The Basics

The basics of computer networking begin with LAN (Local Area Network).

LAN is a local network, confined to a fairly small area such as a building or even a single floor of a building.   
To realize the full potential of computer networking by linking Individual LANs to a wide backbone network that connects users and computing resources, hence the LAN Internetworks.

Set up a LAN  (Local Area Network):

The process of building a LAN whether is small or large must be designed to meet the changing communications requirements, incorporating many sophisticated technologies, hardware and software that must work together flawlessly.

Options of connecting the networking computers - cable or wireless

Cable

Each networking computer must have a NIC (Network Interface Card) installed, using cable connection to form a communication route and each computer must have NOS (Networking Operation System) software installed in order to manage communications.

 NICs  (Network Interface Cards)

The Most widely used network interface card nowadays is Ethernet in LAN technology that offers a good balance between speed, price, and ease of installation.

• External - NICs connect through the parallel port or USB without the need to install the cards into the computer. The parallel port version said to be trouble some and the USB version is too slow.



• Internal - NICs are the popular choice as it is quite easy to install into the computer.

  Ethernet NIC connection to PC:

  • ISA (Industry Stand Architecture) bus
  • PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnection) bus

  Ethernet NIC connection to the network:

  • 10Base2 (Coaxial/BNC cabling)
  • 10baseT (Twisted Pair/RJ45 cabling)
  • Compo, both 10Base2 and 10baseT

  Data Transfer Speed:

  • 10 Mbits/sec
  • 100 Mbits/sec
  • Dual speed, both 10 and 100 Mbits/sec

 Cabling / Connection 

• Coaxial / BNC or 'Thin Ethernet' or 10Base2:
  A Coaxial / BNC cabling is to connect all the computers along a single cable daisy chained from one to the next. While this is the cheapest option and simplest to install, it's not overly flexible and a single break anywhere in the cable will take the whole network down. 
  Maximum cable length: 185 meters.


• UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) or 10BaseT:
  UTP cabling requires a device called repeater or hub. This device has the advantages of:
  • A cable failure only locks out the device at the end of that cable.
  • Adding an extra device just simply plug it in to the hub.

  UTP cable quality: Category 3 and Category 5. Cat5 is of better quality for high speed data transfer.

  Maximum cable length:

  • Category 3 - 100 meters
  • Category 5 - 150 meters

  Connectors used to connect the UTP and the hub must be matched. Most hubs currently use RJ45.  

  Wired LAN Speed Specifications:

  HomrPNA 1.0: 1Mbits/sec. HomrPNA 2.0: 10Mbits/sec.
  HomePlug 14Mbits/sec. up to 100Mbits/sec.
  IEEE 1394 or FireWire or iLink 400Mbits/sec.
  USB 1.1: 12Mbits/sec. USB 2.0: 480Mbits/sec.

• Fibre Optic cable:
  This is the high-end option for large and corporate network.

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 WLAN  (Wireless LAN)

Wireless networks are an ideal, no-hassle, no-wires alternative for networking computers and Internet appliances in your home. They install easily, expand quickly and reduce the cost of setting up a wired network.

With a small investment, you can enjoy the same advantages of a wireless LAN in your home that small businesses rely on for their commerce; high data rates, security, standards compliance, compact size and extraordinary value.

Wireless LAN Technology Options:

• Infra-red - requires line of sight
• Radio Frequency (RF) - the widely used solution in wireless networking. 
  ISM bands: 900 MHz (902-928 MHz), 2.4 GHz (2400-2483.5 MHz) and 5.8 GHz (5725-5850 MHz)

  WLAN RF Specifications:

  • DECT -
    • Range: indoor 50M outdoor 300M
    • Frequency: 1,880-1,990MHz
    • Speed: 1Mbits/sec.
      Emerging 2.4GHz with potential data speed up to 11Mbits/sec.
  • IEEE 802.11b -
    • Range: indoor 50M outdoor 300M
    • Frequency: 2.4GHz
    • Speed: up to 11Mbits/sec.
  • HomeRF -
    • Range: indoor 50M
    • Frequency: 2.4GHz
    • Speed: up to 1.6Mbits/sec. and up to 10 PCs or Macs
  • Bluetooth - Short range
    • Range: 10M (Optional 100M)
    • Frequency: 2.4GHz
    • Speed: up to 1Mbits/sec.

 Peer to Peer 

A small Network of 5 or 6 computers can be set up as a peer to peer networking without the need of a central server and each computer has equal priority in accessing the network.

• Refer to Cabling/Connection
• NOS: (Networking Operation System)
  • Linux
  • Novell
  • Windows 95, 98/98SE
  • Windows NT Workstation
  • Windows 2000 Professional

• NOS Configuration:
  Installing driver, set IP address of each computer. Settings for workgroup, users, sharing devices etc.

Windows 98/98SE can be configured as proxy server of the network for Internet access.

Read help from the NOS for appropriate network settings.

• Administration:
  • Backup -
    Select the fastest machine for data/file backup.
  
  
  
  • Network Security
    
    • Power protection -
      Use power surge protection, as any serious desktop user would do, to prevent from data loss.
    • Firewall protection -
      Hardware or software NAT/Firewall to protect the network.
    • Anti-Virus protection

 Free  D2Gfx
A powerful, easy to use, peer-to-peer (P2P) file exchange system. D2Gfx allows you to share files, search other computers for their shared files, and even view live Word and Excel data

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 Client / Server Environment 

A sever based system is essential for a proper communication network set up in order to manage requests resources from all other nodes (computers) with greater controls and security. 

Choosing from the many sophisticated technologies, hardware and software that must work together flawlessly and must be designed to meet the organization's changing communications requirements. This is best to consult the specialist in the issues of -

• Network Topology, routers / Gateways, cabling
• Server, devices hardware configuration
• OS Server Software and client license
• Linux Sever
• Novell NetWare
• Unix Server
• Windows NT Server
• Windows 2000 Server



Many OS Servers integrated with Web Server for networks to enhance Intranet facility within the company or organization

Server List

• Application software users licensing
• Administration
• Backup System / Media
• Security
• Internal - authentication
• External - Hardware Firewall
• Network Anti-Virus protection
• UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply)

 LAN Internetworking 

Internetworking is linking individual LANs together to form a single large internetwork. This internetwork is sometimes called an enterprise network because it interconnects all of the computer networks throughout the entire enterprise.

Workgroup LANs on different floors of a building or in separate buildings on a business campus can be linked together so that all of the computing systems at that site are interconnected. Geographically distant company sites can also be tied together in the enterprise-wide internetwork.

 Networking Technology Links