CSCI E-1 | Section | Building and Configuring a (W)LAN

Section Objectives

In this section, students will build a functional LAN of mixed type (part wired, part wireless). We will start by reviewing networking concepts relating to LANs and WLANs, and proceed with building our own network.
The TFs will supply students with plenty of cable for some hands-on crimping!

LAN Fundamentals

What are some devices that might be used in LANs?

Computers (desktops, laptops)
Printers
Servers
DSL or Cable Modems
Home Routers and Home Wireless Routers

How do LANs differ?

Topology: The "shape" of a network
Protocol: The "language" used to send/receive data
Transmission Media: Physical means by which data is transmitted

LAN Infrastructure

Communication

Bandwidth: the amount of data that can be carried in a given time period
NIC: Network Interface Card; expansion card to support networking
MAC: Media Access Control; the unique hardware address for NICs (to be used in a LAN)
Ethernet: LAN architecture using MAC addresses to route data
TCP/IP: Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol - a protocol for routing data through the Internet
IP address: an address given to a host on the Internet or in a WAN
NAT: Network Address Translation - a protocol to create mappings between MAC addresses and IP addresses.

Services

DHCP: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol; Configures TCP/IP at boot
DNS: Domain Name System; Translates canonical names to IP addresses
Other Services: Web, Printing, File Sharing, etc.

Ethernet Cabling

Straight-through ("patch") vs crossover UTP cable
Connectors: RJ-11 (6 pins, telephone) vs RJ-45 (8 pins, Ethernet)
Tx, Rx
"Crimping" cable
UTP crimping diagram

A Conceptual Diagram of a WLAN

The Care and Feeding of a WLAN

Setup
Configuration
Security
"Flashing" Router Firmware

Extras

What are some types of transmission media?

Twisted pair: UTP, STP
- 10-base-T: 10 Mbps
- 100-base-T: 100 Mbps
- 1000-base-T: 1000 Mbps
T-carrier system: 24-channel system, (originally) copper lines
- T-1: 1.544 Mbps
- T-2: 6.312 Mbps
- T-3: 44.736 Mbps
- T-4: 274.176 Mbps
- T-5: 400.352 Mbps
SONET: Synchronous Optical Network; Standards for optical fiber
- OC-1: 51.84 Mbps
- OC-3: 155.52 Mbps
- OC-12: 622.08 Mbps
- OC-24: 1.244 Gbps
- OC-48: 2.488 Gbps
- OC-192: 10 Gbps
- OC-256: 13.271 Gbps
- OC-768: 40 Gbps
- OC-1536: 80 Gbps
- OC-3072: 160 Gbps
Wireless
- 802.11x : speeds vary, but typically up to 54 Mbps
- 802.11a: 54 Mbps
- 802.11b: 11 Mbps
- 802.11g: 54 Mbps
- 802.11n: 200 Mbps

Section 5: Building and Configuring a (W)LAN

Contact Information