Lecture#1: Fundamentals

Network Basics

Introduction to Networks (ITN) v7.0 Module: 1

1.1 Networks Affect Our Lives

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Networking Today
Networks Connect Us

Communication is almost as important to us as our reliance on air, water, food, and

shelter. In today’s world, through the use of networks, we are connected like never
before.

Networking Today
No Boundaries
• World without boundaries

• Global communities

• Human network

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1.2 Network Components

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Network Components
Host Roles
Every computer on a network is
called a host or end device.
Servers are computers that provide
information to end devices:
• email servers
• web servers Server Description
Type
• file server
Email Email server runs email server software.
Clients are computers that send Clients use client software to access email.
requests to the servers to retrieve
Web Web server runs web server software.
information: Clients use browser software to access web pages.
• web page from a web server
• email from an email server File File server stores corporate and user files.
The client devices access these files.
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Network Components
Peer-to-Peer
It is possible to have a device be a client and a server in a Peer-to-Peer Network. This type of
network design is only recommended for very small networks.

Advantages Disadvantages
Easy to set up No centralized administration
Less complex Not as secure
Lower cost Not scalable

Used for simple tasks: transferring files and sharing printers Slower performance

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Network Components
End Devices
An end device is where a message originates from or where it is received. Data originates with an
end device, flows through the network, and arrives at an end device.

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Network Components
Intermediary Network Devices
An intermediary device interconnects end devices. Examples include switches, wireless
access points, routers, and firewalls.
Management of data as it flows through a network is also the role of an intermediary
device, including:
• Regenerate and retransmit data signals.
• Maintain information about what pathways exist in the network.
• Notify other devices of errors and communication failures.

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Network Components
Network Media
Communication across a network is carried through a medium which allows a message to
travel from source to destination.

Media Types Description

Metal wires within cables Uses electrical impulses

Glass or plastic fibers Uses pulses of light.

within cables (fiber-optic
cable)

Wireless transmission Uses modulation of

specific frequencies of
electromagnetic waves.

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1.3 Network Topologies

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Network Representations and Topologies
Network Representations

Network diagrams, often called topology

diagrams, use symbols to represent
devices within the network.
Important terms to know include:
• Network Interface Card (NIC)
• Physical Port
• Interface

Note: Often, the terms port and

interface are used interchangeably

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Network Representations and Topologies
Topology Diagrams
Physical topology diagrams illustrate the Logical topology diagrams illustrate devices,
physical location of intermediary devices and ports, and the addressing scheme of the
cable installation. network.

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1.4 Common Types of Networks

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Common Types of Networks
Networks of Many Sizes
• Small Home Networks – connect a few
computers to each other and the Internet
• Small Office/Home Office – enables
computer within a home or remote office
to connect to a corporate network
Small Home SOHO • Medium to Large Networks – many
locations with hundreds or thousands of
interconnected computers
• World Wide Networks – connects
hundreds of millions of computers world-
wide – such as the internet

Medium/Large World Wide

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Common Types of Networks
LANs and WANs
Network infrastructures vary greatly in
terms of:
• Size of the area covered
• Number of users connected
• Number and types of services
available
• Area of responsibility

Two most common types of networks:

• Local Area Network (LAN)
• Wide Area Network (WAN).

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Common Types of Networks
LANs and WANs (cont.)
A LAN is a network infrastructure that spans A WAN is a network infrastructure that spans
a small geographical area. a wide geographical area.

LAN WAN
Interconnect end devices in a limited area. Interconnect LANs over wide geographical areas.
Administered by a single organization or Typically administered by one or more service
individual. providers.
Provide high-speed bandwidth to internal Typically provide slower speed links between LANs.
devices.

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Common Types of Networks
The Internet
The internet is a worldwide collection of
interconnected LANs and WANs.
• LANs are connected to each other using
WANs.
• WANs may use copper wires, fiber optic
cables, and wireless transmissions.
The internet is not owned by any individual
or group. The following groups were
developed to help maintain structure on
the internet:
• IETF, ICANN, IAB

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Common Types of Networks
Intranets and Extranets

An intranet is a private collection of LANs

and WANs internal to an organization that
is meant to be accessible only to the
organizations members or others with
authorization.
An organization might use an extranet to
provide secure access to their network for
individuals who work for a different
organization that need access to their
data on their network.

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1.5 Internet Connections

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Internet Connections
Internet Access Technologies There are many ways to connect users
and organizations to the internet:
• Popular services for home users
and small offices include
broadband cable, broadband digital
subscriber line (DSL), wireless
WANs, and mobile services.
• Organizations need faster
connections to support IP phones,
video conferencing and data center
storage.
• Business-class interconnections
are usually provided by service
providers (SP) and may include:
business DSL, leased lines, and
Metro Ethernet.
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Internet Connections
Home and Small Office Internet Connections
Connection Description

Cable high bandwidth, always on, internet

offered by cable television service
providers.
DSL high bandwidth, always on, internet
connection that runs over a
telephone line.
Cellular uses a cell phone network to connect
to the internet.
Satellite major benefit to rural areas without
Internet Service Providers.
Dial-up an inexpensive, low bandwidth
telephone option using a modem.

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Internet Connections
Businesses Internet Connections
Corporate business connections may Type of Description
require: Connection

• higher bandwidth Dedicated These are reserved circuits within

Leased Line the service provider’s network that
• dedicated connections connect distant offices with private
• managed services voice and/or data networking.

Ethernet WAN This extends LAN access technology

into the WAN.

DSL Business DSL is available in various

formats including Symmetric Digital
Subscriber Lines (SDSL).

Satellite This can provide a connection when

a wired solution is not available.

