Network Connections
What Does "Network" Mean?
A "Network" is a group of devices linked by blocks that can pass channels,
like cables or fullblock machines and devices.
(
Зарядник,
МЭ-интерфейс,
МЭ-дисковод, etc.)
Technically a single cable is a network, actually.
An Aside On Device Positioning
For devices which have some specific network function (like an
МЭ-интерфейс
pushing to and pulling from network storage, a
МЭ излучатель уровня
reading the contents of network storage, an
МЭ-дисковод being network storage, etc.)
the physical position of the device does not matter.
Again, the physical position of the device does not matter. All that matters is that the device is connected to the network (and of course which network it's connected to).
Network Connections
An easy way of determining what's connected in a network is using a
Сетевой инструмент. It will show every
component on the network, so if you see stuff you shouldn't or don't see stuff you should, you have a problem.
For example, this is 2 separate networks.
This is also 2 separate networks, because the
Кварцевое волокно shares energy
without providing a network connection.
However, this is just 1 network, not 2 separate ones. The quantum bridge acts like a wireless dense cable, so both ends are on the same network.
This is also just 1 network, as cable color has nothing to do with network connections other than cables of different colors not connecting to each other. All colors connect to fluix (or "uncolored") cables.
Less Intuitive Connections
In this case, this is just 1 network, because the
МЭ поставщик шаблонов, being a fullblock device, acts like
a cable, and the
Вырезатель does similar. Thus, the network connection passes through
the provider and inscriber.
To prevent this (useful for many autocrafting setups involving subnetworks),
you can right-click the provider with a
Гаечный ключ из истинного кварца to make it directional, in which case it will
not pass channels through one side.
Other parts that do not provide directional network connections are most subpart
devices like
Мэ шина импортаses,
МЭ шина храненияses, and
МЭ интерфейсs.