Data Communication Networking

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF LATEST NETWORKING EQUIPMENT

INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE

Submitted To: Prof. Kapil Mohan Garg DCN Faculty

Submitted by: Shivam Prakash Chaurasia PGDM (14-16) SEC-B

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THE CONCEPT OF A NETWORK

The term network means an

interconnected or

interrelated chain, group, or

system. Using this definition,

we can begin to identify all

kinds of networks: a chain of

Hotels, the road system, the

names in a person’s address

book or PDA.

What Is COMPUTER

NETWORKING?

A computer network is a group of computer systems and other computing

hardware devices that are linked together through communication channels to

facilitate communication and resource-sharing among a wide range of users.

Networks are commonly categorized based on their characteristics.

REGISTERED JACK

A registered jack (RJ) is a standardized

network interface used for network

cabling, wiring and jack construction. The

primary function of registered jacks is to

connect different data equipment and

telecommunication devices with services

normally provided by telephone exchanges

or long-distance carriers. Different

standard designs for RJ connectors and

wiring are RJ-11, RJ-45, RJ-21, RJ-28 and

many more.

Comparative study of latest networking equipment

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The term registered jack refers to the physical connector and often its wiring as well. A registered jack is a female physical connector. Initially the registered jack was regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as a standard interface for customers and telephone companies. Telephone companies are only responsible for delivery of their services for minimum port of entry. The customer is responsible for managing all of the physical details, including jacks and wiring.

The standard modular jack was only designed for integrated services digital network (ISDN) systems. However, modular jacks were internationally standardized in IEEE 802.3i in 1990.

There are a variety of types of registered jacks:

RJ-11: This is the most popular modular form of registered jack. It is found in houses and offices where old telephone-wired systems are connected with the ISP's line.

RJ-14 and RJ-61: These are similar to RJ-11 but designed for two lines and four lines respectively. RJ-61 is used for termination of twisted-pair cables and uses an eight-pin modular connector.

RJ-25: This jack was introduced for three lines. RJ-11s: A suffix is added to indicate a slight addition in functionality. The suffix

w, for example, means that this registered jack is used so the telephone set can be hung on the wall.

RJ-21: This jack was designed with 50 conductors to implement 25 lines at a time. These connectors are used in area networks with multiple switches and devices.

RJ-48: This is a modular jack using an eight-position modular connector for local area networks (LANs), T1 and ISDN termination.

NETWORK CABLING

Cable is the medium through which information usually moves from one network device to another. There are several types of cable which are commonly used with LANs. In some cases, a network will utilize only one type of cable, other networks will use a variety of cable types. The type of cable chosen for a network is related to the network's topology, protocol, and size. Understanding the characteristics of different types of

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cable and how they relate to other aspects of a network is necessary for the development of a successful network.

The following sections discuss the types of cables used in networks and other related topics.

Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable Coaxial Cable Fiber Optic Cable

Twisted pair cabling comes in two varieties: shielded and unshielded. Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) is the most popular and is generally the best option for school networks (See fig.).

Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable

Although UTP cable is the least expensive cable, it may be susceptible to radio and electrical frequency interference (it should not be too close to electric motors, fluorescent lights, etc.). If you must place cable in environments with lots of potential interference, or if you must place cable in extremely sensitive environments that may be susceptible to the electrical current in the UTP, shielded twisted pair may be the solution. Shielded cables can also help to extend the maximum distance of the cables.

Shielded twisted pair cable is available in three different configurations:

1. Each pair of wires is individually shielded with foil. 2. There is a foil or braid shield inside the jacket covering all wires (as a group). 3. There is a shield around each individual pair, as well as around the entire group of

wires (referred to as double shield twisted pair).

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COAXIAL CABLE

Coaxial cabling has a single copper conductor at its center. A plastic layer provides insulation between the center conductor and a braided metal shield (See fig. 3). The metal shield helps to block any outside interference from fluorescent lights, motors, and other computers.

Coaxial cable

Although coaxial cabling is difficult to install, it is highly resistant to signal interference. In addition, it can support greater cable lengths between network devices than twisted pair cable. The two types of coaxial cabling are thick coaxial and thin coaxial.

Thin coaxial cable is also referred to as thinnet. 10Base2 refers to the specifications for thin coaxial cable carrying Ethernet signals. The 2 refers to the approximate maximum segment length being 200 meters. In actual fact the maximum segment length is 185 meters. Thin coaxial cable has been popular in school networks, especially linear bus networks.

Thick coaxial cable is also referred to as thicknet. 10Base5 refers to the specifications for thick coaxial cable carrying Ethernet signals. The 5 refers to the maximum segment length being 500 meters. Thick coaxial cable has an extra protective plastic cover that helps keep moisture away from the center conductor. This makes thick coaxial a great choice when running longer lengths in a linear bus network. One disadvantage of thick coaxial is that it does not bend easily and is difficult to install.

FIBER OPTIC CABLE

Fiber optic cabling consists of a center glass core surrounded by several layers of protective materials (See fig. 5). It transmits light rather than electronic signals eliminating the problem of electrical interference. This makes it ideal for certain environments that contain a large amount of electrical interference. It has also made it the standard for connecting networks between buildings, due to its immunity to the effects of moisture and lighting.

