Setting up of a home internet network and an office
How should this person set-up a home wired network. (Let's leave wireless out of this for now.)
Include a simple diagram showing the network.
When setting up an internet network in an office, one must look at the speeds achievable and the purity of the data transmission. Obviously both DSL and cable internet have their virtues but DSL is probably better for this type of small office setup as it runs at a lower cost than cable which is also harder to install.
One may use cable for a small network but as indicated, the costs are rather high when compared to DSL. There is also the issue of data transfer which can be slightly problematic when using cable internet but which is much better when DSL is used. Since a telephone network is also needed, the DSL network is also much more desirable in this case.
Network cabling that should be used is of the standard type with Category 5 being the most obvious solution at this stage. This enables the seamless movement of data and also ensures that there will be no bottlenecks in the actual transmission of the said data. In this case a fibre optic cable as material should be used as this substantially reduces the amount of electronic interference which may be caused with other cables.
The fibre optic cable is actually the standard connection now used for connecting networks between buildings particularly due to its intrinsic capabilities to avoid the effects of moisture and lighting. Thus it is the ideal material to be used in the set up of a DSL internet network. The cost of fibre optic cabling is actually similar to that of copper cabling although it is much more difficult to install and to modify. The signal to be used is 10BaseF which is the standard specification for fibre optic cables carrying internet signals.
Network components needed will include the cables, a DSL modem and a router for the physical connection of the network PC’s or laptops. The standard cable connections to the router are RJ 45 ones and these are readily available. It is important to see that the connections are properly applied and that everything is functioning adequately to ensure that connections are working absolutely up to scratch.
The setup to be used is to identify a PC which can be used as a main server and connect the modem to it using a normal DSL cable. The other PCs are then also connected to the modem and these will access the internet through the main server. The diagram looks something like this
Main Server---------------Modem--------------------------Other slave PC’s
It is intrinsically quite simple to set up such a network if the proper tools are applied. A combination of a powerful server, a fast modem and the appropriate length of cable with the right material is intrinsically important for the network to function properly and accordingly.
A home network can be very useful in transmitting internet alongside various connections. This setup is perhaps the most basic but it has its advantages as it is simple and can provide the users with seamless connectivity at a cheap price apart from requiring the minimum of effort.
References:
Florida Department of Education; What is cabling; Retrieved from: http://fcit.usf.edu/network/chap4/chap4.htm
Mitchell B; About.com, RJ45; Retrieved from: http://compnetworking.about.com/od/networkcables/g/bldef_rj45.htm
