Introduction of network type LAN,MAN,WAN AND OTHER NETWORK

One way to categorize the different types of computer network designs is by their scope or scale. For historical reasons, the networking industry refers to nearly every type of design as some kind of area network. Common examples of area network types are:

• LAN - Local Area Network
• WLAN - Wireless Local Area Network
• WAN - Wide Area Network
• MAN - Metropolitan Area Network
• SAN - Storage Area Network, System Area Network, Server Area Network, or sometimes Small Area Network
• CAN - Campus Area Network, Controller Area Network, or sometimes Cluster Area Network
• PAN - Personal Area Network
• DAN - Desk Area Network

LAN and WAN were the original categories of area networks, while the others have gradually emerged over many years of technology evolution. Note that these network types are a separate concept from network topologies such as bus, ring and star.

See also - Introduction to Network Topologies

LAN - Local Area Network

A LAN connects network devices over a relatively short distance. A networked office building, school, or home usually contains a single LAN, though sometimes one building will contain a few small LANs (perhaps one per room), and occasionally a LAN will span a group of nearby buildings. In TCP/IP networking, a LAN is often but not always implemented as a single IP subnet. In addition to operating in a limited space, LANs are also typically owned, controlled, and managed by a single person or organization. They also tend to use certain connectivity technologies, primarily Ethernet and Token Ring.

WAN - Wide Area Network

As the term implies, a WAN spans a large physical distance. The Internet is the largest WAN, spanning the Earth. A WAN is a geographically-dispersed collection of LANs. A network device called a router connects LANs to a WAN. In IP networking, the router maintains both a LAN address and a WAN address.
A WAN differs from a LAN in several important ways. Most WANs (like the Internet) are not owned by any one organization but rather exist under collective or distributed ownership and management. WANs tend to use technology like ATM, Frame Relay and X.25 for connectivity over the longer distances.

LAN, WAN and Home Networking

Residences typically employ one LAN and connect to the Internet WAN via an Internet Service Provider (ISP) using a broadband modem. The ISP provides a WAN IP address to the modem, and all of the computers on the home network use LAN (so-called private) IP addresses. All computers on the home LAN can communicate directly with each other but must go through a central gateway, typically a broadband router, to reach the ISP.

Other Types of Area Networks

While LAN and WAN are by far the most popular network types mentioned, you may also commonly see references to these others:

• Wireless Local Area Network - a LAN based on WiFi wireless network technology
• Metropolitan Area Network - a network spanning a physical area larger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN, such as a city. A MAN is typically owned an operated by a single entity such as a government body or large corporation.
• Campus Area Network - a network spanning multiple LANs but smaller than a MAN, such as on a university or local business campus.
• Storage Area Network - connects servers to data storage devices through a technology like Fibre Channel.
• System Area Network - links high-performance computers with high-speed connections in a cluster configuration. Also known as Cluster Area Network.

motherboard

In personal computers, a motherboard is the central printed circuit board (PCB) in many modern computers and holds many of the crucial components of the system, providing connectors for other peripherals. The motherboard is sometimes alternatively known as the mainboard, system board, or, on Apple computers, the logic board.^[1] It is also sometimes casually shortened to mobo.^[2]

Motherboard for an Acer desktop personal computer, showing the typical components and interfaces that are found on a motherboard. This model was made by Foxconn in 2008, and follows the ATX layout (known as the "form factor") usually employed for desktop computers. It is designed to work with AMD's Athlon 64 processor.

picture type of mobile computing devices

MOBILE COMPUTER

PCMCIA(PERSONAL COMPUTER MEMORY CARD INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION)

TABLET PC

SMART PHONE

Types of Mobile Computing Devices

The term mobile device covers a wide range of consumer electronics. Usually mobile device describes the devices that can connect to the Internet. However, some people classify digital cameras and standard MP3 players as mobile devices as well. The category of mobile devices includes the following devices, as well as others:

• Personal Digital Assistant: Sometimes called pocket computers, PDAs combine elements of computing, telephone/fax, Internet and networking in a single device. A typical PDA can function as a cellular phone, fax sender, Web browser and personal organizer. Unlike portable computers, most PDAs began as pen-based, using a stylus rather than a keyboard for input. This means that they also incorporated handwriting recognition features. Some PDAs can also react to voice input by using voice recognition technologies. PDAs of today are available in either a stylus or keyboard version (called a datapad).

• Smartphone: Smartphones combine both mobile phone and handheld computers into a single device. Smartphones let you store information (e.g., e-mail) and install programs, along with using a mobile phone in one device. For example, a Smartphone could be a mobile phone with some PDA functions integrated into the device or vise versa.

