2. Viewing the Network Map
When network discovery is enabled, you can use the Network Map to
display an expanded view of your network. As Figure 9 shows, the expanded Network Map view
includes your computer, the computers near your computer, and the
devices near your computer. You can access the Network Map by following
these steps:
Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
In the Control Panel, click Network and Internet→Network and
Sharing Center.
In the Network and Sharing Center, under Network Map, click
“See full map.”
If your computer has more than one network connection, use the
“Network map of” list to select the network connection
for which the map should be created.
On the Network Map, you’ll see solid lines connecting the selected
network connection to your network devices. You may also see dashed
lines to other devices for alternative connections. If there’s a problem
with a particular segment of your connection, you’ll see a yellow
warning symbol or a red X on the connecting line.
Clicking either warning icon starts Windows Network diagnostics, which
runs a high-level network diagnostic check that makes use of the
appropriate network troubleshooters automatically.
14.2.3. Viewing and Managing Your Network Connections
Network connections contain the configuration properties
that allow your computer to connect to a network. Windows 7
automatically creates a local area connection for each network adapter
you’ve configured. As you configure dial-up, broadband, or wireless,
Windows 7 will create related connections as well.
NOTE
Windows will usually configure connections for devices that it
supports out-of-the-box, including wireless and Ethernet
connections.
You can quickly obtain a list of network connections for your
computer by completing the following steps:
Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
In the Control Panel, click Network and Internet and then
click Network and Sharing Center.
In the Network and Sharing Center, click “Change adapter settings.” This opens the Network
Connections window, shown in Figure 10.
The Network Connections window has several different views. You
can access these views by clicking the Views button and then selecting
the desired view. The view you’ll use most often is the Details view.
This view shows you:
- Name
The name of your computer’s connections, organized by
connection type, such as LAN or High-Speed Internet
- Status
The name of the network to which a connection is connected,
or another status, such as “Unavailable–device missing,” “Not
connected,” “Disconnected,” or “Network cable unplugged”
- Device Name
The manufacturer and type of network adapter
- Connectivity
The type of connectivity for active connections, such as “No
Internet access” or “Internet Access”
- Network Category
The network category, which can be Private, Public, or
Domain
- Owner
The owner of the connection, such as the System
account
- Type
The type of connection, such as Dial-up
- Phone # or Host Address
The phone number associated with a dial-up
connection, or the host address associated with a remote access
connection
When you select a connection in the Network Connection window, the
toolbar options allow you to work with the connection in several
different ways. The option buttons are used as follows:
- Diagnose This Connection
Opens Network Diagnostics for troubleshooting the
connection
- View Status of This Connection
Displays the connection’s Status dialog box, which you can
use to get details about and manage the TCP/IP
configuration
- Change Settings of This Connection
Displays the connection’s Properties dialog box, which you
can use to manage the TCP/IP configuration
- Disable This Network Device
Allows you to disable the network device so that your
computer doesn’t try to use it
- Rename This Connection
Allows you to change the name of a selected connection by
clicking this button, typing the new name for the connection, and
then pressing Enter
- Start/Connect To
Allows you to start or connect to the selected
connection
