NETWORKING
FUNDAMENTALS
Selected Concepts
WHAT IS A NETWORK?
A network is simply two or more computers that
are linked together.
The most common types of networks are:
Local Area Networks (LANS) and
Wide Area Networks (WANS).
The primary difference between the two is that
a LAN is generally confined to a limited
geographical area, whereas a WAN covers a
large geographical area. Most WANs are made
up of several connected LANs.
TYPES OF NETWORKS
Local Area Network (LAN) – a network that spans a
small area such as a building or an office.
Wide Area Network (WAN) – a network that spans a
wide geographical area; there are several types of
WANS
Virtual Private Network(VPN) – a network deployed
over public facilities that provides similar levels of
privacy, security, quality of services, and
manageability compared to networks built entirely on
dedicated, privately owned or leased facilities.
Virtual Private Network
Thereare three types of VPN services,
which are not mutually exclusive to one
another. They are:
o Remote Access VPNs
o Intranet VPNs
o Extranet VPNs
Remote Access VPN
VPN access using dial-up or broadband
(DSL or cable) access to a service
provider network to connect remote or
mobile users to the company network.
Intranet VPN
Connecting main and branch offices at
geographically dispersed locations
using always-on connections for fast
and efficient communications.
Extranet VPN
Connecting a company with its
customers, suppliers, and other
business partners, to provide them with
limited access to specific portions of the
company network for collaboration and
co-ordination.
BENEFITS OF A
NETWORK
Information sharing: Authorized users can use other
computers on the network to access and share information and data.
This could include special group projects, databases, etc.
Hardware sharing: One device connected to a network, such
as a printer or scanner, can be shared by many users.
Software sharing: Instead of purchasing and installing a
software program on each computer, it can be installed on the server.
All of the users can then access the program from a single location.
Collaborative environment: Users can work together on
group projects by combining the power and capabilities of diverse
equipment.
Ambrose, Bergerud, Busche, Morrison, and Wells-Pusins: IC3 BASICS, Thomson Course Technology, 2003
RISKS OF NETWORK
COMPUTING
The security of a computer network is
challenged everyday by:
Equipment malfunctions
System failures
Note: equipment malfunctions and system failures may
be caused by natural disasters such as floods, storms, or
fires, and electrical disturbances
Computer hackers
Virus attacks
Ambrose, Bergerud, Busche, Morrison, and Wells-Pusins: IC3 BASICS, Thomson Course Technology, 2003
COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA
Communications Channel
To transfer data from one computer to another
requires some type of link through which the data
can be transmitted. This link is known as the
communications channel.
To send data through the channel requires some
type of transmission media, which may be either
physical or wireless.
DATA TRANSMISSION
CHARACTERISTICS
Bandwidth (rate of transmission)
Analog or Digital (type of signal)
Analog transmission – takes the form of
continuous waves transmitted over a
medium at a certain frequency rage
Digital transmission – sends data in the
form of bits
Analog and Digital
Signalling
Basic Signal Terminologies
Kilo K 2^10
MegaM 2^20
Giga G 2^30
Tera T 2^40
Peta P 2^50
Exa E 2^60
Zetta Z 2^70
Yotta Y 2^80
Transmission Modes
Simplex: information flows in only one
direction
Half-duplex: information flows in two
directions, but only in one direction at a
time.
Full-duplex: information flows in two
directions at the same time
PHYSICAL MEDIA
Twisted-pair cable – consists of two independently
insulated wires twisted around each other (least
expensive type of cable—the kind that is used in many telephone
systems)
Coaxial cable – consists of an insulated center wire
grounded by a shield of braided wire (the primary type of
cabling used by the cable television industry; it is more expensive than
twisted pair)
Fiber-optic cable – contains hundreds of clear
fiberglass or plastic fibers (threads) (made from thin, flexible
glass tubing; bandwidth is greater, so it can carry more data; it is lighter
than metal wires and is less susceptible to interference; it is fragile and
expensive)
Fuller, Floyd, Computers: Understanding Technology: EMC Paradigm, 2003.
WIRELESS MEDIA
Microwave system – transmits data via high-frequency
radio signals through the atmosphere
Satellite system – receive transmitted signals, amplify them,
and then transmit the signals to the appropriate locations
Cellular technology – uses antennae resembling telephone
towers to pick up radio signals within a specific area (cell)
Infrared technology – transmits data as infrared light waves
from one device to another, providing wireless links
between PCs and peripherals
Note: The type selected is determined by the type of
network, the size of the network, and the cost.
Fuller, Floyd, Computers: Understanding Technology: EMC Paradigm, 2003.
COMMUNICATIONS
SOFTWARE
E-Mail Software – used to send and receive
electronic messages using the Internet
Web Browser – allows users to access and
view Web pages
Groupware – allows groups of people on a
network to share information and to
collaborate on various projects
HOW ARE NETWORKS
CATEGORIZED?
Networks are usually classified using
three properties:
Topology
Protocol
Architecture
NETWORK
TOPOLOGIES
Network Topology (or layout) – refers to the way
computers and peripherals are configured to form
networks
Bus topology – all computers are linked by a single
line of cable
Star topology – multiple computers and peripheral
devices are linked to a central computer, called a
host
Ring topology – each computer or workstation is
connected to two other computers, with the entire
network forming a circle
Bus Topology
The diagram shows a number of computers connected to a Bus
cable. Each computer has a network card installed, which directly
attaches to the network bus cable via a T-Connector.
Bus Topology - Summary
Advantages Disadvantages
Easy to Implement Limits on cable length and
Workstation numbers
Low Cost Difficult to isolate network
faults
A cable fault affects all
workstations
As the number of
workstations increase, the
speed of the network
slows down
Star Topology
This type of network connects all the nodes (file server,
workstations, and peripherals) to a central network hub.
