Digitus Internet Broadband Router with 4 Port N-Way Switch DN-11004-O User Manual

 

 

6

• One 4 Port Internet Broadband Router 

• One Power adapter 

• One CD-ROM 

• One set of Bracket 

• Quick Install Guide 

 

• 

  Local Area Networking 

 is the term used when connecting several computers together over a 

small area such as a building or group of buildings. LAN's can be connected over large areas. A collection 

of LAN's connected over a large area is called a Wide Area Network 

 

A

 consists of multiple computers connected to each other. There are many types of media   

that can connect computers together. The most common media is CAT5 cable (UTP or STP   
twisted pair wire.) On the other hand, wireless networks do not use wires; instead they   

communicate over radio waves. Each computer must have a Network Interface Card (NIC),   

which communicates the data between computers. A NIC is usually a 10Mbps network card, or   

10/100Mbps network card, or a wireless network card. 

Most networks use hardware devices such as hubs or switches that each cable can be connected   

to in order to continue the connection between computers. A hub simply takes any data arriving   

through each port and forwards the data to all other ports. A switch is more sophisticated, in that a 

switch can determine the destination port for a specific piece of data. A switch minimizes   

network traffic overhead and speeds up the communication over a network. 

 

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    A router is a device that forwards data packets from a source to a destination. Routers forward   

data packets using IP addresses and not a MAC address. A router will forward data from the   

Internet to a particular computer on your LAN. A router also determines the best route that data   

packets should follow to ensure that the data packets are delivered properly. 

 

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  A firewall is a device that sits between your computer and the Internet that prevents unauthorized   

access to or from your network. A firewall can be a computer using firewall software or a special   

piece of hardware built specifically to act as a firewall. In most circumstances, a firewall is used   

to prevent unauthorized Internet users from accessing private networks or corporate LAN's and   
Internet.