Connecting to the Internet

Learning Objectives

• Describe various Internet connectivity technologies.
• Define components of WANs.
• Outline the basics of wireless and cellular networking.

Content

• Introduction to Connecting to the Internet
• POTS and Dial-up
• Broadband Connections
• WANs
• Wireless Networking

Introduction to Connecting to the Internet

The Internet is a vast and diverse place. Not only is it huge, the number of different devices connected to it can be just as staggering. And if we were to actually describe all these devices, they'd have an almost endless number of functions. The devices that connect to the Internet fall into familiar silos; desktop and laptop computers, servers and data centers, routers and switches that direct network traffic etc. But this list also includes things like; tablets and cell phones, ATMs, industrial equipment, medical devices and even some cars are now connected to the Internet.

The list go on and on. It's nice and simple to discuss everything in terms of a basic physical layer made up of Cat5 or Cat6 cables and a data link layer made entirely of Ethernet. But that's not exactly how things work when they actually connect to the Internet. The technologies used to get people and devices connected are as different as the people and devices themselves. By the end of this module, you'll be able to describe various Internet connectivity technologies. You'll also be able to define the components of WANs and outline the basics of wireless and cellular networking. These are the skills important as an I.T. support specialist, because a big part of your job will be making sure people can get online.