The network transmission medium of the server refers to the physical medium used when data is transmitted in the network. It determines how data is transmitted from one point to another and directly affects the speed, stability and distance of the network. Common network transmission media include the following:
1. Copper cable
Copper cables are mainly divided into two categories: twisted pair and coaxial cable. Twisted pair includes unshielded twisted pair and shielded twisted pair, which are often used in local area networks (LANs), such as Ethernet network connections. Coaxial cable is rarely used in modern LANs, but it still exists in some special scenarios (such as cable TV or older networks).
Features: The bandwidth of copper cable is usually lower than that of optical fiber, but it is suitable for short-distance transmission (usually within a few hundred meters). Copper cable is cheaper than optical fiber and is suitable for applications with limited budgets. Poor anti-interference, especially for long-distance transmission, signal attenuation and interference are large.
2. Optical fiber
Optical fiber is mainly divided into two categories: single-mode optical fiber and multi-mode optical fiber. Single-mode optical fiber is used for long-distance, high-bandwidth transmission, suitable for long-distance communication, and the signal is propagated in a small optical fiber core. Multimode fiber is used for short-distance transmission, and the optical signal propagates within a larger fiber core.
Features: The bandwidth of optical fiber is much higher than that of copper cable, which is suitable for large-scale data transmission. Optical fiber supports long transmission distances, especially single-mode fiber can cover several kilometers or even longer distances with minimal signal attenuation. Optical fiber is not affected by electromagnetic interference, so it is more stable in high-noise environments. Optical fiber wiring and equipment costs are more expensive than copper cables, and are suitable for enterprises and data centers that require large bandwidth and high reliability.
3. Wireless
Wireless is mainly divided into WiFi, LTE/5G and satellite communications. Wi-Fi wireless LAN technology is widely used in home and office environments and uses radio waves to transmit data. LTE/5G is suitable for mobile networks and is often used as an alternative for data transmission, especially in remote environments. Satellite communications are used in remote areas, but due to higher latency, they are not suitable for high-performance server network applications.
Features: Wireless transmission does not require physical wiring and is suitable for certain special scenarios (such as remote server access, temporary data transmission, etc.). Wireless network speed and stability are usually not as good as wired networks, especially in data-intensive applications and long-distance transmission. Signals are easily affected by physical obstacles, interference, and weather.
4. Power line communication
Power line communication uses existing power lines to transmit data and is suitable for some environments where wiring is inconvenient. It is suitable for home or small office networks, but not for server transmission with high bandwidth requirements. It is greatly affected by power interference and power quality, and has poor stability.
5. Millimeter wave
Millimeter waves are often used for wireless high-speed data transmission (such as 5G communication, WiGig). The millimeter wave frequency band is between 30 GHz and 300 GHz, with high data transmission speeds but short transmission distances. It is suitable for use in dense urban environments or local areas with high bandwidth requirements.
Summary:
Copper cables (especially twisted pair cables) are suitable for short-distance, efficient data transmission within local area networks.
Optical fiber is suitable for enterprise-level data transmission that requires high speed, long distance, and low latency, and is the mainstream transmission medium for modern data centers and backbone networks.
Wireless networks are mostly used in scenarios with high flexibility, but have poor speed and stability, and are suitable for low-bandwidth applications.
Power lines and millimeter waves are more special transmission media, suitable for specific environments.
If you are building a server or network, the choice of transmission medium usually depends on your specific needs (such as bandwidth, distance, budget, etc.). For high-bandwidth, large-data-volume server transmission, optical fiber is usually the best choice; for short-distance, low-cost internal connections, copper cables and wireless solutions can meet most needs.
