CCNA Guide to Cisco

Networking

Chapter 1: Introducing
Networks
 Objectives
• Identify and describe the functions of each of the
seven layers of the OSI reference model
• Identify the reasons why the networking industry
uses a layered model
• Define and explain the conversion steps of data
encapsulation
• Define and describe the function of a MAC
address
• Describe connection-oriented network service
and connectionless network service, and identify
the key differences between them
 Introduction To Networking
• Describes the connection of two of more
computers by some type of medium
– Example: A computer connected to the
internet over the public telephone system
– Two computer connected by a wire cable
– Connections established with
• Fiber-optic cable
• Infrared
• Wireless (radio waves)
 Origins Of Networking
• Difficult to actually place the origin of networking
• Many devices have been networked throughout
history
– Example: 1930s electrical engineers used a
Network Analyzer for simulating electrical
power grids
• The earliest main frame computers were placed
into networks
• Networks today include a wide variety of
computers and peripheral components
 Why Do We Use Networks?
• Sneakernet
• Efficiency
• Necessity
• Convenience
• Networks allow the transfer of
– Files
– Data
– Shared applications
 Why Do We Use Networks?
(continued)
• Networks allow computers and users to
share
– Printers
– Scanners
– Fax Machines
– Processors
– Disk drives
– Many other resources
 Network Terminology
• Media
– Coaxial cable
– Fiber-optic cable
– Wireless
• Infrared
• Radio signals
• Electromagnetic interference (EMI)
 Network Terminology
(continued)
• Client/Server networks
• Servers
– Print server
– File server
– Database server
– Remote access server (RAS)
– Web server
• Client
 Network Terminology
(continued)
• Peer-to-peer networks
– Acts as client and server
– Computers share resources
• Files
• Printers
• Applications
– Known as “workgroups”
– All computers are on the same level
 Network Terminology
(continued)
• Terms used to describe the size of a
network
– Local Area Network (LAN)
– Wide Area Network (WAN)
– Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
– Storage Area Network (SAN)
 Network Terminology
(continued)
• Two types of Operating Systems (OS)
– Stand-alone operating systems
– Network operating systems
• Network operating systems allow
– Communication
– Distribution of
• Data
• Files
• Applications
 Network Terminology
(continued)
• Network Interface Card (NIC)
– Also known as
• Network adapter
• Network Card
• Network interface
– Connect to a network through the media
– Considered a physical component
 Network Terminology
(continued)
• Networking hardware
– Generic term for describing all physical
components of a network
– Examples of networking hardware
• NIC
• Cable
• Hub
• Switch
• Router
 Network Terminology
(continued)
• Networking software
– Programs used to run a network
– Programs used to run on a network
– Examples of programs
• NOS
• All client/server software programs
• Email
• Database applications
 Network Terminology
(continued)
• Virtual Private Networks
– Use public communications infrastructure to
communicate privately
– Inexpensive way to connect remote and
mobile users securely
– Two types
• Site-to-site
• Remote
– Extranet
– Intranet
 Understanding The OSI Model
• Networking before Open Systems
Interconnect (OSI)
• 1984, Networking with the OSI model
– International Organization for Standardization
(ISO)
– Seven-layer network model
– Used as a reference model
– An ideal tool for learning how networks
function
 Reasons For Layering
• Layered networking model is
advantageous because
– Divides networking into less complex
components
– Enables programmers to specialize in a
particular level
– Allows upgrades to a specific layer without
effecting other layers
– Encourages interoperability
– Allows for standardized interfaces
Reasons For Layering
(continued)
 Peer OSI Communication
• Each layer will only communicate with its peer
level
• Each layer is unaware of the activities of all
other layers
• Each layer provide services to the layer above
• Each layer receive services from the layer below
• Each layer has its own method of data
organization as it passes the data to the layer
below
– Data stream
– Data encapsulation
Peer OSI Communication
(continued)
 Layered Functions
• OSI model was developed as an industry
standard
• Used when developing network hardware
and software
• Ensures complete compatibility
• OSI model vs. TCP/IP model
 Physical (Layer 1)
• Physical layer has the following
responsibilities
– Defines the physical characteristics of
network hardware
• Cable
• Connectors
• Interfaces
– Representation of binary encoding as
voltages
– Transmission of the signal on the medium
 Physical (Layer 1) (continued)
• Physical layer defines the mechanical, electrical, and
procedural events
• Transmission Medium
– Cable/wire
– Radio waves
– Infrared
– Fiber/glass
• Physical layer devices
