Hour 9. Getting Connected

What You’ll Learn in This Hour:

• Dial-up networking

• Broadband technologies like cable and DSL

• Wide area networks

• Wireless networking

• Connectivity devices

As you learned in previous hours, the Network Access layer manages the interface with the physical network. But what exactly is the physical network? After all the conceptual sketches of bits, bytes, ports, and protocol layers, sooner or later, an Internet connection requires some form of device connecting a computer or local network segment to the larger network beyond. This hour examines some of the devices and processes supporting access to TCP/IP networks.

At the completion of this hour, you will be able to

• Describe how computers communicate over phone lines with dial-up networking

• Understand the basics of cable broadband

• Discuss defining features of DSL

This hour also introduces connectivity devices commonly found on TCP/IP networks, such as switches, hubs, and bridges.