Shell Programming Tutorial Learn how to use the Unix shell with this comprehensive Bourne Shell Programming/Scripting Tutorial. It contains many example codes with explanations. Heiner’s SHELLdorado This Unix shell scripting resource contains numerous coding examples. It has a section on “Good Coding” as well as a long Read More

With the exponential climb of technology over the past few decades, the needs of technology users have changed dramatically. The world in which human beings live in today is all about information and interchangeability. In order to properly fulfill the needs of its users, a device must be able to transfer its contents from itself to another device. This can be clearly seen in the case of music: the iPod, a popular media device, is exceptional and efficient all by itself. However, the device would quickly lose its charm if Read More

NZB stands for Newzbin, a popular file sharing format used on the internet. A NZB file is a file used to send a particular file through the Internet using the Newzbin application. What is Newzbin exactly? A popular online tool for many years has been Usenet. Usenet, created before the World Wide Web was even up, basically works as a message board. It allows people to post and reply to different topics, referred to online as newsgroups. Newzbin is a subsidiary of Usenet, a website that uses the Usenet application Read More

A DAT file is used for a variety of reasons. Files with a DAT extension are generally composed of information stored by programs. Such information includes configuration information or simple data. Some programs will write codes that seem jumbled/messy into DAT files. Regardless of the application, DAT files can be opened and read by a variety of different tools. The most common tool is a text editor. Text editors can easily open nearly any type of file. Notepad is a common text editor that is available on most PC systems. Read More

If you would like to replace your old hard drive with an upgraded drive, this is a simple process that can be done at home. Most new hard drives will come with installation instructions to make the task easier for you. Steps To install A Hard Drive Shut down the computer, and unplug all accessories attached to it. Continue by unplugging the computer completely from its power source, wait fifteen seconds, and “ground” yourself to prevent electrical shock. Remove the screws holding the computer’s cover in place. Remove the computers Read More

Western Digital (WD) Portable Hard Drives are capable of storing quite a bit of information. Modern Western Digital drives come with a firmware called “SmartWare,” which can be useful to some users. The SmartWare can provide backup solutions that may not be available with the operating system in use. WD hard drives with SmartWare also have some utilities that some users will find useful if their computer can support them. The WD SmartWare may also be useless to some users who may want to remove it. The most common reasons Read More

VideoGuard is an encryption method that NDS produced. It is used for conditional broadcasting services such as broadband television and the Internet. Since satellites, radio towers, and all other broadcasting equipment broadcast signals without discretion to which subscribers receive them, VideoGuard is necessary in order to distinguish which television channels, Internet features, and other services subscribers are able to receive.   How VideoGuard Works Since broadcasting systems broadcast the same signals to everyone, VideoGuard encryption must be built directly into the programming of the set-top box that is connected to the television. Read More

Replication Topology is the route by which replication data travels throughout a network. Replication occurs between two domain controllers at a time. Over time, replication synchronizes information in Active Directory for an entire forest of domain controllers. To create a replication topology active directory must determine which domain controller's replicate data with other domain controllers. The Knowledge Consistency Checker (KCC) is a built-in process that runs on each domain controller and regenerates the replication topology for all directory partitions that are contained on that domain controller. The KCC runs at Read More