Network Infrastructure:
The efficiency and reliability of any network depends on the network infrastructure. The networks have to be managed and controlled well to make efficient use of the available bandwidth. For this purpose, a number of different devices are used. These devices are described here.
Network Interface Cards
Network Interface Cards (NICs) are adapters installed in a computer that enable its physical connection to a network. These cards provide a transparent interface between the computer and the network and enable the computer to communicate with the network. Computers and workstations that are supported by LAN contain an NIC that is designed exclusively for the LAN transmission technology. These cards provide a dedicated connection to a network.
NICs control the flow of information between the user and the network. The NIC takes the data to be sent, breaks it up into packets, and transmits the packets. Most of the NICs are designed for a particular type of protocol, media, and network. There are some NICs that are designed to serve multiple purposes. A user can select an NIC on the basis of the type of network and the type of cabling.
Types of LAN Protocols
Broadly, there are three types of LAN protocols - the Ethernet, FDDI, and the Token Ring. The Ethernet is a widely used LAN technology developed by Xerox. It uses a coaxial cable or a special grade of twisted pair wires to transmit data. The Token Ring is another LAN technology, developed by IBM. Different NICs are used for Ethernet and Token Ring networks. A major advantage of Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) is it operates over fiber optic cable at 100 Mbps. it is used to connect two or more LANs over large distances.
Type of cabling
The type of cabling will also determine the type of NIC used. The cabling system must meet current and future needs for data transmission, physical layout, and communication. The commonly used cabling systems are coaxial cable and thin Ethernet. Coaxial cables are better shielded than twisted pair cables and can therefore be used to cover longer distances. Thin Ethernet, sometimes referred to as "Cheapernet," uses a special grade of coaxial cable RG58.
Repeater
A repeater is networking device, which is used to retransmit a weak or low-level signal at a higher level or at higher power. Whenever a signal has to travel over large networks (or several small networks) the signal gradually loses its strength and may fail and data may be lost. In such cases repeater is used to ensure that this does not happen.
Bridge
A bridge is a device that is used for connecting multiple network segments. As a network grows larger, more resources need to be shared, and messaging within the network increases, which will slow down the network. Therefore, in order to reduce the traffic on the network, it is split or divided into smaller LANs and a bridge is used to connect these LANs.
Routers
A router is a network device that routes data packets between two networks. Routers makes internetworking possible by interconnecting both individual computers or LANs, and WANs. Routers select the best path to route the message, based on the destination address and the origin. They can also act as a firewall to prevent unwanted packets from entering and leaving a network. Routers are treated as super intelligent bridges because they process all routing protocols.
Hubs
Hubs are used as centralized points, to which various segments in a LAN are connected. These are used to build structured cabling systems. A hub joins multiple devices together to form a network within which they communicate. Ethernet hubs are the most commonly used type of hubs. A hub has a series of ports to which network cables are connected. High-end hubs can support a variety of networks such as the Token Ring and Optical networks.
Switch
A switch is a device that connects networks together. The superior speed and reasonable price of switches have made them more popular than bridges. A bridge is used only to increase the length of the network. On the other hand, a switch is used to distribute traffic from a source network segment to a destination network segment.
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