The document discusses various network components including category 5 cable, coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, wireless routers, network switches, and network interface cards (NICs). It describes the functionality and use of each component. It also provides details on installing an NIC, including selecting and configuring the card, setting relevant parameters and protocols, and selecting drivers. Factors that can affect NIC performance are also outlined.

1. 0BSCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY
Networking Technology
Laboratory # 1 – Network Components
1. Complete the following table; identifying, briefly describing and explaining the functionality of
the following network components:
Image Network
Component
Brief Description Functionality
Category 5 Cable Category 5 cable (Cat 5) is a twisted pair
cable for carrying signals. This type of cable
is used in structured cabling for computer
networks such as Ethernet.
A Cat 5 cable joins two network devices. The
cable allows data to be transferred at high
speeds between the devices. Each of the four
pairs in a cat 5 cable has differing precise
number of twists per meter to minimize
crosstalk between the pairs.
Coaxial Cable Coaxial cables were designed to solve a
problem with the transmission of high-frequency
radio signals. Coaxial cable is the
kind of copper cable used by cable
TV companies between the community
antenna and user homes and businesses. It
is also widely installed for use in business
and corporation Ethernet and other types
of local area netwok.
A coaxial cable is used to transmit signals, such
as video, radio and data. Coaxial cable includes
one physical channel that carries the signal
surrounded (after a layer of insulation) by
another concentric physical channel, both
running along the same axis, where outer
channel serves as a ground. It confines the
signal to the cable interior and makes efficient
transmission to any location possible.
RJ 45 Connector RJ 45 is the standard for the plug that you
use for connecting cat5 cable to a network.
Each RJ45 connector has eight pins and
can be separated by way cable is wired in to
them (T-568A and T-568B).
RJ 45 used for Ethernet connections on
computers and other Ethernet networking
devices like routers and switches and also
modems and other devices which support
Ethernet interface.
Fiber Optic Cable Fiber optic cable is a high-speed
data transmission medium. It
provides the fastest data transfer rates. It is
also less susceptible to noise and
interference than metallic counterparts, but
is more fragile and are expensive to install.
Fiber optic cables provide fast transfer speeds
and large bandwidth; they are used for a large
part of the Internet backbone. Digital data is
transmitted through the cable via rapid pulses of
light. The receiving end of a fiber optic
transmission translates the light pulses
into binary values, which can be read by a
computer.
Wireless Router Wireless router is a network device that
combines a router, switch and Wi-Fi access
in one box. Wireless routers provide a
convenient way to connect a small number
of wired and any number of wireless
computers to the Internet.
It is commonly used to provide access to
the Internet or a computer network. It does not
require a wired link, as the connection is made
wirelessly, via radio waves. It can function in a
wired LAN, in a wireless-only LAN (WLAN), or
in a mixed wired/wireless network, depending
on the manufacturer and model.
Network Switch A switch is a device used on a computer
network to physically connect devices
together. Multiple cables can be connected
to a switch to enable networked devices to
communicate with each other. Switches can
also incorporate routing in addition to
bridging. Switches exist for various types of
networks including Fiber
Channel, Asynchronous Transfer
Mode, InfiniBand, Ethernet and others.
Network Switch is a multi-port network
bridge that processes and forwards data at
the data link layer (layer 2) of the OSI model. It
manages the flow of data across a network by
only transmitting a received message to the
device for which the message was intended.
Each networked device connected to a switch
can be identified using a MAC address, allowing
the switch to regulate the flow of traffic. This
maximizes security and efficiency of the
network.

2. 1B2. The Network Interface Card
· Draw and describe basic signaling methods and their characteristics.
· Explain the role of the Network Interface Card.
· View* and briefly describe the installation procedure of an NIC>
· Discuss selection and configuration of a network interface card.
· Identify how the relevant parameters and protocols are set.
· Discuss the factors that affect the performance of network interface cards.
· Discuss how drivers are selected and implemented for various network components.
*Note: There are several videos on You Tube on the topic of NIC installation
This Laboratory Investigation addresses Assessment Criteria 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 4.3
Basic signaling methods and their characteristics.
There are many ways that signals can be created with the goal of networking. Most common would be electrical impulses
that travel copper wire, pulses of light that travel through strands of glass or plastic, radio transmissions, etc. Encoded signals have
certain charichteristics where the basic would be anolog or digital.
Analog Signals
An analog signal is an electromagnetic wave that continuously changes. Analog signals are measured in cycles which
represent a change from a relative high to a relative low and back again. When measuring cycles the following three
characteristics are considered to be the most significant.
· Amplitude - the strength of the signal, usually represented by the height of the wave.
· Frequency - The time required for a wave to complete a cycle.
· Phase - The relative state of one wave to another, measured in degrees.
Amplitude, frequency and phase are the characteristics of a signal that are used to represent data.
Digital Signals
Amplitude
Cycle
Digital signals change from one state to another almost instantaneously, without stopping at an in-between state. Digital
signals represent discrete states over time. Digital signaling is often the most appropriate for transmitting computer information,
because computers are digital machines in which information is represented in binary digit. A binary digit is either 0 or 1, there is
nothing in between.
1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1

