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Network Design

What Is Network Scalability? How to Optimize for Growth

Network scalability refers to the ability of a network or system to handle a growing amount of change and its potential to be enlarged to accommodate that growth.

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Network Design

What Is Network Software? Types & Examples of Tools

Network software is a broad term referring to a range of software applications designed to enhance the functioning, management, and optimization of a computer network. This software facilitates communication among various interconnected devices, manages network operation, and monitors network performance. In today's fast-paced digital landscape, network software serves as the backbone of network design, implementation, operations, and more - enabling seamless communication and interaction between various network devices.

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Network Design

Basic Computer Network Components You’ll Need

A network component refers to a device, software, or hardware unit that plays a specific role in network communication. Network components make up the infrastructure that supports all data transmission and facilitates network connectivity, communication, operations, and management of a computer network. These components primarily facilitate and control the flow of information across the network. Sections below highlight the key hardware components.

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Network Design

What Is Network Topology? Explanation, Types & Diagramming

Network topology refers to the arrangement of different elements (links, nodes, etc.) of a computer network. Essentially, it's the topological structure of a network and may be depicted physically or logically. Physical topology refers to the placement of the network's various components, including device locations and cable installation, while logical topology shows how data flows within the network, regardless of its physical design.

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Network Design

What Is a Point-of-Presence (PoP)? Definition & How It Works

A Point of Presence (PoP) is a physical location that houses data center compute, storage and networking infrastructure where high-speed connections to the internet are established. It's a destination where data from a user's device given a specific use case or application, is sent to connect to the internet. The main function of a PoP is to enable users to access the internet securely, at high performance, or other similar networks that are maintained by a specific service or enterprise application.

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Network Design

What Is Cloud Networking? Types, Advantages & Use Cases

Cloud Networking is a type of IT infrastructure where an organization's network orchestration, management, automation, control and monitoring capabilities are hosted in a cloud environment, either on a public or private cloud platform. Cloud networking is primarily implemented within data centers, points of presence (PoP), internet service provider (ISP) infrastructure, and of course, public and private cloud environments where compute, storage and network elements are deployed as essential components.

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Network Design

What Is Network Installation, and How to Get Things Done for Business IT Environments?

Network installation refers to the process of setting up all the necessary hardware and software to create a network. A network is a complex system comprising interconnected computers and devices capable of communication and resource sharing among one another. The installation process includes planning the network layout, installing cables or setting up wireless access points, connecting and setting up hardware like routers, switches, and servers, and configuring software to manage the network and its security.

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Network Design

Most Common Types of Network Devices You’ll Need

Network devices, also known as networking hardware, are physical devices that are essential for communication and interaction between various devices on a network. These devices manage data traffic and provide network resources and services to connected computers and devices. They include devices such as routers, switches, hubs, bridges, repeaters, firewalls, network interface cards (NICs), and access points. These hardware components can function as servers, client devices, or both. They aid in data transmission, provide network connection, enhance network performance, offer network security, and simplify network setup and administration.

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Network Design

What is DHCP ?

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a standard and fundamental network protocol that greatly simplifies network connectivity at home and at work. It achieves this by automatically providing unique IP addresses and essential network settings to connected mobile and IoT devices. For DHCP to work, there are three components needed:

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Network Design

What Is Guest Wi-Fi?

Enterprise networks see a variety of users and devices that need to connect to the wireless network. Visitors to any enterprise environment–short-term contractors, vendors, partners, and others–arrive in the enterprise environment expecting internet connectivity with a minimum of hassle. Guest Wi-Fi for the enterprise is a means of providing this connectivity for guest users. Guest Wi-Fi can also be a way to keep guest traffic off of the enterprise network, isolating guests from internal resources and each other, which improves network security. A system for guest access is an extension of other security measures that support a zero trust security strategy.