Chapter 3: Understanding Network Hardware
In This Chapter
Introducing servers
Working with network interface cards
Becoming familiar with network cable, network hubs, and switches
Comparing repeaters, bridges, and routers
Figuring out network storage
The building blocks of networks are network hardware devices, such as servers, adapter cards, cables, hubs, switches, routers, and so on. This chapter provides an overview of these building blocks.
Servers
Server computers are the lifeblood of any network. Servers provide the shared resources that network users crave, such as file storage, databases, e-mail, web services, and so on. Choosing the equipment you use for your network’s servers is one of the key decisions you’ll make when you set up a network. In the following sections, I describe some of the various ways you can equip your network’s servers.
Right off the bat, I want to make ...
