Understanding Unmanaged and Managed Networking


Unmanaged or ad-hoc networking allows you to create a network without performing any configuration. This type of networking is ideal in situations where access to a managed network is not possible, such as at home or in an airport. The following figure shows some of the issues with unmanaged networks.

For an unmanaged network to function, it must fulfill the following main requirements:

  • Assign IP addresses automatically

  • Assign network names automatically

  • Discover services automatically

Other considerations for unmanaged networking are:

  • Plug-and-play networking

  • No assumed user technical skills

  • No assumed system administrator role

In this lesson, you'll learn how Bonjour technology fulfills these requirements and lets you create an instant network of computers and smart devices just by connecting them together.

To understand how Bonjour works and to appreciate its role in simplifying networking, it's worthwhile to see how managed networks deal with IP address and network name assignment. As shown in the following figure, traditional methods of network management included a DNS server, DHCP server, and static addressing.

In a managed network, IP addresses are assigned either automatically by a DHCP server or manually by a system administrator. In addition, network names are assigned by an administrator who must edit DNS files to map every assigned name to its corresponding IP address. Furthermore, an administrator needs to provide the information necessary for users to access services on the network.

So unlike an unmanaged network, a managed network not only requires skilled personnel, but also additional software and hardware resources, making it impractical in small offices, homes, and on the road.




Apple Training Series. Mac OS X System Administration Reference, Volume 1
Apple Training Series: Mac OS X System Administration Reference, Volume 1
ISBN: 032136984X
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2005
Pages: 258
Authors: Schoun Regan

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