With that in mind,
you should get to know the Network Connections window shown in
Figure 7-17.
In versions of Windows before Vista, the Network Connections window was
the central interface for all network settings. With the introduction of the
Network and Sharing Center??”from which you can open Network Connections
by clicking the Manage network connections link??”this is no longer
entirely true. But it??™s still the best way to fine-tune your TCP/IP settings and
fix many networking problems. If you haven??™t done so already, open the
Views drop-down and select Details to show the pertinent information.
Figure 7-17. Use Network Connections to manage the hardware that connects your PC
to your network
Build Your Network | 383
Networking and
Internet
Here you??™ll see the status of all your network adapters??”both wireless and
wired??”at a glance. The Status column tells you which connections, if any,
are connected, albeit with some inconsistencies. Wireless and Bluetooth
adapters that are not in use say Not connected, but Ethernet (wired) adapters
say Network cable unplugged. In either case, any adapter currently in
use (connected) is marked only with Vista??™s current network name.
Don??™t let the network name throw you. It??™s not the SSID of
the wireless network you??™re using (see ???Sniff Out WiFi
Hotspots,??? earlier in this chapter), nor is it the workgroup
name used for sharing folders and printers (explained in
Chapter 8), nor does it have anything to do with your Internet
connection.
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