One of the AppleScript Help Modules is Open Transport (Networking) which includes information and 42 example scripts for creating, activating, and deleting configurations for TCP/IP, AppleTalk, Modem, Infrared, Remote Access, etc.
And then to start a series of programs one method is to tell the Finder to open the application file(s) and they launch as tho double-clicked.
tell application "Finder"
open alias "Mac HD:Applications:Cool App:Cool App 1.0"
open alias "Mac HD:Applications:Another Cool App:Cool App 2.0"
end tell