In 2007/08 I had joined companies to learn about networking and wireless communication. I got an internship in a dial up ISP company and also later on got a job in a telecommunication company GSM mobile communication department. I also operated a subcontractor company for installation and commissioning of GSM network equipment. But really I did not learn anything about LAN networking. The reason was that my job was something else in all 3 cases.
Lately, I started a WISP(Wiresless Internet Service Provider) project where I want to build the network architecture from the ground up. Since one of the thing that is required in computer networks is LAN(Local Area Network) about which I am recording here.
Below is example of a typical LAN network.
The connection between the Switch and the 5 PCs are using straight-thought cable made up of CAT 5e or CAT6 or CAT7 ethernet twisted pair cable.
In have plan to use the Mikrotik CRS326-24G-2S+RM switch/router for testing purpose.
But one should know that there are 3 types of ethernet cabling:
1. Straight-though cable(Patch Cable):
Used between different network devices such as PC and router/switch.
2. Cross-over cable
Used between same/similar network devices such as two PCs.
3. Rollover cable
Used between different network devices for console such as between PC and router console port. Uses Null modem configuration.
Once the PC is connected to the Switch one then has two option to configure the LAN, using DHCP configuration in the Switch or by assigning dedicated IP to each PC as illustrated in the above network diagram.
To configure each PC IP we have to go to the PC LAN setting and change and assign to each PC individual IP address.
After you have assigned and configured all PC with different IP addresses you can then use the windows command tool to ping from one PC to another.
So this is the basics of creating LAN network in an WISP(Wireless Internet Service Provider).
