The invention of wireless networks allows us to transfer information without cables. However, the same cannot be said about power. It can be a real struggle finding a solution to provide power to a device that is situated in awkward and hard to reach places, plus can lead to messy extension cable-in-extension cable mess, ad infinitum.

Or at least it was, before Power over Ethernet, or PoE, hit the scene. PoE technology makes it possible to power these hard to reach devices, while also supplying them with a network connection. We love PoE, which is why we made our very own PoE Adapter to power and drive network to your Airtame 2s. We think you’ll love it.

But how does PoE actually work? Let’s dig a little deeper.

What is Power over Ethernet?

You can connect devices like your computer to your network through a wire, an Ethernet connection, as opposed to wirelessly via WiFi. PoE is simply a way of supplying power over that Ethernet connection, so using PoE means a single Ethernet cable can supply both electrical power and data.

The concept of supplying a direct current to a wire carrying a signal has been around since the 1900s. Here’s a quick rundown of how PoE emerged from a technology called “phantom power”.

The birth of PoE

Before there was PoE, there was phantom power. In the 1900s, the first electric telephone used phantom power to run an electric current through the same wire that transmitted the signal (i.e. your voice) in order to ring and alert the other person of an incoming call. Phantom power is still used in condenser microphones, like those used in music production, to power the microphones while also carrying the vocal input.

Fast-forward to the 1990s and the common office and classroom were using Voice over IP, or VoIP, phones, which can make calls over the internet. The old electric telephones were long obsolete, but the problem remained of how to power the phones in a smart and safe way. To add fuel to the fire, IT administrators found themselves having to power access points and security cameras that often sit in out-of-sight corners of the room, not always near a power source.

Many were hard at work to create a solution, but in the end, Cisco was the first to create successful PoE although it was proprietary technology, meaning it was only used internally for Cisco’s own needs.

Many of the first solutions involved directly injecting power into an Ethernet cable with no safety measures in the event that you accidentally plugged in a device not meant to receive power. The risks involved were frying your devices, in the best case scenario, and possibly sparking a fire, in the worst case scenario.

Luckily, it didn’t take long for PoE to become standardized for wider use in 2003 by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) which ensured safety regulations. From that time, PoE has evolved into 4 different types, each type more powerful than the last.

Devices that use PoE

PoE was initially created for security cameras and VoIP phones, but nowadays, there is an increasing number of Internet of Things, or IoT, gadgets putting a strain on power supply. In the most simple terms, the IoT consists of a network of devices connected over the internet.

For example, an IoT device can be something like a wireless sound system in a smart home, or even a heart monitor implant with wireless capabilities.

Power over Ethernet plays a big role for many of these devices because it is used for a growing range of devices, such as: security cameras, VoIP telephones, access points, PTZ conferencing cameras, energy efficient flat screens, thin client computers, and wireless screen sharing devices, like Airtame 2. Our PoE adapter is the smoothest, most stable and efficient means of powering your Airtame 2, while also driving network connectivity to it.

Types of Power over Ethernet

There are currently 4 types of standardized PoE: Types 1, 2, 3  and 4. The different types of PoE have to do with the amount of power they can supply to a device. As the power demands have grown over the years, PoE technology has had to adapt to meet the demands.

• Type 1 (IEEE 802.3af) – Maximum power to port: 15.4W
  • Used for VoIP phones and static surveillance cameras
• Type 2 (IEEE 802.3at) – Maximum power to port: 30W
  • Used for devices like high-end surveillance cameras with pan, tilt, and zoom, wireless access points with 6 antennas, LCD display
• Type 3 (IEEE 802.3bt) – Maximum power to port: 60W
  • Used for devices such as video conferencing systems
• Type 4 (IEEE 802.3bt) – maximum power to port: 100W
  • Used for devices such as energy efficient flat screens

The benefits of using Power over Ethernet

There are a few reasons why Power over Ethernet is so convenient and spreading in popularity.

