Networking hardware Computers need networking hardware in order to connect to each other. Routers A router can form a LAN by connecting devices within a building.
Modems A modem enables a computer to connect to the internet over a telephone line. Hubs, bridges and switches Hubs , bridges and switches allow multiple devices to connect to the router and they transfer data to all devices on a network.
Hubs A hub broadcasts data to all devices on a network. Bridges A bridge is used to connect two separate LAN networks. Switches A switch performs a similar role to a hub and a bridge but is more powerful. Wireless access points Wireless access points WAPs are required to connect to a network wirelessly. A commonly used network cable is category 5 cable with RJ — 45 connector, as shown in the image below:. A router is a connecting device that transfers data packets between different computer networks.
They contain RJ ports so that computers and other devices can connect with them using network cables. Repeaters, hubs and switches connect network devices together so that they can function as a single segment.
On Home networks the router is responsible for connecting the home network to the Internet and provides several important networking services like:. In the case of an home router the networks are the Internet and the home network as shown in the diagram below.
If you purchase your own router then you need to ensure it is the correct type for your Internet connection. External modems are commonly found on Networks that connect using fibre, and are required to convert electrical signals from the router into light signals to send over the fibre cable.
Internet connections that use telephone cables to connect to the Internet use these link protocols or technologies. ADSL Analogue digital subscriber line is the older technology, and is now being replaced by VDSL very high speed digital subscriber line which is faster.
In these connections the fibre is provided to a distribution point near the home, and the standard telephone lines provide the connection to the home using VDSL. However more and more people are not using a traditional land line phone connection, but a mobile phone. They were originally designed for use by mobile workers or people on holiday that required to share a mobile Internet connection.
Usually they provide a Wi-Fi access point and Ethernet connections just like a traditional home router but the connection to the ISP is via the mobile network as shown below. The upload and download speeds are generally slower than land line with 3G giving between kbps and 7. Many routers now provide two Internet access methods for redundancy purposes and are increasing popular with the current work at home trend. Place in range of the existing Wireless network, and it will take the signal from the network and rebroadcast it, thus increasing the range of the network.
A Mi-Fi Hub is a relatively new device, and it can be used for connecting multiple devices to the Internet over the mobile network 3g and 4G. These are Ethernet cards that plug directly into a mains socket, and use the mains wiring to carry the Ethernet signal instead of using UTP cable.
They plug into the mains and have an Ethernet socket that you can use to connect to a computer,switch , router etc. You can also get ones that function as Wireless Access points which are used for extending a networks to overcome range limitations of Wi-Fi.
See Homeplug adaptors and Powerline networking and extending a home network. A Wi-Fi homeplug adaptor needs to be connected to another homeplug adapter using the electrical mains. Here is a good video covering the differences between UTP and STP, straight vs crossover, and the different categories. Wiki On cat6 cable and cat 5. See How to Wire your Home Network. See Wiki on Ethernet crossover cable and Medium dependent interface.
Low cost and very useful for joining Ethernet cables together. Connector are RJ How to wire your own home network PCworld tutorial and This video.
To exchange information they require to have, and use several networking services and protocols. All modern networks use the IP networking protocol, and to work on a network all devices require an IP address. IPv4 is the original version and is deployed in all home and office networks and on the Internet.
All modern computers,tablets and smart phones are capable of using DHCP and are configured to use it by default. For home and small office networks the DHCP service is built into the router that connects to the Internet. If no DHCP service is available clients will automatically assign their own IP address known as a local address or you can manually assign them called static addresses.
The domain name system is the heart of the Internet. It is responsible for resolving domain names to IP addresses. The DNS servers store the data and are mainly located on the Internet e. This is normally assigned by the DHCP server. See Understanding DNS. Cannot normally be changed. However, some routers come with integrated switches that enable you to connect more than one wired device to a single Internet source.
Since many routers are wireless, it enables you to set up a wireless home network or WiFi network. In a wireless home network, a router connects all your devices that need a data connection. The router is further attached to a modem. Instead, you can attach your computer to a modem via an Ethernet cable. Moreover, some modems also include a router so you can set up a wireless network without additional cost.
Since a wireless router is a combination of a router and wireless access point, many people often get confused between these wireless devices. A wireless access point refers to a hub that enables connection between wireless devices and wired networks via a jack. It consists of an Ethernet cable attached to a router, which converts a wired network to a wireless one. On the other hand, a router directs information from a local network to broadband.
The internet is a universal system of computer networks that lets you access and convey almost every piece of information with a single click on your computer. Once you have purchased an internet connection from an ISP, you will need to buy a device to connect your network to the internet.
You can choose any of the above devices for this purpose, depending upon your speed needs, type of connection, and budget. Table of Contents show. Other related articles that may be interesting for you:. Seeing other computers in a network in Windows 10 Enabling virtualization in Windows 10 Changing Windows 10 default folder view How can I sort folders by size in Windows 10? Guide to install Windows without losing data How can I create a Windows 10 backup image?
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