SETUP

COMPUTER
NETWORK
Core Competency #2
BASIC CONCEPTS
OF COMPUTER
NETWORKS
OBJECTIVES
•Identify and define a computer
network
•Classify the different types of
network
•Describe and appreciate the
importance of computer networks
 AM I A
COMPUTER
NETWORK???
A NETWORK
NOT A NETWORK
A NETWORK
COMPUTER NETWORK
•consists of two or
more computing
devices that are
connected in
order to share
the components
of your network
COMMUNICATION
•describes a
process in
which two or
more computer
or devices
transfer data,
instructions and
information.
“WHAT ARE NETWORKS USED FOR?”
“BENEFITS OF NETWORK”
•Sharing Information
•Sharing Resources
•Facilitating Centralized
Management
SHARING INFORMATION
•increase your ability to
communicate.
•computer networks
enabled those users to
discuss what was being
transmitted
SHARING RESOURCES
•Peripherals like printers,
scanners, and speakers
•Storage
•Applications
FACILITATING CENTRALIZED
MANAGEMENT
•Managing Software
•Maintaining the Network
•Backing Up Data
Managing Software
• Centralizing the installation of software
reduced operation costs because the
installations could be accomplished
remotely—over the network.
• The computer programs that were
needed to perform the installations were
stored on servers and made accessible
over the network.
Maintaining Network
•Purchasing similar equipment for use
on the network meant that network
maintenance costs were reduced
because there were fewer dissimilar
components.
•Maintenance workers no longer had
to attend numerous training sessions
on many different components,
Backing Up Data
•a network minimizes the time spent
backing up of necessary files.
•Technicians can access the backup
files and recorded transactions from
a central location without having to
physically visit the source computers.
CLASSIFYING
NETWORKS
CLASSIFYING NETWORKS
•Based on TRANSMISSION MEDIA:
•Wired (UTP, coaxial cables, fiber-optic cables)
•Wireless
•Based on NETWORK SIZE:
•LAN and WAN (and MAN)
•Based on MANAGEMENT METHOD:
•Peer-to-peer and Client/Server
•Based on TOPOLOGY (connectivity):
•Bus, Star, Ring
 Based on
transmission
media
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 Transmission Media
• Two main categories:
–Guided ― wires, cables
–Unguided ― wireless transmission, e.g. radio,
microwave, infrared, sound, sonar
• We will concentrate on guided media here:
–Twisted-Pair cables:
Unshielded Twisted-Pair (UTP) cables
Shielded Twisted-Pair (STP) cables
–Coaxial cables
–Fiber-optic cables
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Twisted Pair Cables

•is a type of copper cabling that is

used for telephone
communications and most
Ethernet networks.
• A pair of wires forms a circuit that
transmits data.

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Twisted Pair Cables
•The pair is twisted to provide
protection against crosstalk, the
noise generated by adjacent
pairs of wires in the cable.

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Twisted Pair Cables
• If the pair of wires are not twisted, electromagnetic noises
from, e.g., motors, will affect the closer wire more than the
further one, thereby causing errors

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Unshielded Twisted-Pair (UTP)
• Typically wrapped inside a plastic cover (for mechanical protection)
• A sample UTP cable with 5 unshielded twisted pairs of wires

Insulator Metal

26
 Unshielded Twisted-Pair Cables
• is the cable that has two or four pairs of wires.
• This type of cable relies solely on the
cancellation effect produced by the twisted-
wire pairs that limits signal degradation
caused by electromagnetic interface (EMI)
and radio frequency interference (RFI).
• UTP is the most commonly used cabling in
networks.
• UTP cables have a range of 328 feet (100 m). 27
Unshielded Twisted-Pair Cables

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Shielded Twisted-Pair (STP)
• STP cables are similar to UTP cables, except there is a
metal foil or braided-metal-mesh cover that encases
each pair of insulated wires

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Shielded Twisted-Pair (STP)
•each pair of wire is wrapped in
metallic foil to better shield the wires
from noise.
•Four pairs of wires are then wrapped in
an overall metallic braid or foil.
•STP reduces electrical noise from within
the cable. It also reduces EMI and RFI
from outside the cable.
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Shielded Twisted-Pair (STP)
•Although STP prevents interference
better than UTP, STP is more expensive
because of the extra shielding.
•In addition, the metallic shielding must
be grounded at both ends. If it is
improperly grounded, the shield acts
like an antenna, picking up unwanted
signals.
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Shielded Twisted-Pair (STP)