For devices in hard to reach places

The reason PoE technology was developed was to create a more efficient setup for devices that are in hard to reach places.

Previously, you would have to install power outlets nearby or have electrical cables running up to these places, but these solutions can be costly and clunky. Not to mention, the maintenance for electrical infrastructure can be quite expensive as well. Using Ethernet cables is a more flexible solution that won’t break the bank because it removes the need for nearby power outlets.

Cost-effective alternative

Most schools and businesses have network cables installed already, so it makes sense to use a solution like PoE that can utilize your existing infrastructure.

For larger organizations, safety regulations around electrical power mean that changing electrical infrastructure involves a lot of red tape, not to mention the costs of an electrician. With PoE, you don’t need to be an electrician to install the equipment, because most of it is designed to just plug in and use safely.

Tidier setup

The happy side effect of PoE is that it cuts down on bulky cable clutter and makes for a much tidier environment. A clean setup certainly makes your office or classroom look sleeker, but it’s not just about looks. With less cables, it’s also easier to maintain and troubleshoot, since you don’t have to slosh through a pile of cables.

Better network security

In general, if you have to choose between a wireless connection and a wired Ethernet connection, take your network’s security into consideration. A wired network connection is always more secure, since wireless connections are more vulnerable to interception (more on network security here).

So, a plain old Ethernet connection gives you more wireless network security than wireless, but if you go with Power over Ethernet, you get that and power simultaneously.

Limitations of Power over Ethernet

PoE is a technology created mainly for small devices that are not near an electrical outlet. As a result, there are a few limitations to PoE that you might want to consider.

For devices that consume higher amounts of electricity, PoE might not be able to supply enough current to power these devices. Type 4 PoE, for example, supplies less than 1 Amp of current whereas a device like a computer needs 6.7 Amps to run.

Another thing to keep in mind is that PoE power source equipment cannot create a network connection on their own. If you do not have a network infrastructure already in place, you would first need to install the network cables. This is not a major obstacle since most schools and companies do have this infrastructure set up already in order to deal with the average demand for internet connection.

There are really not too many caveats to choosing PoE. It may not be able to power your high energy-consuming laptop, but for your TV screens, access points, and similar devices, it is worth it.

Setting up PoE

PoE is easy to install, since much of the equipment comes ready to go out of the box, so it’s quickly integrated into your network. Its flexibility, lower costs, and cable-clutter reducing advantages make it a no brainer for many schools and businesses.

There are a few different types of power sourcing equipment (PSE) that can add PoE to your network. Here are some of the ways you can set up PoE to power your devices through an Ethernet cable:

PoE injector

If you already have a regular network switch, you don’t need to run out and buy a new PoE switch to replace it. Instead, you can consider a PoE injector, also known as a midspan, for adding PoE capabilities between the network switch and a PoE device.

A PoE injector simply injects power onto an Ethernet cable. It is a plug and play solution, meaning that you can easily add PoE capabilities to your network with very little effort.

PoE switch

A PoE switch is a network switch (unsure what a network switch is? Check out this article covering all the basic network terminology) with PoE built in. You can use a PoE switch to create a hub where you can plug in and power multiple PoE-enabled devices using a single network connection.

The PoE switch typically connects to your router and can be used for a mix of PoE devices and non-PoE compliant devices, since most switches will supply just the network connection if you plug in a non-PoE device. If you would like your non-PoE compliant devices to receive both power and a network connection, you would need to use a PoE splitter (more on this in the section below on PoE splitter).

PoE splitter

If you have a PoE switch or injector to power your devices, but you have non-PoE compliant devices you’d like to power, a PoE splitter is the perfect way to upgrade these devices.

A PoE splitter takes a PoE connection and separates it into two output cables for data and power. These two output cables can then be plugged into your non-PoE compliant as normal. This is an excellent solution if you plan to have a mix of PoE and non-PoE devices on your network.

