| Computer network designing takes into account | | | | required will again decide the type of hub the |
| different aspects and topics. An ideal computer | | | | network requires. |
| network design will be based on the layout, | | | | Understanding the roles of these bits of hardware |
| capacity planning, and security plans. | | | | and the nature of network to be built takes you |
| Computer network design requires a good | | | | a long way in deigning the ideal computer network. |
| understanding of the topologies such as a bus, | | | | Understanding the implementation of network |
| ring, star, so on. Designing a network has to | | | | protocol and services design also contributes to a |
| follow certain rules. The set of rules governing the | | | | good computer network design. You can use |
| setup of a network is called its topology. Ethernet, | | | | other area networks besides LANs and WANs. A |
| today, is the most popular topology in use. It | | | | good knowledge about the different forms of |
| consists of computers and peripherals cabled | | | | area networks and their roles in network designing |
| together in specific ways. Ethernet is relatively | | | | throws up better ideas for the framework. |
| cheaper, easy to set up and use, and faster. | | | | However, the two significant elements influencing |
| There are two types of Ethernet — | | | | network designing are the bandwidth and latency |
| Standard and Fast Ethernet. | | | | supported by a network. |
| To talk of the cables, you can use the | | | | Bandwidth in computer networking means the |
| twisted-pair (also known as 10BaseT) or the thin | | | | rate at which data can travel through a network |
| coax (also known as 10Base2) for your network | | | | connection or interface. It is usually expressed in |
| cable. The choice, however, will depend on the | | | | bytes per second (bps). Bandwidth, however, is |
| type of network you’re setting. You can | | | | just one element that dictates the speed of a |
| use both the types together. Twisted pair cabling | | | | network. Latency, the other important element of |
| is cheaper, flexible, and ideal for cabling short | | | | speed refers to the delays in processing different |
| distances. You can use thin coax for larger | | | | types of network data. Usually, tools such as ping |
| networks. | | | | and trace-route assess latency by determining the |
| A network interface card (NIC) connects the | | | | time taken by a network packet to travel from |
| network computer to the network cabling. While | | | | source to destination and back. |
| some NICs are installed inside the computer | | | | Once you have planned the budget and the |
| others may need PCI slots. A network adapter is | | | | various factors influencing a network design, you |
| needed when the network is supposed to support | | | | can think about the various template designs. You |
| very high speed data transfer. | | | | can think of a symmetric computer network, |
| The final piece you need to get through the | | | | where all devices can transmit and receive data |
| network design is a hub. It is used to gather | | | | at equal rates, or an asymmetric one which can |
| groups of PCs together at a central location. The | | | | supports different proportion of data or |
| type of your network and data transfer support | | | | bandwidth in different direction. |