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Computing  Wired

Wired Network

Each network socket in a room is wired back to a socket on a patch panel in one of the several distribution point rooms in the building. Each patch panel socket is then connected into an electronic switch with several ports. The network switches route traffic around the building. Most switches have a maximum speed of 100 Mb/s (Mega bits per second). The switches are linked to each other and to a router which takes traffic into and out of the building.

Not all ports are patched in, as there are more room sockets than switch ports. Each network socket has an identifying number e.g. 2B3 which allows us to trace it back to the correct patch panel socket.

Every network device (printer, computer etc.) needs to be given an IP address by Computing before it will work on the network. Once this has been done, the device can be plugged in to any patched-in socket in the building. If the computer is moved into another building, local computing staff will need to assign it an IP address in a different range. Most computers are set by default to find out their IP address in each building and home network they are connected to.