CompTIA Network+: Network Management & Infrastructure

 Week 3: Ethernet Basics, Modern Ethernet, and Installing Physical Network.

The very purpose for this week blog is to turn our attention and focused on key networking devices and aspects like, Ethernet Basics, the Modern Ethernet, and Installing Physical Network.

 

Ethernet Basics.

The historical aspect of the network didn’t exist until the year 1973 when “Xerox answered the challenge of moving data without sneakers by developing Ethernet, a networking technology standard based on a bus topology” (Meyers, 2018).

To see how dramatically the innovations and evolution of technology has progressed over the years, let take the original Ethernet for an example that used just a single pair of coaxial cable and compare it the modern Ethernet. The earlier/original Ethernet was seen as a success and transfer data at the rate of “three million bits per second (3 Mbps).” Can you ever imagine having to setup a network in this era that transfer data at such rate? The earlier Ethernet was considered a success because less data was being exist then as compared to today.

The earlier Ethernet became industries standardized at the end of the decade (1979) when Xerox decided to be partnered with other industrial like, Intel, and Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) and “publish what became known as the Digital/Intel/Xerox (DIX) standard.” Standardizing became a success and improving the data transfer rate from 3 Mbps to 10 Mbps. Another step was taken as the speed improve. DIX decided to transfer this new Ethernet standard over to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and that how the creations and 802.3 standard series begin.

 

The Modern Ethernet.

The modern network used two different types of Ethernet cable for connectivity, the Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP), and Fiber Optic. The Modern Ethernet today is much faster and better than the earlier Ethernet in every capacity. The Modern Ethernet era begin when the IEEE came up with the first of many series of the 802.3 standard, and since, it’s history.

Just like the transformations of all electronic devices and components we used today has gone through, so as the Ethernet. From the first day it was developed to now, the Ethernet has gone through so many transformations and upgrade. The following are lists of standardization the Ethernet has gone through:

     I.        10Base-T

a.    Speed 10-Mbps

b.   Maximum segment length is 100 meters

c.    Uses two pairs of UTP cable

d.   Uses standard RJ-45 connectors

   II.        10Base-FL

a.    Speed 10Mbps

b.   Maximum segment length is 100 meters

c.    Uses multi-mode fiber optic media

d.   Uses ST (bayonet mount) or (snap) connectors

 III.        100Base-T4

a.    Used Cat 3 (Categor3)

 IV.        100Base-TX

a.    Used Cat 5 and Cate 5e (Categor5 Enhanced)

   V.        100Base-T (aka 100Bas-TX)

a.    Speed 100 Mbps

b.   “Uses two pairs of Unshielded Twisted-Pair (UTP) Cat 5e (or better), or STP cabling.”

 VI.        100Base-FL

a.    Speed 100 Mbps

b.   Uses multi-mode fiber optic media

VII.        1000BaseCX - uses an odd cable and connector (twinaxial), etc.

VIII.        1000BaseSX - uses multimode fiber optic cable, etc.

 IX.        1000BaseLX - uses single mode fiber optic cable, etc.

   X.        1000BaseT - Cat 5 and 6, uses four circuits. RJ-45 connectors,

a.    Used in data center for server connection.

 

Installing Physical Network.

What is a physical network? Physically network from my perspective, is the design and layout of a topology’s such as: Bus, Star, Ring, Mash, and Hybrid, with a numerous of various components (electrical, electronic, and non-electronic devices). One important aspect good knowing is that, not all networks are built to connect to the Internet. There can be reasons why and one that I can think of will be because of security concern. The Internet posted risk to company network Infrastructure because it’s full of cyber threat, neverminded there is insider threats as well.

That said, installing physical network will require many different operations and procedure depending on the layout and topology. The picture below don does not represent a full network, instead, just to give you a visual of network diagram.