Star Topology - Summary
Advantages Disadvantages
Easy to install and wire Requires more cable
length than a linear
topology
No disruptions to the If the hub failes, nodes
network when attached are disabled
connecting or removing
devices
Easy to detect faults Hubs are slighty more
and to remove parts expensive than thin-
Ethernet
Ring Topology
This type of network connects all the nodes (computers) in a
circle. Repeaters are included to boost the signal of messages.
Ring Topology - Summary
Advantages Disadvantages
Cable failures affect Costly Wiring
limited users
Equal access for all Difficult Connections
users
Each workstation has Expensive Adaptor
full access Cards
speed to the ring
As workstation
numbers increase,
performance
diminishes slightly
NETWORK/COMMUNICATION
PROTOCOLS
A protocol is simply an agreed-on set of
rules and procedures for transmitting data
between two or more devices.
Features determined by the protocol are:
How the sending device indicates it has finished
sending the message.
How the receiving device indicates it has received
the message.
The type of error checking to be used.
Ambrose, Bergerud, Busche, Morrison, and Wells-Pusins: IC3 BASICS, Thomson Course Technology, 2003
NETWORK/COMMUNICATIONS
PROTOCOLS
Most networks use Ethernet, but some
network may use IBM’s Token Ring
protocol.
On the Internet, the major protocol is
TCP/IP (an acronym for Transmission
Control Protocol/Internet Protocol).
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EXAMPLE OF AN ETHERNET
BUS
Ethernet LANs use a bus
topology.
All stations are connected to
a single long cable.
Any station can send a
signal along the cable, which
all other stations will
receive. Unlike ring
topologies, the cable doesn't
close a loop.
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TOKEN RING NETWORK
A token passing ring LAN is a
group of computers connected in a
loop. The group uses a token
passing access mechanism.
A computer wishing to send data
should first receive permission.
When it gets control of the network
it may transmit a frame. Each
frame transmitted on the ring is
transmitted from one computer to
the next, until it ultimately returns
to the initiator of the transmission.
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INTERNET PROTOCOLS
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NETWORKING HARDWARE
AND SOFTWARE
Hub – electronic device (with a number of ports) used
in a LAN to link groups of computers
Repeaters (also called amplifiers) – electronic devices
that receive signals and amplify and send them along
the network
Routers - electronic devices used to ensure
messages are sent to their intended destinations
Gateway – consists of hardware and/or software that
allows communications between dissimilar networks
Bridge – consists of hardware and/or software
that allows communication between two
similar networks
Graphic Symbols
Bridge Switch Router Acces ISDN Multi- Network
s switc layer switch
server h switch
DSU/CSU
Personal File Server Data Service Unit/ Modem Web Server
computer Channel Service
Unit
WAN “cloud” VLAN Hub Network Cloud
(Color May Vary) or Broadcast
Domain
Etherne Fast Serial Line Circuit Switched
t Ethernet Line
HUBS
The original Ethernet LANs relied on certain physical
characteristics of the cable carrying the network data
(usually coaxial cable). New Ethernet technologies
introduced new cable types that we unable to fulfill the
original physical requirements. New devices - hubs -
were introduced to simulate those characteristics.
Simply put, the hub's major function is to replicate data it
receives from one device attached to it to all others.
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REPEATERS
A common problem in the networking world is that of weakening
electrical signals. Electrical signals traveling through wires (such as
copper wires used in most networks), weaken due to the wire's
electrical resistance. This effect limits the lengths of the cable that can
be used. A repeater will overcome this limit, when there is a need to
connect two computers at a larger distance.
A repeater is connected to two cable segments. Any electrical signal
reaching the repeater from one segment, will be amplified and
retransmitted to the other segment.
An illustration of a repeater at work
The electrical signal entering the repeater at one end is weakened.
The repeater amplifies the electrical signals and resends the data.
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ROUTERS
Routers connect two or more networks and forward data
packets between them. When data arrives from one of
the segments, the router decides, according to it's routing
table, to which segment to forward that data.
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GATEWAY
"Gateway" is a term that was once used to refer to a routing device. Today, in
the TCP/IP world, the term "router" is used to describe such a device.
The term gateway now refers to special-purpose devices, that perform protocol
conversions. Gateways implement application layer conversions of
information received from various protocols.
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MODEMS
An illustration of data sent using a modem and a regular
telephone line.
A modem is a device that converts digital data originating from a
terminal or computer, to analog signals used by voice
communication networks such as the telephone system. At one
end, modems convert the digital pulses to audible tones and
convert audio tones back to digital pulses at the other.
The word "Modem" stands for "MOdulator-DEModulator".
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MODEMS
Transmission speed
Modems are available in different transmission speeds, which are
measured in BPS (bits per second) also called BAUD rate.
Standard modems speeds: 9600 baud, 14400 baud, 28800 baud,
33600 baud, 56800 baud.
Internal/External
Internal modems are electronic cards. An internal modem is installed in
one of the computer's expansion slot.
External modems are fully functioning external devices. The external
modem is connected to a computer using a serial
cable to one of the computer's serial ports, and draws power from an
external power source.
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EXAMPLE OF
FIREWALL
Firewalls are systems that establish access control policies among networks. They
can block information from entering a network or from getting out of that network,
they can permit different users to perform different kinds of operations, according
to the user's authorizations.
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NETWORK
ARCHITECTURE
Network architecture – refers to the way a
network is designed and built. The two major
types are:
Peer-to-peer architecture – Computers connect
with each other in a workgroup to share files,
printers, and Internet access. This is used to
connect a small number of computers.
Client/server architecture – sends information from
a client computer to a server, which then relays the
information back to the client computer, or to other
computers on the network
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Peer-to-peer Networks
Client/Server Network
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