Chapter Six Networking Hardware

Chapter Objectives Identify functions of LAN connectivity hardware Install and configure a network interface card (NIC) Identify problems associated with connectivity hardware Describe the factors involved in choosing a NIC, hub, switch, or router Describe the uses of repeaters, hubs, bridges, switches, and gateways Describe the function of routing protocols

Network Interface Cards (NICs) Connectivity devices enabling a workstation, server, printer or other node to receive and transmit data over the network media Sometimes called network adapters

Network Interface Cards (NICs) Types of NICs Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) MicroChannel Architecture (MCA) Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) FIGURE 6-1 Four primary bus architectures

Network Interface Cards (NICs) FIGURE 6-2 Three kinds of bus connections on the same board

Network Interface Cards (NICs) NICs may connect to interfaces other than a PC’s bus For laptop computers, Personal Computer Memory Card International Association slots may be used to connect NICs PCMCIA Also called PC card Developed in the early 1990s to provide a standard interface for connecting any type of device to a portable computer

Network Interface Cards (NICs) FIGURE 6-3 Typical PCMCIA NIC FIGURE 6-4 Parallel port NIC

Network Interface Cards (NICs) FIGURE 6-5 Wireless NIC and transceiver FIGURE 6-6 Ethernet NICs for printers

Network Interface Cards (NICs) FIGURE 6-7 Variety of Ethernet NICs FIGURE 6-8 Variety of Token Ring NICs

Network Interface Cards (NICs) Installing NICs Installing hardware Configuring software Configuring firmware, a combination of hardware and software Because its data can be erased or changed, the type of ROM on firmware is called erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM)

Installing NIC Hardware Have the proper tools and turn off the computer Attach ground strap to wrist and make sure it’s attached to ground strap underneath computer Open computer case Select a slot on the computer’s system board where you will insert the NIC Properly line up the NIC and insert

Installing NIC Hardware Attach bracket at end of NIC Make sure nothing is disturbed or left inside Replace cover and screws FIGURE 6-9 Properly inserted NIC

Installing NIC Hardware FIGURE 6-10 Installing a PCMCIA NIC

Installing and Configuring NIC Software After NIC is physically installed, restart the PC Unless plug-and-play technology is disabled, Windows 95 should automatically detect the new hardware To make certain the correct driver is installed, choose Have Disk, and insert the disk that came with the NIC FIGURE 6-11 Windows 95 prompt for hardware drivers

Installing and Configuring NIC Software Type the correct path and click OK If prompted, select the precise model being installed and click OK If asked for location of Windows 95 CAB files, direct installation program to that drive and click OK Once installed, restart PC

IRQ (Interrupt Request Line) Means by which a computer can request information from the CPU If two devices choose the same IRQ, resource conflicts and performance problems will result If IRQ conflicts occur, set the devices IRQ manually

IRQ (Interrupt Request Line) To view IRQ settings on computers running Windows 95 Right-click My Computer Click Properties Click Device Manager Double-click Computer With View Resources and Interrupt Request selected, scroll through listings FIGURE 6-12 Computer resource settings in Windows 95

IRQ (Interrupt Request Line) Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, then click Windows NT Diagnostics Click Resources Click IRQ View IRQ settings FIGURE 6-13 IRQ settings displayed in Windows NT Diagnostics

IRQ (Interrupt Request Line) Complementary metal oxide conductor (CMOS) Firmware attached to system board that controls the configuration of a computer’s devices, among other things Message displayed if attempting to change the NIC’s IRQ from the operating system For Windows NT: “Cannot configure the software component” For Windows 95: “This resource setting cannot be modified.”

Memory Range and Base I/O Port Hexadecimal number indicating the area memory that the NIC and CPU will use for exchanging, or buffering, the data Base I/O port Setting that specifies, in hexadecimal notation, which area of memory will act as a channel for moving data between the NIC and CPU

Changing NIC Firmware When changing firmware, users write to EPROM chip on the NIC, not the computer’s hard disk Though most configurable settings can be changed in the operating system or NIC setup software, it is possible to encounter complex networking problems that require a change to firmware settings Loopback plug Plugs into port and crosses over the transmit line to the receive line so that the outgoing signal can be redirected back into the computer for testing

Choosing the Right NIC Table 6-1 NIC Characteristics

Repeaters Connectivity device that regenerates and amplifies an analog or digital signal FIGURE 6-14 Repeater