3. Digital Signaling vs. Analog
Digital signaling in general is less expensive to make the equipment, less vulnerable to errors caused by interference, offer
better security, faster performance, higher reliability and less error prone. Analog signaling in general more easily multiplexed and
less vulnerable to attenuation. Each type of signal generation and transmission has its advantages and disadvantages. While
digital signaling seems to be quickly replacing almost all analog signaling, it isn't likely to ever do so completely.
Network Interface Card
Network interface cards act as the physical interface or connection between the computer and the network cable. The cards
are installed in an expansion slot in each computer and server on the network. After the NIC has been installed, the network cable
is attached to the card's port to make the actual physical connection between the computer and the rest of the network. The role of
the NIC is to:
· Prepare data from the computer for the network cable.
· Send the data to another computer.
· Control the flow of data between the computer and the cabling system.
· Receive incoming data from the cable and translate it into bytes that can be understood by the computer's central
processing unit (CPU).
Some of the factors that could affect performance of Network Interface Card are:
· Incorrect software drivers for the NIC
· Network traffic collisions due to a poorly operating Switch
· Too many users on the wire
· Incompatible speed between network components i.e. 10mbit switch that services 100mbit NIC’s
· Bad weather
· Cabling issues
· EMF interference
Instalation & Configuration of Network Interface Card
( Windows 7; Intel Gigabit PRO/1000 CT Desktop Adapter PCI-express (EXPI9301CT))
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZovieBB9cQ
1 Read the users guide and familiarize yourself with the new card.
2 Power down PC and remove the AC power cord.
3 Find an available Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) slot on the motherboard
4 Seat the card in the PCI slot on firmly with gentle pressure along the length of the card, especially right about the slot
itself.
1 Plug computer in and power it up.
2 Windows will detect that you have installed a new hardware and in most cases it will install the drivers automatically,
otherwise install the drivers manually from the CD supplied with the network card
3 Verify Windows recognizes the new card by selecting Start -> Control Panel -> System and Security -> Device
Manager -> Network Adapters -> Intel Gigabit 100 and check that „Device Status" box says "This device is working
properly".
4 Check that new driver is set up and up to date by selecting Start -> Control Panel -> System and Security -> Device
Manager -> Network Adapters -> Intel Gigabit 100-> right mouse click-> Properties-> Driver details
Intel Gigabit PRO/1000 CT Desktop Adapter PCI-express Main Specifications
· Device Type Network adapter
· Form Factor Plug-in card - low profile
· Interface (Bus) Type PCI Express x1
· PCI Specification Revision PCIe 1.1
· Cabling Type Ethernet 10Base-T,Ethernet 100Base-TX,Ethernet 1000Base-T
· Data Link Protocol 10Mb LAN,100Mb LAN,GigE
· Data Transfer Rate 1000 Mbps
· Processor 1 x 82574L – Intel
In my opinion, Intel Gigabit CT Desktop Adapter offers decent system performance with increased end-user productivity.
Specifically, the Intel Gigabit CT Desktop Adapter uses auto- negotiation to ensure the adapter runs at the highest available
network speed (10,100,or 1000 Mbps),and maintains full bandwidth capacity with the dedicated bandwidth of a PCIe
input/output (I/O) bus. Based on the low-power Intel 82574L Gigabit Ethernet Controller, this desktop adapter offers optimal
performance in a low-cost, low-power, compact profile. Teaming support and an array of other advanced features such as:
enabled widespread deployment, remote wake/boot, point-and-click power over individual adapters,advanced connection
teaming, virtual local area network (VLAN) configuration and other advanced adapter features alows to use this adapter as an
entry-level server adapter also.
In order to identify how the relevant parameters and protocols are set for NIC following steps to be completed:

4. 1) Select Start -> Control panel -> Network and Internet -> Network and Sharing Center to check connection to a
network and access to the Internet.
2) Check local area connections by clicking on change adaptor settings link on the left side of Network and Sharing
center. Double click on Local Area Connection icon which will display LAN status. It shows the network connection
duration, the speed of the connection, number of bytes sent and received etc.
3) Click Details to see the Network connection details: IP address, subnet mask, protocol type, DHCP status etc.
4) Click Properties -> (on Network area connections status) -> Internet protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4) -> Properties
to access protocol settings