ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
5. Introduction to Networking
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ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
References
Held G., Internetworking LANs and WANs Concepts, Techniques and Methods, Wiley, 2nd Ed., 1998
Comment: Good at concepts
Stallings W., Data and Computer Communications, Prentice Hall, 7th Ed., 2004
Comment: Good at concepts and very up-to-date
Forouzan B. A, Data Communications and Networking, McGraw-Hill, 2nd Ed., 2000
Comment: Many good revision questions at ends of chapters
Redmond W., MCSE Training Kit: Networking Essentials Plus, Microsoft Press, 2000
Comment: Practical oriented
ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
What is a Network?
A network consists of 2 or more computers connected together, and they can communicate and share resources (e.g. information)
ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
Why Networking?
Sharing information i.e. data communication
Do you prefer these?
Or this?
ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
Sharing hardware or software
E.g. print document
Centralize administration and support
E.g. Internet-based, so everyone can access the same administrative or support application from their PCs
ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
How many kinds of Networks?
Depending on ones perspective, we can classify networks in different ways
Based on transmission media: Wired (UTP, coaxial cables, fiber-optic cables) and 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 : :
ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
Transmission Media
Two main categories:
Guided wires, cables Unguided wireless transmission, e.g. radio, microwave, infrared, sound, sonar Twisted-Pair cables: Unshielded Twisted-Pair (UTP) cables Shielded Twisted-Pair (STP) cables Coaxial cables Fiber-optic cables
We will concentrate on guided media here:
ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
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
ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
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
ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
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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ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
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
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ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
Coaxial Cables
In general, coaxial cables, or coax, carry signals of higher freq (100KHz500MHz) than UTP cables Outer metallic wrapping serves both as a shield against noise and as the second conductor that completes the circuit
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ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
Fiber-Optic Cables
Light travels at 3108 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
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5. Introduction to Networking
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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ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
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 15
ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
LAN and WAN
Local Area Network (LAN)
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 CF502 Network inside your home
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ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
Wide Area Network (WAN)
A network that uses long-range telecommunication links to connect 2 or more LANs/computers housed in different places far apart. Towns, states, countries Your home Examples: Network of our Campus Internet USA
WAN
Student Computer Centre
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ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
Example WAN technologies:
ISDN Integrated Service Digital Network
Basic rate: 192 Kbps Primary rate: 1.544Mbps
T-Carriers basically digital phone lines
T1: 1.544Mbps T3: 28T1
Frame relay
Each link offers 1.544Mbps or even higher
ATM Asynchronous Transfer Mode
Support B-ISDN: 155Mbps or 622Mbps or higher
SONET Synchronous Optical Network
Basic rate OC1: 51.84Mbps Support OC12 and up to OC192 (9953.28Mbps) or even higher in the future
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ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
Example of WAN: Broadband Cable Network
Cable TV services have been extensively developed in most modern cities Cable TV companies try to make use of their coaxial cable installed (that are supposed to carry TV signals) to deliver broadband data services Many cable network wiring has been replaced with hybrid fiber-coax (HFC) i.e. use of fiber-optic cable to connect to the subscribers buildings, and then the original coaxial cable to connect to each household
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ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
PC TV
The connection is shared by a number of subscribers, hence may raise performance and security problems
Coaxial Cable
Cable Drop
Cable company
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ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
Cable is an asymmetrical technology
Downstream: max 36 Mbps Upstream: max 10 Mbps
May be reduced to 3 10 Mbps downstream and 2 Mbps upstream, depending on no. of subscribers Need a special cable modem
Ethernet link to PC
Teryon Cable Modem
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Coaxial link from cable TV socket
ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
Peer-to-Peer Networks
Peer-to-peer network is also called workgroup No hierarchy among computers all are equal No administrator responsible for the network
Peer-to-peer
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ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
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
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ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
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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ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
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-topeer 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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ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
Topology 3 basic types
How so many computers are connected together?
Bus Topology
Ring Topology
Star Topology
Hub
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ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
Bus Topology
Simple and low-cost A single cable called a trunk (backbone, segment) Only one computer can send messages at a time Passive topology - computer only listen for, not regenerate data
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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ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
How to construct a network with Bus / Star Topology? Bus Topology
Coaxial cable
Star Topology
BNC T-Connector
28 Network Card
ENG224 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Part II
5. Introduction to Networking
Ring Topology
Ack T T Every computer serves as a repeater to boost signals T data Typical way to send data: Token passing T only the computer who gets the token can send T Ack data Disadvantages T Difficult to add computers More expensive If one computer fails, whole network fails
T
T
data
T T T
Ack data Ack
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