subject: Network Infrastructure - The Building Blocks Of Your Network [print this page] These days every business depends on technology to stay productive and competitive. It doesn't matter if you run a single person operation or a large corporation; your business probably relies heavily on network resources. Network infrastructure gets talked about a lot in these modern days of technological reliance, but few experts ever take the time to explain exactly what a network infrastructure really is. Even if you're not a technical guru, it's important to have a basic understanding of what constitutes a network. If you understand your network, even if it is just the basics, you will have a better understanding of how it works and how much it means to the success of your business.
Parts of the Network Infrastructure
Infrastructure is one of those terms that can sound a little intimidating. The infrastructure of a building is the underlying frame and foundation that keeps it standing. Network infrastructure really isn't all that different. The basic pieces that connect and communicate to keep your network running are what is considered its infrastructure. Here are some of the common pieces of equipment that make up a network infrastructure
Servers
A network has to have servers to be considered a true network. Servers are high powered computers that are definitive resources on the network for other computers to communicate with. Servers are like the managers at a company. They are responsible for very particular roles, like print services or network security. They provide these resources to the rest of the equipment on the network.
Network Cabling
Networks are all about information being transmitted. There has to be a physical medium for this information to move on to get from the servers to the other equipment. Network cables and wireless access points are the means by which this data moves. Network cabling still provides the bulk of the physical medium for transmitting data on a network infrastructure, but wireless is beginning to become more common. Both are needed to keep a network running.
Routers and Switches
These pieces of network equipment are like the traffic cops of the information highway that is your network infrastructure. For data to be communicated effectively it has to go where it needs to go. For it to move efficiently, it has to get to its targeted destination using the right route. Routers and switches keep traffic flowing effectively and efficiently. They prevent redundant or broadcast traffic from eating up excess network bandwidth and ensure that data moves correctly from the servers to the workstations and back again in a way that is transparent (hopefully) to the end users.
The network infrastructure is the virtual and physical backbone of your network. It provides the framework and basic services that are needed for people to do their jobs and transmit data seamlessly. There are millions of pieces of data that move through the average network at any give moment. Having your infrastructure up to par keeps all of that data moving correctly to be used by people in a way that keeps your business running successfully. Having a strong healthy network is vital to staying competitive in today's businesses market.
