Networking Questions

[tek inpektor]

I don't know very much about networking and I want to know about it. So here are a few questions I have.

 

What is a modem and what does it do?

 

What is a router and what does it do?

 

What is a switch and what does it do?

 

What does CAT 4, CAT 5, CAT 6, etc. mean (cables)?

[Createinator]

You will have better luck watching a video of networking on YT... most of the stuff we can tell you will go over your head.

[tek inpektor]

You will have better luck watching a video of networking on YT... most of the stuff we can tell you will go over your head.

Link(s)?

[91Chris]

Basically...Modem talks to your ISP, your router then routes the signal through your house (via cables or WiFi). A switch is like an extension that turns one port into many. Each class of cable can support different amounts of bandwidth and distance (the higher the number the better).

[tek inpektor]

Basically...Modem talks to your ISP, your router then routes the signal through your house (via cables or WiFi). A switch is like an extension that turns one socket into many. Each class of cable can support different amounts of bandwidth and distance (the higher the number the better).

Thanks.

[Createinator]

Link(s)?

This covers the very basics.

[Blade of Grass]

What is a modem and what does it do?

A modem MOdulates and DEModulates the signal that you receive from the ISP.

What is a router and what does it do?

A router ROUTEs (directs) packets between the Internet and your home network.

What is a switch and what does it do?

A switch distributed packets in your local network (think of it as a very dumb router), it also enables you to expand the amount of ethernet ports.

What does CAT 4, CAT 5, CAT 6, etc. mean (cables)?

Cat is a shorthand for category, and the number that follows is the generation. Also, sometimes you have another letter that follows which denotes the "sub-generation" (Cat 6a, Cat 5e etc).

Cat 3 is the standard for telephone cabling too.

Anything above the Cat 5 standard is capable of gigabit ethernet, but the higher numbers are usually better (they improved it).