PoE charger

In the case where you only need to power your device, but do not need a network connection, a PoE charger is the perfect solution. You can connect a PoE charger to your Ethernet cable and it will pull the power from the network connection and supply it to your device.

PoE to USB

There are times when your devices are powered through a USB port. Unfortunately, not many USB devices come equipped for this situation, so you might consider a PoE to USB adapter. If you’re lucky, however, your device has its own compatible accessory.

For example, we created the Airtame PoE Adapter designed specifically for the Airtame 2 in order to supply it with power and Ethernet connection over USB.

The future of Power over Ethernet

Power over Ethernet technology continues to evolve because it is such a flexible solution, which lends itself to more creative uses. One thing is for certain, PoE technology is getting more and more powerful. The latest PoE type, Type 4 (IEEE 802.3bt), came out in September  2018 and can now power some energy-efficient TV screens, which wasn’t possible before.

An interesting use of PoE to keep an eye on is PoE lighting. PoE can be used to power LED lights, which are rapidly growing in popularity due to their energy-saving capacity compared to old fluorescent lights. By connecting LED lights with Ethernet, it is possible to create a smart lighting environment.

Imagine an LED light programmed with an occupancy sensor and connected to your network via PoE. This setup could help you monitor the usage of a room and could even be used by office managers to optimize their workplace.

PoE: A smart choice

We don’t know for certain if PoE will be the main power source for the smart house of the future. However, one thing is certain. PoE technology is reducing the amount of bulk cabling, and perhaps, one day can help eliminate it altogether.

A cleaner, cable-free office or classroom creates a productive workspace for end users and for IT administrators, PoE is a more streamlined, efficient alternative.

Power over Ethernet solves the issue of powering devices that are not near a power supply source. And installing and maintaining PoE equipment is much easier than more complex electrical installations. If you want a convenient and reliable way to power your devices while simultaneously connecting them to your network, then PoE is the only choice.

Want to hear more about how our PoE adapter and Airtame is a match made in networking heaven? Sign up for a demo call

The post Power over Ethernet: Everything you need to know appeared first on Airtame.

We support most end-user platforms (Apple, Windows, Chromebook, Linux, plus mobile platforms like iOS and Android) and, together with the infrastructure powering our Cloud, we need to maintain environments with many different requirements and challenges.

To make all that happen, Airtame needs a committed tech team. That’s where we come in.

The name is structure. Infra-structure

The Infrastructure team at Airtame is made up of 2 people – Peter and I – and a lot of automation.

While the developers do the actual work of creating the application, firmware, or the Airtame Cloud product, we’re concerned with making sure this can happen continuously, automatically and in a secure environment – on all platforms and in the Cloud.

To be able to upgrade your devices remotely with the Airtame Cloud, we need to run the platform (the services it consists of) somewhere – keeping your data secure and making sure you and the Airtame device can always talk to Airtame Cloud. We recently transformed our Cloud service, which you can read about here.

For this to work, we need to manage all the requests that Airtame Cloud receives and respond appropriately – your device connecting to Airtame Cloud needs to be handled differently than you opening Airtame Cloud in the browser.

We need to run databases that handle queries, proxies that handle requests and services that replicate, scaling automatically when people use our product at high volumes so that Airtame Cloud works fast and is always reachable.

In short, we make sure that all the good work done by the rest of the Airtame team works well with you, our users.

Platform-to-platform

Just like you need a Windows, Mac or Linux machine to run the Airtame application, we also need a Windows, Mac and Linux machine to turn the source code our developers wrote into airtame.exe, airtame.dmg or airtame.tar.gz.

To be able to create these packaged applications, our machines need to be configured in a specific way. They need to have other applications pre-installed, be able to download the source code and they should automatically create airtame.exe when a developer sends code to our code review platform.

