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Open Net Craft: A practical
hands-on approach to building remote and rural networking
hardware infrastructure.
The purpose of these learning modules is
to serve as practical, in-the-field guides that will provide
clear instructions on the creation, from the ground up, of
the physical wiring and infrastructure components of a community
and rural broadband networks. These modules emphasize basic,
correct methods for network construction that are both scaleable
and sustainable.
Module One - Ethernet Local
Area Network Hardware Installation.
The focus of this first module is creation
of a local area network (LAN). The main goal is to convey
the basic physical fundamentals of the hardware installation
aspects of networking, in order to enable two or more devices
to communicate with one another over a physical (wire) hookup.
Software and network configuration details are not covered
in these modules, therefore user manuals for software and
equipment purchased will be required for final setup of installed
LANs.
Please review the safety
overview for these modules and for this specific
module before proceeding with any work. Please
be safe. Throughout these modules, we have stressed
SAFETY
in all aspects of hardware installation. It can not be emphasized
enough how important this is.
Ethernet Background
Early networking techniques
used a serial network (also known as a 'point to multipoint')
- a long string of computers and devices connected as shown
below, connected via a coaxial cable. The disadvantage of
this type of system was that it required every device to be
working in order for the entire LAN to function properly.
Additionally, it relied on end-of-the-line resistors, as well
as network BNC connectors for each device in the string. This
is shown in the diagram below.
Subsequent improvements were made to networking
materials, equipment, and techniques, such that early RG62
coaxial cable was replaced with “Category 3” or
“CAT 3” cable, which was able to transfer significantly
greater amounts of data, at .10 megabits per second. At the
same time, network design matured, eliminating the need for
end-of-the-line resistors, and other disadvantages associated
with serial networks.
The next type of network to evolve is the
type of network that this module is concerned with: a “star”
network. A star network, like the one pictured below, is arranged
to provide physical redundancy, meaning that unlike the early
serial networks, if one machine malfunctions, the others can
still operate, unaffected. This is because each link has it's
own "point-to-point" connection. Therefore, star
networks are also known as "point to point" versus
the earlier "point-to-multipoint."
Each time a new network type was developed,
standards were developed to ensure that networks would be
compatible. Standards are discussed later on in this module
in the "Activities"
section, and it's important to know a bit about them in order
to correctly build a network that will have a long lifetime.
This module will show you both in theoretical and in practical
terms, everything that you need to know to build your ethernet
Local Area Network.
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