CABLING AND HARDWARE

CABLE : Medium → information moves from one device to another

1. Wired Network : physically connected using cables
                              : using conventional telephone network
2. Wireless Network : use signals to transfer data
                                  : television and radio network, cellular network

Types of Cable
(commonly used with LAN)

- Coxial Cable : have 3 layer → centre conductor : block interference
                                               → foil shield
                                               → braided shield
                         : large number of high-speed video transmission
                         : carry data quickly


- Fibre Optic Cable : centre glass core - no electronic signal
                                    e.g: UNIFI
                                  : use light to carry data or signal
                                  : have large amount of electrical interference

     

- Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) : 4 pair of wires = jacket
                                                         : each pair is twisted (8 wires) to eliminate interference
                                                         : disadvantage → susceptible for radio and frequency


- Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) : 2 wires wrap in foil shielded
                                                    : more reliable in data communication
                                                    : disadvantage → extra shielding can cause bulky



Cable Connector

- Coaxial Cable Connector

• Bayonet-Neill-Concelman (BNC) connector
• Adapters: T-connector, barrel connector, terminator

              

- Fiber Optic Cable Connector

•        ST & SC connector                 

          

- UTP Cable Connector

• RJ-45 connector (RJ = Registered Jack)
• look like a large telephone-style connector
• a slow allows RJ-45 to be inserted only one way

                

Topology and Cable

1. Linear/Bus → Coaxial, Twisted Pair, Fiber
2. Star ( concentrator at the middle) → Twisted Pair, Fiber
3. Star-Wired Ring → Twisted Pair
4. Tree → Coaxial, Twisted Pair, Fiber

Network Hardware/Equipment

Networking hardware includes all computers, peripherals, interface cards, and other equipment needed to perform data-processing and communication within network.

- File Server : large amount of RAM and storage space
                      : a fast network interface card

- Workstation : configured with appropriate cables, network interface card and networking software
                         : do not necessarily storage capability, files saved on file server

- Network Interface Card : physical connection between network and workstation
                                             : 3 most common network interface → Ethernet card
                                                                                                       → LocalTalk connector
                                                                                                       →Token Ring card

- Concentrator/Hubs : central connection point
                                     : lots of extra network trafic, network less efficient
                                     : for all traffic network

- Switch : can connect ethernet, toking ring and fiber channel
               : for one traffic channel

- Repeater : to boost signal
                   : can be separate device or incorporate into concentrator

- Bridges : connect multiple network segments
                 : connect different types of cabling or topology

- Routers : used to link different networks
                 : translates information from one network to another = superintelligent bridge
                 : direct signal traffic efficiently
                 : route messages between topology and cables

Network Gateway 

• Internetworking system → joining together two networks that use different base protocols.
• Can be implemented completely in software, hardware or combination of both.