Network Components:

There are three primary components to understanding networks:

1. Physical Connections;

2. Network Operating System;

3. Application Component.

1. Physical Connections

The physical components are the network topology and network connecting devices, which include
network interface cards (NIC), cabling, connections, and all other hardware to connect the computers.

Topologies. The different methods of connecting computers into a network are called topologies. Each
topology has certain advantages and disadvantages that must be considered as one networks an office.
These topologies are changing and new hybrid topologies are being developed combining the best of
these topologies

Bus topology computers are connected together to a central cable called a bus. The bus topology is one
of the most common, and doesn’t require as much cable as other systems; thus, it is less expensive. As
new computers are added, they are connected to the main backbone, or bus. The system continues to
work even if one of the client’s cables fails. However, the whole network stops if the main cable or bus is
severed or disconnected. The system may slow down as more data is transferred along this one main
connection.

Ring topography connects each PC to two other PC’sin a ring formation. Each PC is set up to pass data
from one machine to the next in this relay type of system. Each computer has an in and out port. If one
PC fails, the entire system fails. This system uses less cable than the others and thus, is less costly. Most
integrators use hybrid ring systems.

Network Connecting Devices. There are a number of network physical components used to network
computers. They are network interface cards, cabling, routers, bridges, and hubs.

Network Interface Cards (NIC): Network interface cards are the link between your computer and the
cabling to connect your computers to the other computers on the network. There are well over 50
network cards available. When choosing a new card - chose the fastest technology and one that is
compatible with Windows XP and Vista. Ethernet is a system of protocols for a computer that allows
workstations to connect through NICs to other workstations. Ethernet systems are popular because they
are relatively inexpensive. The data transmission rate is at 10 MBPS or higher, and uses the bus or star
topology.

Token-Ring, developed by IBM, is more expensive then Ethernet, but transmits data at 16 MBPS or
higher. FDDI stands for Fiber Distributed Data Interchange and requires fiber optics cabling to work.
Data transmission on FDDI is 100 MBPS and faster.
ATM stands for Asynchronous Transfer Mode and can transfer data from 25 MBPS up to 155 MBPS. It is
predicted that the future speeds will be 2 Gigabytes. It appears to be the emerging standard, but still
faces inoperability between vendors and backward compatibility issues.

Cabling (wire and wireless). To connect the nodes or workstations of your computer network, you need
cabling. Cabling here is referring to both actual physical cabling and the “wireless” variety. In either
situation, “cabling” is needed to connect the computers. Wire provides the best security and integrity in
data transmission at the present time. The two primary types of wire cabling are coaxial and twisted
pair. Coaxial cabling is generally less expensive, uses fewer other connector devices, and provides good
shielding from outside interference. However, it is more difficult to work with and to install in the walls.
Twisted pair cabling has several pairs of wires that are braided within a plastic cover. Direct cable
networking is supported by Windows XP and Vista™, and enables two computers to network using
either the serial or parallel ports. The parallel ports permit faster transmission but are limited to 50 feet,
whereas the serial port cable can extend up to a thousand feet.

Fiber Optic network cable uses light instead of electrical impulses to carry the network signal. Fiber optic
is a thin glass filament that connects to optical connectors for each of the computers. Fiber optic’s signal
strength enables a signal to be run a long distance without any weakening. Because of its signal
strength, data speeds can increase from 10 MBPS (10,000,000 bits per second) to over 1G
(1,000,000,000 bits per second), which will be sufficient for future network data needs. Fiber optic
connectors and cabling are expensive, but may be the choice if electrical interference is present or
distance between computers is significant.

Light wave connections use either infrared light beams or lasers to communicate between two
computers. Light waves cannot penetrate walls or ceilings, are subject to interference, and network
speeds can be quite slow.

Radio wave connections use radio signals to transmit data. They can penetrate walls and ceilings and
can transmit from several hundred feet to several miles. Radio-wave connections are typically used
when the need to connect mobile laptops in a business is required, such as recording the inventory in
nearby warehouses with laptop computers. Radio wave networking can be used to connect buildings
and mobile units within a several mile radius. Radio wave connections are subject to interference of
other nearby radio transmissions.

Hubs, Routers and Bridges are hardware components that connect network segments together to send
and receive data between different LANs and WANS. A hub is a connecting device to connect
workstations and servers to form a network. They can be used for client/server or peer-to-peer systems.
To connect networks together one would use a router or bridge to exchange data information. Routers
are generally used to connect and send information from a LAN to the WAN. Bridges are hardware
devices that break a large LAN into smaller ones for better management. To connect WANS together;
connectors called DSU/CSU’s are connected to data transmission lines such as ISDN, etc.

2. Network Operating System

In order to communicate on a network, computers must use the appropriate operating protocol
selected for the network. This protocol enables the computer to exchange information and ensure
correct data transmission. The network operating system (NOS) is the controlling software that enables
a server to accommodate multiple clients and provide the communication network between them. The
most common network protocols and the products supporting the protocol are: · TCP/IP - Unix,
Windows NT™ server, Linux, Internet products. (TCP/IP is the protocol being used on the Internet and
for intranets) · IPX/SPX - Novell NetWare™, Windows NT Server™. · NetBIOS - OS/2 WARP Server™,
Windows NT Server™.

3.  Application Component

The value of networking lies in the capability of sharing up-to-date information, software and hardware
resources with other users on the system. 

The primary application software networking programs used in the legal profession are word processing,
time & billing, calendar/docket/address book, E-mail, document management, conflict management,
litigation support, and peripheral sharing such as printers, CD-ROM, PC fax systems, modems and any
other hardware.  See the prior section on Network Applications for the Practice of Law for a detailed
discussion of these applications.