At your service

We have services running both internally and externally, so either hosted in-house or running somewhere else:

• Internally to offer a code review platform, collect analytics or crash data, or run an automation server that tells other machines what to do (so we don’t have to)
• Externally to host the Airtame Cloud platform including supporting infrastructures like additional automation servers, the airtame.com website, and servers where you or your device get our software from

All of this needs to come together. Software needs to be on some version and configured with certain options, and only select services should be able to talk to each other, but those do need to talk. If something stops working, it should ideally fix itself, or at least let us know.

People working at Airtame also need an airtame.com email address; some VPN access to our internal network (which we manage, too) when working remotely; our source code needs to live somewhere and we also host and/or develop services that make other employee’s lives easier.

This support materializes in many forms. We make bots that make sure someone brings breakfast to team status meetings, or a directory software where we can give people access to machines by running a script. If it’s technologically possible for us to optimize our workflow, it’s down to the infrastructure team to synthesize it.

While our primary focus is to keep things running, we spend a lot of time automating creating the services we need, so that even when the Airtame HQ burns down, we can go buy some other servers and be back in business within days, in theory.

Fortunately, no such crisis has happened thus far but, just in case, we also continuously back-up our important data. We’ll share how we try to achieve all of this in an upcoming post.

Curious about more Airtame teams? Check out how we established our friendly customer success team

The post Introducing the Airtame infrastructure team appeared first on Airtame.

Regardless of whether we’re sharing information with our local communities or broadcaster our latest video blog across the globe, it’s the computer networks that interconnect our lives, interests, the digital signage we see and the businesses we care about the most.

Yet the idea of a complex global network of interconnected computers often escapes a lot of us. What exactly is a network and what can we expect to see in the future when it comes to networks and how we share information?

In this article, we cover all of the basic information about computer networks that you could want to know.

What is a network?

A network is a group of two or more computer systems or other devices, like Airtame, that are interconnected together for the purpose of exchanging data. The data shared over computer networks allow us to:

• Communicate (email, instant messaging, etc.)
• Share hardware (printers, input devices)
• Share software
• Store information on remote storage devices

Think of it as networks sharing resources. Besides files (documents, images, music files…) or the same printer, networks can even provide a stream of information, like the information we send to the Airtame device with constant video and sound.

Wired vs wireless

There are two types of networks; wired and wireless. They each come with both pros and cons. A wired network connection is the most secure and reliable choice for a stable internet connection. On the other hand, wireless connectivity gives you the freedom to move around and not stay tethered to the cable.

Sharing of files is a lot easier when you’re going wireless. The transfer time may be slower, but at least you don’t have to hook up to the other device with a cable. And when we’re at the point of cables, there’s tidiness of going wireless versus the cabled mess you often find in many work environments.

The setup of a wireless environment is far more hassle-free than a wired one. And as continued advancements make the wireless network technologies gradually more secure and speedy, you don’t have to worry as much about those issues either.

Read more: Facts you didn’t know about WiFi

Network terminology

• LAN: “Local Area Network” is a network that connects local computers, i.e. not the internet.
• WLAN: “Wireless Local Area Network” The same as a LAN but using wireless antennas sending electromagnetic waves.
• Client: A device connected to a network, i.e. “Airtame is a client of the network”.

Main physical components

• Router: A router is a device that forwards data packets along networks, usually to the internet. It’s connected to at least two networks and is located at gateways, the places where two or more networks connect. They act as an Access Point (WiFi) combined with a switch (Ethernet), to guide information to where it needs to be sent.
• Transmission Methods (Cable/Wireless): It’s the method or system used to communicate between systems. This could be ethernet cables, radio waves or fiber optic cable.
• Network Interface Card (NIC): A hardware component on your computer that allows it to be connected to the network. Most NICs are designed for a particular type of network, protocol, and media, although some can serve multiple networks.
• Endpoints: Computer devices, such as Airtame or a printer, that is not part of the essential computer. Examples of devices include network access storage, network-connected printers, network access storage or anything else that requires an IP network over a wireless medium.

