NodeConnect

  PAN, WAN, MAN, LAN, CAN - what is up with all these rhyming words? As much as I would love to have a walk down memory lane and make a right at Kindergarten Avenue, these are actual names - well, acronyms, - for the types of networks that exist today. These networks are like nesting dolls. PANs can be found in LANs, LANs make up our WANs, and there is more in between. Let's take a closer look at these networking nesting dolls. Personal Area Networks (PANs) Have you ever grown frustrated at how your Bluetooth headphones seem to take forever to pair to your phone? Do you use a wired mouse or a wireless mouse with your desktop? Do you use your smartphone for payment by "tapping" it? These are examples of personal area networks.  A personal area network connects devices close in range, from a few centimeters to a few meters in range. These types of networks can be wired or wireless. A wired PAN may be a computer connected to a printer by a USB cable or Ethernet cable. A wire...

Every day, we browse the web, send emails, stream our favorite movies and TV shows, and perform other activities that are reliant on our networks, It seems so second-nature that when something goes wrong, it feels like it is the end of the world. We can call a technician, or we seek to solve the problem ourselves. Either way, it helps to understand the foundation to solve the problem. So, what happens behind the screen?  Whether you are new to the field or well-seasoned, it is important to understand how data is transmitted across our networks. The Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) model and TCP/IP suite are networking models that provide a framework on that process. While the OSI model is heavily emphasized in A+ and Network+, it’s often said that our networks predominantly run on the TCP/IP model. You’ve probably come across job descriptions that require a basic understanding of TCP/IP but often overlook the OSI model. Is there a difference between the two models, and doe...

The term "network" has been defined countless times. If there is anything I have learned about something being repeated many times, it means it is important. With networks, that is no different. I defined networking previously and briefly - a collection of devices that receive and transmit data amongst each other. Yet, it truly does not do it justice. I just finished my first co-op iteration at Motorola Solutions. Entering this new opportunity for me was more than just a foot in the door in the field of networking. I got to see critical infrastructure that transmitted and received signals relayed from first responders' and public sector communications. Long story short, I got to see the inner workings of a network, especially how different media and architecture converges to keep communications clear and functioning. Humanizing Networks   The world's networks, big and small, have been compared to:  Extensive highways that carries information across "tolls", ...