Networking Basics & Terminologies

Below are some of the defnitions of terminologies that form part of the basics of the course;
Local Area Networks (LAN)
A LAN is a high-speed data network that covers a relativel small geographic area! "t tpicall connects
workstations# personal computers# printers# servers# and other devices! LANs o$er computer users man
advantages# including shared access to devices and applications# fle e%change between connected users#
and communication between users via electronic mail and other applications!
Wide Area Networks (WANs)
&ften elements of a network are widel separated phsicall! 'ide area networking combines multiple
LANs that are geographicall separate! This is accomplished b connecting the several LANs with
dedicated leased lines such as a T( or a T)# b dial-up phone lines *both snchronous and asnchronous+#
b satellite links and b data packet carrier services!
Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs)
'ireless LANs# or 'LANs# use radio fre,uenc *-.+ technolog to transmit and receive data over the air!
This minimi/es the need for wired connections! 'LANs give users mobilit as the allow connection to a
local area network without having to be phsicall connected b a cable!
Networking Basics & Terminologies
Internet
"t is a decentrali/ed sstem of linked networks that are worldwide in scope! "t facilitates data
communication services such as remote log-in# fle transfer# electronic mail# the 'orld 'ide 'eb and
newsgroups! "t consists of independent hosts of computers that can designate which "nternet services to
use and which of their local services to make available to the global communit!
Intranet
A 0ecure "nternet-like Network for &rgani/ations - 'ith advancements in browser-based software for the
"nternet# man private organi/ations have implemented intranets! An intranet is a private network utili/ing
"nternet-tpe tools# but available onl within that organi/ation! .or large organi/ations# an intranet provides
eas access to corporate information for designated emploees!
Extranet:
A 0ecure 1eans for 0haring "nformation with 2artners -'hile an intranet is used to disseminate confdential
information within a corporation# an extranet is commonl used b companies to share data in a secure
fashion with their business partners!
LAN and WAN Hardware
Networking Basics & Terminologies
3omputer network consist of di$erent devices such as router# hub# switch# gatewa and others! 'ithout
these network devices data cannot be transmitted from one computer to another in a LAN or 'AN
network! These devices link up all the local and remote network segments with each other to make data
communication from one segment to another! The two important devices of a big network are routers and
switches!
Hub
A hub is a networking device# which is used to connect the two segments of a wired network! A hub has
multiple ports such as 4# 5# (4 and 67 etc! 'hen data packets are reached at hub# the are broadcasted to
all the computers unlike a switch and onl the destined computer receives the data!
LAN Card
LAN card# network interface card or N"3 is used to 8oin the computers in a network! A N"3 card is installed
in an available 23" port inside the computer! A uni,ue 1A3 *1edia 3ontrol Access+ address is assigned to
LAN card! A 1A3 address is consists of two portions manufacture9s id and the card id *2-&1 on the
network interface card holds the addresses+! LAN card operates on the phsical and data link laer of the
&0" model!
Switch
A network switch performs the same functionalit in a network as a hub e%cept a di$erent that switch does
not broadcast the data packets to all the computers in a network like a hub! A network switch has multiple
Networking Basics & Terminologies
ports like 7# 5# (4 and 67 etc! All the computers in a wired network are directl connected with the switch
through :thernet cable!
Gatewa
A gatewa can be hardware or software and it acts as a bridge between two networks! A gatewa is an
entrance point of a network! A gatewa connects a LAN with internet! A router acts as a gatewa device in
a network! "n big networks# a computer server which acts as a gatewa also acts as a pro% server and a
frewall server! A gatewa computer is usuall attached with the router and switch!
!e"eater
A repeater is a network device that is used to retransmit the weaker signals in a network! A repeater
receives the signals on the electromagnetic or optical transmission mediums! -epeater removes the
unwanted noise from the incoming signals! A series of the repeaters is used to amplif the signals in the
big network!
!outers
A router is a network communication device that is used to connect two or more logicall and phsicall
di$erent networks! A router can be used to connect a LAN to LAN# LAN to 'AN and LAN to internet! A
router acts as a post o;ce where sorting and distribution of the posts *packets in case of routers+ is done!
A router works on the basis of an "2 address! :ver router has built-in operating sstem known as "&0! A
router works on the network laer of the &0 model and it routes the data towards the optimal path! -outer
Networking Basics & Terminologies
uses the header information of the packets and forwarding table to defne the best shortest possible path
of the data!
#rid$es
A bridge is a network communication device that is used to connect two segments of a LAN that uses the
same protocol! Bridge is like a router but it doesn9t anal/e the data before sending! A bridge operates at
the data link laer of the &0" model and it can be used to connect the phsicall di$erent networks and the
networks that use the di$erent protocols such as :thernet and Token -ing!
#router
Network bridge and router combined together to form a device known as Brouter!
A %rewall is a device or set of devices designed to permit or den network transmissions based upon a set
of rules and is fre,uentl used to protect networks from unauthori/ed access while permitting legitimate
communications to pass!
A "rox ser&er is a server *a computer sstem or an application+ that acts as an intermediar for
re,uests from clients seeking resources from other servers! A client connects to the pro% server#
re,uesting some service# such as a fle# connection# web page# or other resource available from a di$erent
server! The pro% server evaluates the re,uest according to its fltering rules!
'ode(s
Networking Basics & Terminologies
A modem is communication device that performs two di$erent functions such as modulation and
demodulation i!e! it converts the digital data into analog and analog into digital! The faster tpes of the
modems are used b the internet such as <0L modem# cable modem and optical modems!
A broadcast do(ain is like a collision domain# the defnition of a broadcast domain is a set of devices
that if one device sends a broadcast frame all other devices will receive that frame in the same broadcast
domain! An computer connected to the same :thernet repeater or switch is a member of the same
broadcast domain! .urther# an computer connected to the same set of inter-connected switches=repeaters
is a member of the same broadcast domain! -outers and other higher-laer devices form boundaries
between broadcast domains!
A collision do(ain is a section of a network where data packets can collide with one another when being
sent on a shared medium or through repeaters# in particular# when using earl versions of :thernet! A
network collision occurs when more than one device attempts to send a packet on a network segment at
the same time! A hub is considered a laer one device of the &0" model; all it does is send packets out on
all ports including the port in which the packet was received on! This causes a collision domain because
onl one device can transmit at time! 3ollision domains are also found in wireless networks such as 'i-.i!
1odern wired networks use a network switch to eliminate collisions! B connecting each device directl to
a port on the switch# either each port on a switch becomes its own collision domain *in the case of half
duple% links+ or the possibilit of collisions is eliminated entirel in the case of full duple% links!