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Because networking is a relatively young science, it
borrows language from other disciplines. Many networking terms come from the
realm of physical transportation—terms such as bridge, hub, port, routing,
and switching. That borrowing is apt. Just as the transportation revolution,
and especially the advent of the railroad, was an economic catalyst of the
Industrial Age, networks are the economic catalysts of the information age.
And just as railroads need a solid infrastructure, so do networks. The
foundation technologies of networks are routing and switching.
The Basics
In its most basic form, a network consists of two pieces of electronic
equipment that communicate data back and forth, connected by a third piece
of equipment that enables that communication. A printer attached directly to
a computer via a parallel or USB cable does not comprise a network; it
becomes a network if the printer and computer are both attached to a switch
or router. The Internet provided the impetus for most companies to adopt a
network infrastructure. Even the smallest businesses need network-enabled
Internet connections to send and receive e-mail, advertise and sell products
and services online, interact with customers, and connect with suppliers.
Moving to a networked environment opens new possibilities, including online
business applications and collaboration opportunities. Data security also
becomes a central consideration with a network. While switches and routers
have evolved and the lines between them may seem blurred, one simple
distinction remains: Switches reside within a local-area network (LAN),
while routers are needed in a wide-area network (WAN) environment. It's
analogous to an old-fashioned office phone: Switching is like dialing a four
digit extension to reach someone in your building, while routing is like
dialing 9 to get an outside line, and then dialing a seven- or ten-digit
phone number.
Systems-Based Solutions
Growing companies, especially those opening new offices, can opt for
integrated foundation solutions that are secure, solid, and compatible with
future technologies. Rather than purchasing separate products for individual
functions such as routing, switching, security, and Internet gateways,
companies can choose a "systems-based" solution that provides everything a
business unit needs to fully and securely connect to the Internet and the
company as a whole. A systems-based approach to routing and switching lets
all workers, even those at different sites, have the same access to business
applications, Internet Protocol (IP) Communications, and videoconferencing
as their colleagues at headquarters. Networking solutions for satellite
offices tend to be modular in nature, allowing you to install just the
features you need for a particular office. Modularity also enables you to
upgrade equipment (rather than replace it altogether) when needs change or
an office expands. An added benefit of this systems-based approach is that
technical staff at headquarters can centrally manage the network, which
keeps staffing counts low while providing reliable service to employees in
all locations.
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