| In order for a network to exist, you will need to have some
hardware and software. This page deals with the some of the networking hardware. |
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- Baseband
- Low capacity but simpler and cheaper; example is Ethernet.
Broadband
Faster than Baseband, but expensive; example is Wangnet which can carry voice, data,
& video signals.
- Typically a PC.
- Network PC (NP) being introduced (Apr 97), running Java.
- A Network adaptor card for each node, and plugs into an expansion slot in the PC.
- The Cables are connected to the Card.
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- Twisted pair [10 Base T]
- (shielded/unshielded)
- similar to telephone cables .
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- Coaxial [10 Base 2 ]
- central wire carrying more information
- (similar to cable television)
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- Fibre Optics
- Immune to electrical interference, can carry more data
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- Wireless LANs eg infra red/radio
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- Dedicated
- Serves only the network (eg. Novell), usually a "specialised PC Server"
PC Server (Hardware configurations).
Non-dedicated
Just another PC , Peer-to-peer, eg. LAN Manager, slower by a factor of 5, as PC donates
RAM to network tasks. Economic for 4-5 user DOS based LANS.
Functions
File Server (large Hard Disk)
Print Server (may be another PC)
Communications Server (eg eMAIL, modems, faxes, gateway to other networks
Fax Server
Also referred to as the concentrator, and used in Unshielded twisted pair (UTP)
networks. Sits at the centre of a star shaped network.
- Three categories
- Chassis mounted for large lans
- Stackable - may be easily added to as requirements change.
- Standalone - for small lans
- Devices that connect
- Physically separated LANs as in a Wide area network
- Topologies and protocols such as ethernet, token ring and FDDI.
- Network segments
- To the Internet.
Malcolm, A. (1996, Sep)
[Rev: 11/04/99]
8/12/97 © 1997-99 V/2-Com (Verhaart), P O Box 8415, Havelock North, New Zealand.
Networking