The Physical Network

Here is an example of how Miracosta Colleges Ethernet network works.

I'm sitting at a computer in the 4612 building. I want to research Javascript. I open up my client or browser which in this case is Netscape. I make a request in Yahoo for Javascript. As soon as I hit return, the request is interpreted by the NIC which translates it, and directs it through a RJ45 Connector. It then travels through Twisted Pair Wire into the wiring closet which contains the Hub. The wire then connects into the hub where it is sent through a Switch into a Transceiver. The transceiver converts the electrical signal to light where it is sent through the fiber backbone underground. The transmission ends up at the MCC main network where it travels to another hub and is interpreted by yet another switch. The switch forwards the Packet to a Router. The Ethernet Address is stripped off the packet. The packet then leaves MCC internal intranet and hits an ISP Router. It is then forwarded to another router on the internet. Router to router til it hits the destined I.P. Address.

Here is a picture of some of the actual Hardware I am talking about. It includes the actual Switch, Tranceiver, Hubs, Category 5 Shielded Twisted Pair, Fiber, and a small portion of a Cisco Router.

The Physical Network

is all the hardware to make it possible. The actual computers, NICs, Twisted Pair Wiring, Hubs, Switches, Tranceivers, Routers...

The Logical Network

on the other hand refers to the NOS (Network Operating System), different Clients, and the languages they speak to each other.

Working together they can produce MAGIC. A man made multibrain of information transmission waiting to happen.