|  | 7.1 |
The Administrative Side of Network Management
| 7.1.1 | What does a network look like?
The view of a network is important. A network is a collection of devices that interact with one another to provide communication. When a network administrator looks at a network, it should be as a whole instead of individual parts. In other words, each device in a network effects other devices and the network as a whole. Nothing is isolated when connected to a network. A good comparison would be an automobile. A car is a collection of parts that provide transportation. The engine provides power to move the car, but it doesn't work very well if the fuel system doesn't work or the tires are gone. Brakes are also important components, but once again, without the hydraulic system the brakes won't work and the car won't stop. Without all the components working together, the car will not perform its designated task; transportation. The same is true with a network system. If the network server is set up to work with the IPX/SPX protocol and the hosts aren't, they won't be able to communicate. Also, if the system is working fine and the administrator changes the protocols on only one end, the system stops working. One device effects how other devices function. Another example would be having a DNS server located at IP address 192.150.11.123. All of your hosts are configured to find the DNS server at this IP address. If a network technician changes the IP address of the DNS server without changing the host identifiers, the hosts will no longer have DNS services. The important thing to remember when dealing with a network is to view it as a single unit opposed to a group of individual connected devices. This also applies to the wide area connections that are used when connecting to the Internet. Changes that are made to the routers at your location will directly effect the efficiency and reliability of communication throughout the entire system.
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