Network Fundamentals
By Pascal
After completing this chapter, students will be able to:
Explain how multiple networks are used in everyday life.
Explain the topologies and devices used in a small- to
medium-sized business network.
Explain the basic characteristics of a network that supports
communication in a small- to medium-sized business.
Explain trends in networking that will affect the use of
networks in small to medium-sized businesses.
1.1 Globally Connected
1.2 LANs, WANs, and the Internet
1.3 The Network as a Platform
1.4 The Changing Network Environment
1.5 Summary
Networks support the way we learn.
Networks support the way we communicate.
Networks support the way we work.
Networks support the way we play.
There are three categories of network components:
Devices
Media
Services
Some examples of end devices are:
Computers (work stations, laptops, file servers, web servers)
Network printers
VoIP phones
TelePresence endpoint
Security cameras
Mobile handheld devices (such as smart phones, tablets,
PDAs, and wireless debit / credit card readers and barcode
scanners)
Examples of intermediary network devices are:
Network Access Devices (switches, and wireless access
points)
Internetworking Devices (routers)
Security Devices (firewalls)
The two most common types of network infrastructures are:
Local Area Network (LAN)
Wide Area Network (WAN).
Other types of networks include:
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Wireless LAN (WLAN)
Storage Area Network (SAN)
As networks evolve, we are discovering that there are four basic
characteristics that the underlying architectures need to address
in order to meet user expectations:
Fault Tolerance
Scalability
Quality of Service (QoS)
Security
Examples of priority decisions for an organization might include:
Time-sensitive communication - increase priority for services
like telephony or video distribution.
Non time-sensitive communication - decrease priority for
web page retrieval or email.
High importance to organization - increase priority for
production control or business transaction data.
Undesirable communication - decrease priority or block
unwanted activity, like peer-to-peer file sharing or live
entertainment.
Some of the top trends include:
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
Online collaboration
Video
Cloud computing
The concept of any device, to any content, in anyway is a major global
trend that requires significant changes to the way devices are used.
This trend is known as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD).
Cloud computing offers the following potential benefits:
Organizational flexibility
Agility and rapid deployment
Reduced cost of infrastructure
Refocus of IT resources
Creation of new business
models
A data center is a facility used to house computer systems and
associated components including:
Redundant data communications connections
High-speed virtual servers (sometimes referred to as server
farms or server clusters)
Redundant storage systems (typically uses SAN technology)
Redundant or backup power supplies
Environmental controls (e.g., air conditioning, fire
suppression)
Security devices
The most common external threats to networks include:
Viruses, worms, and Trojan horses
Spyware and adware
Zero-day attacks, also called zero-hour attacks
Hacker attacks
Denial of service (DoS) attacks
Data interception and theft
Identity theft
Network security components often include:
Antivirus and antispyware
Firewall filtering
Dedicated firewall systems
Access control lists (ACL)
In this chapter, you learned:
Networks and the Internet have changed the way we
communicate, learn, work, and even play.
Networks come in all sizes. They can range from simple
networks consisting of two computers, to networks
connecting millions of devices.
The Internet is the largest network in existence. In fact, the
term Internet means a network of networks. The Internet
provides the services that enable us to connect and
communicate with our families, friends, work, and interests.
The network infrastructure is the platform that supports the
network. It provides the stable and reliable channel over
which communication can occur. It is made up of network
components including end devices, intermediate devices, and
network media.
In this chapter, you learned:
Networks must be reliable.
Network security is an integral part of computer networking,
regardless of whether the network is limited to a home
environment with a single connection to the Internet, or as
large as a corporation with thousands of users.
The network infrastructure can vary greatly in terms of size,
number of users, and number and types of services that are
supported on it. The network infrastructure must grow and
adjust to support the way the network is used. The routing
and switching platform is the foundation of any network
infrastructure.
