Wireless Networks

Wireless internet is also referred to as wireless network, since there is a network of computers that can use the internet connection simultaneously. There are several types of wireless networks, and these include Wi-Fi, WMAN, WLAN and others. This type of network uses radio waves instead of wires to connect your computer to the network. You will be able to move the computer from one place to another so long as you are still within the network’s radius. In every wireless network, air is used as the medium and it provides you with a more secure connection.

 

Any wireless network is supposed to be able to join two or more computers for mutual communication without the wire connections. A wireless network utilizes OFDM or spread spectrum, and this will mainly depend on the technology adopted.

The different types of wireless networks include local area network, wide area network and personal area network. Wireless local area network is the most common of the three, and this uses radio signals instead of the traditional cabling. WLAN uses the WEP security technology to ensure that all the information passing through it cannot be interpreted.

 

WLAN sets up a wireless connectivity in a limited area which, in most cases, are in universities, hospitals, airports and many other areas. This type of wireless network provides you with the highest data transfer rate. Some of the benefits of WLAN include a condensed cost of ownership, scalability, mobility, flexibility and installation speed. WLAN uses the spread spectrum technology, which was developed by the military, in order to offer reliable and secure services. Wireless Metropolitan Area Network is another type of wireless network which offers connectivity to an entire city or a related geographical area within a radius of 50km.

 

WMAN uses the DQDB standard, which is capable of covering up to 30 miles with a speed of between 34 Mbit/s to 155Mbit/s. WMAN is commonly adopted in colleges and schools in general. It is a certified name by IEEE 802.16 which functions on broadband. WMAN is capable of handling a high number of user stations by preventing collisions, and at the same time supports voice over IP, legacy voice systems and TCP/IP. WMAN consists of SMDS, FDDI and ATM. WMAN and plinth on IEEE 802.16 can also be referred to as WiMAX. These wireless networks have made the world today a real global village, and our daily ways of life have been greatly changed by them.

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Electrical Networks

Branch

A branch is any portion of a circuit with two terminals connected to it. A branch may consist of one or more circuit elements. In practice, any circuit element with two terminals connected to it is a branch.

Node

A node is the junction of two or more branches (one often refers to the junction of only two branches as a trivial node). In effect, any connection that can be accomplished by soldering various terminals together is a node. It is very important to identify nodes properly in the analysis of electrical networks.

Loop

A loop is any closed connection of branches.

Mesh

A mesh is a loop that does not contain other loops.

Meshes are an important aid to certain analysis methods
Network Analysis

The analysis of an electrical network consists of determining each of the unknown branch currents and node voltages. It is therefore important to define all of the relevant variables as clearly as possible, and in systematic fashion. Once the known and unknown variables have been identified, a set of equations relating these variables is constructed, and these are solved by means of suitable techniques. The analysis of electrical circuits consists of writing the smallest set of equations sufficient to solve for all of the unknown variables. The analysis of electrical circuits is greatly simplified if some standard conventions are followed. The objective of this section is precisely to outline the preliminary procedures that will render the task of analyzing an electrical circuit manageable.

Circuit Variables

The first observation to be made is that the relevant variables in network analysis are the node voltages and the branch currents. This fact is really nothing more than a consequence of Ohm’s law. Whenever we reference the voltage at a node in a circuit, we imply an assumption that the voltage at that node is the potential difference between the node itself and a reference node called ground, which is located somewhere else in the circuit and which for convenience has been assigned a potential of zero volts.

 

Ground

The choice of the word ground is not arbitrary. This point can be illustrated by a simple analogy with the physics of fluid motion. Consider a tank of water, located at a certain height above the ground. The potential energy due to gravity will cause water to flow out of the pipe at a certain flow rate. In analogous fashion, in every circuit a point can be defined that is recognized as “ground” and is assigned the electric potential of zero volts for convenience. Note that, unless they are purposely connected together, the grounds in two completely separate circuits are not necessarily at the same potential

Virtual Private Networks: Securing Your Business's Network

Virtual private networks are an essential part of businesses that utilize telecommuting, as it is an ideal method for businesses that want to provide access to network resources remotely. Virtual private networks have become an industry standard for many organizations that have employees scattered across the globe. These virtual networks increase security because, as the name implies, they are private, therefore restricting access to only authorized parties.

The secure tunnel method that is deployed with these networks has built a solid foundation for remote networking that has changed even the physical infrastructure of business. Employees in remote locations have the same network access as employees that are housed within the buildings where the networks reside.

There are many ways to describe a virtual private network. You may find a great deal of information on the complexity of the process, but in the most simple terms a virtual private network is one that provides network access to remote users. This is typically accomplished through an internet source that allows users to authenticate their identity and log on to their network sources remotely.

This feature is also backed by other new advancements. Virtual private networks are growing in number, which in turn increases the need for improved security features. This is why there have been advancements in security measures. Digital signatures, for example, serve as a new measure of protection from outside intruders.

Businesses that utilize virtual private networks benefit tremendously because it cuts the costs that are associated with the alternative leased lines that are used to perform the same function. Organizations also have the ability to cut the operating costs that would be spent on long distance charges. This yields increased revenues for companies that would also acquire the costs of third party support for the servers that would be required to maintain the remote connectivity.

The ability for remote offices to connect is an essential part of the daily routine for many businesses. Many large corporations have employees that telecommute. There are also companies that have smaller branch offices that rely on the resources of the network to perform a variety of tasks. It has proven to be a powerful tool that is gaining even more use as smart phones and other portable electronic devices grow in popularity.

The concept of virtual private network supersedes the ideology that was formed in the creation of intranet networks. The intranet sites were secure, but virtual private networks take remote access to a whole new level of utility. These virtual resources allow different users to access documents and multiple drives that reside on organizational servers.

It helps increase network productivity because employees within an organization are no longer limited by geographical location. It also cuts down the time that it takes to email documents back and forth. This is ideal for employees that may be working on parts of a project together even though they are not in the same physical location.


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