Introduction to Windows Networking - MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration - page 322

The Network Map The network map displays a graphical view of the network from
your computer's perspective. The basic view, shown as the three icons with lines between
them in Figure 8-1, includes your computer, the networks to which your computer is con-
nected, and the Internet. The lines between icons are green if the connection is functioning
or black with a red X if no connection is detected. When your computer first connects to a
network, you're prompted to select the type of network you are connecting to: Home, Work,
or Public. Based on your choice, Windows designates your network as one of the following
location types:
• Public —Indicates the computer is connected to a network located in a public place, such
as a wireless network in an Internet café, a school, or a library, or directly to the Internet.
By default, when a public network is detected, network discovery is turned off, and fire-
wall settings are configured for tighter security.
• Private —Indicates the computer is connected to a private workgroup network without a
direct connection to the Internet. Network discovery is enabled by default, and firewall
settings are configured with somewhat less stringent rules than for a public network. The
network type is configured as private when you choose Home or Work when you first set
up a network connection.
• Domain —When a private network is selected and the computer detects the domain of
which it's a member, a domain network is selected automatically. Network discovery is
enabled by default on a domain network. You can't select a domain network manually,
nor can you change it to a different type.
Windows might not detect a domain network properly and show it as pri-
vate or unknown. If your computer is a member of a Windows domain
and currently connected to the domain, but Windows doesn't detect it as
such, try disabling and reenabling the network interface to correct the
problem.
If you click the computer icon on the basic map, Windows Explorer opens the same window
as when you click Start, Computer. If you click the icon representing the network
(w2k8ad99.com in Figure 8-1), a Network window opens (the same window as when you click
Start, Network). If network discovery is enabled, you see a list of discovered servers and com-
puters. Your default Web browser opens if you click the Internet icon.
Under the basic map in the Network and Sharing Center, each network your computer is
connected to is displayed with Customize and View status options. Click the Customize link to
change the network name, select a different icon to represent the network, and, if it's not a
domain network, change the location type to public or private. The network name is generally
the domain name or simply “Network,” if no domain name is defined.
Clicking the View status link opens the status dialog box for the network connection (see
Figure 8-2), where you can view detailed information about your network connection, view and
configure its properties, disable the connection, and diagnose problems.
To see a more detailed network map, click the View full map link at the top right in the
Network and Sharing Center. However, network mapping is disabled by default on domain and
public networks. Administrators can enable the network map feature on these networks by
using group policies. In Group Policy Management Console (GPMC), network map-related
policies are in Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Network\Link-Layer Topology