SECOND QUARTER

LESSON 3
CONFIGURE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND NETWORK
System Configuration is the way a system is set up, it is the collection of components that make up the system. Configuration can
refer to either hardware or software, or the combination of both. For instance, a typical configuration for a PC consists of 32MB (megabytes)
main memory, a floppy drive, a hard disk, a modem, a CD-ROM drive, a VGA monitor, and the Windows Operating System.
Many software products require that the computer has a certain minimum configuration. For example, the software might require a
graphics display monitor and a video adapter, a particular microprocessor, and a minimum amount of main memory capacity.
When you install a new device or program, you sometimes need to configure it, which means that you need to set various switches
and jumpers (for hardware) and to define values of parameters (for software). For example, the device or program may need to know what type
of video adapter you have and what type of printer is connected to the computer. Thanks to technological advancements, such as plug-and-play,
much of this configuration is now performed automatically.
Safety Precautions Related to Networks
Installing network cables, whether copper or fiber-optic, can be dangerous. Often, cables must be pulled through ceilings and walls
where there are obstacles or toxic materials. You should wear clothing such as long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, sturdy shoes that cover your
feet, and gloves to protect you from those toxic materials. Most importantly, wear safety glasses. If possible, ask building management, or
someone responsible for the building, if there are any dangerous materials or obstacles that you need to be aware of before entering the ceiling
area.

Safety precautions when using a ladder:

 Read the labels on the ladder, and follow any safety instructions written on it.
 Never stand on the top rung of the ladder. You could easily lose your balance and fall.
 Make sure that people in the area know you will be working there.
 Cordon off the area with caution tape or safety cones.
 When you are using a ladder that leans up against a wall, follow the instructions written on the ladder, and have someone hold the
ladder to help keep it steady.

Safety rules when working with cables: The tools required to install copper and fiber-optic cable may cause danger through
improper use. When working with cables, strictly follow these safety rules:
 Make sure that the tools you are using are in good working condition.
 Watch what you are doing, and take your time. Make sure that you do not cut yourself or place anyone in danger.
 Always wear safety glasses when cutting, stripping, or splicing cables of any kind. Tiny fragments can injure your eyes.
 Wear gloves whenever possible, and dispose any waste properly.
Use common sense when installing cables and fixing network problems. Call for assistance for tasks that you cannot do on your own.

Fiber-Optic Safety - Fiber-optic cables are useful for communications, but they have certain hazards:
 Dangerous chemicals
 Tools with sharp edges
 Light which you cannot see that can burn your eyes
 Glass shards produced by cutting fiber-optic cable that can cause bodily harm Specific types of tools and chemicals are used when
working with fiber-optic cable. These materials must be handled with care.

Chemicals - The solvents and glues used with fiber optics are dangerous. You should handle them with extreme care. Read the
instructions on the label, and follow them carefully. Also, read the material safety data sheet (MSDS) that accompanies the chemicals to know
how to treat someone in case of emergency.

Tools - When working with any tool, safety should always be your first priority. Any compromise in safety could result in serious
injury or even death. The tools used for working with fiber optics have sharp cutting surfaces that are used to scribe glass. Other tools pinch
cables with high pressure to fasten connectors to them. These tools can produce shards of glass that can splinter and fly into the air. You must
avoid getting them on your skin and in your mouth or eyes.
Glass Shards - The process of cutting and trimming the strands of fiber-optic cables can produce tiny fragments of glass or plastic
that can penetrate your eyes or skin and cause severe irritation. The fibers can be extremely difficult to see on your skin because they are clear
and small. When you work with fiber-optic cabling, the working surface should be a dark mat so that you can see the tiny glass or plastic
fragments. The mat should also be
resistant to chemical spills.
You should keep the work area clean and neat. Never pick up fiberoptic fragments with your fingers. Use tape to pick up small
fragments, and dispose them off properly. Use a disposable container, such as a plastic bottle with a screw-on lid, to store fiber fragments.
Close the lid tightly before disposing the container.

Harmful Light- Protect your eyes from the harmful light that may be in the fiber-optic strands. The light is a color that humans
cannot see. It can damage your eyes before you can feel it. When you use a magnifier to inspect fiber-optic cable and connectors, the light
emitted from the fiber could be directed into your eyes. When working with fiber, be sure to disconnect the light source. Use special detectors
to help you tell if a fiber is energized.

Networking Devices, Media and Connector

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To make data transmission more extensible and efficient than a simple peer-to-peer network, network designers use specialized network
devices such as hubs, switches, routers, and wireless access points to send data between devices. You have already discussed in your Grade 9
CHS class the different devices used in networking and which provides you the knowledge on the common networking cables that are essential
in putting up a network.

Common Network Cables

Until recently, cables were the only medium used to connect devices on networks. A wide variety of networking cables are available. Coaxial
and twisted-pair cables use copper to transmit data. Fiber-optic cables use glass or plastic to transmit data. These cables differ in bandwidth,
size, and cost. You need to know what type of cable to use based on the job requirements. You also need to be able to troubleshoot and repair
problems along the way.

Twisted Pair
Twisted pair is a type of copper cabling that is used for telephone communications and most Ethernet networks. A pair of wires forms a circuit
that transmits data. The pair is twisted to provide protection against crosstalk, the noise generated by adjacent pairs of wires in the cable. Pairs
of copper wires are encased in color-coded plastic insulation and are twisted together. An outer jacket protects the bundles of twisted pairs.

When electricity flows through a copper wire, a magnetic field is created around the wire. A circuit has two wires, and in a circuit,
the two wires have oppositely-charged magnetic fields. When the two wires of the circuit are next to each other, the magnetic fields cancel
each other out. This is called the cancellation effect. Without the cancellation effect, your network communications become slow because of
the interference caused by the magnetic fields.

