| Electronic imaging consumes large amounts of | | | | that have been adopted at one time or another. |
| bandwidth and data. Current connections to the | | | | While the details are only of interest to computer |
| home consist primarily of modems running at 33.6 | | | | geeks and professionals, there are aspects that |
| Kpbs or 56 Kpbs. For those users who deal with | | | | affect how a home network builder has to |
| still images and video, these speeds are not | | | | proceed. If you happen to know some of them, |
| acceptable. The home needs fatter pipes in order | | | | you will be able to choose your equipment and |
| to proliferate any kind of imaging services or if | | | | design your network intelligently. |
| someone is trying to sell different types of | | | | For instance, if one of the central parts of the |
| imaging appliances that intend to use the Internet | | | | home network gear is the router. However, |
| infrastructure. | | | | router come in a variety of types and each one |
| The home user has to contract with an ISP for a | | | | is associated with a certain protocol. Wireless |
| flat-rate monthly fee. The ISP usually provides a | | | | routers may use the 802.11b or 802.11g protocol. |
| dial-up line that the consumer uses with s | | | | It is not important to know the technical definition, |
| standard modem. The cost of a dial-up line is | | | | but you much know that the first is rated at 11 |
| usually under $20 a month. Many new technologies | | | | Mb versus 54Mb throughput impacts your |
| have been developed with the consumer in mind | | | | network. |
| in order to increase the amount of bandwidth that | | | | Even though the first is rated at 11 Mb, that is the |
| will be available to a home computer. | | | | rate under ideal conditions. The real throughput is |
| The first hurdle you have to pass is to become | | | | approximately 6-7 Mb. Also keep in mind that |
| more familiar with many of the letters and | | | | there are 8 bits per byte. That is equal to one |
| names. One the terminology is learned, the rest is | | | | character of data. So the actual rate is only just |
| just common sense and being able to carefully | | | | about 1/8th of what you actually tend to think of |
| follow directions. One of the very first terms you | | | | when you go to transfer files. Faster gear that |
| will encounter, is the word 'protocol'. The technical | | | | follows the 802.11 standard running at 100Mb |
| definition of the word as well as the acronyms | | | | should soon be available. |
| can be very complex. However, for your purpose | | | | However, most people do not have any reason |
| it is quite straightforward. | | | | to care about the details of Ethernet protocol. |
| A protocol is a set of rules that have been | | | | The standard protocol used in Ethernet networks |
| adopted as a means for devices to communicate. | | | | is 802.3. This helps to do away with some of the |
| For instance, the HTTP protocol used by Internet | | | | strangeness from another cryptic number. It is |
| browsers specifies a detailed list of methods for | | | | also helpful to know that 10BaseT is like a |
| passing Internet data back and forth. TCP/IP or | | | | synonym for wired Ethernet networks that run at |
| Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol is | | | | 10 megabits per second. 100BaseT is the |
| a method that dictates how packets get defined | | | | standard for cabled Ethernet networks that use |
| and transported on a TCP/IP based network. | | | | equipment running at 100 Mbps. |
| Note that there are a variety of ways, involving | | | | Every week there will be a new acronym created |
| other protocols, to establish networks and their | | | | as well as a new unfamiliar set of numbers. |
| rules. In days past IBM was one of the earliest | | | | Network designers are among the geekiest in the |
| with its SNA network philosophy. This was widely | | | | business! However, if you familiarize yourself with |
| used in business for decades. Though it has now | | | | a few of these protocols and related items, you |
| been replaced by TCP/IP, it is still in use | | | | will soon be barking them out with the best of |
| throughout the world. These are not the only two | | | | them. |