• Tablet PC: Tablet PCs are a type of notebook computer that has an screen display on which you can write using a stylus. The handwriting is digitized and can be converted to standard text through handwriting recognition, or it can remain as handwritten text. The stylus also can be used to type on a pen-based key layout where the lettered keys are arranged differently than a standard QWERTY keyboard. Tablet PCs also typically have a keyboard and/or a mouse for input.

Mobile Operating Systems (Mobile OS)
Like a computer operating system, a mobile operating system is the software platform that determines the functions and features available on your device, such as thumbwheel, keyboards, wireless security, synchronization with applications, e-mail, text messaging and more. The mobile operating system will also determine which third-party applications you can install on your device.
Some of the more common and well-known Mobile operating systems include the following:
Symbian OS
Symbian OS has become a standard operating system for smartphones, and is licensed by more than 85 percent of the world's handset manufacturers. The Symbian OS is designed for the specific requirements of 2.5G and 3G mobile phones.
Windows Mobile 
The Windows Mobile platform is available on a variety of devices from a variety of wireless operators. You will find Windows Mobile software on Dell, HP, Motorola, Palm and i-mate products. Windows Mobile powered devices are available on GSM or CDMA networks.
Palm OS
Since the introduction of the first Palm Pilot in 1996, the Palm OS platform has provided mobile devices with essential business tools, as well as capability to access the Internet or a central corporate database via a wireless connection.

crimping straight cable

Crimping your first patch or crossover cable for networking may seem hard. But with the proper technique and accurate knowledge, it should be easy as counting 1, 2, and 3. You don't have to memorize certain standard color patterns to be able to crimp your own network cable but we will be discussing about the standard later. There is a quicker way to be able to make a crossover cable fast and easy. I assume you know what a network cable is and decided to make or crimp the cable yourself. However follow the link if you want to have a clearer understanding about home networking. Crimping a patch or crossover cable for networking is an essential skill a computer hardware servicing technician must have. Sometimes, most common computer problems deals with network cables.






T568A and T568B Straight-Through Wiring Diagram




The basic Ethernet pinouts are straight through and cross over. When connecting to switches and hubs, straight through pinout is used. Crossover is used for peer to peer connections for two computers or bridging routers or switches. Relatively, we will be using T568A and T568B diagrams.


For cabling straight through, you can either use T568A or T568B for both ends of the cable. Here is the diagram for you to look as a reference.

This is a T568A Color Pattern

This is a T568B Color Pattern

                                                                             


A patch or straight through is simply crimping two ends of the cable with the same color pattern. If you use one end with T568A color pattern, you must as well use T568A color pattern for the other end. So is the same if you will be using the T568B color pattern respectively. Meaning, there is no need to follow the standard color pattern.


If you will be crimping a crossover cable, just use the T568A on one end of the cable and T568B color pattern on the other end.


I want you to figure out how we crimp crossover cables. If we will be crimping straight-throughs, we use 1-2-3-6 modular connector pin pattern paired to the other 1-2-3-6 modular connector pin pattern.


On the other hand if we will be crimping a crossover cable, we use 3-6-1-2 pin pattern paired to a 1-2-3-6 pin pattern. This method will eliminate memorization of the color patterns which commonly adds confusion in crimping for beginners. Think and figure it out. The diagram provides a clear answer. :-)






Crimping a Network Cat5 Cable with Modular Connector




Materials :


A Length of Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cat5 Cable


Wire Stripper


Crimping tool (RJ45)


8P8C Modular Connector Plugs or Jacks ("RJ45")


Network Cable Tester






Procedure :

1. Observe computer safety.


2. Remove about 2 inches of the cable's sheath on one end of the Cat5 cable using the wire stripper.


3. Once the sheath is removed, untwist the paired wires. The eight solid wires should be straightened by pressing it down against the table and pushed with another solid material.


4. Align the solid wires and follow either of the color pattern diagrams above.


5. Cut or trim the exposed wires neatly aligned about half an inch.


6. Insert the trimmed wires of the UTP cable into the RJ45 jack following the diagram's direction of the pinouts.


7. Use the crimping tool to set the jack's contacts piercing the 8 strands of wires of the UTP cable. This sinking of the RJ45 "fingers" or "teeth" ensures connectivity for the wires to the jack itself.


8. For the other end, just repeat steps 1 to 6.


9. Verify if your newly crimped cable have perfect connectivity using a LAN cable tester.


If you want to crimp a crossover cable, crimp one end of the cable with the T568A color standard and the other end with the T568B color standard.