Posts Tagged ‘Network Components’

Why Use Monitoring Network Software?

January 3rd, 2010



Monitoring a network is an important part of keeping one of your most valuable business resources happy and healthy. But did you realize that a good bit of the monitoring process can be an ongoing phenomenon with the aid of monitoring software? The fact is that there are a couple of excellent reasons to invest in monitoring network software to help you maintain your valuable network components.

Monitoring network software acts as a constant watchdog for your network equipment. Once installed, the software will be constantly monitoring the functionality of each of your programs, as well as the efficiency of your servers, the connected work stations, and other components that make up your entire network. The advantage is that you get real time information about some emerging problem, such as a new and as yet unidentified virus that has infected the network due to an attachment being opened. With the ability to see something odd is happening when it happens, it is possible to take steps to minimize the damage and contain the problem.

There is more to the monitoring process than simply making sure the network is working at optimum levels of efficiency. Network software also makes it possible to determine when work stations are being used to purposes other than work. Depending on the standards set in place by the company, this could be a serious breach of both work ethics and company guidelines. Knowing that something is going on that is not work related can provide the chance for employees to be discreetly counseled, or possibly terminated if the circumstances merit that course of action. The network monitoring software will provide all the documentation necessary to warrant the action.

Relatively inexpensive and easy to install, monitoring network software can aid network administrators in making sure operations remain at optimum levels and that the resources of the company are being utilized in a professional manner. The software will often pay for itself in a very short time, based on increases in productivity, and less down time due to network issues.

By: Terry Edwards

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Choosing the Right Wireless Network Components

December 12th, 2009



The most important step in building a wireless network is selecting the right components. Before you set out for the electronics store in search of the parts and pieces you need, you may want to review my previous articles about planning your network and what standards there are to choose from.

Typically, you are only searching for three types of equipment if you establishing a wireless network for you personal computers to share files, share devices (such as a printer) and establish a connection between your home or office and the outside world (Internet access). You may need several of one or more of these but your selection really comes down to deciding upon these three things.

Network Interface Adapter

The protocol (simply the language standard of a communication method) used in connectivity between computers and printers on a network in your home or at your office is known as Ethernet. What is confusing is that this is the language standard but it is not method by which the components communicate. Therefore, there must be some intermediary device that can translate these internal component communications and the Ethernet protocol. These devices are known simply as a network interface adapter. You probably know this by another name. Commonly referred to as a network interface card (NIC) this device is installed in or to your computer and provides the connectivity to the Ethernet network. A desktop PC’s NIC is usually a card that is installed inside the case and inserted into one of the slots on your system’s motherboard. More and more, this functionality is being built into the mother board of desktop PCs and is usually an integral component on portable PCs.

Access Point

A wireless access point, also known as a base station, is a device that provides a translation and handles protocol conversion from the wired side of your inbound Internet connection (usually a DSL or Cable Modem) and the wireless side of your network. This is a must in order to create a wireless network.

Sometimes, the access point may be an installed component of a DSL or Cable modem and/or router putting all of these components in one, easy to install and manage device. Having these components bundled can provide a better value as it will be more cost effective when combined with functions of other components that you have decided to include in your wireless network:

Hub or Switch – A hub is device that provides a physical connection for wired pc’s in a network. A switch is sometimes referred to as an intelligent hub that adds traffic management capability.

Router – A device that allows multiple computers to share a single Internet connection. As mentioned, some routers can include built-in a broadband modem and wireless access in one device

Wireless Network Interface Adapter

This device is similar to a NIC but provides wireless functionality. More and more computers are being built with this device already included as the popularity of wireless networks continue to grow.

By: Jeff Runyon

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