Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Network Architecture Overview
The architecture on which you choose to base your network is the single most important decision you
make when setting up a LAN. The architecture defines the speed of the network, the medium access
control mechanism it uses (for example, collision detection, token passing, and so on), the types of
cables you can use, the network interface adapters you must buy, and the adapter drivers you install.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) has defined and documented a set of
standards for the physical characteristics of networks. Current network standards include IEEE 802.3
(Ethernet) and IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi, Wireless Ethernet).
The most common choice today for new networks is Ethernet (both wired and wireless). In rare
cases, you may encounter a Token-Ring or ARCnet network. Network data-link architectures you
might encounter are summarized in
Table 17.2
.
The abbreviations used for the cable types are
explained in the following sections.
Table 17.2. LAN Architecture Summary
