BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF COMPUTER NETWORKING

Computer Networking is common and very important in our computer task and installation. In order that we can connect the multiple of computers together with the different resources such as printer, CD/ DVD ROM, scanner, and even servers via communication media using the Local Area Network or what we called LAN. These connections enabled as to communicate in different ways using the major categories of LAN, MAN, WAN with the design or the common topologies that we have used such as star and Wireless Fidelity or WIFI. That enables our gadgets and computer to communicate without using a wire.

Computer engineers and technician needs these skills in order to connect these networks. Mostly of our businesses, home, schools and even huge industries needs this type of connection in order to share the bulk of files in different resources and destinations. And even internet connections using email services, social networks, and storing bulk of files in internet such as MSN skydrive using the Internet Service Provide or ISP.

So let’s study first the common terms and knowledge before we start the application or the actual in how to connect this network.

Things we need in order to network the computer using LAN

1. Adapter- LAN Card or the Network Interface Card connected internally of the computer system unit or CPU. Or LAN port built in the Motherboard Input/Output  port.
2. Protocol- the rules of transmission of information between two points using the classes and formats of the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol or the TCP/IP.
3. Client- the group of computers and shared data, files, and resources in a network

    Two Basic Network Model:

1. Peer to peer connections- a group of computers in a network that share resources such as printers, CD/DVD ROM, and scanner that works in a same level in a network of computers.
2. Client/Server Networking- a group of computer in a network, one assign as a server and the rest of computers that are connected are clients.

     Networking Devices:

1. BRIDGES- device of the networks that enables data to be transmitted between two LAN using the MAC Address or the Media Access Control
2. ROUTERS- device of the networks that task to enable and route data between two networks using the format of Internet Protocol.
3. SWITCHES- device of the network that joins multiple computers together with one LAN. This is high capacity compare to the network device using the HUB.
4. HUB- device or component of the network that provides common connectivity among the computers within the network.

Three major groups of cabling:

1. Coaxial cabling- was the most widely used networks cabling and use by old topologies that described as inexpensive, light, flexible, and easy to work.
2. Twisted pair- its simple form using twisted pair cable consist of two insulated strands of copper wire twisted around each other.

2 types 

unshielded twisted pair- consist of four insulated copper wires
shielded twister pair- consist of two insulated copper wires
fiber optics- high speed , high data capability transmission that commonly use in longer distance network such as WAN.

IP ADDRESSING
- is a logical 32 bit address stored in every computer of the network both client and servers form a unique address that identifies certain computer to the other computer both LAN, MAN, WAN and internet.

SUBNET MASK
- it is a method of dividing a network IP address into a groups of computer or use to mask a portion of the IP ADDRESS so that TCP/IP can distinguish the Network ID and Host. Short for Subnetwork Mask, the common example is 255.255.255.0

IP ADDRESS CLASSES AND FORMATS
CLASS A- from 1.0.0.0 to 127.0.0.0
- 1st 8 BITS(NETWORK), rest 3 OCTETS (HOST)
CLASS B- 1st 2 OCTETS(NETWORK), rest 2 OCTETS (HOST)
- from 128.0.0.0 to 191.0.0.0
CLASS C- 1st 3 OCTETS(NETWORK), rest 1 OCTETS (HOST)
- from 192.0.0.0 to 223.255.255.0

SUBNET MASK
CLASS A- 126.68.254.1- 255.0.0.0
CLASS B- 190.21.86.1- 255.255.0.0
CLASS C- 219.193.6.10- 255.255.255.0
COLOR CODING FOR UTP CABLING
STRAIGHT THROUGH- IS A CONNECTION OF PC TO SWITCH AND HUB
WO/O/WG/B/WB/G/WBR/BR- VICE VERSA
CROSS OVER- IS A CONNECTION OF COMPUTER TO COMPUTER
WO/O/WG/B/WB/G/WBR/BR- ONE END
WG/G/WO/B/WB/O/WBR/BR- OTHER END

To assure that the network connections of the computers surely connected using the utp cable and rj 45, use the Pocket Internet Grouper(PING) using the MS-DOS. Just click the start button then click run, then type ping then ip address of the computer of the network, ex: ping 192.168.1.23 –t then press enter key.