FBLA NETWORKING INFRASTRUCTURES D,E,F
802.8
Fiber optic
GSM
GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) is a digital mobile network that is widely used by mobile phone users in Europe and other parts of the world. GSM uses a variation of time division multiple access (TDMA) and is the most widely used of the three digital wireless telephony technologies: TDMA, GSM and code-division multiple access (CDMA). GSM digitizes and compresses data, then sends it down a channel with two other streams of user data, each in its own time slot. It operates at either the 900 megahertz (MHz) or 1,800 MHz frequency band.
SCSI
Stands for "Small Computer System Interface," and is pronounced "scuzzy." SCSI is a computer interface used primarily for high-speed hard drives. This is because SCSI can support faster data transfer rates than the commonly used IDE storage interface. SCSI also supports daisy-chaining devices, which means several SCSI hard drives can be connected to single a SCSI interface, with little to no decrease in performance.
CSU
The Channel Service Unit (CSU) receives and transmits signals from and to the WAN line and provides a barrier for electrical interference from either side of the unit. The CSU can also echo loopback signals from the phone company for testing purposes.
802.3
The IEEE standard for Ethernet networking devices and data handling (using the CSMA/CD access method).
802.16
The IEEE standard for broadband wireless metropolitan area networking (also known as WiMAX).
802.11
The IEEE standard for wireless networking.
OSI Model
The OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model was created by the ISO to help standardize communication between computer systems. It divides communications into seven different layers, which each include multiple hardware standards, protocols, or other types of services.
PCI Adapter
The PCI adapter is an add-in card that can fit within a desktop computer. The intended computer's motherboard must have an open PCI slot in order to use a PCI adapter. These adapters offer cordless convenience and good speeds.
Mesh Topology
The mesh network topology links nodes with connections so that multiple paths between at least some points of the network are available. A network is said to be fully meshed if all nodes are directly connected to all other nodes, and partially meshed if only some nodes have multiple connections to others. Meshing to create multiple paths increases resiliency under failure, but increases cost. The Internet is a mesh network.
Physical Layer (name devices and protocols as well)
The physical layer of the OSI model defines connector and interface specifications, as well as the medium (cable) requirements. Electrical, mechanical, functional, and procedural specifications are provided for sending a bit stream on a computer network. Devices: Hub, repeater, transreceiver Protocols: RJ45, ST/SC, V Series (modem standards)
Tree Topology
The tree network topology, also called a star of stars, is a network where star topologies are themselves connected in a star configuration. Many larger Ethernet switch networks including data center networks, are configured as trees.
Mini PCI Adapter
This adapter needs to be installed inside the desired laptop. The antenna of the mini PCI adapter is built into the device for a more compact look and feel.
Routers
This is a hardware device that routes data (hence the name) from a local area network (LAN) to another network connection. A router acts like a coin sorting machine, allowing only authorized machines to connect to other computer systems. Most routers also keep log files about the local network activity.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is a wireless networking technology that allows computers and other devices to communicate over a wireless signal. (works with WLANs) It describes network components that are based on one of the 802.11 standards developed by the IEEE and adopted by the Wi-Fi Alliance. Examples of Wi-Fi standards, in chronological order, include: 802.11a 802.11b 802.11g 802.11n 802.11ac
WiMax
WiMAX is a wireless communications standard designed for creating metropolitan area networks (MANs). It is similar to the Wi-Fi standard, but supports a far greater range of coverage. While a Wi-Fi signal can cover a radius of several hundred feet, a fixed WiMAX station can cover a range of up to 30 miles. Mobile WiMAX stations can broadcast up to 10 miles. Advancement of IEEE 802.16 standards for BWA (broadband wireless access) networks
USB Hub
A USB hub is a device that allows multiple peripherals to connect through a single USB port. It is designed to increase the number of USB devices you can connect to a computer. For example, if your computer has two USB ports, but you want to connect five USB devices, you can connect a 4-port USB hub to one of the ports. The hub will create four ports out of one, giving you five total ports. The USB interface allows you to daisy chain USB hubs together and connect up to 127 devices to a single computer.
PCMCIA Adapter
Also known as the PC card, this adapter works well for notebook computers. The antenna sticks out of the body of the notebook. PCMCIA adapters offer scalable expansion capabilities and support for various storage, memory and communication functions.
802.2
An IEEE standard used to address the need for MAC sub-layer addressing in bridges.
Baseband
Baseband refers to the original frequency range of a transmission signal before it is converted, or modulated, to a different frequency ranbge. For example, an audio signal may have a baseband range from 20 to 20,000 hertz. When it is transmitted on a radio frequency (RF), it is modulated to a much higher, inaudible, frequency range.
Cable Modem
A cable modem is a device that enables you to hook up your PC to a local cable TV line and receive data at about 1.5 Mbps. This data rate far exceeds that of the prevalent 28.8 and 56 Kbps telephone modems and the up to 128 Kbps of Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) and is about the data rate available to subscribers of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) telephone service. A cable modem can be added to or integrated with a set-top box that provides your TV set with channels for Internet access. In most cases, cable modems are furnished as part of the cable access service and are not purchased directly and installed by the subscriber.
Network Hub
A network hub is a device that allows multiple computers to communicate with each other over a network. It has several Ethernet ports that are used to connect two or more network devices together. Each computer or device connected to the hub can communicate with any other device connected to one of the hub's Ethernet ports.
Switches
A switch is used to network multiple computers together. Switches made for the consumer market are typically small, flat boxes with 4 to 8 Ethernet ports. These ports can connect to computers, cable or DSL modems, and other switches. High-end switches can have more than 50 ports and often are rack mounted.
