Network basics

Network Definition
• Set of technologies that connects computers
• Allows communication and collaboration
between users
• A network is a number of computers and
peripheral devices connected together so as to
be able to communicate (i.e. transfer data)
• Each device in a network is called a node.
• Terminals are data entry points which can also
display.
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5 BASIC COMPONENTS FOR COMMUNICATION
OVER A NETWORK
Every communication system has 5 basic requirements
• Data Source (where the data originates)
• Transmitter (device used to transmit data)
• Transmission Medium (cables or non cable)
• Receiver (device used to receive data)
• Destination (where the data will be placed)

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5 BASIC COMPONENTS

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 The Uses of a Network

• Simultaneous access to data

– Data files are shared
• Access can be limited
– Shared files stored on a server
– Software can be shared

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 The Uses of a Network

• Shared peripheral device

– Printers and faxes are common shares
– Reduces the cost per user
– Devices can be connected to the network
– Print servers control network printing
• Manage the print queue

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Sharing Data

File server contains documents

used by other computers.

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 The Uses of a Network

• Personal communication
– Email
• Instantaneous communication
– Conferencing
• Videoconferencing
• Audio-conferencing
• Data-conferencing

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 The Uses of a Network

• Easier data backup

– Backup copies data to removable media
– Server data backed up in one step

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 Common Network Types

• Local Area Network (LAN)

– Contains printers, servers and computers
– Systems are close to each other
– Contained in one office or building
– Organizations often have several LANS

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 Common Network Types
• Wide Area Networks (WAN)
– Two or more LANs connected
– Over a large geographic area
– Typically use public or leased lines
• Phone lines
• Satellite

– The Internet is a WAN

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 Hybrid Network Types
• Campus Area Networks (CAN)
– A LAN in one large geographic area
– Resources related to the same organization
– Each department shares the LAN

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 Hybrid Network Types
• Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
– Large network that connects different
organizations
– Shares regional resources
– A network provider sells time

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 Hybrid Network Types
• Home Area Network (HAN)
– Small scale network
– Connects computers and entertainment
appliances
– Found mainly in the home

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 Hybrid Network Types
• Personal Area Network (PAN)
– Very small scale network
– Range is less than 2 meters
– Cell phones, PDAs, MP3 players

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 How Networks Are Structured
• Server based network
– Node is any network device
– Servers control what the node accesses
– Users gain access by logging in
– Server is the most important computer

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 How Networks Are Structured
• Client/Server network
– Nodes and servers share data roles
– Nodes are called clients
– Servers are used to control access
– Database software
• Access to data controlled by server

– Server is the most important computer

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 How Networks Are Structured

Peer to peer networks (P2PN)

All nodes are equal
Nodes access resources on other nodes
Each node controls its own resources
Most modern OS allow P2PN
Distributing computing is a form

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 Network Topologies
• Topology
– Physical and Logical layout of wires and
equipment
– Choice affects
• Network performance
• Network size
• Network collision detection

– Several different types

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 Network Topologies
• Packets
– Pieces of data transmitted over a network
• Packets are created by sending node
• Data is reassembled by receiving node

– Packet header
• Sending and receiving address

– Packet payload
• Number and size of data
• Actual data

– Packet error control

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 Network Topologies
• Bus topology
– Also called linear bus
– One wire connects all nodes
– Terminator ends the wires
– Advantages
• Easy to setup
• Small amount of wire

– Disadvantages
• Slow
• Easy to crash

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 Network Topologies
• Star topology
– All nodes connect to a hub
• Packets sent to hub
• Hub sends packet to destination

– Advantages
• Easy to setup
• One cable can not crash network

– Disadvantages
• One hub crashing downs entire network
• Uses lots of cable

– Most common topology

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Star Topology

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 Network Topologies
• Ring topology
– Nodes connected in a circle
– Tokens used to transmit data
• Nodes must wait for token to send

– Advantages
• Time to send data is known
• No data collisions

– Disadvantages
• Slow
• Lots of cable

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 Network Topologies
• Mesh topology
– All computers connected together
– Internet is a mesh network
– Advantage
• Data will always be delivered

– Disadvantages
• Lots of cable
• Hard to setup

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Mesh Topology

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 Network Media
• Links that connect nodes
• Choice impacts
– Speed
– Security
– Size

