A Local Area Network (LAN) is a group of computers connected together in a single location, like an office or a home. These computers can share files, printers, and internet access through this network. Setting up a LAN makes it easier for people to collaborate and share resources.
A subnet is a smaller network within a larger network, designed to make it easier to manage and secure data traffic. It's like having separate rooms in a big house, where each room serves a specific purpose. Segmentation is the process of dividing a network into these smaller subnets to improve performance and security. By doing so, you can better control the flow of data, making your network more efficient and secure.
A gateway serves as the door between a Local Area Network (LAN) and other networks, including the Internet. It takes data packets from devices on the LAN and routes them to the appropriate external networks. This enables computers within a LAN to access resources or connect with other networks outside their immediate environment.
DHCP, or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, is like the office manager at a big event who hands out unique name badges to everyone who walks in. You don't want to trade driver's licenses in order to interact with the other people; each device on a network needs its own unique address. When a device joins a network, DHCP automatically gives it an address from the pool it of IP addresses it maintains, typically within a subnet, but sometimes the size of entire corporate networks. This ensures that all devices can communicate without any confusion. The DHCP server keeps track of which addresses are given out, so there's no mix-up, much like how the government keeps records of each person's social security number. But unlike a single issue item, DHCP is an automatic process on each connection to a live cable. If you're known, you're shown your table. If not, the hostperson will show to you to an available seat. As long as some are available... if not, be ready for a fight for every single seat that opens up.
Port forwarding is like telling the security guard at a gated community exactly which house a guest is supposed to visit. When you're hosting an online game, your computer must accept the internet directly. Incoming traffic from the internet knows to go straight to your "house" because you've set up port forwarding on your router to direct them there. This ensures that other online players can find and join your game smoothly, without getting lost at the corner of Printer and Thermostat.
MAC address reservation is like giving a VIP parking spot to a specific guest who frequently visits your gated community. Just like how port forwarding directs incoming traffic to a specific "house," MAC address reservation ensures that a particular device always gets the same "parking spot," or IP address, within your network. This is done by associating the device's unique MAC address with a specific IP address in your router settings. That way, every time that device connects to the network, it's assigned the same IP, making it easier to manage network permissions and port forwarding settings for that device.
WiFi allows your devices like smartphones, laptops, and tablets to connect to the internet without any physical cables. It works by sending data over radio waves, specifically at certain frequencies like 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. Think of it like how your radio picks up a music station, but instead of music, it's your internet data going back and forth. You can use WiFi at home, work, or public places that offer it, allowing you to access the internet from almost anywhere.
WiFi security is crucial for keeping your network and data safe from unauthorized access. WPA2 (WiFi Protected Access 2) is one of the most commonly used security protocols that uses strong encryption to safeguard your network. When you connect to a WPA2-protected network, an EAPoL (Extensible Authentication Protocol over LAN) handshake takes place. This handshake is a series of back-and-forth communications between your device and the WiFi router that verifies your password and establishes a secure connection. Always use a strong, unique password to ensure that your network remains secure.
WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3) is the latest standard for securing WiFi networks, offering improved safety measures compared to its predecessor, WPA2. One of its key features is enhanced protection against deauthentication attacks, which aim to disconnect devices from a network by flooding them with "log off" commands. WPA3 employs a technology called Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE), which establishes a secure initial connection between the device and the network. This secure handshake makes it significantly more difficult for attackers to forcibly disconnect devices. Essentially, WPA3 adds an extra layer of security, making it tougher for unwanted intruders to meddle with your WiFi connection.
With specialized training and deep understanding of network technologies, we can be your go-to for optimizing your home or business edge network. We would like to be your network planner: setting up your LAN like a designed community, ensuring each device has its an address to send and receive information from. We can also create VIP parking spots for your important devices using MAC address reservations in conjunction with port forwarding, making your network both secure and efficient. Through gateways, we can connect your local area to the vast world of the internet, bridging the gap between your personal or business needs and global resources. Bringing everything together in a secure package, we look to bring you a design or assistance that could be fulfillable within the day. Our goal is not just to provide you with a service but to make you comfortable and confident in what you're doing with your network, wired or wireless. We hope to have you rest easy knowing that your network is in capable hands, working smoothly and securely.