Grounding Computer Equipment
Earlier this week we had a power outage and when everything came back online, everything came back online except…the wireless access point (WAP). Ours was a Cisco WAP321. Now it’s a paperweight. After examining the setup in our server room, it didn’t seem plausible that the power outage caused the WAP’s demise since it’s plugged […]
Power over Ethernet (PoE)
Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a cool thing now where power is supplied to networking devices via the network cable. Aside from the network cable, the PoE device has no separate AC adapters connected. This makes for a nice, clean-looking installation and expands the number of options available for placing things like a wireless access […]
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
An uninterruptible power supply, or UPS (typically pronounced “upps” but also pronounced as the letters U, P, and S), is a fancy name for a battery that’s plugged into the wall and you plug all your stuff into it. When the power goes out, the UPS is designed to maintain steady power delivery to all […]
Network Hub
A network hub is similar to a network switch because it manages signals within one network. The communication method is a little different than a switch, and less efficient. Where a switch processes each piece of data and sends it specifically to the intended recipient, a network hub receives a piece of data and sends […]
Wireless Access Point (WAP)
A wireless access point is a radio used to wirelessly send and receive signals between mobile and other wireless devices such as smart phones and tablets. The “WAP” then takes these signals and connects them, usually via wired connection, to a network. This is usually accomplished by connecting the WAP to a network switch or […]
Firewall
In your house, a firewall is a physical feature of the building made of fire resistant materials. It’s designed to slow the progress of fire and heat to protect the people and possessions behind the firewall. In a network, a firewall is a security feature designed to slow the progress of ne’er-do-wells that might try […]