Ch 17 Lab #2: Secure a Customer's Wireless Network

In this task we are tasked with securing a customer's SOHO wireless network. The customer wants several security mechanisms but doesn't know the correct terminology for them. Each of the items the customer wants is listed in the procedure area in the customer's own words. You must recommend each security method and decide where you will implement it - for example, on a router, a WAP, or a computer OS. We will use the latest and greatest options available to us.

CH 17 Lab #1: Software Firewalls for Mac

In this lab post we will be discussing the built in software of Mac OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion). Previous versions will be similar.

OS X includes a firewall that can block unwanted incoming connections to your computer. A firewall can shield the services on your computer from other computers while you're on networks or the internet. Services that were turned on in Sharing preferences already appear in the lists of apps and services that can accept incoming connections. To prevent incoming connections from accessing one of these services, you must turn off the service in Sharing preferences.

Setting Up a FTP Server

In this lab we look at setting up an FTP server.

I used this guide to help me get set up.

Here is a screenshot of access to the ftp server I set up on my machine.

Setting up a Windows as a Web Server

In this lab we look at Windows built in utilities to enable a web server.

1. Start by going to the control panel > Programs > Turn Windows Features on / off.
2. Check all the boxes for Internet Information services. The system will take a moment to install the new features and enable the web server.
3. Open Notepad and create your html code. Here is the very simple code I used in this example

4. Save the file to C:/inetpub/wwwroot as a .html file. 

5. Open a web browser and type localhost/homepage.html or yourip/homepage.html

Troubleshooting a Network Issue

Q: Hypethetical:Your local network works but you are not able to connect to Google or any other outside website. You administrator has manually configured your network connection, but it is incomplete ie DHCP was not used. What is missing?Give me your theory--document. Use the problem solving model.

A: Using the Six-Step CompTIA A+ Troubleshooting Theory:

1. Identify the problem: Internet is inaccessible.
2. Establish a theory of probable cause:  DHCP was not used. The network protocol could not configure devices that are connected to the network. 
3. Test the theory to determine the cause: Turning on DHCP should configure the device and assigne an IP address (hypothetical). 
4. Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and implement the solution: Turn on DHCP so that the devices can be configured and IP address assigned. 
5. Verify full system functionality and, if applicable, implement preventative measures: Verified that DHCP was turned on and that machines on the network could connect to the internet. 
6. Document findings, actions, and outcomes: The work order was logged on my daily work log. 

Chapter 16 Lab #3: Mapping a Network Drive

For this lab I set up a remote network shared drive on my laptop. I was then able to save files from my mac onto the shared drive on the laptop.

Chapter 16 Lab #2: Using Remote Desktop and Remote Assistant

Remote Desktop Connection

For the first section of this lab, we are using Remote Desktop to connect to another machine.

"Remote Desktop Connection is a technology that allows you to sit at a computer (sometimes called the client computer) and connect to a remote computer (sometimes called the host computer) in a different location. For example, you can connect to your work computer from your home computer and have access to all of your programs, files, and network resources as though you were in front of your computer at work. You can leave programs running at work and then, when you get home, you can see your work computer's desktop displayed on your home computer, with the same programs running."

Chapter 16 Lab: Locate Neighboring Computer IP

In this lab we are pinging neighboring computers to ensure that we can establish a connection.

The image below shows that the first tracert showing an error due to the windows firewall. The second tracert shows a succeeded ping after the firewall was turned off.

Command Line Analysis: "Netstat"

"Netstat" is a command line tool that displays network connections (both incoming and outgoing), routing tables, and a number of network interface and network protocol statistics. It is available on Unix-like operating systems including OS X, Linux, Solaris, and BSD, and is available on Windows XP, Vista, 7, and 8.

The Netstat command can show details about individual network connections, overall and protocol-specific networking statistics, and much more, all of which could help troubleshoot certain kinds of networking issues.