Ethernet Networking for the Small Office and Professional Home Office

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Introduction

One of the biggest problems when discussing networking is knowing where to start. The subject of computer networks is one of those areas for which you have to “know everything to do anything.” Usually, the easiest way to ease into the topic is to begin with some basic networking terminology and then look at exactly what it means when we use the word Ethernet.

Anatomy of a Network

A computer network is a combination of hardware and software that allows computers and other devices (for example, printers and file servers) to communicate with one another through some form of telecommunications media (for example, telephone lines).

Note: As you read material about data communications, you may see references to POTS lines. POTS stands ...