NETWORK FAQs
Q: What is a Local Area Network or LAN?
A: Local Area Network is 2 or more PC’s connected together locally. They are usually within one building. There are 2 types of configurations for a Local Area Network. Peer to Peer and Client Server.
Computers can be connected through wires or wireless. Computers connected using wires have the fastest connection and are the most secure. Wireless connectivity is slower and less secure. It is mainly used for laptop users that want to roam around the office or for offices where it is difficult to install wiring.
Q: What is a Peer to Peer
A: In a peer to peer network, every computer has the same capabilities as every other computer. They can all share files and printers with each other. There is limited security and everyone is responsible for backing up his or her own files. In some cases one computer is used to store all of the files for each user. This resembles a client server type network, but is not as secure and reliable. We usually only recommend this type of configuration for small offices of 5 PCs or less.
Q: What is a Client Server
A: A client server network is connected the same way as a peer to peer network. The only difference is that there are one or more servers connected to the network as well as PCs. The server has different software loaded on it. This software gives the PCs on the network more functionality. The purpose of a server is to centralize everything, so that the PCs on the network can collaborate more effectively. Servers are also setup to perform a backup of all of the files every night. This protects any users from losing any files if a PC were to fail.
Q: What is UTP cable?
A: UTP stands for "unshielded twisted pair." It is a cable type with one or more pairs of twisted insulated copper conductors contained in a single sheath. UTP cables are the most common type of cabling used in desktop communications applications.
Q: What is the difference between Cat5, Cat5E and Cat6?
A: Cat5 stands for Category 5 and is a rating on the signal carrying capacity of the twisted pair. The same goes for Cat5E and Cat6. Category 5 specifies performance to 100MHz. Category 5E also specifies performance to 100MHz with additional more stringent testing requirements and Category 6 test to 250MHz.
Q: What is the difference between T568A and T568B?
A: The pairs 2 (orange) and 3 (green) are interchanged. T568A is the original wiring configuration in TIA-568. T568B was put in the specification to accommodate the installation base at the time.
Q: What is a crossover cable?
A: A crossover cable is a segment of Category 5 cable that crosses over pins 1&2 and 3&6. This cable is normally used to connect two PCs without the use of a hub, or can be used to cascade two hubs without using an uplink port.
Q: What is the difference between 10BASE-T, 100BASE-T and 1000BASE-T?
A: 10BASE-T is the IEEE standard that defines the requirement for sending information at 10 Mbps on unshielded twisted-pair cabling, and defines various aspects of running Ethernet on this cabling. 100BASE-T is the IEEE standard that defines the requirement for sending information at 100 Mbps on unshielded twisted-pair cabling, and defines various aspects of running base band Ethernet on this cabling. 1000BASE-T is the IEEE standard that defines the requirement for sending information at 1000 Mbps on unshielded twisted pair cabling, and defines various aspects of running base band Ethernet on this cabling.
Q: What is an RJ45 connector?
A: RJ45 connectors are recognized by people in the industry as an eight position eight conductor modular plug. It was originally developed as a wiring scheme for Registered Jack (RJ) per Universal Service Ordering Codes (USOC).
Q: RJ45 Connectors (50µ vs. 30µ)
A: Most people don't realize there are differences in the end connectors called RJ-45 8p8c plugs. They may all appear to look a like but the difference lies in which materials make up the contacts. Some are made with Copper while others are plated with Gold. As you may have guessed Gold is the best contact material used... but here is the catch! There are different concentrations of Gold plugs. Some are 30µ (30 micro inches) of Gold while the best are 50µ (50 micro inches) of Gold. 50µ is almost 20 Times as thick as 30µ plugs!
Q: What is Fiber Optics?
A: Fiber Optics refers to the concept of transmitting information, in the form of light, through cable fibers composed of highly purified glass or plastic, clad in a reflective coating. This allows the light beam to travel the length of the cable by bouncing off the reflective sides of the fiber.
The advantages of a Fiber Optic system are: Information carrying capacity is greatly increased, while overall size and weight of the cable is greatly reduced.
Information can be transmitted at a much higher speed over long distances.
Security is increased because information is transmitted in the form of light through a non-conductive media (glass), whereas, electricity traveling through wires can be tapped by an outside agent, or accidentally pick up transmissions from other sources of electro-magnetic radiation.
Q: What is the difference between Singlemode and Multimode fiber optic cable?
A: Single Mode cable is a single stand of glass fiber with a diameter of 8.3 to 10 microns that has one mode of transmission. Single Mode Fiber with a relatively narrow diameter, through which only one mode will propagate typically 1310 or 1550nm. Carries higher bandwidth than multimode fiber, but requires a light source with a narrow spectral width. Synonyms mono-mode optical fiber, single-mode fiber, single-mode optical waveguide, uni-mode fiber. Single-mode fiber gives you a higher transmission rate and up to 50 times more distance than multimode, but it also costs more. Single-mode fiber has a much smaller core than multimode. The small core and single light-wave virtually eliminate any distortion that could result from overlapping light pulses, providing the least signal attenuation and the highest transmission speeds of any fiber cable type. Single-mode optical fiber is an optical fiber in which only the lowest order bound mode can propagate at the wavelength of interest typically 1300 to 1320nm.
Multimode cable is made of glass fibers, with a common diameter in the 50-to-100 micron range for the light carry component (the most common size is 62.5). POF is a newer plastic-based cable which promises performance similar to glass cable on very short runs, but at a lower cost. Multimode fiber gives you high bandwidth at high speeds over medium distances. Light waves are dispersed into numerous paths, or modes, as they travel through the cable's core typically 850 or 1300nm. Typical multimode fiber core diameters are 50, 62.5, and 100 micrometers. However, in long cable runs (greater than 3000 feet [914.4 ml), multiple paths of light can cause signal distortion at the receiving end, resulting in an unclear and incomplete data transmission.
Q: Multimode vs. Singlemode
A: Multi-mode fiber optic cable connects up to 2,000 meters when the network is operated in Full Duplex mode. It can connect up to only 200 meters in Half Duplex mode. Single mode fiber optic cable can transmit from 15,000 meters to 60,000 meters, depending on hardware and configuration.
Q: What is a Media Converter?
A: A converter is a device that repeats and/or converts the signal from different media within the same transmission speed, e.g., 100Base-TX to 100Base-FX or 10Base-2 to 10Base-T.