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NETWORKING PRIMER
This chapter provides a description of basic networking concepts and modem
terminology to help you better understand the key functionality of the Dual 56K
LAN Modem.
What is a network? A network is a set of computers and other devices, such as printers, servers, hubs,
and modems, that are connected together either directly through cabling, or
indirectly through dial-up telephone or other services. The components of a
network can be situated in a single room, a single building, or a contained “local”
geographical area, or they can be dispersed over far distances and a wide
geographical area.
What is a LAN? A LAN (Local Area Network) is a network, or a segment of a larger network, which
has all its components (computers, printers, etc.) located within a contained
geographical area, such as a single office building. By linking computers together
and creating a LAN, users can share files and share access to devices such as
printers, common servers, or, in the case of the LAN Modem, to modems for
access to the Internet.
A LAN is defined in contrast to its counterpart, the WAN (Wide Area Network),
and often refers to that portion of a larger network which relies only on direct
cabling to connect all its devices, without crossing into the domain of the WAN,
which consists of any pre-installed telephone or cable wiring, or any pre-existing
public network infrastructures such as the Internet. A network as a whole can
extend beyond the limits of any one LAN and can comprise limitless numbers of
LANs, but where its reach is extended through the use of dial-up or leased-line
services, its LAN-segment is said to end, and the network is said to cross over into
the WAN space.
To link devices together to form a LAN, the type of cabling generally used is
Ethernet. There are three main types of Ethernet networks: 10BASE-T, 10BASE-2
and 10BASE-5. The Dual 56K LAN Modem uses 10BASE-T Ethernet cabling.
10BASE-T Ethernet is used in small networks with only a few dozen devices
located within close proximity to one another. The physical wiring used for a
10BASE-T Ethernet network is twisted pair cabling. The connector used for
10BASE-T looks similar to the connector used for your telephone connection.
10BASE-5 Ethernet is used in large networks with many devices, where
transmissions occur over distant geographical areas. 10BASE-2 (Thin) Ethernet is
used in smaller networks in which all devices are located relatively close together.