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Categories of UTP Cables
EIA classifies UTP cables according to the quality:
• Category 1 ― the lowest quality, only good for voice, mainly
found in very old buildings, not recommended now
• Category 2 ― good for voice and low data rates (up to 4Mbps
for low-speed token ring networks)
• Category 3 ― at least 3 twists per foot, for up to 10 Mbps
(common in phone networks in residential buildings)
• Category 4 ― up to 16 Mbps (mainly for token rings)
• Category 5 (or 5e) ― up to 100 Mbps (common for networks
targeted for high-speed data communications)
• Category 6 ― more twists than Cat 5, up to 1 Gbps 33
Coaxial Cables
• In general, coaxial cables, or coax, carry signals of
higher freq (100KHz–500MHz) than UTP cables
• Outer metallic wrapping serves both as a shield
against noise and as the second conductor that
completes the circuit

34
Coaxial Cables

It uses “British Naval

Connectors (BNC)” or
“Bayonet Neill-
Concelman” connectors,
at the ends of the cables to
make the connection. 35
Types of Coaxial Cables

Thicknet (10BASE5) - is a coaxial cable used in networks

operating at 10 Mbps, with a maximum length of 500
meters.
Thinnet (10BASE2) - is a coaxial cable used in networks
operating at 10 Mbps, with a maximum length of 185
meters. 36
RG-59
•Radio Grade-59 is
thinner and has less
shielding.
•It is only
recommended in low
bandwidth and lower
frequency
applications such as
CCTV installations
RG-6
• Radio Grade-6 is
heavier gauge and
has thicker insulation
and better shielding.
• It is best for high
bandwidth or high
frequency
applications such as
Internet, Cable TV, and
Satellite TV signals.
Fiber-Optic Cable
•All signals are converted to light pulses
to enter the cable and are converted
back into electrical signals when they
leave it.
•This means that fiber-optic cable can
deliver signals that are clearer, and
can go farther, without compromising
the clarity of signals.
Fiber-Optic Cable
 Fiber-Optic Cables
• Light travels at 3108 ms-1 in free space and is the fastest
possible speed in the Universe
• Light slows down in denser media, e.g. glass
• Refraction occurs at interface, with light bending away
from the normal when it enters a less dense medium

• Beyond the critical angle  total internal reflection

41
• An optical fiber consists of a core (denser material) and a
cladding (less dense material)
• Simplest one is a multimode step-index optical fiber
• Multimode = multiple paths, whereas step-index = refractive
index follows a step-function profile (i.e. an abrupt change of
refractive index between the core and the cladding)
• Light bounces back and forth along the core
• Common light sources: LEDs and lasers

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TWO TYPES OF GLASS FIBER-OPTIC CABLE

•Single-mode is the
cable that has a very
thin core. It is harder to
make, uses lasers as a
light source, and can
transmit signals dozens
of kilometers with ease.
TWO TYPES OF GLASS FIBER-OPTIC CABLE
• Multimode is the
cable that has a
thicker core than
single-mode cable. It
is easier to make, can
use simpler light
sources such as Light
Emitting Diodes (LEDs),
and works well over
distances of a few
kilometers or less.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Noise resistance ― external light is blocked by outer jacket
Less signal attenuation ― a signal can run for miles without
regeneration (currently, the lowest measured loss is about
~4% or 0.16dB per km)
Higher bandwidth ― currently, limits on data rates come
from the signal generation/reception technology, not the
fiber itself

Cost ― Optical fibers are expensive

Installation/maintenance ― any crack in the core will
degrade the signal, and all connections must be perfectly
aligned
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 Based on
network size
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NETWORK SIZE
•Networks are frequently classified
according to the geographical
boundaries the network spans.
–LAN (LOCAL AREA NETWORK
–WAN (WIDE AREA NETWORK
–MAN (METROPOLITAN AREA
NETWORK)
 LOCAL AREA NETWORK
• network is contained
within a relatively small
area, such as a
classroom, school, or
single building
• are commonly
considered the building
blocks for creating
larger networks.
LOCAL AREA NETWORK
• Small network, short distance
• A room, a floor, a building
• Limited by no. of computers and distance covered
• Usually one kind of technology throughout the
LAN
• Serve a department within an organization
• Examples:
• Network inside the Student Computer Room
• Network inside your home 49
 METROPOLITAN AREA NETWORK
• When a LAN becomes more
difficult to install, and
additional measures such as
additional communications
equipment may need to be
employed.
• When the network spans the
distance of a typical
metropolitan city
 WIDE AREA NETWORK
• when the network must
expand beyond the
confines of the typical
metropolitan area.
• When the network spans a
larger area
• use long-distance
telecommunications
networks for their
connections
 WIDE AREA NETWORK
• A network that uses long-range telecommunication links to connect 2 or
more LANs/computers housed in different places far apart.
• Towns, states, countries
• Examples: Your home
• Network of our Campus
• Internet

