Today, the connection via Ethernet can be called the only technology that is potentially ready for the fairly rapid development of any type of service or application. Of course, the best is the enemy of the good, but people are so keen to make the Internet connection more reliable, faster and cheaper, that sometimes it seems that this is not so. Thus, recently, a new technology has appeared and began to gain wide distribution - more and more people prefer to use Ethernet connection instead of traditional connection options.
Everything new - long forgotten old
It is worth noting that this technology has been quite actively used before, but only recently, experts began to consider it as a full-fledged analogue of the existing connection options - initially as equivalent, and over time as the most promising among all existing approaches to the access network device. According to experts of Cisco Systems, whose equipment is actively used today by almost all leading Internet service providers, the main advantage of this technology is that it is used not only to provide access to the Internet, but also to provide a number of other services including voice transmission, building corporate networks and many others. At the same time, the cost of this solution, if we consider it from the point of view of operating and capital costs, in the predominant majority of cases is lower compared to the use of traditional technologies, such as ATM / FR or SDH.
Introduction
In parallel with the growth of competition between alternative and traditional operators in the field of local communication lines, these same operators begin to optimize their own networks in order to provide a more favorable cost for the provision of their services to the end user. In the predominant majority of cases, a single package is used, which includes the transfer of data, speech, multimedia, as well as providing full access to the Internet.
Providers providing Ethernet connectivity can also attract new customers by using “future-proof” solutions, using a variety of network architectures that can be used to quickly grow applications requiring high bandwidth, including IP video surveillance, as well as a variety of multimedia applications .
DSL and its fall
Since 2000 , a real breakthrough in the field of broadband access began to take place in Europe, and many operators began to actively offer their DSL services, some of which completely demonopolized their subscriber channels in order to provide access to many other alternative operators. Modern cable TV operators have begun deploying cable modems in order to provide their customers with combined Internet and cable television services, and governments almost immediately started auctioning licenses for providing broadband FWA.
Ethernet - one stop solution
After the euphoria regarding DSL technology, as well as the use of cable modems to provide broadband access, gradually faded, attention was drawn to operational, technical, organizational and legal problems related to these services. In order to satisfy the ever-growing demand for more and more high throughput, both providers and equipment suppliers increasingly began to consider an alternative option for broadband access - Ethernet connection using fiber optic cable.
What is Ethernet?
The solution to the problem is the translation of speech, images and various data through an extremely simple, but at the same time relatively inexpensive Ethernet network. The unique advantage of this solution is that its use with fiber as a broadcast medium allows gigabit access through the network directly from the premises of the clients themselves.
How are such networks connected?
In modern megacities, there are a large number of buildings that are extremely attractive to network service providers - these are commercial business parks, office complexes, apartment buildings, universities and many other similar objects. In order to provide a new Internet connection through a router that uses Ethernet, network service providers use specialized “dark” fiber. Among the main advantages that this technology differs in, it is worth highlighting the maximum possible speed and distance of the network - up to 100 km without the use of any intermediate amplifiers or regeneration. It should be noted that such an Internet connection through a router using Ethernet implies potentially unlimited bandwidth, and this is already very, very attractive for providers.
What are its advantages?
Gigabit Ethernet is very, very important, because it is an almost ideal ratio of performance and price, representing an almost ideal choice for backbone applications not only in some separate corporate networks, but also for building full-fledged carrier networks. A fairly good solution for wiring inside a certain building is multimode or single-mode fiber, as well as twisted pair, belonging to the fifth category. Originally developed in order to provide local computers with the Ethernet connection to the network, this network ultimately became one of the most economical, but at the same time it achieves extremely high bandwidth, especially when compared with DSL, as well as various wireless and cable modems .
A typical architecture that is used in the networks of modern providers is the implementation at the first stage of 10-megabit or 100-megabit Ethernet-channels, which are carried out in separate rooms or apartments of a certain building, and are connected to the service building using a specialized switch from Cisco Catalyst. In order to provide a USB connection via Ethernet or the urban MAN network, a full gigabit or even multi-gigabit Ethernet connection is formed. Aggregation of the schedule of various ring city networks is carried out using a third-level switch.
A service provider that seeks to provide broadband access can provide its customers with an Internet connection, which will be carried out directly to individual users or entire small business organizations. Providing the services of an Internet provider in the city, the company can also offer new integrated services with added value. In order to ensure the most efficient use of the ETTN network, the service provider must make sure that subscribers spend the maximum amount of time and money in the internal network instead of consuming resources for accessing global resources.
How to connect?
In order to provide Internet connection through a cable using Ethernet technology, you need to have a specialized network card, cable, as well as the network to which you will be connected. It is worth noting that different networks can be configured at different speeds, so you should make sure that your network card is compatible with the network to which you will connect.
Instruction manual
It should be noted right away that no one is connecting the Internet through a telephone using Ethernet technology. The connection itself is carried out as follows:
- Go to the "Devices" tab.
- Click the "Create" button, which is located on the toolbar.
- Choose the Ethernet Connection option from the available options (the options are located in the Connection Type list), and then click the Forward button.
- If your board is already in the list of equipment, then in this case you need to select it from the list under the heading "Ethernet Card". If it is not in this list, then in this case you need to select the item “Other Ethernet card” in order to use the equipment available to you. It is worth noting immediately that the installation utility completely independently determines whether the Ethernet devices it supports are connected, so it offers you their settings. If you made the settings during the installation, then in this case the devices will be shown in the list in the "Hardware" tab.
- If the option "Another Ethernet card" was selected, then a window with the table of contents "Select an adapter" will appear. In this window, you will need to select the manufacturer, as well as the model of your board and the name of the device itself. If the first such board is installed in the computer, then in this case you can choose eth0 as the name, and subsequently simply change the number with each new board. In addition, the Network Setup program will also allow you to carefully adjust the resources of your network card. After completing all the procedures, click "Forward".
- In the "Configure Network Settings" window , you will need to make a choice between a static IP address and also DHCP. In the event that your device receives different IP addresses, you do not need to specify the host name with each subsequent connection to the network. Click "Forward" again.
- Now click "Apply" and use the Internet.
On a note
Now you can add various functions, such as connecting to a computer via the Internet or any other that you need. After you add the device, you can independently change the settings for its operation - it will be enough just to select the device from the list, and then click on "Change" on it. For example, after adding a device, it will automatically start working at boot time, if you want to change this behavior of your equipment, you will need to go into its settings and change the value in the paragraph “Activate the device when the computer starts”. You can also configure the printer to connect via Ethernet.
It is worth noting that after adding the device does not turn on, in order to activate it, you will need to select it from the list, and then press the "Activate" button. If your system provides for automatic switching on when the computer starts, then in this case you should not repeat this action.