When you are getting ready to pick a network router, you may feel as though one is very much like the other. After all, as long as you can connect the household computers to it, and as long as everything mostly comes up, it's all fine, right? The truth of the matter is that routers come in all sorts of specifications and if you want to get the top performance out of yours, you will need to make sure that you are thinking this through. Getting a good router that will take care of your needs is a lot simpler than you might think, but there are some basic considerations that have to be made.
In the first place, start with speed. This can be quite important if you do a lot of downloading or uploading, or even if you play a lot of games. For the most part, routers will advertise their speed in megabits per second, written as Mbps. Older models claim that they will transfer 11 Mbps, while currently, the mid-grade routers offer 54 Mbps and the top of the line will boast 300 Mbps. These are just the top that they will ever achieve, so take the time to match them to the internet speed that you are getting in your home.
Another point that you will want to look at is warranties. How long will the router be ensured to last, and what are your options for return in case something does go wrong. Remember that a better warranty is likely indicative of a better service. If a company is confident in their service, they tend to be able to provide a significantly higher package when it comes to replacing the occasionally faulty model.
You will also find that you will have a fair amount of luck by matching your router to the network cards that are used by your computers. This is something that most people do not do, but the rewards can be significant. Most router companies, while their routers are considered universal, will tend to optimize their routers for their network cards. This can help you make a choice between a few different models, and at the very least it gives you a place to look. Some people will suggest getting all of your networking equipment in one fell swoop if at all possible for this very reason.
Finally consider where you are going to be installing your router. Some routers are meant to be packed into a confined space, while others are meant to be freestanding. Consider the area where you are going to be installing it, and make sure that you purchase a router that will work well with it. This can be instrumental in making sure that the router stays a functional part of your network for years to come.
There are a number of different things that you can do to ensure that you get a good model that will work for your home network, so consider what your choices are and what parameters you can use to make your decision.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Computer Networking
If you think Computer Networking is difficult than please read this article. Let's begin talking about the computer networking hardware required for a Local Area Network (LAN). What is required? Why it is required?
What is required? For a basic Local Area Network (LAN) you have to have a basics of the following items. Two computers with network ports. Two patch cables (CAT5e or CAT6) and one hub or switch (do not concern yourself with the quantity of network ports now).
Computer: A typical computer running windows 2k, XP, or Vista. (If your computer is running an operating system older than 2k its time for an upgrade). The computer must have a networking port (RJ45) built on or added in via expansion slot. Computers missing a network card can not talk to each other in this behavior. How do I know if my computer has a network card? Glad you asked, two really quick ways you can tell. One, your computer is connected via high speed internet (DSL, Cable, Fios) that requires a network card. Two, look at the rear of your computer. You are looking for a phone plug but larger.
Networking equipment: A hub can be known as a dumb device. It has no intelligence and on vast networks it is not suggested using. To comprehend the basics of how a hub operates let us take a glance at a small office setup. In this office we have computer "A" and computer "B" and printer "1". These three hardware piece of equipment are plugged into the same 24 port hub (computer "A" in port 1, computer "B" in port 2, and the printer in port 24. User "A" send a print demand to the printer and the information goes from the PC down the network cable and into the hub. From that point the information has to check each port in order from 1 to 24 until if finds the printer. If user "A" prints again the procedure is replicated. At the same time user "B" sends a print demand to the printer now the hub has to work twice as hard to find what port the printer is on. At this time the hub operates like a stop light permitting some of the traffic through then stopping it allowing the other traffic to move. But this traffic is going to the same destination, intern you have "accidents" or in networking terms collisions.
Now its time to improve. Your network has become superior to two employees and a printer the network is running at a snail's pace and you need a trouble-free way to speed it up. Time to improve that 24 port hub into a 24 port switch. For all purposes a hub and switch are the identical except the switch is the one with the brains. If you use the same example from above (2 computers 1 printer, same setup) and they both request a print. The switch knows how hit print faster and it also retains which port the printer is plugged into. Eg it does not need to scrutinize each port each time to discover the printer.
So with your hubs or switches, computers and networking cables, you should be on the correct path to starting up your own computer network and be playing Local Area Network (LAN) games shortly. Thank you for my Computer Networking and LAN site.
What is required? For a basic Local Area Network (LAN) you have to have a basics of the following items. Two computers with network ports. Two patch cables (CAT5e or CAT6) and one hub or switch (do not concern yourself with the quantity of network ports now).
Computer: A typical computer running windows 2k, XP, or Vista. (If your computer is running an operating system older than 2k its time for an upgrade). The computer must have a networking port (RJ45) built on or added in via expansion slot. Computers missing a network card can not talk to each other in this behavior. How do I know if my computer has a network card? Glad you asked, two really quick ways you can tell. One, your computer is connected via high speed internet (DSL, Cable, Fios) that requires a network card. Two, look at the rear of your computer. You are looking for a phone plug but larger.
Networking equipment: A hub can be known as a dumb device. It has no intelligence and on vast networks it is not suggested using. To comprehend the basics of how a hub operates let us take a glance at a small office setup. In this office we have computer "A" and computer "B" and printer "1". These three hardware piece of equipment are plugged into the same 24 port hub (computer "A" in port 1, computer "B" in port 2, and the printer in port 24. User "A" send a print demand to the printer and the information goes from the PC down the network cable and into the hub. From that point the information has to check each port in order from 1 to 24 until if finds the printer. If user "A" prints again the procedure is replicated. At the same time user "B" sends a print demand to the printer now the hub has to work twice as hard to find what port the printer is on. At this time the hub operates like a stop light permitting some of the traffic through then stopping it allowing the other traffic to move. But this traffic is going to the same destination, intern you have "accidents" or in networking terms collisions.
Now its time to improve. Your network has become superior to two employees and a printer the network is running at a snail's pace and you need a trouble-free way to speed it up. Time to improve that 24 port hub into a 24 port switch. For all purposes a hub and switch are the identical except the switch is the one with the brains. If you use the same example from above (2 computers 1 printer, same setup) and they both request a print. The switch knows how hit print faster and it also retains which port the printer is plugged into. Eg it does not need to scrutinize each port each time to discover the printer.
So with your hubs or switches, computers and networking cables, you should be on the correct path to starting up your own computer network and be playing Local Area Network (LAN) games shortly. Thank you for my Computer Networking and LAN site.
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