4
Infrastructure Hardware

Building a modern converged network requires an understanding of the components used to form a network infrastructure. Listing all of the components that could possibly be used would actually demand a book by itself. Established administrators know that most networks use a select few devices to provide the infrastructure services required. Simple networks may include a few routers and several switches with no connections to other networks. Sophisticated networks may connect to multiple remote locations and use specialized cabling and connectors.

In this chapter, you are introduced to the hardware used on both simple and sophisticated networks. Networking hardware is addressed first, and then the cables and connectors are covered. Given the importance of the network infrastructure to effective and efficient communications, this chapter is very important to the convergence technology professional.