What Is Networking

A computer network or data network is a telecommunications network that allows to exchange data. In computer networks, networked  computing devices pass data to each other along data connections. The connections between nodes  are established using either cable media or wireless media. The best-know computer network is the internet.

Network computer devices that originate, route and terminate the data are called network nodes. Nodes can include hosts such as personal computers, phones, servers as well as networking hardware. Two such devices are said to be networked together when one device is able to exchange information with the other device, whether or not they have a direct connection to each other.

Computer networks support applications such as access to the World Wide Web, shared use of application and storage servers, printers, and fax machines, and use of email and instant messaging applications. Computer networks differ in the physical media used to transmit their signals, the communications protocols to organize network traffic, the network's size, topology and organizational intent.

Types Of Network

LAN (Local Area Network) Network
WAN (Wide Area Network) Network
MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) Network
 

LAN 

  

Local Area Network (LAN) supplies networking capabilitya to a group of computers in close proximity to each other such as in an office building, a school, or a home. A LAN is useful for sharing resources like files, printers, games or other applications.

Most local area networks are built with relatively inexpensive hardware such as Ethernet cables, network adapters and switches. Wireless LAN and other more advanced LAN hardware options also exist.

WAN

A computer network that spans a relatively large geographical area. Typically, a WAN consists of two or more local-area networks (LANs).Computers connected to a wide-area network are often connected through public networks, such as the telephone system. They can also be connected through leased lines or satellites. The largest WAN in existence is the Internet.

The world's most popular WAN is the Internet. Some segments of the Internet, like VPN-based extranets, are also WANs in themselves. Finally, many WANs are corporate or research networks that utilize leased lines.

MAN

A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a network that interconnects users with computer resources in a geographic area or region larger than that covered by even a large local area network (LAN) but smaller than the area covered by a wide area network (WAN). The term is applied to the interconnection of networks in a city into a single larger network (which may then also offer efficient connection to a wide area network). It is also used to mean the interconnection of several local area networks by bridging them with backbone lines. The latter usage is also sometimes referred to as a campus network.

MANs are usually characterized by very high-speed connections using fiber optical cable or other digital media.

SWITCH

In a telecommunications network, a switch is a device that channels incoming data from any of multiple input ports to the specific output port that will take the data toward its intended destination.

Most business networks today use switches to connect computers, printers and servers within a building or campus. A switch serves as a controller, enabling networked devices to talk to each other efficiently. Through information sharing and resource allocation, switches save businesses money and increase employee productivity.

Unmanaged Switches

An unmanaged switch works right out of the box. It's not designed to be configured, so you don't have to worry about installing or setting it up correctly. Unmanaged switches have less network capacity than managed switches. You'll usually find unmanaged switches in home networking equipment.

Managed Switches

A managed network switch is configurable, offering greater flexibility and capacity than an unmanaged switch. You can monitor and adjust a managed switch locally or remotely, to give you greater network control.

NETWORK ADAPTER

Wired Network Adapters

A network interface controller (also known as a network interface card, network adapter, LAN adapter and by similar terms) is a computer hardware component that connects a computer to a computer network.

Whereas network interface controllers were commonly implemented on expansion cards that plug into a computer bus, the low cost and ubiquity of the Ethernet standard means that most newer computers have a network interface built into the motherboard.

Wireless Network Adapters

A wireless network adapter allows a computing device to join a wireless LAN. Wireless network adapters contain a built-in radio transmitter and receiver. Each adapter supports one or more of the 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g Wi-Fi standards.

NETWORK CABLES

Cable is the medium through which information usually moves from one network device to another. There are several types of cable which are commonly used with LANs. In some cases, a network will utilize only one type of cable, other networks will use a variety of cable types. The type of cable chosen for a network is related to the network's topology, protocol, and size.

UTP Cables: UTP cable is also the most common cable used in computer networking. Modern Ethernet, the most common data networking standard, utilizes UTP cables. Twisted pair cabling is often used in data networks for short and medium length connections because of its relatively lower costs compared to optical fiber

Fiber Optic Cables: A technology that uses glass (or plastic) threads (fibers) to transmit data. A fiber optic cable consists of a bundle of glass threads, each of which is capable of transmitting messages modulated onto light waves.

 LAN cables are generically called UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) and are identified with a category rating.
 Specifications for Cat3, Cat4, Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat7 Cables

  

Category	Type	Spectral B/W	Length	LAN Applications	Notes
Cat3	UTP	16 MHz	100m	10Base-T, 4Mbps	Now mainly for telephone cables
Cat4	UTP	20 MHz	100m	16Mbps	Rarely seen
Cat5	UTP	100MHz	100m	100Base-Tx,ATM, CDDI	Common for current LANs
Cat5e	UTP	100MHz	100m	1000Base-T	Common for current LANs
Cat6	UTP	250MHz	100m	1000Base-T	Emerging.

TYPES OF NETWORK CABLES

•  Straight through cables
•  Cross over cables
•  Roll over cables

Straight Through Cables

 Different device uses Straight over cable.

1. Connecting a router to a hub
2. Connecting a computer to a switch
3. Connecting a LAN port to a switch, hub, or computer

Crimping Straight Cable

 Concepts:  1,2,3,6

Cross Over Cables

Same device uses Cross over cable.

1. Connecting a computer to a router

2. Connecting a computer to a computer

3. Connecting a router to a router

4. Connecting a switch to a switch

Crimping Cross Cable

 Concepts: 1 -> 3 & 2 -> 6

Roll Over Cable

Rollover cable (also known as Cisco console cable) is a type of null-modem cable that is most commonly used to connect a computer terminal to a router's console port. This cable is typically flat (and has a light blue color) to help distinguish it from other types of network cabling. It gets the name rollover because the pin outs on one end are reversed from the other, as if the wire had been rolled over and you were viewing it from the other side.

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Written by Unknown