Ethernet and WifiChapter 7 & 8

Send and Receive Data

network adapter or network interface NIC card

the most common wired Ethernet network interfaces

Built into the Motherboard

RJ-45 & RJ-11

A printed circuit card that mounts inside the computer

A PC card that plugs into a laptop computer

An external unit connected to the computer through a USB cable

Ethernet ports asstandard features

Setting the BIOS Utility

a set of controls that load configuration settings when you turn on the computer

recognize both the internal and external adapters

Adding a NIC to an Old Computer

Ethernet adapters are available both as inexpensive no-name products and slightly more costly brand-name versions

To install an internal Ethernet adapter, follow these steps

USB Adapters

Network Adapters for Laptops

Network Adapters for Laptops

NIC CardsThe three indicator lights are:

LINK Lights in green when the adapter is connected to a live network

10/100 Lights in yellow when the adapter is connected to a 100 Mbps network; goes dark when it’s connected to a 10 Mbps network

ACT Flashes in green as data passes through the network connection in either direction

WIFI networksChapter 8

Wi-FiRadio signals instead of Ethernet cables to connect computers and other devices to a LAN

Wi-Fi connections are far less secure than wired networks

Types of Wi-Fi Networks

Operating Channels

radio spectrum

2.4 GHz band, there are 14 overlapping Wi-Fi radio channels

Wi-Fi signals

Access PointsWi-Fi access points

radio transmitter/receivers (transceivers)

802.11g or 802.11n

A Wi-Fi adapter can also exchange data by radio directly to and from another computer in an ad hoc network

Network Interface Adapters

Adapters Built into Laptops

PC Cards

USB Adapters

PCI Cards

Antennas

Wi-Fi Control Programs

Access Point Configuration Programs

DHCP

IP address

Wireless network name

Channel number

Operating mode

Wireless Connection Programsprograms display a list of all nearby Wi-Fi

access points and identify those that are using encrypted data

Wi-Fi control program should automatically use the password and other configuration

Hybrid (Wired-Wireless) Networks

Wi-Fi Security