Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
less network, just as you can for conventional Ethernet networks, provided you match up
frequency bands or use dual-band hardware.
Network Protocols
A few years ago, the second-most important choice you had to make when you created a
network was which network protocol to use because the network protocol affects which
types of computers your network can connect. Today, the choice has largely been made
foryou:TCP/IPhasreplacedothernetworkprotocolssuchasIPX/SPX(usedinolderver-
sions of Novell NetWare) and NetBEUI (used in older Windows and DOS-based peer-to-
peer networks and with Direct Cable Connection) because it can be used both for Internet
and LAN connectivity. TCP/IP is a universal protocol that virtually all OSs can use.
Althoughdata-linkprotocolssuchasEthernetrequirespecifictypesofhardware,network
protocols are software and can be installed to or removed from any computer on the net-
work at any time, as necessary. Table 17.9 summarizes the differences between these pro-
tocols.
Table 17.9 Overview of Network Protocols and Suites
All the computers on any given network must use the same network protocol or protocol
suite to communicate with each other.
IP and TCP/IP
IP stands for Internet Protocol; it is the network layer of the collection of protocols (or
protocol suite) developed for use on the Internet and commonly known as TCP/IP.
Later, the TCP/IP protocols were adopted by the UNIX OSs. They have now become the
most commonly used protocol suite on PC LANs. Virtually every OS with networking
capabilitiessupportsTCP/IP,anditiswellonitswaytodisplacingalltheothercompeting
protocols.NovellNetWare6andabove,Linux,WindowsXPandneweralluseTCP/IPas
their native network protocol.
 
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