Week 3 Posting - Genesis Perez

 Ethernet and the Spanning Tree Protocol

The historical ethernet has been around since the 1970s. It grants the ability for all devices to communicate with each other via wire or wireless. These types of connections operate in single or multiple wiring systems. Ethernet connects local area networks (LANs) which are a group of devices that are connected through cabling or radio and share resources in a small area such as printers, fax machines, and storage devices (Meyers, M. 2018). Thanks to the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), they created an ethernet standard called IEEE Standard 802.3. This standard made ethernet an open standard or system, which made ethernet cheaper and interchangeable to anyone. The IEEE approved the 10BaseF standard in 1994, which enabled data centers access to fiber-optic networks instead of depending on copper unshielding cabling (12 Important Moments..., 2020). There are different variations of ethernet, which are fast ethernet, gigabit ethernet, 10-gigabit ethernet, and switch ethernet. 

 

With all the bridging and spanning loops that cause a network to crash, one of the main solutions to fixing and organizing the circulation is the Spanning Tree Protocol and its essential contribution to networking. It is responsible for recognizing the links in the network and shutting down redundant links to prevent potential looping. This protocol works hand in hand with BPDU which stands for bridge protocol data units. The BPDU contains the information that is necessary to configure and maintain spanning tree topology. By using the BPDU, switches can communicate with each other to prevent looping from happening. Another important responsibility it has is electing which switch or network is the root bridge, or the loop-free central point of the “tree.” For a safer approach, blocking ports or blocking state will take place if a bridging loop occurs. If an error occurs in the interface or device, STP uses a mechanism called a topology change notification (TCN). This method enables the switches to rework themselves around the error, even by using blocking ports to an extent.

12 Important Moments in the Evolution from Ethernet to Metro Ethernet | Independents Fiber Network. (2020). Independents Fiber Network. https://ifnetwork.biz/resources/blog/12-important-moments-evolution-ethernet-metro-ethernet

 

Meyers, M. (2018). CompTIA Network+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Seventh Edition (Exam N10-007) by Mike Meyers, McGraw-Hill Education. McGraw-Hill Education.

Week 3 Posting - Genesis Perez

Do you really know what CPU to buy? 

After some hefty research on CPU's and their importance to the consumer, I concluded that the value of the CPU is very subjective. Hence the title of the post, finding the value of a CPU and its purpose should be put into consideration before making a purchase. Is it for gaming? Is it for entertainment purposes? Is it for your job or career? Buying a CPU before the motherboard is crucial since everything around the CPU is not as important as the device itself. For example, if you do the opposite manner, the CPU may not be adaptable or compatible to the motherboard, hence wasting money and resources on a situation that could have been avoided. Another thing to consider is to purchase a CPU new and not used. Although it saves money to buy devices used, but the CPU is on a different tier when it comes to condition and volatility. The consumer may not be aware of the condition of the hardware regardless of what the seller claims it to be. Finally, the CPU is not the only device that operates a computer. The consumer must take into consideration the type of memory, GPU, and PCI ports. I suggest not investing solely all your budget in the CPU. If you spend 50% of your budget on your CPU, the rest of its neighboring components will not be as strong or high end as the purchased CPU. At the end of the day, consider these tips and advice when it comes to purchasing your next CPU.

Week 2 Posting - Genesis Perez

 Together Forever: Cabling and Topology 

I have always wondered how computers are connected, whether they are connected through a wire or wireless technology. Thanks to network topology, I have a better grasp of the concept of hardware connecting to another hardware via cables and other pieces. There are different forms of topologies, such as bus, ring, star, and hybrid. A bus topology uses a single cable that connects all the PCs in a line. A ring topology connects all PCs on the network with a ring of cables. One of the biggest flaws with these topologies is that the entire network stops working if a cable breaks at any given point. Meaning, if Genesis decides to play with his scissors recklessly and ends up damaging a cable, the entire network will seize, and productivity goes down the drain.   

Thankfully, the star and hybrid topology bring a different yet enhanced approach to connecting hardware together. The star topology consists of a central connection box for all the computers on the network to connect with one another. So, if one cable breaks, it will not affect the workload and productivity of neighboring hardware. Lastly, hybrid topology is a redesign of both bus and ring topology. Both the ring and bus are compressed to a smaller version that can fit in a small box. Visually, it acts as a star topology, but its signals and performance are related to the bus and ring schematics. 

Week 2 Posting - Genesis Perez

Getting to Know Their Mother  

There are currently a vast number of motherboards on the market, whether it is a AT, BTX, LPX and ATX motherboard. A rule of thumb is to buy and determine a CPU before purchasing a motherboard. The higher the tier, the more features it contains. On top of that, it gets more expensive with each additional and optional feature. After reading our CompTIA A+ certification book and this week’s required tutorial video, I gained an understanding of the basics and complexity that runs in a motherboard. Some motherboards contain features that the user does not need but is a bonus to increase user experience and computer performance. Those expenses can be used elsewhere, for example, a GPU, RAM, or video card upgrade.  

Most motherboards will have sockets, RAM slots, I/O slots, and PCI express slots. Regarding the CPU socket, only CPUs that match the size of the socket are going to fit in it. It is crucial to check the specs of the motherboard and size of the socket before purchasing a CPU. For example, a 2011-3 socket can only work with a 2011-3 socket size CPU. Each motherboard varies in RAM slots, whether they have 4, 6, or 8 slots. Each channel consists of 2 RAM slots. When it comes to the PCI express slots, it stores more of its crucial components such as graphics cards, SSDs, HDDs, etc. Motherboards have USB ports for connecting input and output devices. Lastly, SATA, which stands for serial advanced technology attachment, are slowly becoming obsolete since they are maxing out with transferring data at 6 Gbits/s. Optical drives such as CD drives, DVD drives and Blu-ray Disc drives can be connected through the SATA ports. For newer motherboards, SATA express ports are being featured as the new standard build. 

Week 1 Posting - Genesis Perez

 

Dear IT World,   

My name is Genesis Perez, and I am an Information Technology student attending Bellevue University. This is my first semester on my quest to earn my bachelor’s degree and further my knowledge of IT. I was born in the Philippines and moved to Hawaii at an early age. After high school, I moved to Illinois to study Multimedia Studies at a former university I attended. I took a break from school to save money, reevaluate my career, and find a new path for my future.  

While brainstorming on what to do in the next chapter of my life, I have pinpointed two topics on what I enjoy and am passionate for: video games and technology. I have always been an enthusiast of both topics and I wanted to further my knowledge of them. Although my knowledge of technology is limited, I am an opportunist and a motivated learner. I am willing to learn more about the ever-developing field. The world of IT is vast and unlimited. I am looking forward to learning different topics and perspectives on technology.