Physical Network
Interface Connection
Ethernet
• Ethernet is a form of communication
that uses wired technology for
connecting devices in a wired local area
network (LAN) or wide area network
(WAN).
• It allows devices to communicate with
each other via a protocol, which is a set
of rules or common network language.
• IEEE 802.3 standard specifies that
Ethernet protocol is present in both the
physical layer and data link layer of OSI
model.
Network Devices
• Network devices, also known as networking hardware, are physical
devices that allow hardware on a computer network to
communicate and interact with one another.
• For example:
1. Repeater
2. Hub
3. Switch
4. Gateway
5. Router
Network Devices
Hub
• It is a physical layer networking
device.
• It has many ports to connect
multiple devices in a network.
• It cannot filter the data frame
arrived at its ports.
• When a data frame is arrived at one
of its port, the data frame is
broadcasted to all other ports.
Network Devices
Switch
• It is a data link layer networking
device.
• Likewise hub, it also has many
ports to connect to multiple
computers.
• It is an intelligent networking
device that sends the received
data frame to the destined
computer or device.
Network Devices
Router
• A router is a device that connects
two or more packet-switched
networks or subnetworks.
• It serves two primary functions:
1. Managing traffic between these
networks by forwarding data
packets to their intended IP
addresses, and
2. Allowing multiple devices to use
the same Internet connection.
Network Devices
Network Interface Card (NIC)
• It is also known as Ethernet card, LAN
card, network interface controller and so
on.
• It connects a system to a network.
• It provides a dedicated or full time
network connection.
• It is a card with connector port.
• It is an interface between a computer and
a network the computer is connected to.
• When building a LAN, all NICs installed in
each computer, typically on the
motherboard must be of same
architecture.
NIC Working
• NIC has a unique identifier called Media Access Control (MAC)
address.
• Every Ethernet network card has a unique 48-bit serial
number called a MAC address, when written as six two-digit
hexadecimal numbers separated by colons.
• The MACs on the network are used to direct traffic between
the computers.
Network Cables
• To connect two or more computers or networking devices in a
network, network cables are used.
• There are three types:
1. Coaxial cable
2. Twisted pair cable
3. Fiber-optic cable
Network Cables
Twisted-pair cable
• It was primarily developed for
computer networks.
• It consists of color-coded pairs of
insulated copper wires.
• Each pair has one solid color and
one stripped color wire. Solid colors
are blue, brown, green, and orange.
Ethernet NIC
• Different wiring specifications for twisted-pair cable by
the standard IEEE 802.3: 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX,
1000BASE-T
• For example:
The number in 100BASE-T indicates the speed of the wire in
millions of bits per second that is Megabits per second (Mbps).
The term base in 100BASE-T is short for baseband signaling.
The –T in 100BASE-T stands for twisted pair.
Ethernet NIC
• 100BASE-T4
It uses all four pairs in the bundle (all eight wires).
Of the four pairs, one pair is solely for transmitting and one
pair is solely for receiving.
The other two pair can be used either for TX or RX.
• 100BASE-TX
Uses only two pairs (pair-2 and pair-3) of the four.
One dedicated to TX and the other dedicated to RX.
The other two pairs are unused.
Network Cables
Twisted-pair cable
• Based on how pairs are
stripped in the plastic sheath,
there are two types of twisted
pair cables.
1. UTP (Unshielded twisted-pair)
cable
2. STP (Shielded twisted-pair)
cable
UTP Cable connection with RJ45
• Three types:
1. Straight-through cable
2. Crossover cable
3. Rolled cable
UTP cabling connections
• Specified by the Electronics Industry Alliance/Telecommunications
Industry Association (EIA/TIA)
NIC configuration
1. Media Dependent Interface (MDI) NIC
Pins 1 and 2 are used for TX
Pins 3 and 6 are used for RX
Devices such as computers, servers and routers have MDI
connections
2. Media Dependent Interface Crossover (MDI) NIC
Pins 3 and 6 are used for TX
Pins 1 and 2 are used for RX
Devices that provide LAN connectivity such as hubs and switches.
Straight-through cable connection
Crossover cable connection
Rollover cable connection
PC to PC
PC to Switch to PC
PC to Switch to Switch to PC
THANK YOU!
