System and network administrators faced with the challenge of building and maintaining permanent LAN-to-Internet connections are often in need of additional information in order to complete this complex task. This practical handbook is a guide to the entire process of connecting a private network to the Internet and then maintaining that connection.

Comprehensive yet succinct, Connecting to the Internet provides essential information without the burden of extraneous detail. Using a step-by-step approach, this book covers the processes of planning, designing, implementing, and maintaining an effective and secure LAN-to-Internet connection--from TCP/IP essentials, to choosing the most appropriate Internet Service Provider, to setting up a firewall.

Specifically, you will find coverage of:

• TCP/IP essentials and standard Internet service protocols, such as DNS, FTP, Mail, News, Telnet, the Web, and SSL
• Criteria for choosing an Internet Service Provider, including connection capacity, installation services, Web hosting, security, VPNs, remote access, multicast, knowledge services, and pricing
• Circuitry and equipment configuration for your WAN
• Security technologies--packet filters, circuit proxies, application gateways, network address translation, firewalls, vendors, security policies, and auditing
• Network design and equipment selection
• Staging and testing the design, including how to run routing diagnostics and security testing
• Implementing the new connection, going live with the ISP, and troubleshooting the WAN
• Managing the LAN-Internet connection, with discussions on security breaches, usage monitoring, and performance issues

Each technical chapter contains checklists to help you track critical steps in the process. In addition, experienced-based tips throughout the book will keep you from falling into expensive and time-consuming pitfalls.

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