"What type of networks exist?"

Networks come in many varieties, but here's a brief rundown of the most common.

AppleTalk
One of the most basic, it's main strength is all older Apple Macs come with this as standard. Newer Power Macs, such as the G3 and G4, are Ethernet ready with built-in RJ-45 connections, but older ones can't support Ethernet without additional hardware. The AppleTalk connector is the same as the printer port, but can do far more, all you need is a small AppleTalk box roughly the size of a mouse with a small cable attached. The box has two ports and with additional cables you can connect additional peripherals or daisy chain several Macs together.
AppleTalk is easy, but it's not usually used in mainstream networks when large files need to be moved around. AppleTalk is slow, at around 1Mbps; its main use is to share printers with minimum cost and maximum ease.

Ethernet
This is the current choice in networking.

10Base-2
Also known as Thin-Ethernet, is a good choice when using a small peer-to-peer workgroup, where connectivity is mainly to share printers or transfer the odd file. BNC is cheap and affordable, but one downside is that devices are connected in a line (bus), if one computer in the network is disconnected or the cable is broken somewhere in the middle the entire network will fail. This is also true if a terminator is missing at either end of the BNC cabling.

10Base-T (Twisted Pair)
10Base-T networks tend to cost more to implement than 10Base-2 networks but they have several advantages:

• They are connected via hubs which require no additional termination
• Connection is made by small and very inexpensive patch leads utilising RJ-45 connectors
• Easier management - workstations can be added/removed without disruption to other users on the network

100Base-TX
Currently this is the most popular type and gives rise to the majority of networking questions at LINDY Electronics. This option has never been cheaper than it is today. It is the network of choice for the majority of SME and large businesses alike. With equipment available from LINDY, networks can be divided into collision domains to improve available bandwidth. Nearly all new Ethernet cable installations cater for 100Base-TX.


"What's the difference between a switching and non-switching hub?"

Switching hubs are commonly referred to as managed hubs, while non-switching hubs tend to get called dumb.

The difference stems in the manner in which information is transmitted across the network, and how efficiently data is routed to its destination.

Dumb hubs, sometimes-called multi-port repeaters, simultaneously broadcast information to all machines connected to them. When the information being transmitted is 'heard' by the machine it's intended for, it receives it. This works fine in small networks but it makes the network an inefficient place when say an additional 20 or so computers each have to take a turn to ignore the packet of data transmitted.

A managed hub on the other hand, when transmitting data to an unknown destination for the first time, broadcasts the data similarly to a dumb hub and waits for the intended receiver to accept it. Once it does this, the managed hub 'remembers' its network address. Subsequent packets of information for the same machine are sent directly to it without having to announce the data to all other computers on the network that there is information coming. This lowers the unnecessary network traffic and makes the whole operation more efficient, and ultimately speeds up your network.

The only real problem with these managed hubs is that they cost more than their non-intelligent brothers, the 'dumb' hubs.


"How can I upgrade my network from 10Base-T to 100Base-TX without incurring huge costs?"

Easy! Walk before you can run!

Firstly, you will require 100Base-TX compatible cabling (Category 5 or better). Then install a 100Base-TX network card installed in your server to allow you to use a 100Base-TX hub. Then work out who your power users are, and connect them to the new 100Base-TX hub. This has the advantage of letting your power users have access to the information they need at 100Mbps, while not incurring the costs of say upgrading your users who don't need that kind of speed yet!

Kitting out a full network to 100Base-TX can be expensive. By buying auto-sensing network cards, for example LINDY's Cat.No. 70 955 (which is capable of supporting 10Base-T and 100Base-TX depending on the hub it is connected to), you can upgrade gradually. Some users who only need occasional access to the network or just want to do word-processing may never need 100Base-TX access speeds, so why waste the money and this leaves the remaining bandwidth for those users that do?

As and when, these users require more speed, having an auto-sensing network card, you just switch to a faster hub and gain all the benefits without the full immediate cost.

"What are T568A and T568B, and how do they differ?"

This is a question we frequently come across as LINDY Technical Support. Simply put, they are two different ways to wire up twisted pair cabling. They both perform exactly the same but be careful not to introduce both A and B wiring in the same length of cable.

The difference between A and B wiring is the colouring of pairs 1 and 3. T568A uses green on pair 1 and orange on pair 3, whereas T568B uses orange on pair 1 and green on pair 3.

 back