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 Wire Based Media
• Twisted-pair cabling
– Most common LAN
cable
– Called Cat5 or 100BaseT
– Four pairs of copper
cable twisted
– May be shielded from
interference
– Speeds range from
1 Mbps to 1,000 Mbps

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 Wire Based Media
• Coaxial cable
– Similar to cable TV wire
– One wire runs through cable
– Shielded from interference
– Speeds up to 10 Mbps
– Nearly obsolete

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 Wire Based Media
• Fiber-optic cable
– Data is transmitted with
light pulses
– Glass strand instead of
cable
– Immune to interference
– Very secure
– Hard to work with
– Speeds up to
100 Gbps

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 Wireless Media
• Data transmitted through the air
• LANs use radio waves
• WANs use microwave signals
• Easy to setup
• Difficult to secure

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 Network Hardware
• Network interface cards
– Network adapter
– Connects node to the media
– Unique Machine Access Code (MAC)

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 Network Hardware
• Network linking devices
– Connect nodes in the network
– Cable runs from node to device
– Crossover cable connects two computers

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 Network Hardware
 Hubs
 Center of a star network
 A hub contains multiple ports. When a packet arrives at one
port, it is copied to the other ports so that all nodes of the
LAN can see all packets.
 All nodes receive transmitted packets
 Slow and insecure

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 Network Hardware
 Switches
 Replacement for hubs
 A network switch is a computer networking device that
connects devices together on a computer network, by using
a form of packet switching to forward data to the destination
device.
 Only intended node receives transmission
 Fast and secure

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 Network Hardware
 Bridge
 In telecommunication networks, a bridge is a product
that connects a local area network (LAN) to another
local area network
 Packets sent to remote LAN cross
 Other packets do not cross and control the trafic

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 Network Hardware
• Router
– Connects two or more LANs together
– Packets sent to remote LAN cross
– Network is segmented by IP address
– Connect internal networks to the Internet
– Need configured before installation

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 Network Hardware
 Gateway
 Connects two dissimilar networks
 A gateway is a data communication device that provides a
remote network with connectivity to a host network.
 Generally, a router is configured to work as a gateway device
in computer networks.

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 Network Cabling
• Cabling specifications
– Bandwidth measures cable speed
• Typically measured in Mbps

– Maximum cable length

– Connector describes the type of plug

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 Network Cabling
• Ethernet
– Very popular cabling technology
– 10 Base T, 10Base2, 10Base5
– Maximum bandwidth 10 Mbps
– Maximum distances100 to 500 meters

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 Network Cabling
• Fast Ethernet
– Newer version of Ethernet
– Bandwidth is 100 Mbps
– Uses Cat5 or greater cable
• Sometimes called 100Base T

– Requires a switch

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 Network Cabling
• Gigabit Ethernet
– High bandwidth version of Ethernet
– 1 to 10 Gbps
– Cat 5 or fiber optic cable
– Video applications

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 Network Protocols
• Language of the network
– Rules of communication
– Error resolution
– Defines collision and collision recovery
– Size of packet
– Naming rules for computers

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 Network Protocols
 TCP/IP(Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)
 TCP/IP is a two-layer program. The higher layer, Transmission
Control Protocol, manages the assembling of a message or
file into smaller packets that are transmitted over the
Internet and received by a TCP layer that reassembles the
packets into the original message.
 The lower layer, Internet Protocol, handles the address part
of each packet so that it gets to the right destination.
 Machines assigned a name of 4 numbers
 IP address
 209.8.166.179 is the White House’s web site

 I92.168..1.1 general

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 Network Protocols
• IPX/SPX
– Internet Packet Exchange/Sequenced Packet
Exchange
– Older protocol
– Associated with Novell Netware
– Replaced by TCP/IP

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 Network Protocols
 NetBEUI
 Network BIOS Extended User Interface
 Used by Windows to name computers
 Netbeui was originally designed by IBM for their Lan
Manager server
 Transmission details handled by TCP/IP

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 Network Protocols
 Token ring
 A Token Ring network is a local area network (LAN) in
which all computers are connected in a ring or star
topology and a bit- or token-passing scheme is used in
order to prevent the collision of data between two
computers that want to send messages at the same
time.
 A token, which is a special bit pattern, travels around the
circle. To send a message, a computer catches the token,
attaches a message to it, and then lets it continue to
travel around the network.

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Token Ring
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End of Chapter