Cisco Exploration 1( Chapter 10)

            The chapter 10 of Exploration 1 discusses the Planning and cabling of the network. We as human we plans for what must be done and we plan for our future, in Computer Networking side there is planning also as well as cabling in order to have a successful communication process in the network and for the future growth as well. This chapter discuss the basic computer network end devices, cables and intermediary devices/internetwork devices such as routers that connects to a different network and routes packets between the networks and  has the ability to break up broadcast domains and collision domains in order to meet the requirements to build a LAN or WAN connection.

Planning and Cabling Network   
             Choosing the appropriate LAN devices is one of the factor need to be planned to have a connection, we need to have an Internetwork devices the most two common devices are HUBS and SWITCHES. Hubs are less expensive than switches, it creates logical bus, receives signal and sends the signal over all ports. Switches are chosen for connecting devices to a LAN , it is more expensive than a hub, its enhanced performance and reliability make it cost effective, it receives a frame and regenerates each bit of the frame on to the appropriate destination port. Each port on the switch creates a separate collision domain. In selecting devices there are factors that need to be considered the Cost, the Speed and Types of Ports/Interfaces, the Expandability, the Manageability, and the Additional Features and Services. In Planning and cabling network we need to consider the work area, how big it is and where must the cable built and implemented, we need to consider the telecommunication room. Cabling distance is a significant factor in data signal performance, signal attenuation and exposure to possible interference increase with cable length. In order to have a successful connection in a network we need to determine the number of hosts by this formula ( 2 to the nth power minus 2 (2^n-2) and the subnet mask of a network and need to plan a future expansion of the network when in the future we need to expand the network in other department or other building. We also need to ensures that data communications are available at the best combination of cost and performance so that the networks work well with provisions to scale as needed and addressing schemes also facilitate easy configuration and troubleshooting.

Key Terms and Important Factors

Data Communications Equipment (DCE) - A device that supplies the clocking services to another device. Typically, this device is at the WAN access provider end of the link.
Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) - A device that receives clocking services from another device and adjusts accordingly. Typically, this device is at the WAN customer or user end of the link.
Subnet Masks - A unique subnet and subnet mask for each physical segment, a range of usable host addresses for each subnet.

Use straight-through cables for connecting:  
Switch to router , Computer to switch , Computer to hub 

Use crossover cables for connecting: 
Switch to switch , Switch to hub, Hub to hub , Router to router, Computer to computer , Computer to router

UTP INTERFACES:
MDI - media-dependent interface
MDIX - media-dependent interface, crossover

End devices requiring IP addresses include:
User Computers , Administrator Computers , Servers , Other end devices( printers, IP phones, and IP cameras)

Network devices requiring IP addresses include:
Router LAN gateway interfaces , Router WAN (serial) interfaces

Reasons for subneting:
Manage Broadcast Traffic , Similar Network Requirements , Security

Network Addressing Scheme:
Scalability , Reliability , Flexibility , Dynamic , Availability

Types of interfaces found in Cisco:
Ethernet Interface , Serial Interface, Console interface , Auxiliary (AUX) interface




*Note: I enumerate the most important term in KEYTERM AND IMPORTANT FACTORS for my benefit when time of review for the upcoming examination..