Explains the concepts of networking and most common networking components and how to use them.

Learn the basics of a network!

What can a network do for me?

A network consists of a group of devices connected together to communicate and exchange data. The devices consist of desktops, laptops, printers, and other hardware devices. Networking is all about sharing information. Having a network will allow all your computers to connect to the internet, talk to each other, share resources like files and printers and more. 

Some Benefits of Networking

Having a networking adds flexibility to the way you work and with your computers and network devices.

- Share a broadband internet connection like DSL, Cable or T1 connection so everyone can surf the web simultaneously
- Share all types of files, like music, pictures, documents, and more

- Store all your files in one place for easier management, uniformity, and save costs

- Access your files from any computer, anywhere

- Use servers on your network for security of productivity purposes
- Enjoy multiplayer & head-to-head gaming at one location

- Interact with people all over the world in chats, games, forums, and more

- Share resources like drive space, printers, scanners and more

There are two types of networks to choose from – wired and wireless. Both has pros and cons but the great thing is, you can combine both!

Wired – data is sent through cables, most common form is Ethernet also known as CAT5. It has been around for decades, low cost, very stable solid connection, not easily interrupted, and faster speed than a wireless connection.

Wireless – data is sent through radio waves in the area. Although increasingly popular because it is fast enough for most purposes, very flexible and allows you to be truly mobile without the restriction of cables, save time setting up cables, very easy to expand, and easier to install. The cons speed, reliability and security. Although wireless is fast and reliable enough for most people, it still slows down during high data transfers and drops connections every now and then. The security flaw is that data is sent through the air and hackers can capture packets and even decrypt data in some cases.

There are many devices that make up a network. The most common ones you will come across a MODEM, ROUTERS, SWITCHES, HUBS, and of course a PC. All of these devices are usually connected via a LAN CAT5 cable. Keep in mind that LAN/CAT5/Ethernet cable all means the same thing! In some networks, the connection between the PC and the router is WIRELESS.

Modem – This device sends internet data to your home. People who don’t have networks at home have their modem connected directly to their computer for internet access.

Router – For people that DO have a network at home, their modem connects to their router. In fact, EVERY DEVICE that is to be connected to the network must be connected to the router. Therefore, the router is the main device of every network. Originally, routers were meant only to assign IP’s to your PC’s. An IP address can be thought as a unique phone number for each PC that is connected to the router. That way data being sent can be directed to one PC or another by use of the IP address. Nowadays, routers come with a built-in switch, hence the term “Cable/DSL Router with 4-port switch” on some of the routers you see in stores. Many routers today carry more complicated features such as built-in firewalls, remote management and access for all sorts of different protocols. None of this matters to the beginner user so we’ll save that for later.

Hub - A hub is basically an extension of the router. Once the hub is connected to the router, it adds more ports for other devices to connect to the router and join the network. In a sense, you compare a hub to a cargo car for trains. By itself, the cargo car can’t move, but connected to a train, it adds more space. Well, for a switch, it can’t assign IP’s by itself. But if it is connected a router, more computers can connect to the router through the hub.

Switch – A switch is actually like a hub. It looks the same and does the same function – which is to add more ports to the router.  The only thing different is how the switch works and sends data. In short, switch is much more efficient than the hub because it data directly to the port from the beginning, whereas the hub sends data to all the ports and waits for a return response.

Here are some other terms that you may have heard but never understood what they meant:

Wireless Access Point – This is just a switch, but a wireless switch. There are no physical ports to it; you can only connect to this device by wireless. People use this device to connect to an already existing router to add wireless capability to their network. Not to be confused with WIRELESS ROUTER, the difference is that this access point can’t assign IP addresses. Without IP’s being assigned to all computers, that means no computer has a unique ID on the network, and that means you have no network.

Print Server – This device connects to the network via Ethernet cable and allows for USB or Parallel printers to connect to the ports on the device itself. All it does is add an Ethernet port to your older printer to allow it to connect to the network to be shared. Many new printers nowadays have Ethernet ports so they can connect directly to your router without having to go through a print server.

Wireless Range Extender – This device sits out in the “weak zone” of your wireless network and amplifies the wireless signal to extend the wireless coverage further in your home or office.

VOIP adapters or routers – These devices, once connected to your network, allow you to connect a phone and make phone calls using your internet connection instead of your home phone line. This is favorable because VOIP (voice-over-IP) phone service providers charge as low as $20/month for unlimited calling in the US, Canada, and many other countries! You can save money with this and there’s nothing new to it. You just pick up your phone and dial!

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