Connecting A Network (PART 1)


There's differences between wired ( physical ) network and wireless network.

wired = use wire, cable, and other tangible materials to send communication signals

wireless = send communication signals through air or space using radio, microwave, and infrared signals

There's some differences between wired and wireless network:-

1.  Cost- cost of wired network is less compared to wireless

2. Reliability- The reliability of wireless network is less compared to wired.

3. Mobilit-. Mobility of wireless network is better than wired network.

For wired network, there are several types of cable:-

Coaxial cable
- consist of single copper wire surrounded by at least 3 layers ( 1- insulating material, 2- woven/ braided material, 3- plastic outer coating)
-can be cable over longer distances than twisted pair cable

Fiber Optic Cable 
- The core of fiber-optic consists of dozens / hundreds of thin strands of glass/ plastic that use light to transmit signals
- Inside the fiber-optic cable, an insulating glass cladding and protective coating surround each optical fiber
Advantage : Faster data transmission
Disadvantages : cost more than twisted pair and coaxial cable

FIBER OPTIC CABLE

Twisted Pair Cable
- consists of one or more twisted pair wires bundled together
- each twisted pair wire consists of two separate insulated copper wires that are twisted together
- The wire are twisted together to reduce noise(electrical disturbance)

Next, to connect a network, we need cable connector. There's a cable connecter depends on the type of wire.

Coaxial cable connector
- most common used is Bayonet - Neil - Concelman (BNC) connector.

BNC connector

Fiber optic cable connector
- common type of connector used with fiber optic cable is the ST & SC connector

ST & SC connector

UTP cable connector
- The standard connector for unshielded twisted pair cabling is an RJ-45 connector (RJ=Registered Jack)

After that, we need to know about network hardware and equipment in order to connect a network.

- includes all computers, peripherals, interface cards and other equipment needed to perform data-processing and communications within the network.

Network hardware / equipment

1. File server
-stands at the heart of most networks.
-large amount of RAM and storage space
- fast computer, fast network interface card
-network operating system software resides on this computer, along with any software applications and data files that need to be shared.

2. workstation
-user computers that is connected to a network
- configured with a network interface card, networking software, and the appropriate cables.
-do not necessarily storage capability , files can be saved on the file server.

3. Network interface cards
- provides the physical connection between the network andthe computer workstation.
-major factor in determining the speed and performance of a network
- The three most common network interface connections are
 a) Ethernet cards,
 b)Local Talk connectors
 c)Token Ring cards.

4. concentrator / hubs
-  Central connection point
- Transmit all data received to all node connected to the hub
- . Lots of extra network traffic, network less efficient

5. Switch
- Identifies the device on the network for which the data is intended and sends the data to that node only
- Can connect Ethernet, token ring, Fiber Channel or other types of packet switched network segments together to form an internetwork

6. Repeater
- to boost the signal with a device called a repeater. The repeater electrically amplifies the signal it receives and rebroadcasts it.
-used when the total length of your network cable exceeds the standards set for the type of cable being used.

7.Bridges
- monitors the information traffic on both sides of the network so that it can pass packets of information to the correct location. The bridge manages the traffic to maintain optimum performance on both sides of the network
- keeps information flowing on both sides of the network, but it does not allow unnecessary traffic through.
- Can be used to connect different types of cabling, orphysical topologies. They must be between networks with the same protocol.

8. Routers
-Connectors that used to link different networks

- translates information from one network to another; it is similar to a super intelligent bridge

- determines the best route to send the data over the Internet.

Here, i put some video for how computer networks connect and work. Enjoy for watcing :)