An Overview of DHCP In TCP/IP based networks, a unique IP address must be assigned to each computer. An IP address is a unique numeric identifier that identifies computers on the network. The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a service that can be implemented to automatically assign unique IP addresses to DHCP clients. DHCP runs at the application layer of the TCP/IP protocol stack to provide the following functions in TCP/IP networks: Dynamically assign IP addresses to DHCP clients. Allocate the following TCP/IP configuration information to DHCP clients: Subnet Read More

The term “segmentation fault” refers to an error received on computer systems, especially Unix-based operating systems, when a program is attempting to perform an action that is unavailable or not allowed. Segmentation faults often arise when a program is attempting to access memory that the computer cannot locate or when a user or program is attempting to modify the operating system. Segmentation faults are often used as a form of protection against actions that may damage the system or simply cannot be performed. How Segmentation Faults Work When a program Read More

An external hard drive is a storage device that does not sit inside the computer’s chassis. Instead, it connects to the computer via a USB port. Users can carry the external hard drive with them and access their files from any computer in the world. External hard drives can store many hundreds of gigabytes and depend on plug-and-play technology to automatically install all necessary drivers on the host computer when the device is connected to the computer, much like how USB flash drives work. How to Install Windows OS on Read More

Networking a printer makes  it possible for anyone in the house or office to print files directly from their computers using the same printer. Setting Up The Printer Open the Control Panel in the Start menu. Click on “Printers and Other Hardware”, and then click “View installed printers or fax printers. If you are using ‘classic’ control panel, double-click on “Printers and Faxes”. From the list of installed printers, select the printer you want to share, then click “Share this printer” in the right side menu. The printer properties dialog Read More

A DNS zone is the contiguous portion of the DNS domain name space over which a DNS server has authority or is authoritative. DNS zones contain either domains or subdomains. The DNS namespace can be divided into multiple zones. Users can even host all their zones on a single DNS server. The Windows Server 2003 DNS Server can host up to 20,000 DNS zones. A DNS zone contains a zone database that contains resource records for all the domains within the zone. Zone files are used if DNS is not Read More

Microsoft designed the Windows User Account Control and deployed it on the Windows Operating System (OS) in order to prevent unauthorized modifications to critical settings or programs on a computer running the Windows OS. Microsoft deployed User Account Control since Windows XP, and has continued to update the application in newer versions of Windows (such as Vista and Windows 7). Users often want to disable User Account Control in order to prevent the OS from displaying warning boxes. How to Turn Off User Account Control – Windows XP Step 1 Read More

Windows Messenger is an instant messaging software that allows users to communicate with friends and family members from anywhere in the world via instantaneous text-based messages and audio/video calls. Windows Messenger is the default instant messaging software of the Windows Operating System and is automatically installed when a user purchases a new Windows computer.   Windows Messenger vs Windows Live Messenger Although Windows Messenger and Windows Live Messenger are similar in both design and function and are often confused with each other, they are two separate programs that are independently Read More

Proxy Server Arrays Overview Proxy Server provides a feature called proxy arrays. A proxy array is a solution whereby one or multiple proxy servers operate as a single cache for client requests. Each Proxy Server server that belongs to the proxy array performs the following functions: Maintains membership information for the proxy array. This information provides input on which array members are available and which array members are unavailable. A client therefore has to only query one array member because each member of the proxy array maintains information on all Read More

A common error encountered by Microsoft Windows users when trying to read or write from a drive, disk, or portable media device is the I/O device error. When this error is generated, the transfer mode that the operating system is attempting to use for the operation may not be recognized. The I/O error may be experienced with various media storage devices such as: external hard drives, DVD or CDs, DVD or CD drives, SD cards, or USB sticks/drives. Common causes of the error include faulty hardware, a loose connection between Read More

Windows Messenger is an instant messaging software that is automatically installed on all versions of the Windows Operating System. Windows Messenger allows users to communicate with friends via instant messages, text messages, and email, as well as via audio and video calls. Windows Messenger allows users to create a unique profile and is able to record instant messaging history for later review. Windows Messenger vs Windows Live Messenger Windows Messenger differs from Windows Live Messenger in several ways. While Windows Messenger is the default instant messaging software on the Windows Read More