Defining Network Infrastructure A network can be defined as the grouping of hardware devices and software components which are necessary to connect devices within the organization, and to connect the organization to other organizations and the Internet. Typical hardware components utilized in a networking environment are network interface cards, computers, routers, hubs, switches, printers, and cabling and phone lines. Typical software components utilized in a networking environment are the network services and protocols needed to enable devices to communicate. Only after the hardware is installed and configured, can operating systems Read More

Contrary to popular belief, deleting files from the Recycle Bin does not completely remove the file from the computer. Instead, deleting a file simply tells the computer that the memory it was using is no longer needed. When the computer needs the memory for other files, it overwrites the original information. However, until the file is overwritten with new data, it remains on the computer under a different name and can be restored using file recovery software. In order to completely remove a file, it is important that new data Read More

Autorun is a feature that has been included in the Windows Operating System (OS) since the deployment of Windows 95. The utility program will automatically launch media such as DVDs, CDs, USB devices, and memory sticks in order to let the end-user automatically view, manipulate, or run programs stored on the devices. The application uses the atorun.inf file that is stored in the rood directory of the media which contains a list of commands for Windows to execute when the device or drive is opened. Although Autorun is designed to Read More

Routing and Remote Access Service Overview The Routing and Remote Access service (RRAS) is a multi-protocol software router integrated in Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 that provides connectivity for remote users and remote offices to the corporate network. RRAS make it possible for remote users to perform their tasks as though they are actually physically connected to the corporate network. A remote access connection enables services such as file and print sharing to be available to remote users. To access network resources, remote access clients can use standard Windows Read More

Ntoskrnl.exe (Windows boot up kernel) is a vital component utilized in the boot process for NT based Microsoft operating systems. It is also responsible for a host of system services such as process and memory management, security management, object management, hardware virtualization and so on. It holds several sub systems: Cache Manager, I/O Manager, Configuration Manager, Local Procedure Call, Memory Manager, Process Structure, Object Manager and Security Reference Monitor. Collectively, they form part of Executive services and System Services. As a result of such critical responsibilities, ntoskrnl.exe is a fundamental Read More

Microsoft office does not include software to assist you in converting your PowerPoint presentations to DVD. Today, there are no freeware utilities that perform this activity for you, but there are many commercial packages available that have free trial periods. Software of this type ranges in price from from $40 – $200 for personal licenses, and much more for commercial or multi-user licenses. All of the following packages perform this function, and offer a free trial period. Software to Convert PowerPoint to DVD PowerVideoMaker Professional allows you to export PPT Read More

As an Administrator, ensuring the availability and reliability of the Windows Server Active Directory directory service is extremely important if you are running Active Directory within your environment. Performance problems and poor availability leads to users being unable to perform their tasks or duties within the organization. For instance, when a DNS server fails, it is transparent that Active Directory would be negatively affected. In order for a domain controller to replicate with other domain controllers within a domain, the domain controller has to be able to resolve host names Read More

Understanding the ISA Server H.323 Gatekeeper You can configure the ISA Server H.323 Gatekeeper to control the following elements over the network or Internet: Data conferencing Video Audio H.323 is a standard that specifies how this information is formatted and transmitted over networks. The H.323 standard contains a number of protocols developed by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) that define how multimedia equipment, and computers and services should operate over the private network or Internet. The H.323 standard contains the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards listed here, as well Read More

MSN Messenger (now called Windows Live Messenger) is the Microsoft instant messaging program that is deployed with all versions of the Microsoft Windows Operating System (OS). The application is also installed on the Xbox 360, the Blackberry OS, the Zune HD, and the Symbian OS 9.x. The program connects the user to the Microsoft .NET messaging service and was first developed in the late 1990s. At the end of the 2000s, there were more than 300 million users of the service. Unfortunately, with the regular Windows OS updates that occur, Read More

Microsoft PowerPoint documents can utilize two passwords: Password to open Password to modify Password to open The Password to open requires a user to enter a password to view the document. When the user sets a Password to open, the entire Microsoft PowerPoint document is encrypted with the RC4 stream cipher. Password to modify The Password to modify requires a user to enter a password to make changes to the document. When a user sets a Password to modify, the password is stored inside the Microsoft PowerPoint document. The password Read More