Computer Networks Networking - Hardware

This document provides an overview of basic networking hardware and local area networks (LANs). It defines a LAN as a group of computers and devices that share resources within a small geographic area, like an office building. The document describes common networking hardware like hubs, switches, bridges, routers, and wireless access points. It also covers different network media like twisted pair, coaxial, fiber optic, and wireless and provides examples of how they may be implemented in home and business LAN configurations.

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Computer Networks Networking - Hardware

Uploaded by

Shujaat Yousuf

Available Formats

Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

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Basic Networking

Hardware

Agenda

Basic LAN Definition

Network Hardware
Network Media
Sample LAN Implementation

LANs
Definition

LAN

"local area network"

Is a group of computers and associated devices that share a
common communications line or wireless link and typically share
the resources of a single processor or server within a small
geographic area (for example, within an office building).
Usually, the server has applications and data storage that are
shared in common by multiple computer users.
A local area network may serve as few as two or three users (for
example, in a home network) or many as thousands of users.

LANs
Definition

Wireless LAN

A local area network that transmits over the air typically in an

unlicensed frequency such as the 2.4GHz band.
A wireless LAN does not require lining up devices for line of sight
transmission.
Wireless access points (base stations) are connected to an
Ethernet hub or server and transmit a radio frequency over an
area of several hundred to a thousand feet which can penetrate
walls and other non-metal barriers.
Roaming users can be handed off from one access point to
another like a cellular phone system.
Laptops use wireless network cards that plug into an existing
PCMCIA slot or that are self contained on PC cards, while standalone desktops and servers use plug-in cards (ISA, PCI, etc.).

LANs
Characteristics

Topology

The geometric arrangement of devices on the network or

the shape of a local-area network (LAN) or other
communications system.

Protocols

LAN

The rules and encoding specifications for sending data. The

protocol defines the format and meaning of the data that is
exchanged. The protocols also determine whether the network
uses a peer-to-peer or client/server architecture.

Media

Devices can be connected by twisted-pair wire, coaxial cables,

or fiber optic cables. Some networks do without connecting
media altogether, communicating instead via radio waves.

LANs

Topology types

bus topology: All devices are connected to a central cable, called the bus
or backbone. Bus networks are relatively inexpensive and easy to install
for small networks. Ethernet systems use a bus topology.
star topology: All devices are connected to a central hub. Star networks
are relatively easy to install and manage, but bottlenecks can occur
because all data must pass through the hub. This is not much of a
problem anymore with the widespread deployment of switches.
ring topology: All devices are connected to one another in the shape of a
closed loop, so that each device is connected directly to two other
devices, one on either side of it. Ring topologies are relatively expensive
and difficult to install, but they offer high bandwidth and can span large
distances.

Network Hardware

Hub

An unintelligent network device that sends one

signal to all of the stations connected to it.
All computers/devices are competing for
attention because it takes the data that comes
into a port and sends it out all the other ports in
the hub.
Traditionally, hubs are used for star topology
networks, but they are often used with other
configurations to make it easy to add and
remove computers without bringing down the
network.
Resides on Layer 1 of the OSI model