Network interface cards, commonly referred to as NICs, are used to connect a PC to a network. The NIC provides a physical connection between the networking cable and the computer’s internal bus. NICs come in three basic varieties: 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit. The larger the number of bits that can be transferred to the NIC, the faster the NIC can transfer data to the network cable.

Cards are available to support almost all networking standards, including the latest Fast Ethernet environment. Fast Ethernet NICs are often 10/100 capable, and will automatically set to the appropriate speed. Full duplex networking is another option, where a dedicated connection to a switch allows a NIC to operate at twice the speed.

Hubs The hub is probably the most important part of the networking puzzle. It is the core of almost any Ethernet setup, except for 10Base-2 networks which only require a 50 ohm terminator wherever a PC does not exist on the cable. The hub is used to bring all the PCs together and provide a single connector to a network server or another hub. The hub has varying numbers of ports, each port being where you plug in each PC. Hubs are quite simple. They do no error checking or data filtering. They just diligently pass data along. They preserve the electrical signal that passes through them, allowing you to span your network further than what is typically allowed in your Ethernet standard.

There are both Manageable Hubs, which allow advanced configuration of Hub properties via a software package, and Standard Hubs, which are cheaper, and usually used for home or small office networks. We recommend purchasing a standard hub, since the extra features included in Manageable Hubs are not useful for a home or small office network.

There are three types of hubs:

• Standalone hubs: a single hub. These hubs are the least expensive. They are expandable in that you can connect them to other standalone hubs. They boast a number ports, depending on the hub. They are best for smaller networks.
  
• Stackable Hubs: These are like standalone hubs, except that they can be stacked on top of one another. When stacked, they are connected via a short piece of cable and they act like one single modular hub, able to be controlled as one. These are ideal for those who want to start a network with minimal investment but with room for expansion.
  
• Modular Hubs: These are more ideal for the larger networks. These are bought as a chassis. In the chassis, you install module cards, each card having as many as 12 twisted-pair ports. You can install as many cards as the chassis will take. You can get modules that take different types of cabling, depending on your needs.

Bridges, Routers, and Switches

Bridges and routers are devices used for linking different LANs or LAN segments together. There are many companies that have LANs at various offices across the world. Routers were originally developed to allow connection of remote LANs across a wide area network (WAN). Bridges can also be used for this purpose. By setting up routers or bridges on two different LANs and connecting them together, a user on one LAN can access resources on the other LAN as if they were on the local LAN.

There are maximums on distances between workstations and hubs, hubs and hubs, and stations connected to a single LAN. You can exceed these maximums by linking two LAN segments (groups of users/devices) together using a Bridge or Router.

Bridges
Bridges are simpler and less expensive then routers. Bridges make a simple do/don’t decision on which packets to send across to segments they connect. Filtering is done based on the destination address of the packet. If a packet’s destination is a station on the same segment where it originated, it is not forwarded. If it is destined for a station on another LAN, it is connected to a different bridge port and forwarded to that port.

Routers
Routers are more complex and more expensive than bridges. They use information within each packet to route it from one LAN to another, and communicate with each other and share information that allows them to determine the best route through a complex network of many LANs.

Routers are often used to connect networked users to the internet. Since they let users share things such as modems, ISDN adapters, or ISP accounts they are useful for this function.

Routers can be fairly pricey. A less expensive option to shared internet access is a proxy server. Products such as WinProxy let you easily set up internet access for several networked PCs, using a single modem or ISDN line.

Switches
Switches are another type of device used to link several LANs and route packets between them. A switch has multiple ports, each of which can support either a single station or an entire Ethernet. With a different LAN connected to each of the ports, it can switch packets between LANs as needed.

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