Networking
Networks have evolved since the day people wanted to share information. Early networks were known as “sneaker net,” people ran from computer to computer and place to place with floppy discs in hand ready to shove them into someone's drive. These drives were called floppy drives, and no, it’s not a ride in a floppy car but instead it is a device that basically plays flat looking plastic disc’s that store information.
That was in the days of the early IMB computers and now things have moved on somewhat. Many cyber moons and megabytes have passed and a few years later the world of the internet was born out of this need for sharing and exchanging information. Well I should add that the military actually had a lot to do with it, however that is another story and probably too lengthy for this site. Now days we have many different kinds of networks and many different levels of security and not to mention a vast array of devices that can connect to these networks.
Because networking technology has advanced so far and so fast, it has become more than a little daunting for the non-tech savvy to grasp this entity. I will attempt to decipher and translate some of the mechanisms behind networks so you can better understand what this monster is all about?
Networking in the home
D-Link WiFi Router
There are probably a few things you should know before you sign up with an ISP (internet service provider) to get on the internet. First of all let me explain what kinds of network you can have that will see you online. One of the most popular and one we recommend is wireless internet, this one comes in the form of a modem/router which means this device brings in the internet signal from your telephone line and then “routes” it out as a wireless transmission.
When we say modem/router, we are referring to a device that basically transmitts this wireless signal sending and receiving messages from your computer. We often call it a “router”, or in this case a wireless router, it is also known as a “WiFi” modem. These days many of them are a modem and a router combined, hence its name, "modem/router". The modem part is responsible for bringing the signal in and out of your home while the router part is responsible for telling it where to go. So the router acts like air traffic control providing instructions and giving the signal directions.
When we say modem/router, we are referring to a device that basically transmitts this wireless signal sending and receiving messages from your computer. We often call it a “router”, or in this case a wireless router, it is also known as a “WiFi” modem. These days many of them are a modem and a router combined, hence its name, "modem/router". The modem part is responsible for bringing the signal in and out of your home while the router part is responsible for telling it where to go. So the router acts like air traffic control providing instructions and giving the signal directions.
Because this modem/router thingy does all the sending and receiving, it becomes the "AP" or Access Point. This means it is the base station for our network signal and all the computers access the signal from this point.
The wireless signal is what we term WiFi and is a word used to describe Wireless Fidelity, this is about a radio transmission and works just like your radio. The radio station in this case is the WiFi modem that broadcast the signal and your computer is the radio or receiver, so in effect you could say that to connect this way, you more or less “tune” your computer into the modem/router.
The wireless signal is what we term WiFi and is a word used to describe Wireless Fidelity, this is about a radio transmission and works just like your radio. The radio station in this case is the WiFi modem that broadcast the signal and your computer is the radio or receiver, so in effect you could say that to connect this way, you more or less “tune” your computer into the modem/router.
Ethernet Cable and Connector
In most cases you can actually attach several computers to the one access point, some can be attached via wires or cables called Ethernet cables and the others can be connected via a wireless signal. The computers connected with cables are said to be "hard-wired" while the others that are wireless use the antenna on the access point. This antenna talks to another in the computer. Many notebooks have inbuilt antennas.
D-Link WiFi Router
Here is a WiFi router with four RJ45 ports to connect or hard-wire four computers or devices. The Ethernet cables fit these ports, the fifth port on the right is the line in, all the others support output only. This router also has a USB port for a printer, you can see the antenna which connects all the wireless computers. Obviously you can only add four hard-wired computers to this model, the number of wireless devices is unlimited. The more you have using the network at once, the slower the it goes.
In the early days of WiFi security was something of an issue, now days new protocols have been established that give this type of network greater security. You can setup a wireless network with security protocols in place that protect you from unwanted intruders or “Attackers” that aim to steal your personal information.
In the early days of WiFi security was something of an issue, now days new protocols have been established that give this type of network greater security. You can setup a wireless network with security protocols in place that protect you from unwanted intruders or “Attackers” that aim to steal your personal information.
Protocols are like a set of rules that the network signal or transmission uses by to get from one place to the other, these protocols are not that dissimilar to road rules. In this respect they also govern how a signal is transmitted, these rules or “protocols” are periodically improved and updated, this is to enhance networks and their security.
To find out more about networks and security see: Securing Your Network
To find out more about networks and security see: Securing Your Network