What is Network Infrastructure?
Network infrastructure is the core of your company’s IT system. It includes the hardware and software that help devices, users, and applications communicate smoothly. This involves routers, switches, servers, firewalls, and cloud services, all working together to keep your business connected and running smoothly.
How It Works (Simply Explained)
For example, think of your home setup:
Your broadband connection comes in from the exchange and reaches your router/modem. The router then assigns an IP address to each device via DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). It also manages Wi-Fi connections and has a built-in firewall for security. This allows all your devices to connect to the internet and communicate with each other.
What is Cat5 and Cat6 Cabling?
Cat5 (Category 5) and Cat6 (Category 6) are types of network cables used for data transmission. They are both twisted pair cables, but Cat6 offers higher performance than Cat5.
Quick summary Cat6 provides faster speeds and greater bandwidth than Cat5, making it a better choice for more demanding network environments.
Cat5 Cabling:
- Speed: Supports speeds up to 100 Mbps for most applications but can handle up to 1 Gbps over short distances (usually under 100 meters).
- Use: Common in older network setups and small offices or homes.
- Bandwidth: Up to 100 MHz.
Cat6 Cabling:
- Speed: Supports speeds up to 10 Gbps over short distances (typically up to 55 meters).
- Use: Ideal for higher-speed networks and newer office environments, particularly for high-bandwidth activities (like video streaming, and large data transfers).
- Bandwidth: Up to 250 MHz.
