Unit: 3 Network Hardware and Software
3.1 Network workstation and Server: Hardware and Software Requirements
A workstation is a personal computer that is used for high end applications such as graphic design,
video editing, CAD, 3-D design, or other CPU and RAM intensive programs. A workstation
typically has a top of the line, fast processor, multiple hard drives, and a lot of RAM memory. A
workstation may also have special audio, video, or processing cards for special editing work. A
workstation is marketed by computer manufacturers to professional users, while the server is more
of a utility device. Both form part of the networking architecture and differ in their functions and
use.
A server is an application or device that performs service for connected clients as part of client
server architecture. It can also be a computer system that has been designated for running a specific
server application. A server can also serve applications to users on an intranet.
A workstation that consists of:
• A 1GHz equivalent or faster processor.
• One of the following operating systems:
o Windows 7 or Windows Vista
• To use OS/390 or z/OS repositories, a TCP/IP link that supports FTP communications with
your host.
o Current support is for IBM TCP/IP FTP only.
• To use LAN server repositories, a network connection which allows you to access the LAN
server as a drive letter.
• To use local PC repositories, no additional requirements.
• To use CD-ROM collections as a source, a CD-ROM drive.
• To use the Internet as a source or to check for updates to the Softcopy Librarian, an Internet
connection.
• A minimum of 100MB of space on your hard drive.
3.2 Client server and Peer-to Peer Model:
Client–server model is a distributed application structure that partitions tasks or workloads
between the providers of a resource or service, called servers, and service requesters,
called clients.[1] Often clients and servers communicate over a computer network on separate
hardware, but both client and server may reside in the same system. A server host runs one or more
server programs, which share their resources with clients. A client does not share any of its
resources, but it requests content or service from a server. Clients therefore initiate communication
sessions with servers, which await incoming requests. Examples of computer applications that use
the client–server model are Email, network printing, and the World Wide Web.
Peer-to-peer architecture (P2P architecture) is a commonly used computer networking
architecture in which each workstation, or node, has the same capabilities and responsibilities. It is
often compared and contrasted to the classic client/server architecture, in which some computers are
dedicated to serving others.
P2P may also be used to refer to a single software program designed so that each instance of the
program may act as both client and server, with the same responsibilities and status.
P2P networks have many applications, but the most common is for content distribution. This
includes software publication and distribution, content delivery networks, streaming media and peer
casting for multicasting streams, which facilitates on-demand content delivery. Other applications
involve science, networking, search and communication networks. Even the U.S. Department of
Defense has started researching applications for P2P networks for modern network warfare
strategies.
3.3 Network Devices:
Repeater:
A repeater operates at the physical layer. Its job is to regenerate the signal over the same
network before the signal becomes too weak or corrupted so as to extend the length to which
the signal can be transmitted over the same network. An important point to be noted about
repeaters is that they do not amplify the signal. When the signal becomes weak, they copy the
signal bit by bit and regenerate it at the original strength. It is a 2-port device.
Hub:
A hub is basically a multiport repeater. A hub connects multiple wires coming from different
branches, for example, the connector in star topology which connects different stations. Hubs
cannot filter data, so data packets are sent to all connected devices. In other words, collision
domain of all hosts connected through Hub remains one. Also, they do not have intelligence
to find out best path for data packets which leads to inefficiencies and wastage.
Types of Hub
• Active Hub: - These are the hubs which have their own power supply and can clean,
boost and relay the signal along with the network. It serves both as a repeater as well as
wiring Centre. These are used to extend the maximum distance between nodes.
• Passive Hub: - These are the hubs which collect wiring from nodes and power supply
from active hub. These hubs relay signals onto the network without cleaning and
boosting them and can’t be used to extend the distance between nodes.
Network Interface Card (NIC):
In the list of the networking devices, NIC stands on the first place. Without this device,
networking cannot be done. This is also known as network adapter card, Ethernet Card and
LAN card. NIC allows a networking device to communicate with the other networking device.
NIC converts the data packets between two different data transmission technologies. A PC
uses parallel data transmission technology to transmit the data between its internal parts while
the media that provides connectivity between different PCs uses serial data transmission
technology.
Bridge:
A bridge operates at data link layer. A bridge is a repeater, with add on the functionality of
filtering content by reading the MAC addresses of source and destination. It is also used for
interconnecting two LANs working on the same protocol. It has a single input and single output
port, thus making it a 2-port device.
Types of Bridges
• Transparent Bridges: - These are the bridge in which the stations are completely
unaware of the
bridge’s existence i.e. whether or not a bridge is added or deleted from the network,
reconfiguration of
the stations is unnecessary. These bridges make use of two processes i.e. bridge
forwarding and bridge learning.
• Source Routing Bridges: - In these bridges, routing operation is performed by source
station and the frame specifies which route to follow. The hot can discover frame by
sending a special frame called discovery frame, which spreads through the entire
network using all possible paths to destination.
Switch:
A switch is a multiport bridge with a buffer and a design that can boost its efficiency (a large
number of ports imply less traffic) and performance. A switch is a data link layer device. The
switch can perform error checking before forwarding data, that makes it very efficient as it
does not forward packets that have errors and forward good packets selectively to correct
port only. In other words, switch divides collision domain of hosts, but broadcast
domain remains same.
Router:
A router is a device like a switch that routes data packets based on their IP addresses. Router
is mainly a Network Layer device. Routers normally connect LANs and WANs together and
have a dynamically updating routing table based on which they make decisions on routing the
data packets. Router divide broadcast domains of hosts connected through it.
Gateway:
A gateway, as the name suggests, is a passage to connect two networks together that may
work upon different networking models. They basically work as the messenger agents that
take data from one system, interpret it, and transfer it to another system. Gateways are also
called protocol converters and can operate at any network layer. Gateways are generally
more complex than switch or router.
Modem:
In simple language, a Modem is the device that is used to connect with the Internet.
Technically, it is the device that enables the digital data to be transmitted over the
telecommunication lines.
A Telco company uses entirely different data transmission technology from the technology
that a PC uses for the data transmission. A modem understands both technologies. It changes
the technology that a PC uses, in the technology which Telco Company understands.
It enables communication between the PC (Known as the DTE device) and the Telecom
company' office (Known as the DCE device).
