Networking Technologies Overview

Wide Area Network (WAN)

• Largest type of network
• Consists of LANs, CANs, and MANs
• Covers a vast geographic area (country, continent, or the world)
• The internet is an example of a WAN

Storage Area Network (SAN)

• Specialized, high-speed network for storing and accessing large amounts of data
• Composed of switches, servers, and disk arrays
• Key benefit: avoids bottlenecks in local area networks
• Highly scalable
• Recommended connection: Fiber Channel
• Very expensive

Campus Area Network (CAN)

• Connects two or more LANs within a limited area (e.g., school, university)
• Connects multiple buildings in a general area
• May encompass different departments within a university

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

• Larger than a CAN network
• Spans across multiple buildings within a city or town
• Often connected via fiber optic cable or other high-speed connections
• Allows sharing of information and resources within a city

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)

• Local area network utilizing wireless communication instead of cables
• Networks within a limited area (home, school, office)
• Employs radio transmissions
• Suitable for devices like laptops, tablets, desktops, and smartphones
• Uses Wi-Fi routers or WAPs as communication medium.

Local Area Network (LAN)

• Connects devices in the same building (home, business)
• Uses Ethernet cables for communication.
• Includes computers, servers, switches, and printers.

Personal Area Network (PAN)

• Smallest network type
• Covers a person's immediate social area
• Includes wearable technology, laptops, tablets, and smartphones
• Uses wireless technologies (Bluetooth, infrared, NFC) or wired connections (USB)

Lean 5S Program Benefits

• Improved Safety
• Higher equipment availability
• Lower defect rates
• Reduced costs
• Increased production
• Improved employee morale
• Better asset utilization
• Enhanced enterprise image

The Five S's

• Seiri: Organize; eliminate unneeded items
• Seiton: Orderliness; arrange needed items
• Seiso: Cleanliness; thoroughly clean work area
• Seiketsu: Standardize; maintain a clean environment
• Shitsuke: Discipline; form the habit of maintaining the first four S's

Reducing Waste

• Buying products with less packaging
• Buying products in bulk, reducing overall packaging
• Avoiding disposable goods like paper plates, cups, and utensils
• Choosing durable goods to extend their lifespan

Networking Tools

• Light Meter: Measures incident or reflected light.
• Loopback adapter: Routes network traffic within the same computer.
• Butt Set: A component for terminating network cables.
• Punch Down Tool: Used for terminating Ethernet cables.
• Multimeter: Measures electrical properties (voltage, resistance, current).
• Cable Stripper: Removes outer jacket of a cable.
• Wire Crimper: Crimps connectors onto cables.
• Cable Tester: Checks for signal integrity.
• Tone Generator: Traces wires.
• Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR): Diagnoses cable characteristics.
• Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR): Evaluates fiber optic cables.

Network Diagram

• Visual representation of computer or telecommunication networks
• Shows components and connections within the network.
• Interaction points or nodes are also shown.

Network Structure

• Diagram showing connections between devices in a network
• Examples of straight-through and cross-over cables.
• Connection to patch panels, switches, and routers are shown.

Repeater

• Electronic device in a communication channel
• Strengthens signal transmission, increasing the distance it can travel
• Requires a source of electrical power

Wireless AP

• Networking device that lets Wi-Fi devices connect to a wired network
• Wireless Access Point (WAP)
• Commonly used in medium/large organizations

Analog vs Digital Signals

• Analog signals: mimic real-world data through a continuous signal.
• Digital Signals: convert real-world data to binary format (1s and 0s), and are clear despite interference.

Modem

• Modulator-demodulator
• Hardware device converting digital data to a format suitable for an analog transmission medium (e.g., telephone, radio)
• Essential for internet access.

Hub and Switch

• Hubs and Switches create a network
• Routers connect networks.

Router

• Network device sending data to another network based on IP address
• Gateway of a network

MAC Address

• Hardware/physical address
• Helps identify individual devices in a network.
• Unique 12-character alphanumeric identifier.

Switch

• Learns physical addresses of devices (MAC addresses)
• Only directs data to intended destination port.
• Reduces unnecessary network traffic.

IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Subnetting

• IP addresses are identifiers for devices on a network.
• Subnet masks help to separate IP addresses into network and host parts.

Types of Copper Cables

• UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair): Common, affordable type of cable, often used in Ethernet networks
• STP (Shielded Twisted Pair): Similar to UTP, but with shielding to decrease interference
• Coaxial cable: Used in various applications, particularly for high-bandwidth, long-distance transmissions

Types of Network Cables

• Straight-through cable: Used to connect devices on the same network
• Crossover cable: Used to connect two devices together on the same network
• Rollover cable: A type of null-modem cable, often used for connecting a device to a router's console port.

Network Design

• Planning for communication needs
• Visual representation of the network (diagram).
• Includes endpoints, IP addressing, and security details.