Level 2 Diploma Unit 10 Setting up an IT Network Network Equipment Level 2 Diploma Unit 10 Setting up an IT Network

Unit outcomes Know the current use of computer networks Know the features and services of local and wide area networks Understand how network hardware and software components are connected Be able to set up a simple local area network

Network hardware What do you know about Network Hardware? Complete the quiz! Do as much as you can, keep the completed quiz and make notes as we go through.

Network hardware Required irrespective of the software systems or types of network Adapter cards Cable or wireless Workstations/devices Routers Switches Servers

Network Cards A Network Interface Card (NIC) connects a computer to a network By wire By wireless

Network Cards Network cards fit into: A PC A laptop Integrated into the motherboard Plugged into a PCI slot A laptop Plugged into a PCMCIA slot or CardBus slot

Network Cards The network card translates the software messages into Electrical signals over wires Signals transmitted as radio waves

Frames Address used is the 48 bit unique MAC (Media Access Control) address hard coded into the adapter

Network Cables The wired network is called Ethernet Cables are formed of twisted pairs either shielded (STP) or unshielded (UTP) Shielded has the cables wrapped in metal to make is more expensive but faster and more reliable Most cable is Category 5 or 5e (Cat 5)

Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) Four copper wire pairs (8 in total) Twisted to reduce crosstalk and electromagnetic interference Solid cables for permanent wiring Stranded for flexible cables Uses RJ45 connector Cat Frequency MHz Capacity Mbps Maximum Distance Ethernet Standard 5 100 100m 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet 5e 1000 1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet 6 Up to 250 1000+ 10Gbps 55m 10GBASE-T 10G Ethernet 6a

Structured wiring Wall plates have IDC (Insulation Displacement Connector) RJ45 ports Solid cabling connects the ports to a patch panel Stranded patch cables connect hosts to the wall plates and the patch panel to hubs or switches

Fibre Optic Cable Uses light Glass core carries the signals Not subject to interference or eavesdropping Low attenuation means Longer distances Higher bandwidth Glass core carries the signals Glass or plastic cladding guides the light Cable usually has 2 fibres in a protective jacket for full duplex operation

Types of fibre optic cable Single mode (SMF) Smaller core Uses laser light Very long cable runs – used for WAN More expensive than multimode Multimode (MMF) Up to 500m – used for LAN Cheaper Uses LEDs

Ethernet Fibre Optic standards Speed Maximum Length Cable type 10BASE-FL 10Mbps 2 km MMF 1000BASE-SX 1Gbps 550 m 10GBASE-SR 10Gbps 82 m 10GBASE-ER 40 km SMF

Fibre optic connectors ST straight tip mostly for MMF FC ferrule connector older SMF SC subscriber connector simpler than FC LC Lucent connector half the size of SC MT-JR Mechanical Transfer Registered Jack small form factor for MMF

Client A PC or a mobile device Requests a service from the server A file A web page A printout Authorisation

Client/server

Server A specialised computer Server has increased reliability and availability More RAM and disk space Duplicate components – power supplies, NICs Hot swappable RAID disks Uninterruptable power supplies used Always on Optimised for providing services

What does the server do? Stores data centrally Ease of backup Available to any client Centralised permissions Centralised security protection Eliminates multiple copies

What does the server do? Provides shared facilities Printers Applications Web pages

What does the server do? Provides central authorisations User ID Password security Group policies Centrally control what can be done on the client

Client server is scalable Easy to add new clients Easy to add new servers

Switch A device that connects workstations together Allows multiple connections between devices at the same time Typically 4 connections for a home, 24 for a business Works on MAC addresses Will not work with IP addresses

Router A device that connects networks together Allows access to the internet Typically combined with a switch and a modem for home Works on IP addresses

Task Explain how hardware can be connected together to make a network which can connect to the internet (part of criteria P5)