Extra components

• Access Point: A device that allows you to connect a device to an IP network over a wireless medium.
• Switch: A device that filters and forwards frames between LAN segments. Switches operate at the data link layer (layer 2) and sometimes the network layer (layer 3) of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnections) Reference Model. At layer 2, the “chunks” of data are called “frames” and are forwarded based on MAC addresses. At layer 3, the chunks of data are called “packets” and they are forwarded by IP addresses.
• Server: A computer on your network that provides a resource. Such resources could be mail, DNS, DHCP, file storage, network authentication, PKI or media. The list of things you can do with a server is limitless. Servers are often dedicated, meaning that they perform no other tasks besides their server tasks.

Component characteristics

• IP Address: An “Internet Protocol” address (IP address) is a numerical label that can be automatically or statically assigned and helps an endpoint communicate with another endpoint on a different network segment.

• MAC Address: A MAC (Media Access Control) address, sometimes referred to as a hardware address or physical address, is a unique, 48-bit address that allows a device to communicate with other devices inside of a single subnet or VLAN. In our case each antenna in the Airtame device.
• Operating System: Operating systems provide a software platform on top of which other programs, called application programs, can run. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.

Virtual components

• Firewall:  A system designed to manipulate traffic based on security rules. It’s often the most critical component of your infrastructure that protects the network from malicious entities. At times, without proper configuration, the firewall can prevent legitimate devices from accessing the network or connect to the internet.

How does information flow through a network?

When you share something, like an email, that message is comprised of data packets that travel across the network. All files are broken down into data packets (1’s and 0’s), and data packets are created in “Internet Protocol (IP) transmissions” for data that navigate the Web and other types of networks.

Each packet is wrapped in a header and footer, that contains the information of what kind of data is inside, how it fits with other packets, where it came from and where to it is sent.

Different packets from the same message don’t always follow the same path, because that would slow the message down. Once the data packets arrive at the destination, the receiving unit assembles the packets and recreates the message.

Sounds abstract? Here’s an analogy that helps illuminate it. Imagine mailing an entire car to someone by packing each component into its own box and mailing them with a destination address and, in case it can’t make it, a return address.

It’s the same principle that applies to data packets, it’s just a little less cumbersome than mailing a car…

WiFi bands and channels

A wireless local area network (LAN) uses radio waves to connect devices (your laptop or smartphone) to the Internet, to your preferred network and the applications you use. When you connect to a WiFi hotspot, you connect to the wireless network it belongs to – could be an airport lounge or your favorite café.

Because WiFi is an electromagnetic wave, it can have different frequencies (the amount of times the wave repeats, up and down, during a period of time). To avoid interference, two frequencies bands are used. They are 2.4GHz and 5GHz (1GHz = 1,000,000,000 Hz = 1,000,000,000 repetitions in 1 second).

“Channels” are the smaller variations of the frequencies that add a few more repetitions to the electromagnetic wave (e.g.  2.4GHz on channel 4 = 2.432.00.000Hz).

2.4GHz Vs. 5GHz

• 2.4 GHz
  • All devices support this standard
  • It reaches further than 5GHz (less range)
  • Suffers more from interference from other WiFi, microwaves and cordless phones (common products)
  • Fewer channels to choose from
• 5GHz
  • A newer standard which is supported on fewer devices than 2.4GHz
  • Shorter range than 2.4GHz
  • Suffers from interference from military and Radar (not common*)
  • Many channels to choose from

*Interesting fact: Ultra-high channels of 5GHz are banned in Europe because they’re frequently used by the military.

**We recommend using 5GHz with Airtame.

Security of networks

Your data is valuable, and having something valuable can make you more susceptible to theft.

In other to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your data, conforming to security standards will bolster your security posture and leave your data and your networks safe from malicious entities that exist online.

Depending on what the network is used for, it may need to have some rules applied so that people can’t access other computers, files or the network itself.

Wireless Authentication Security is the security that allows devices and people to prove that they’re supposed to have access to the network.