USA
WAN
Student
Computer
Centre 52
INTERNET
•a worldwide collection of
connected computers
able to communicate with
each other.
 Based on
Management
Method
54
MANAGEMENT METHOD
• focuses on the roles the networked
computers play in the network’s
operation, and more specifically on
which computer controls that operation.
– PEER TO PEER NETWORK
–CLIENT-SERVER NETWORK
 PEER TO PEER NETWORK
• Peer-to-peer network is also
called workgroup
• No hierarchy among
computers  all are equal
• No administrator responsible
for the network
 PEER TO PEER NETWORK
• no one computer is in
charge of the network’s
operation.
• Each computer controls its
own information and is
capable of functioning as
either a client or a server
depending on which is
needed at the time.
PEER TO PEER NETWORK
• Advantages of peer-to-peer networks:
• Low cost
• Simple to configure
• User has full accessibility of the computer
• Disadvantages of peer-to-peer networks:
• May have duplication in resources
• Difficult to uphold security policy
• Difficult to handle uneven loading
• Where peer-to-peer network is appropriate:
• 10 or less users
• No specialized services required
• Security is not an issue
• Only limited growth in the foreseeable future 58
 CLIENT SERVER NETWORK
• A dedicated server
controls the network
• A dedicated server
services its network clients
by storing data,
applications, and other
resources,
Clients and Servers
• Network Clients (Workstation)
• Computers that request network resources or services
• Network Servers
• Computers that manage and provide network resources and
services to clients
• Usually have more processing power, memory and hard
disk space than clients
• Run Network Operating System that can manage not only
data, but also users, groups, security, and applications on
the network
• Servers often have a more stringent requirement on its
performance and reliability
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CLIENT SERVER NETWORK
• Advantages of client/server networks
• Facilitate resource sharing – centrally administrate
and control
• Facilitate system backup and improve fault tolerance
• Enhance security – only administrator can have
access to Server
• Support more users – difficult to achieve with peer-
to-peer networks

• Disadvantages of client/server networks

• High cost for Servers
• Need expert to configure the network
• Introduce a single point of failure to the system
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Based on
Topology

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Network Topology

•refers to the shape of a network, or

the network's layout.
•How different nodes in a network
are connected to each other and
how they communicate are
determined by the network's
topology.
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Topology ― 3 basic types
• How so many computers are connected together?
Bus Topology Ring Topology

Star Topology

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Bus Topology

65
Bus Topology
• All devices are connected to a central cable, called
the trunk or backbone.
• There are terminators at each end of the bus that
stops the signal and keeps it from traveling
backwards.
• Simple and low-cost
• Only one computer can send messages at a time
• Passive topology - computer only listen for, not
regenerate data
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Star Topology

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Star Topology
• Each computer has a cable connected to a
single point
• More cabling, hence higher cost
• All signals transmission through the hub; if
down, entire network down
• Depending on the intelligence of hub, two or
more computers may send message at the
same time
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Ring Topology
Ring Topology
• Every computer serves as
a repeater to boost signals Ack T T
• Typical way to send data: T
• Token passing T data T data
• only the computer who
gets the token can send T
data T
T Ack
• Disadvantages T data
Ack

• Difficult to add computers

T
• More expensive
T Ack
• If one computer fails, whole network fails

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Tree Topology

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Tree Topology
• gets its name from how the central node
functions as a sort of trunk for the network,
with nodes extending outward in a branch-
like fashion.
• has a parent-child hierarchy to how the
nodes are connected. Those connected to the
central hub are connected linearly to other
nodes, so two connected nodes only share one
mutual connection. 72
Mesh Topology

73
Mesh Topology
• The web-like structure of mesh topologies
offers two different methods of data
transmission: routing and flooding.
• When data is routed, the nodes use logic to
determine the shortest distance from the
source to destination, and when data is
flooded, the information is sent to all nodes
within the network without the need for
routing logic 74