Posted on in Networking
Although routers and switches are often located near each other in a network environment, the two devices offer very different functionality. Routers are network devices that send data packets to distinct network segments. A router examines incoming packets and makes routing decisions based on the destination address in the packet …
Posted on in System Administration
One of the more underrated tools included with Microsoft Windows Server is Network Monitor. Network Monitor is a packet capture tool that allows network administrators to gain insight into what network traffic is being sent and received by the server. This data can be useful in diagnosing various network problems …
Posted on in Networking
In the 1970s, Bob Metcalfe and David Boggs invented Ethernet while working at Xerox PARC. At that time, Ethernet's top speed was 3 Megabits per second (Mbps). This version was installed in a few sites including Boeing, the White House, and various academic institutions. In the early 1980s, the original …
Posted on in Networking
The first layer of the OSI Reference Model is the physical layer. This layer describes the physical characters of the network. This layer defines the tangible aspects of the network medium, such as types of cables and pin arrangements, but it also defines how much voltage is used in copper …
Posted on in Networking
The fifth layer of the OSI Reference Model is the session layer. Since applications running on different hosts may need to establish a connection in order to operate, the session layer is responsible for setting up the connection. It is important to note that the session layer is responsible for …
Posted on in Networking
The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model first came into being in 1978. The OSI group was intent on getting a model into the field quickly, so they elected to adopt a seven-layer model created by Charles Bachman of Honeywell. By this time, the lower four levels of the model …
Posted on in Networking
No matter how small, all network installations go through an initial planning phase before implementation. The new network administrator must take many factors into consideration when planning a network. Most importantly, the administrator must understand the required capacity, compatibility, and flexibility of the new network. Gathering this information requires a …