Fiber optic cable has the ability to transmit signals over much longer distances than coaxial and twisted pair. It also has the capability to carry information at vastly greater

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speeds. This capacity broadens communication possibilities to include services such as video conferencing and interactive services. The cost of fiber optic cabling is comparable to copper cabling; however, it is more difficult to install and modify. 10BaseF refers to the specifications for fiber optic cable carrying Ethernet signals.

The center core of fiber cables is made from glass or plastic fibers (see fig 5). A plastic coating then cushions the fiber center, and kevlar fibers help to strengthen the cables and prevent breakage. The outer insulating jacket made of teflon or PVC.

Fiber optic cable

There are two common types of fiber cables -- single mode and multimode. Multimode cable has a larger diameter; however, both cables provide high bandwidth at high speeds. Single mode can provide more distance, but it is more expensive.

BROUTER A brouter (pronounced BRAU-tuhr or sometimes BEE-rau-tuhr) is a network bridge and arouter combined in a single product. A bridge is a device that connects one local area network (LAN) to another local area network that uses the same protocol (for example, Ethernet or token ring). If a data unit on one LAN is intended for a destination on an interconnected LAN, the bridge forwards the data unit to that LAN; otherwise, it passes it along on the same LAN. A bridge usually offers only one path to a given interconnected LAN. A router connects a network to one or more other networks that are usually part of a wide area network (WAN) and may offer a number of paths out to destinations on those networks. A router therefore needs to have more information than a bridge about the interconnected networks. It consults a routing table for this information. Since a given outgoing data unit or packet from a computer may be intended for an address on the local network, on an interconnected LAN, or the wide area network, it makes sense to have a single unit that examines all data units and forwards them appropriately.

ETHERNET HUB

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In computer networking, a hub is a small, simple, inexpensive device that joins multiple computers together. Many hubs available today support the

Ethernet standard. Other types including USB hubs also exist, but Ethernet is the type traditionally used in home.

HUBS To network a group of computers using an Ethernet hub, first connect an cable into the unit, then connect the other end of the cable to each computer's network interface card (NIC). All Ethernet hubs accept the RJ-45 connectors of standard Ethernet cables. To expand a network to accommodate more devices, Ethernet hubs can also be connected to each other, to switches, or to routers.

Characteristics of Ethernet Hubs

Ethernet hubs vary in the speed (network data rate or bandwidth) they support.

Some years ago, Ethernet hubs offered only 10 Mbps rated speeds. Newer types of

hubs offer 100 Mbps Ethernet. Some support both 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps (so-

called dual-speed or10/100 hubs).

The number of ports an Ethernet hub supports also varies. Four- and five-port Ethernet hubs are most common in home networks, but eight- and 16-port hubs can be found in some home and small office environments.

Older Ethernet hubs were relatively large in size and sometimes noisy as they contained built in fans for cooling the unit. Newer devices are much smaller, designed for mobility, and noiseless

BRIDGE NETWORK

A bridge device filters data traffic at a network boundary. Bridges reduce the amount of traffic on a local area network (LAN) by dividing it into two segments. Bridges operate at the data link layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model. Bridges inspect incoming traffic and decide whether to forward or discard it. An Ethernet bridge, for example, inspects each incoming Ethernet frame - including the source and

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destination MAC addresses, and sometimes the frame size - in making individual forwarding decisions. Bridges serve a similar function as network switches that also operate at Layer 2. Traditional bridges, though, support one network boundary (accessible through a hardware), whereas switches usually offer four or more hardware ports.

NETWORK SWITCH

A network switch is a small hardware device that joins multiple computers together within one local area network (LAN). Ethernet switch devices were commonly used on home networks routers became popular; broadband routers integrate Ethernet switches directly into the unit as one of their many functions. High-performance network switches are still widely used in corporate networks and data centers.

Network Switch Technology

While switching capabilities exist for several types of networks, Ethernet switches are

the most common type. Mainstream Ethernet switches like those routers

support Gigabit Ethernet (1 Gbps) speeds, but high-performance switches like those

in data centers generally support 10 Gbps.

Different models of network switches support differing numbers of connected devices.

Comparative study of latest networking equipment:-

Equipment Company Name Price

ROUTER ASUS 1750 ROUTER (RTAC

66U) 12290

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DELINK ROUTER AC 750

(803) 2190

D-LINK 3G ROUTER 111 1323

P ROUTER DLINK (DWR-

710)

1595

SWITCHES D-LINK SWITCH 5 PORT 390

D-LINK SWITCH 5

PORTGIGABI 1095

TOTO LINK SWITCH (S-808) 523

NETGEAR 16PORT SWITCH 1747

HUBS USB BELKIN/IBALL HUB 4

POR 295

LENOVO 4 PORT USB HUB

WIT 619

PORTONICS USB HUB+MSD 257

BRIDGE DELINK BRIDGE AC 750

(803) 2190 2,999

ASUS 300 BRIDGE (RTN

12PLU ) 1390

D-LINK BRIDGE 111 1323

MODEMS ADSL MODEM DELINK 838

BINATONE A MODEM (DT

820) 795

D-LINK MODEM+ROUTER

N 300 1895