Transcript Chapter 6 Part A

Chapter Six
Networking
Hardware
Chapter Objectives
 Identify functions of LAN connectivity hardware
 Install and configure a network interface card
(NIC)
 Identify problems associated with connectivity
hardware
 Describe the factors involved in choosing a NIC,
hub, switch, or router
 Describe the uses of repeaters, hubs, bridges,
switches, and gateways
 Describe the function of routing protocols
Network Interface Cards (NICs)
 Connectivity devices enabling a workstation,
server, printer or other node to receive and
transmit data over the network media
 Sometimes called network adapters
Network Interface Cards (NICs)
Types of NICs
 Industry Standard
Architecture (ISA)
 MicroChannel
Architecture
(MCA)
 Extended Industry
Standard
Architecture (EISA)
 Peripheral
Component
Interconnect (PCI)
FIGURE 6-1 Four primary bus architectures
Network Interface Cards (NICs)
FIGURE 6-2
Three kinds of
bus connections
on the same
board
Network Interface Cards (NICs)
 NICs may connect to interfaces other than a PC’s bus
 For laptop computers, Personal Computer Memory
Card International Association slots may be used to
connect NICs
– PCMCIA
– Also called PC card
– Developed in the early 1990s to provide a standard interface
for connecting any type of device to a portable computer
Network Interface Cards (NICs)
FIGURE 6-3
Typical
PCMCIA NIC
FIGURE 6-4
Parallel port
NIC
Network Interface Cards (NICs)
FIGURE 6-5
Wireless NIC
and
transceiver
FIGURE 6-6
Ethernet NICs for
printers
Network Interface Cards (NICs)
FIGURE 6-7
Variety of
Ethernet NICs
FIGURE 6-8 Variety
of Token Ring NICs
Network Interface Cards (NICs)
 Installing NICs
– Installing hardware
– Configuring software
– Configuring firmware, a combination of
hardware and software
• Because its data can be erased or changed, the type
of ROM on firmware is called erasable
programmable read-only memory (EPROM)
Installing NIC Hardware
 Have the proper tools and turn off the computer
 Attach ground strap to wrist and make sure it’s
attached to ground strap underneath computer
 Open computer case
 Select a slot on the computer’s system board
where you will insert the NIC
 Properly line up the NIC and insert
Installing NIC Hardware
 Attach bracket at
end of NIC
 Make sure nothing
is disturbed or left
inside
 Replace cover and
screws
FIGURE 6-9 Properly inserted NIC
Installing NIC Hardware
FIGURE 6-10
Installing a
PCMCIA NIC
Installing and Configuring NIC
Software
 After NIC is
physically installed,
restart the PC
 Unless plug-and-play
technology is disabled,
Windows 95 should
automatically detect
the new hardware
 To make certain the
correct driver is
installed, choose
Have Disk, and insert
the disk that came with
the NIC
FIGURE 6-11 Windows 95
prompt for hardware drivers
Installing and Configuring NIC
Software
 Type the correct path and click OK
 If prompted, select the precise model being installed
and click OK
 If asked for location of Windows 95 CAB files, direct
installation program to that drive and click OK
 Once installed, restart PC
IRQ (Interrupt Request Line)
 Means by which a computer can request
information from the CPU
 If two devices choose the same IRQ, resource
conflicts and performance problems will result
 If IRQ conflicts occur, set the devices IRQ
manually
IRQ (Interrupt Request Line)
To view IRQ settings on computers running Windows 95
 Right-click My
Computer
 Click Properties
 Click Device Manager
 Double-click
Computer
 With View Resources
and Interrupt Request
selected, scroll through
listings
FIGURE 6-12 Computer resource
settings in Windows 95
IRQ (Interrupt Request Line)
 Click Start, point to
Programs, point to
Administrative
Tools, then click
Windows NT
Diagnostics
 Click Resources
 Click IRQ
 View IRQ settings
FIGURE 6-13 IRQ settings displayed
in Windows NT Diagnostics
IRQ (Interrupt Request Line)
 Complementary metal oxide conductor (CMOS)
– Firmware attached to system board that controls the
configuration of a computer’s devices, among other things
 Message displayed if attempting to change the NIC’s
IRQ from the operating system
– For Windows NT: “Cannot configure the software
component”
– For Windows 95: “This resource setting cannot be
modified.”
Memory Range
and Base I/O Port
 Memory range
– Hexadecimal number indicating the area
memory that the NIC and CPU will use for
exchanging, or buffering, the data
 Base I/O port
– Setting that specifies, in hexadecimal notation,
which area of memory will act as a channel for
moving data between the NIC and CPU
Changing NIC Firmware
 When changing firmware, users write to EPROM chip
on the NIC, not the computer’s hard disk
 Though most configurable settings can be changed in
the operating system or NIC setup software, it is
possible to encounter complex networking problems
that require a change to firmware settings
 Loopback plug
– Plugs into port and crosses over the transmit line to the
receive line so that the outgoing signal can be redirected
back into the computer for testing
Choosing the Right NIC
Table 6-1 NIC
Characteristics
Repeaters
 Connectivity device that regenerates and
amplifies an analog or digital signal
FIGURE 6-14
Repeater