Basic Networking Components

Basic Networking Components

Clients and Servers

Often, as a network grows and more computers are

added, one computer will act as a server—a central storage

point for files or application programs shared on the network.

Servers also provide connections to shared peripherals

such as printers. Setting up one computer as a server

prevents you from having to outfit every networked computer

with extensive storage capability and duplicate costly

peripherals. The computers that connect to the server are

called clients.

Note that you don’t need to have a dedicated server in
your network. With only a few computers connected,
networking can be “peer to peer.” Users can exchange files
and e-mail, copy files onto each others’ hard drives and
even use printers or modems connected to just one computer.
As more users are added to the network, however, having
a dedicated server provides a central point for management

duties such as file backup and program upgrades.


Wiring and Cable
Networks use three primary types of wiring (also referred
to as “media”):
Twisted-pair—the industry standard in new installations.
This wire comes in several “standards.” Unshielded twisted
pair (UTP) Category 3 wire (also called 10BaseT) is
often used for your phone lines, and UTP Category 5 (also
called 10Base2) wire are the current networking standards.
Coaxial—resembles round cable TV wiring.
Fiber-optic—usually reserved for connections between
“backbone” devices in larger networks, though in some
very demanding environments, highly fault resistant fiberoptic
cable is used to connect desktop workstations to the
network and to link adjacent buildings. Fiber-optic cable
is the most reliable wiring but also the most expensive.
Care should be taken in selecting the cabling for your
classrooms and buildings. You want to be sure the wires
running through ceilings and between walls can handle
not only your present needs, but any upgrades you foresee
in the next several years. For instance, Ethernet can use
UTP Category 3 wiring. However, Fast Ethernet requires at
least the higher-grade UTP Category 5 wiring. As a result, all
new wiring installations should be Category 5. You may
also want to explore plenum cable, which can be routed
through many types of heating and cooling ducts in ceilings.
Check with your architect or wiring contractor to ensure
this process is fire code compliant.
Network interface cards
Network interface cards
(NICs), or adapters, are
usually installed inside
a computer’s case. With
portable and notebook
computers, the NIC is
usually in the credit cardsized
PC card (PCMCIA) format, which is installed in a
slot. Again, when selecting NICs, plan ahead. Ethernet
NICs support only Ethernet connections, while 10/100
NICs cost about the same and can work with either
Ethernet or higher-performance Fast Ethernet connections.
In addition, you need to ensure that your NICs will
support the type of cabling you will use—twisted-pair
(also called 10BaseT), coaxial (also called 10Base2), or
a mixture of both.
Network Interface Card
Twisted Pair Coaxial Fiber