If you have studied the OSI model with its 7 Layers that describe communication on computer network systems, you should know that the Ethernet standard lies in Layer 1 (Physical) and Layer 2 (Data-Link) of the OSI model. In this article we will focus on the physical (Layer 1) part of Ethernet, which mainly focuses […]
Difference Between LAN and WAN Networks – Compared and Explained
Networking is at the center of all information sharing and Internet activities, and most homes and businesses have some sort of networking technology used for internet access and for enabling the business communications and functions. However, many people struggle with some of the fundamental concepts involved in computer networking. Both Local-Area Networks, or LANs, and […]
What Is the Difference Between Internet and Intranet?
The internet and intranet are closely related terms. Some individuals may get these terms confused or use them interchangeably. While there are similarities, the internet and intranet are used for very different purposes. What Is an Internet Network? When you visit a website or use a mobile app that requires an internet connection, you are […]
10 Different Types of Networks
Computer networks keep changing the way we live and do things in the 21st century. This is because virtually every computing activity or information sharing we do today depends on one form of network or another. The Internet is a very good example of a computer network that allows users to get information from any […]
Compare and Contrast Network Topologies (Star, Mesh, Bus, Hybrid etc)
Computer networking has been around for several decades, which is the backbone of what we all know as the Internet today. The Internet is simply a network of networks, which means there is no such thing as a standalone computer on a network. For a user or host computer to participate in data and resource […]
Windows IP Commands – ipconfig-nslookup-ping-tracert-netstat etc
As Network Engineers we need to be versatile and troubleshooting-savvy in our work environment. In addition to having strong knowledge of networking protocols and commands on network devices (routers, switches, firewalls etc) we need also to have very good knowledge of IP and other networking related commands on end-point devices such as Windows computers, Linux […]
Network Failover Redundancy Scenario – Two sites with two ASA Firewalls
A few months ago I was involved in a project where we had to design a network redundancy scenario with two physically separate networks in two different buildings (the sites were a few kilometers away from each other). The main requirement was to provide Inbound Internet Access to two Server Pools (Linux Servers in High […]
Make Your Home Future Proof With A Home Network
In the past computer networking was the reserve of office places and businesses utilizing computer systems and shared software for completing demanding workload tasks. However, since the introduction of the PC to the home, primarily in the form of the desktop computer, the need for home networking has become an almost everyday necessity. No Longer […]
Troubleshooting Skills and Training are Essential in Networking
One of the most important skills that a network engineer must learn and develop is troubleshooting. I have designed, configured and managed hundreds of networking projects. Its very rare to configure a network (especially complex ones) and have everything running as expected from the first shot. Most of the times a lot of troubleshooting activity […]
Characteristics of dynamic IP routing protocols
Below are some important characteristics of various Dynamic Routing Protocols that are used in Cisco IOS routers. RIPv2 * Distance Vector Protocol. * Suitable for small to medium networks. * Average convergence speed. * Supports VLSM. * Supports CIDR. * Standardized protocols (supports multi-vendor networks.) * Multicast address for updates: 224.0.0.9 * Administrative distance: 120. […]
Important Points to Know About IPV6
We are slowly approaching the implementation of IPv6 in a mass scale and thus we must be ready to learn some significant differences over IPv4. Also, some IP addressing terms will start to appear with increasing frequency in our day to day work. So let’s see some notable concepts that you need to know about […]
GNS3 Graphical Network Simulator
GNS3 is a graphical network simulator that allows simulation of complex networks. To allow complete simulations, GNS3 is strongly linked with : * Dynamips, the core program that allows Cisco IOS emulation. * Dynagen, a text-based front-end for Dynamips. * Qemu, a generic and open source machine emulator and virtualizer. GNS3 is an excellent complementary […]
IEEE 802.3ba Standard -100 Gbps Ethernet is Here
On June 17th, the IEEE has ratified the 802.3ba standard for Ethernet connections with speeds of 40 and 100 Gbps. Both Cisco and Juniper have been supplying high performance network equipment which support the above standard. Cisco for example supports the 100Gbps Ethernet card on its CRS-3 router, while Juniper supports its 100Gbps PIC card […]