#5 NETWORK DOCUMENTATION AND LOCAL CONNECTIONS: THE NETWORKING SERIES
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Hey peeps, everyone know that we should document everything in industry. Likewise, we should also document the networks as the networks become complex it would be difficult to find the problem where it actually is. So, in this blog we’ll be seeing about network documentation, how it is useful and we’ll also be seeing about local network connections. Let’s get started!
Network documentation
As a network grows in size and complexity, it is important that it should be well planned, logically organized and well documented. Many organizations develop convections in naming and addressing the devices and other end-users which provide rules and guidelines that can be used by network support personnel when performing certain tasks.
Each device names should be unique and should have certain format that conveys the necessary or meaningful information. This can help you to identify the device type, function, location and sequence number based on the device name, IP addresses.
The logical device naming and addressing conventions that are well documented help greatly to simplify the task of training and network management and also help well with troubleshooting when a problem arise.
Logical Network information
Documenting the physical connection and devices in network will provide information when connecting new devices or troubleshooting problems. But there are information that cannot be “seen” from the physical view of the network like device name, IP address, configuration information etc. which are logical piece of information that changes frequently.
- Physical topology: It is a diagram of network representing the devices and connections as they are located physically, where networks are installed, how it is connected etc. This also represents where the wires are installed and the locations of networking device that connects the host.
- Logical topology: Unlike the physical topology, it is a representation of the devices with its information such as IP address, device name, how they are connected, but it does represent how the devices are located physically.
Local Area Network Components
Some examples of network components are computer, servers, networking devices and cabling. These components can be grouped into four main categories:
- Host: Hosts send and receive traffic. Host is the generic name of most of the end-user devices. It has an IP address. Ex: PC, printers
- Peripherals: Peripherals are devices that do not communicate directly on a network. Instead, they rely on their connected host to perform network operations. Ex: Scanners, cameras
- Network devices: Network devices connect other devices. They control and move the network traffic. Ex: switch, routers, hubs
- Network Media: It provides connections between hosts and network devices. Ex: wired cables made of copper, fiber-optic or wireless technologies
The network devices, as well as networking media, are used to interconnect hosts. Networking devices are also called as “intermediary devices” as it is located in the path that messages are transmitted through from source to destination.
Some devices can play more than one role, depending on how they are connected. For example, printer can act as both host as well as peripheral device. If a printer is directly connected to a network device and participates directly in a network, then in this case it acts as a host.
Ethernet is a technology that is commonly used in local area networks.
Addressing of end-devices
To physically access a device, the end-user device must have a “Network Interface Card”(NIC). The NIC is used to connect a device to the network medium either wired or wireless.
In addition to physical connection, a device has to undergo some configuration to the operating system to participate in the network. An end-user device should have an “Internet Protocol”(IP) address, as well as other information to identify that device on a network. There are three parts of the IP configuration for a device to correctly send and receive information on the network.
- IP address: This identifies the host on the network
- Subnet mask: This helps to identify the network in which the host is connected
- Default gateway: This identifies the networking device through which the host access the internet or another network.
To know more about IP address, click here.
Manual IP configuration
With manual IP configuration, the required values are entered to the device manually by a network administrator. The IP address entered is referred to “static address” and must be unique to every device.
Dynamic or Automatic IP configuration
Most end-user devices are configured to receive network configuration information dynamically. This enables the device to request for an address from a pool of addresses assigned by “Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol”(DHCP) located within the network.
You can access the IP configuration settings in the “Internet Protocol Version 4” under properties tab of a network.
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