– Network card ( also Data Link layer)
– Hubs
– Repeaters
– Transceivers
– Connectors
– Wall Jacks
 Physical (Layer 1) (continued)
• Encoding schemes
– Manchester encoding method
• Considerations when choosing cable
– Expense
– Physical location
– Distance
– Security requirements
– Transmission speed requirements
Physical (Layer 1) (continued)
 Data Link (Layer 2)
• Data Link layer has the following
responsibilities
– NIC software functions
• Identification of source and destination physical
addresses
– Definition of how data is package for transport
– Error notification
• CRC, FCS
Data Link (Layer 2) (continued)
• Data Link sublayers
– Logical Link Control (LLC) layer
• Defines how data is packaged (frames)
• Provides the linking function between the Physical
Layer and the higher layers
– Media Access Control (MAC) layer
• Media access method
• Provides a unique identifier for the NIC (Physical
address)
Data Link (Layer 2) (continued)
• Ethernet
• CSMA/CD
• Data Link Broadcast messages
Data Link (Layer 2) (continued)
Data Link (Layer 2) (continued)
 Network (Layer 3)
• Network layer has the following
responsibilities
– Software/logical addressing
• Depends on Network layer protocol
– Defines how data is packaged (Packets)
– Routes data and provides connectivity
– Best path selection
• IP, IPX
 Transport (Layer 4)
• Transport layer has the following responsibilities
– End-to-end error free transmission and
delivery
– Flow control
– Data segmentation into MTU
– Messaging service for the Sessions Layer
(Layer 5)
• Connection-oriented (TCP)
• Connectionless (UDP)
 Session (Layer 5)
• Session layer has the following responsibilities
– Control for data exchange
– Data synchronization
– Failure recovery
– Communication setup and teardown
• Enables two applications to have an ongoing
conversation or dialog
• Ability to interrupt and recover as session
• SQL, RPC, X-Windows
 Presentation (Layer 6)
• Presentation has the following
responsibilities
– Data translation
– Data formatting
– Data syntax restructuring
– Data encryption
– Data compression
• BMP, WAV, JPEG, MIDI, HTML, ASCII
 Application (Layer 7)
• Application has the following responsibilities
– Initiate request for network services
– Provides network services to applications such as e-
mail and Web browsers
• Protocols and utilities
– Telnet
– FTP
– DNS
– SMTP
– SNMP
 Data Encapsulation
• Protocol data unit (PDU)
• Headers and trailers
• OSI encapsulation
– Data stream
– Segments
– Packets
– Frames
– Bits
Data Encapsulation (continued)
Data Encapsulation (continued)
 Summary
• Two or more computers connected by media form a
network
• Computers can use a network to share resources such
as printers, disk space, and applications
• Before computers were networked, file transfers were
usually conducted by users physically walking copies of
data (on floppy disk or other magnetic media) to another
computer, a system called “sneakernet”
• The earliest networks had no standardization, so
interoperability between the various proprietary network
implementations was rare
• The ISO developed the OSI model in the mid-1980s to
standardize networking models
 Summary (continued)
• Data transmission can be connection-oriented or
connectionless
• Connection-oriented transmission requires that
packets be acknowledged as received
• Connectionless transmission does not require
acknowledgments
• The OSI networking model has seven layers, which
simplify the networking model by dividing it into less
complex components
• This layering allows engineers to specialize in
specific layers, and the modularity allows them to
upgrade components at one layer without affecting
other layers
 Summary (continued)
• The layered model also encourages
interoperability among the various networking
vendors by providing them with a standard
architecture
• The Physical layer, the first and lowest layer of
the OSI model, handles the physical
transmission of data across the network
• The Data Link layer, the second layer of the OSI
model, interacts with the networking hardware
by controlling the link and supporting
communications with the network interface; this
layer also interacts with the MAC address
 Summary (continued)
• The Network layer, the third layer of the OSI model,
supports logical addressing and routing of data packets
• The Transport layer, the fourth layer, segments and
optimizes data that is to be sent out on the network
• The Session layer, the fifth layer, establishes and
maintains connections between computers during data
transfers
• The Presentation layer, the sixth layer, handles data
translation, encryption, and formatting for transmission
on the network or for interpretation by the Application
layer
• The Application layer, the seventh and highest layer,
handles the interface between the network and the user
 Summary (continued)
• When the network user sends data to the
network, it goes through a five-step data
encapsulation process
• This process takes place as the data
packet travels down the OSI protocol stack