Network

Hardware
ARROYO (BSN2-A)
What is a
network?
 Definition
✘ Network- a set of cooperative
interconnected computers for the purpose of
information interchange.

✘ The networks of greatest interest:

- Local Area Networks (LANs)
- Wide Area Networks (WANs)
- Internet
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 A picture is worth a thousand words
✘ LANs support the interconnected computer needs
of a single company or agency.
✘ WANs support geographically dispersed facilities
(eg, individual grocery stores in a national chain.)

✗ Subset of WANs: Metropolitan Area

Networks (MANs) – support & connect many
buildings of local governmental agencies or
university campuses.
✘ Internet – a network of networks

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 Most important components of
network hardware

✘ - Adapter or Interface
Card,
✘ - Cabling,
✘ - Servers

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What is the
role of
hardware in
a network?

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 Role of Hardware

✘ The role of hardware in a network – to

provide an interconnection between
computers.
✘ TWO pieces of hardware:

1. Network adapter or network interface card

2. Communication medium (cabling)

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 1. Network adapter or network
interface card
✘ Network Interface Card (NIC) – a computer circuit
board or card that is installed in a computer so that
it can be connected to a network.
✘ NICs provide a dedicated, full-time connection to a
network.
✘ Ethernet Card – the oldest network interface (or
“adapter card”)
✘ The choice of NIC depends on the communication
medium.

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2. Communication medium (cabling)
✘ Communication medium – which actual transfer of data from
one site to another takes place.
✘ Commonly used communication media:
- twisted pair cable
- coaxial cable
- fiber-optics
- telephone lines
- satellites
- compressed video
✘ Choice of communication medium: distance, amount of data
transfer, how often the transfer is needed, availability.

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 CHOICE OF
COMMUNICATION MEDIUM
A. DISTANCE: short distances required for wireless, compressed
video, and coaxial cable systems. Longer distances are fiber-optics,
telephone lines, and satellite transmission
B. AMOUNT OF DATA TRANSFER: large amounts of data are best
handled with coaxial cables and compressed video and through
satellite communications. Smaller amounts of data or serial streams
are best handled with pair copper wire and optical fiber
C. HOW OFTEN THE TRANSFER IS NEEDED: coaxial cable works
best for locally wired networks. Telephone wires work well for the
relatively high-usage public networks (Internet).
D. AVAILABILITY: depends on cost, transmission speed, number of
users (who might clog up the system), weather conditions
(satellites), and so on.

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quiz questions
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1. These are networks of greatest
interest, except:

A. LANs
B. Internet
C. WANs
D. Ethernet

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2. Supports & connects many buildings of local
governmental agencies or university campuses.

A. Internet
B. Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs)
C. Servers
D. Wide Area Networks (WANs)

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 3. Which is/are the most important
components of network hardware?
A.Adapter or interface card
B.Servers
C.Cabling
D.Internet
E.a, b, c

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 4. A computer circuit board or card that is installed in a
computer so that it can be connected to a network

A.Coxial Cable
B.Ethernet
C.Communication medium
D.Network Interface Card (NIC)

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5. What is the oldest network interface
or adapter card?

A. Internet card
B. Ethernet card
C. Telephone card
D. Data card

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 reference

file:///C:/Users/LENOVO/Desktop/N
URSING
%20INFORMATICS/Essentials-of-
Nursing-Informatics-PDFDrive-.pdf

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FIN

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