The two basic types of twisted-pair cables are as follows:

 Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) is the cable that has two or four pairs of wires. This type of cable relies solely on the cancellation effect
produced by the twisted-wire pairs that limits signal degradation caused by electromagnetic interface (EMI) and radio frequency interference
(RFI). UTP is the most commonly used cabling in networks. UTP cables have a range of 328 feet (100 m).
 shielded twisted pair (STP), each pair of wire is wrapped in metallic foil to better shield the wires from noise. Four pairs of wires are then
wrapped in an overall metallic braid or foil. STP reduces electrical noise from within the cable. It also reduces EMI and RFI from outside the
cable. Although STP prevents interference better than UTP, STP is more expensive because of the extra shielding. It is also more difficult to
install because of the thickness. In addition, the metallic shielding must be grounded at both ends. If it is improperly grounded, the shield acts
like an antenna, picking up unwanted signals.
Category Rating UTP comes in several categories that are based on two factors:
 The number of wires in the cable
 The number of twists in those wires

1. Category 3 is the wiring used for telephone systems and Ethernet LAN at 10 Mega byte per second (Mbps).
2. Category 3 has four pairs of wires.
3. Category 5 and Category 5e have four pairs of wires with a transmission rate of 100 Mbps.
4. Category 5 and Category 5e is the most common network cables used.
5. Category 5e has more twists per foot than Category 5 wiring.
These extra twists further prevent interference from outside sources and from the other wires within the cable.
Some Category 6 cables use a plastic divider to separate the pairs of wires, which prevents interference. The pairs also have more
twists than Category 5e cable.

Coaxial Cable
Coaxial cable is a copper-cored cable surrounded by a heavy shielding. Coaxial cable is used to connect the computers to the
rest of the network.

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 Fiber-Optic Cable
An optical fiber is a glass or plastic conductor that transmits information using light. Fiber optic cable has one or more optical fibers enclosed
in a sheath or jacket. Because it is made of glass, fiber-optic cable is not affected by EMI or RFI. All signals are converted to light pulses to
enter the cable and are converted back into electrical signals when they leave it. This means that fiber-optic cable can deliver signals that are
clearer, and can go farther, without compromising the clarity of signals.

Fiber-optic cable can reach distances of several miles or kilometers before the signal needs to be regenerated. Fiber-optic cable
usually is more expensive to use than copper cable, and the connectors are more costly and harder to assemble. Common connectors for fiber-
optic networks are SC, ST, and LC. These three types of fiber-optic connectors are half-duplex, which allows data to flow in only one
direction. Therefore, two cables are needed.

These are the two types of glass fiber-optic cable:

 Multimode is the cable that has a thicker core than single-mode cable. It is easier to make, can use simpler light sources such as Light
Emitting Diodes (LEDs), and works well over distances of a few kilometers or less.
 Single-mode is the cable that has a very thin core. It is harder to make, uses lasers as a light source, and can transmit signals dozens of
kilometers with ease.

Creating Ethernet Cable Ethernet cabling has been the standard in networking installation for years. It is the fastest way of
connecting PC to a peer or to your router or a central switch. This section of the module will bring you back to the procedures in creating an
Ethernet cable specifically straight-through and cross-over. Try to recall the procedures as you go on with the lesson.

Fabricating an Ethernet Cross-over and Straight-through Cable In an Ethernet networking environment – like in a home or an office
with multiple PCs that are wired – the computers need to be connected to a central router to allow data transfer. The router takes all the bits
being sent out by the computers and relays them onto the other devices on the network.
The straight-through Ethernet cable is used in local area network to connect a PC to a network hub and router. This is the standard cable
used for almost all purposes.

A cross-over cable, on the other hand, can be used to connect two network devices directly, without the need for a router in the middle. It
simply reverses some of the pins so that the output on one computer is being sent to the input of another.
Bear in mind that safety precautions must always be applied and observed during the fabrication of the said cables. Also, materials
and tools to be used must always be complete and functional to save time, money and effort.

The following items are the materials and tools used for making Ethernet cables:
 Ethernet Cable Category 5e or Cat5e- standard wire for cabling;
 RJ45 crimpable connectors for Cat5e;
 RJ45 Crimping tool;
 Wire cutter, stripper or pliers; and
 Ethernet cable tester

Cable Fabrication Procedures

The picture below will serve as your guide in making the two important Ethernet cables.
1. Cut into the plastic sheath 1 inch from the end of the cut cable. The crimping tool has a razor blade that will do the trick with
practice.

2. Unwind and pair the similar colors.

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 3. Pinch the wires between your fingers and straighten them out as shown. The color order is important to do this correctly.

4. Use wire cutter to make a straight cut across the wires 1/2 inch from the cut sleeve to the end of the wires.
5. Push the wires into the connector. Each wire fits into a slot in the RJ45 connector. Note the position of the blue plastic
shielding. Also note how the wires go all the way to the end.

6. Take view from the top. Make sure the wires are all the way in. There should be no short wires.

7. Crimping the Cable – carefully place the connector into the Ethernet Crimper and cinch down on the handles tightly. The
copper splicing tabs on the connector will pierce into each of the eight wires. There is also a locking tab that holds the blue plastic sleeve
in place for a tight compression fit. When you remove the cable from the crimper, that end is ready to use.
8. For a standard "Straight-Through" cable, repeat all steps and wire color order on the other end of cable. For a cross-over
cable - the other end will have a different color order as shown by the crossover picture on page 84.
9. Make sure to test the cables before installing them. An inexpensive Ethernet cable tester does this quite well.

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