Introduction

For most computer users, being able to connect to the Internet or other computers is a necessary requirement of any operating system. As the Microsoft family of operating systems has matured, so has implementation of networking capabilities of those operating systems. With the release of Windows for Workgroups 3.11, Microsoft made networking capability a fundamental element of all its operating systems, for both home and corporate use. However, the implementation of networking capabilities in Windows for Workgroups 3.11 was somewhat primitive by today s standards. For example, to install the TCP/IP protocol, which is necessary to communicate on the Internet, you had to manually install additional software. Thankfully, for most users, that situation no longer exists. Instead of being an adjunct or add-on to the operating system, network capability is installed as a fundamental part of any recent Microsoft operating system, putting it on par with the parts of the operating system that make possible the operating system s capability to communicate with storage devices such as hard drives and CD-ROMs.

With Windows XP, Microsoft continues its drive to improve the integration of networking capabilities with the operating system and to provide greater functionality of its networking. TCP/IP, for example, is now a core component of the operating system and cannot be uninstalled.

Windows XP supports a wide range of hardware devices to enable communication with other computers. There is wide support for traditional network devices, such as network interface cards (NICs), and modems. For the home user, there is support...