Basic Networking Components

Many different kinds of networking equipment can be found in the path from one computer on the Internet to another. Each type of component is designed to connect computers at a different level of the TCP/IP stack or to perform a certain function or layout in a networking topology.

Cables

Ethernet cables can carry traffic from one Ethernet card to another on a LAN at very high speeds—10Mbps, 100Mbps, or even 1Gbps in the newest (and most expensive) kind of LAN, Gigabit Ethernet. The cables, regardless of speed, can be had very cheaply; you can even make them yourself. The downside is that Ethernet can't be used over long distances. Because the signals aren't serialized or transmitted by equipment designed to support ...

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