Basic Networking Equipment Uses and Applications

Brief descriptions of basic network equipment uses and applications.

Network Equipment:

1000Base-T NIC – Network interface card used to enable a computer or other device to connect to a gigabit Ethernet IEEE 802.3ab network. Typically consists of a single or dual RJ45 jack on the physical connection portion of the network interface card.

1000Base-T Cable – Network cable consisting of four twisted pair copper wires designed to support network speeds up to 1 gigabit (IEEE 802.3ab). Must meet the ANSI/EIA/TIA Category 5e or Category 6 minimum specifications.

1000Base-T Switch (Small, up to 8 ports) – Network device that typically operates at OSI layer 2 supporting Data Link Layer bridging, MAC layer addressing and forwarding functions along with gigabit Ethernet speeds. Physical connectivity provided by ANSI/EIA/TIA compliant RJ45 copper ports that connect to CAT 5e or CAT 6 cable. Provides a collision domain on each port (8 collision domains) while supporting a broadcast domain for the entire switch (which may be divided into smaller broadcast domains if VLANs are supported).

Fiber Optic Switch (Small, up to 8 ports) – Network device that typically operates at OSI layer 2 supporting Data Link Layer bridging, MAC layer addressing and forwarding functions along with gigabit Ethernet speeds. Physical connectivity provided by ANSI/EIA/TIA compliant fiber optic connectors of the LC, SC and MTP types supporting the 1000BASE-CX, 1000BASE-LX, and/or 1000BASE-SX standards using multimode or single mode fiber optic cabling. Provides a collision domain on each port (8 collision domains) while supporting a broadcast domain for the entire switch (which may be divided into smaller broadcast domains if VLANs are supported).

100Base-T Switch (Medium, 9-32 ports) – Network device that typically operates at OSI layer 2 supporting Data Link Layer bridging, MAC layer addressing and forwarding functions along with 100 megabit Ethernet speeds (IEEE 802.3 standard). Physical connectivity provided by ANSI/EIA/TIA compliant RJ45 copper ports that connect to CAT 5 cabling. Provides a collision domain on each port (9-32 collision domains) while supporting a broadcast domain for the entire switch (which may be divided into smaller broadcast domains if VLANs are supported).

Fiber Optic Switch (Medium, 9-32 ports) – Network device that typically operates at OSI layer 2 supporting Data Link Layer bridging, MAC layer addressing and forwarding functions along with gigabit Ethernet speeds. Physical connectivity provided by ANSI/EIA/TIA compliant fiber optic connectors of the LC, SC and MTP types supporting the 1000BASE-CX, 1000BASE-LX, and/or 1000BASE-SX standards using multimode or single mode fiber optic cabling. Provides a collision domain on each port (9 – 32 collision domains) while supporting a broadcast domain for the entire switch (which may be divided into smaller broadcast domains if VLANs are supported).

Bridge – A network device that operates at OSI layer two data link and MAC layers. Uses MAC hardware addresses to make network-forwarding decisions using a MAC address table that associates ports to device MAC addresses. The device consists of a single collision domain.

DB-25 Connector – 25 pin “D” shaped or “subminature” style shielded connector typically used for RS232 serial communications on older computers. Also used for “Centronics” or “parallel” printer connections to computers and serial connections on network devices such as routers and switches.

100Base-T Hub – Multiport network device that supports a single collision domain for all RJ45, ANSI/EIA/TIA compliant ports, and resides at OSI Physical layer 1. The hub forwards electronic network signals on a 100 megabit Ethernet network, and supports half duplex connections.

1000Base-T Hub – Multiport network device that supports a single collision domain for all RJ45, ANSI/EIA/TIA compliant ports, and resides at OSI Physical layer 1. The hub forwards electronic network signals on a 1 gigabit Ethernet network, and supports half duplex connections.

Wireless LAN controller – Network interface that enables a computer or other device to connect to an IEEE 802.11 wireless network. May support the 802.11a,b,g,n standards or a licensed band.

Voice/Data gateway – VoIP or Voice over IP device that provides ports for multiple phone and fax devices to deliver voice and data over private Ethernet networks and the Internet using the H.323, SIP or SPP (and other) multimedia protocols.