LAN and WAN Hardware Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

LAN and WAN Hardware Technology - Essay Example These two classifications are based on the distance that a network is designed to support for it various services. LANs are typically designed to share information and computer resources among equipments placed in closed vicinity, in a building or a particular premises whereas WAN is considered a network of multiple LANs that may be situated at long distances. These LANs and WANs employ different hardware technologies to ensure an efficient, robust and secure networking environment. This report will introduce hardware technologies used in each network environment. However, for the most part it will talk about Ethernet and Wireless hardware technologies. 2. LAN Hardware Technologies Local Area Networks typically connects devices placed in a building using Ethernet technologies. Ethernet network can have broadcast point-to-point or a mix of these transmission technologies. In point-to-point technology, devices commonly use Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cables to connect to a nearest sw itch or hub. a) UTP cables UTP cables consist of four pairs of twisted cables insulated with a thin plastic sheet. UTP cables are categorized as CAT5, CAT5e, CAT6 and CAT6a (IEEE 802.3 2006) etc. standards of cables. CAT6a cables can support up to 10-gigabit data transfer rate in a LAN environment. UTP cables can transmit data up to a distance of 100 meters. A repeater, hub or switch can be used to enhance this maximum distance of UTP cables. A RJ-45 data connector at each end of a UTP cable connects it to various devices with a RJ-45 jack. All new building structures usually have special layouts of UTP cables running from each room to a central point known as Main Distribution Facility (MDF). (David, 507). b) Repeaters and Hubs There are three basic devices used to interconnect devices in an Ethernet network. Repeaters strengthen the transmission signal in order to carry it to a distance more than 100 meters. A hub connects devices in a network. It broadcast received signals to all devices connected to it. A hub also serves as a repeater. Repeaters and hubs are physical layer devices; physical layer is the first layer in OSI Reference model. (Null & Julia, 675). c) Switches Switch is an intelligent device used for point-to-point data transmissions. Switches operate at Data Link (layer-II) of OSI Reference Model. It can recognize distinctly various connect devices and can sends messages to only specific devices. There are switches that can operate at Network (Layer-III) of OSI Reference model. Layer-III switches can perform routing functions, which is not possible in a layer two switch. (Null & Julia, 675). d) Routers Routers are the most important hardware technology deployed in modern day networks. Router routes network traffic among various segments of a LAN or it may also be deployed in a WAN environment to route traffic among various LANs. A router is a layer-III device that can connect two different networks, which is not possible in case of a layer-II s witch. (Beasley, 194). e) Firewalls The growing and wide spread use of network technologies have instigated the need of more secure networks. Security of information means a security from internal and external threats of communication. Today, organizations have shared networks resources inside and outside of their own network and for obvious reasons want to