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Internet Connections
The Converging Network

Before converged networks, an

organization would have been
separately cabled for telephone, video,
and data. Each of these networks
would use different technologies to
carry the signal.
Each of these technologies would use a
different set of rules and standards.

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Internet Connections
The Converging Network (Cont.)
Converged data networks carry
multiple services on one link including:
• data
• voice
• video
Converged networks can deliver data,
voice, and video over the same
network infrastructure. The network
infrastructure uses the same set of
rules and standards.

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Lab Activity

Packet Tracer - Network Representation

Task#1 : Download and install Packet Tracer.

Task#2 : Access videos for getting started in Cisco Packet Tracer.

Task#3 : Explore how Packet Tracer serves as a modeling tool for network representations.
1.6 Reliable Networks

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Reliable Network
Network Architecture

Network Architecture refers to the technologies

that support the infrastructure that moves data
across the network.
There are four basic characteristics that the
underlying architectures need to address to meet
user expectations:
• Fault Tolerance
• Scalability
• Quality of Service (QoS)
• Security

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Reliable Network
Fault Tolerance

A fault tolerant network limits the impact of

a failure by limiting the number of affected
devices. Multiple paths are required for
fault tolerance.
Reliable networks provide redundancy by
implementing a packet switched network:
• Packet switching splits traffic into
packets that are routed over a network.
• Each packet could theoretically take a
different path to the destination.
This is not possible with circuit-switched
networks which establish dedicated circuits.

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Reliable Network
Scalability

• A scalable network can expand

quickly and easily to support
new users and applications
without impacting the
performance of services to
existing users.
• Network designers follow
accepted standards and
protocols in order to make the
networks scalable.

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Reliable Network
Quality of Service
Voice and live video transmissions require
higher expectations for those services being
delivered.
Have you ever watched a live video with
constant breaks and pauses? This is caused
when there is a higher demand for
bandwidth than available – and QoS isn’t
configured.
• Quality of Service (QoS) is the primary
mechanism used to ensure reliable
delivery of content for all users.
• With a QoS policy in place, the router can
more easily manage the flow of data and
voice traffic.
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Reliable Network
Network Security
There are two main types of network security that
must be addressed:
• Network infrastructure security
• Physical security of network devices
• Preventing unauthorized access to the devices
• Information Security
• Protection of the information or data
transmitted over the network
Three goals of network security:
• Confidentiality – only intended recipients can
read the data
• Integrity – assurance that the data has not be
altered with during transmission
• Availability – assurance of timely and reliable
access to data for authorized users
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1.7 Network Trends

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Network Trends
Recent Trends
The role of the network must adjust
and continually transform in order to
be able to keep up with new
technologies and end user devices as
they constantly come to the market.

Several new networking trends that

effect organizations and consumers:
• Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
• Online collaboration
• Video communications
• Cloud computing

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Network Trends
Bring Your Own Device
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) allows users to
use their own devices giving them more
opportunities and greater flexibility.
BYOD allows end users to have the freedom to
use personal tools to access information and
communicate using their:
• Laptops
• Netbooks
• Tablets
• Smartphones
• E-readers
BYOD means any device, with any ownership,
used anywhere.
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Network Trends
Online Collaboration
§ Collaborate and work with others over the
network on joint projects.
§ Collaboration tools including Cisco WebEx
(shown in the figure) gives users a way to
instantly connect and interact.
§ Collaboration is a very high priority for
businesses and in education.
§ Cisco Webex Teams is a multifunctional
collaboration tool.
• send instant messages
• post images
• post videos and links

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Network Trends
Video Communication

• Video calls are made to anyone, regardless of where they are located.

• Video conferencing is a powerful tool for communicating with others.

• Video is becoming a critical requirement for effective collaboration.

• Cisco TelePresence powers is one way of working where everyone,

everywhere.

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Network Trends
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing allows us to store personal files or backup our data on servers over the
internet.

• Applications can also be accessed using the Cloud.

• Allows businesses to deliver to any device anywhere in the world.

Cloud computing is made possible by data centers.

• Smaller companies that can’t afford their own data centers, lease server and storage
services from larger data center organizations in the Cloud.

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Network Trends
Cloud Computing (Cont.)

Four types of Clouds:

• Public Clouds - Available to the general public through a pay-per-use model or for free.
• Private Clouds - Intended for a specific organization or entity such as the government.

• Hybrid Clouds - Made up of two or more Cloud types – for example, part custom and part public. Each
part remains a distinctive object but both are connected using the same architecture.

• Custom Clouds - Built to meet the needs of a specific industry, such as healthcare or media. Can be
private or public.

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Network Trends
Technology Trends in the Home

• Smart home technology is a growing trend

that allows technology to be integrated into
every-day appliances which allows them to
interconnect with other devices.

• Ovens might know what time to cook a

meal for you by communicating with your
calendar on what time you are scheduled
to be home.

• Smart home technology is currently being

developed for all rooms within a house.

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Network Trends
Powerline Networking
• Powerline networking can allow devices
to connect to a LAN where data network
cables or wireless communications are
not a viable option.

• Using a standard powerline adapter,

devices can connect to the LAN
wherever there is an electrical outlet by
sending data on certain frequencies.

• Powerline networking is especially

useful when wireless access points
cannot reach all the devices in the home.

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Network Trends
Wireless Broadband

In addition to DSL and cable, wireless is another

option used to connect homes and small
businesses to the internet.
• More commonly found in rural environments, a
Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) is an
ISP that connects subscribers to designated
access points or hotspots.
• Wireless broadband is another solution for the
home and small businesses.
• Uses the same cellular technology used by a
smart phone.
• An antenna is installed outside the house
providing wireless or wired connectivity for
devices in the home.
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