You can protect your network in a variety of ways, from having user certificates to having a known, pre-shared key (PSK). The methods vary but the main types are:

1. Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP): the very old standard. It allows the PSK to be sent over a wireless network in clear-text which makes it easier for an attacker to gain unauthorized access to your network. It’s highly recommended not to use WEP to protect your network
2. Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA): versions 1 (WPA) and 2 (WPA2)
   1. Using a “Pre-Shared Key” (PSK) (“Password”)
   2. In enterprise environments, an authentication server will authenticate requests for access by reconciling usernames and passwords or authenticate user and computer certificates.
3. Certificate-Based Authentication: uses a file stored on the client to be granted access to the network. It’s like a person needing a badge to enter a secure space. No badge, no access!

Read more: How to increase your network security

The future of networks

Not that long ago, we needed a dial-up modem to access the Internet. We have a lot more mobility and flexibility nowadays, and who knows what the future will bring in terms of more freedom? Or perhaps restrictions thereof. We take an educated stab in the dark at what’s next for networks.

The Internet

The mother of all networks, the Internet, has also changed a lot in the past, and it’s sure to expand even further in the future. But will it be similar to what we have right now or could it possibly change to something completely different?

Cyber attacks are on the rise, and we can’t be sure that the Internet will withhold against increasingly powerful charges. Our guess is that either the Internet will improve vastly to withstand such attacks, or it will crumble and lead to a massively controlled security situation of Big Brother proportions where no ordinary cybercitizen is safe from scrutiny? We hope it’s the first.

Software Defined Networking (SDN)

Yes, we have a lot more mobility these days. Just think of your smartphone, essentially a small computer with as much power as one. Software Defined Networking, or SDN, is a cloud-based software that manages a network from one central point – and can really help with the desired mobility.

The architecture is more easily manageable and improves network performance, which is ideal for all of the high-bandwidth, dynamic nature of today’s, and perhaps the future’s, applications.

Internet of Things (IoT)

You may have heard the expression “Internet of Things” or IoT before, and no doubt you have come into contact with it.

In short, IoT is the network that links together smartphones, home appliances, vehicles and many other items embedded with software, connectivity, sensors etc. Because they’re linked together, all of these items can connect, collect and exchange data – and be controlled by you.

As more mobile devices, wearables, and other smart devices take over personal communication, managing traffic via fixed routers will not make as much sense as the devices communicating directly with each other and the Internet directly.

Instead of having isolated network automation, systems are bound to get more integrated as more of them enter the market. 

Seeing as the big players on the market are tapping into this trend with smart TVs, fridges, door alarms, lighting systems etc., the development of the interconnected devices will move rapidly.

This is bound to bring up some privacy issues as well. Who owns the communication that flows through your devices? Do you? Or does the company that made the devices? Or someone else? How we can protect our personal privacy is something we foresee to be a big, upcoming issue.

Dos and don’ts of networking

Here are a few things to consider when you’re dealing with networks:

Don’t merge your internal and guest networks

When an organization invests a lot of money in computers and other hardware, they need to protect that investment by protecting the integrity and availability of the networks.

Guests could potentially bring in malicious software (such as ransomware) on their computers that will affect the computers in the whole organization. By not merging the internal and guest networks, you’re taking the biggest and most important step towards protecting what’s in your organization.

Do make sure to stay updated

Stay updated at all times to mitigate any potential security risks that could be lurking around the corner.

Don’t put strange USB drives into your computer

You can’t see what’s on a USB stick just by looking at the casing. It could contain malware that will seriously harm your computer and the rest of the computers around the office if you’re on the company’s internal network.

Just like you would probably think twice about putting something in your mouth that you have no clue what is, you should feed your computer with the unknown either.

Do consult IT and management before making any changes to your network

When we don’t adhere to change management, things can happen and nobody will know about it before it’s too late to fix. You lose time and money when issues can’t be solved quickly, so don’t try to fix everything on your own or sweep it under the rug.

Anything we’ve missed? Need more network help? Reach out to us. We’re here to help!

The post How networks work appeared first on Airtame.