Virtual Machines
A virtual machine (or "VM") is an emulated computer system created using software. It uses physical system resources, such as the CPU, RAM, and disk storage, but is isolated from other software on the computer. It can easily be created, modified, or destroyed without affecting the host computer.
Bridges
In computer networking, a bridge serves the same purpose. It connects two or more local area networks (LANs) together. The cars, or the data in this case, use the bridge to travel to and from different areas of the network. The device is similar to a router, but it does not analyze the data being forwarded. Because of this, bridges are typically fast at transferring data, but not as versatile as a router. For example, a bridge cannot be used as a firewall like most routers can. A bridge can transfer data between different protocols (i.e. a Token Ring and Ethernet network) and operates at the "data link layer" or level 2 of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) networking reference model.
Hot-Swappable
In electronics terminology, the word "hot" is often used to mean "active" or "powered on." Therefore, a hot swappable device is a peripheral or component that can be removed or added while a computer is running. Replacing a device while a computer is powered on is called "hot swapping."
Bus Topology
In the bus network topology, every node is connected in series along a linear path. This arrangement is found today primarily in cable broadband distribution networks.
Ring Topology
In the ring network topology, the nodes are connected in a closed loop configuration. Some rings will pass data only in one direction, while others are capable of transmission in both directions. These bidirectional ring networks are more resilient than bus networks because traffic can reach a node by moving in either direction. Metro networks based on Synchronous Optical Network Technology (SONET) are the primary example of ring networks today.
Star Topology
In the star network topology, a central node has a direct connection to all other nodes. Switched local-area networks (LANs) based on Ethernet switches, including most wired home and office networks, have a physical star topology.
802.1
Internetworking: The IEEE standard for routing, bridging, and network to network communication
Data Link Layer (name devices and protocols as well)
Layer 2 of the OSI model provides the following functions: • Allows a device to access the network to send and receive messages • Offers a physical address so a device's data can be sent on the network • Works with a device's networking software when sending and receiving messages • Provides error-detection capability Devices: Switch, Bridge, NIC, WAP Protocols: Ethernet, PPP, HDLC, Frame Relay, ATM
Network Layer (name devices and protocols as well)
Layer 3, the network layer of the OSI model, provides an end-to-end logical addressing system so that a packet of data can be routed across several layer 2 networks (Ethernet, Token Ring, Frame Relay, etc.). Note that network layer addresses can also be referred to as logical addresses. Devices: Router Protocols: IP
Transport Layer (name devices and protocols as well)
Layer 4, the transport layer of the OSI model, offers end-to-end communication between end devices through a network. Depending on the application, the transport layer either offers reliable, connection-oriented or connectionless, best-effort communications. Devices: Firewall Protocols: TCP, UDP
Session Layer (name devices and protocols as well)
Layer 5, the session layer, provides various services, including tracking the number of bytes that each end of the session has acknowledged receiving from the other end of the session. This session layer allows applications functioning on devices to establish, manage, and terminate a dialog through a network. Devices: n/a Protocols: SQL, NFS, ASP, RPC
Presentation Layer (name devices and protocols as well)
Layer 6, the presentation layer, is responsible for how an application formats the data to be sent out onto the network. The presentation layer basically allows an application to read (or understand) the message. Devices: n/a Protocols: JPEG, JPG, TIFF, PNG, GIF, MIME, MP3, MP4
Application Layer
Layer 7, the application layer, provides an interface for the end user operating a device connected to a network. This layer is what the user sees, in terms of loading an application (such as Web browser or e-mail); that is, this application layer is the data the user views while using these applications. Devices: Available devices/firewall/gateway Protocols: SMTP, POP3, IMAP, DNS, DHCP, FTP, HTTP, TFTP, SNMP, VoIOP, NNTP, NTP
Modems
Modem is short for "Modulator-Demodulator." It is a hardware component that allows a computer or another device, such as a router or switch, to connect to the Internet. It converts or "modulates" an analog signal from a telephone or cable wire to digital data (1s and 0s) that a computer can recognize. Similarly, it converts digital data from a computer or other device into an analog signal that can be sent over standard telephone lines.
802.11g
Provides a maximum speed of 54 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band and uses OFDM and DSSS and is backwards compatible with 802.11b
802.11a
Provides a transmission speed of up to 54 Mbps in the 5 GHz band using Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM).
802.11n
Provides up to 150 Mbps throughput using spatial multiplexing. It uses the both 2.4 and 5 GHz band.
SMP
SMP (symmetric multiprocessing) is the processing of programs by multiple processors that share a common operating system and memory. In symmetric (or "tightly coupled") multiprocessing, the processors share memory and the I/O bus or data path. A single copy of the operating system is in charge of all the processors. SMP, also known as a "shared everything" system, does not usually exceed 16 processors.
DSL/CSU
Stands for "Digital Subscriber Line." DSL is a communications medium used to transfer digital signals over standard telephone lines. Along with cable Internet, DSL is one of the most popular ways ISPs provide broadband Internet access.
RAID
Stands for "Redundant Array of Independent Disks." RAID is a method of storing data on multiple hard disks. When disks are arranged in a RAID configuration, the computer sees them all as one large disk. However, they operate much more efficiently than a single hard drive. Since the data is spread out over multiple disks, the reading and writing operations can take place on multiple disks at once. This can speed up hard drive access time significantly. Multiple hard drives may not improve hard disk performace as much as multiple processors may enhance the CPU performance, but it is based on a similar logic.
802.11b
Works in the 2.4 GHz band and can provide up to 11 Mbps speed with a fallback rate to 5.5, 2 and 1 Mbps. 802.11b only uses DSSS
