Configuration

Unit of Competency Configure Computer Systems and Networks ELC724320 – CN 25
Module Title Configuring Computer Systems and Networks Page 1 of 38
Configure Computer
System and
Networks
+ + + +
Computer  Plan and Prepare
Networking Basic
for configuration
 Configure
Key Concepts in Computer Networking Computer
Systems and
Networks
In the world of computers, networking is the practice of linking
two or more computing devices together for the purpose of sharing data.
Networks are built with a mix of computer hardware and computer  Inspect and test
software. configured
computer system
There are many reasons why a person would like to setup a and Networks
basic network. These reasons range from sharing multimedia, playing
games, sharing a single printer, or most commonly, sharing a high speed
internet connection.
Most homes nowadays have more than one PC, and sharing your high
speed internet connection gives you the most bang for your buck. Setting
up a network will allow all computers in one house to share and use the
internet at the same time.
Now, if you are going to tackle the task of setting up a basic network, you
have to ask yourself one question first; do you want a wired or wireless
network? Each have their benefits and choosing between the two may be
harder than setting up the network itself, but their still might be some light
at the end of the tunnel for all of you.
A wireless network allows you more freedom; after all, you are no longer
bound by wires. Also, being wireless means that you don't have to string
wires through your floors or walls, allowing you to possible set up a
network across the house a little easier. Although wireless networks can
typically cost twice as much as wired networks, it is becoming more and
more common among home users. Especially for those who enjoy
surfing the internet on their laptop while basking in the sun by the pool.
CHS NC II, ICT Dept, Picardal Institute of Science and Technology

Basic Computer Network Information
Introduction
A network is a group of things that are connected together. In a computer network, the things that are connected
are computers, of course. A computer network can be as small as two computers but there is no maximum size,
and many networks have hundreds or thousands of computers.
There are three main reasons for connecting computers in a network:
1. Share information. This can be messages such as e-mail, or it can be files that are stored on one
computer and used by someone at a different computer.
2. Share resources. A printer that can be accessed from different computer systems is a shared resource.
So is an Internet connection used by more than one computer.
3. Centralized control. In most offices, the management determines what the computers may be used for
and what kind of resources and support they need. This is much easier to deal with if the computers are
connected.
Types of Networks
Just as there is no limit to the number of systems in a network, there is also no limit to the geographical size of a
network. As a practical matter though, there are some structural differences between a network of computers all in
the same room, and a network connecting computers in Los Angeles to ones in Sydney Australia.
The most common network includes computers that are close together, usually in the same building or office. This
is called a Local Area Network, abbreviated LAN.
The computers in a LAN are usually connected with cable made up of pairs of wires, but faster (and more
expensive) cables are made from glass fibers, called fiber optic cable. A network may even use radio waves, in
which case it is a wireless LAN.
When the computers being connected are far apart, typically in different cities, it is called a WAN or Wide Area
Network. The connection is usually done with special high-speed lines leased from the phone company, but it is
also possible to connect over an ordinary phone line using a device called a modem. It’s slow, but possible.
Accessing a network through a phone line and modem is called a dial-up connection.
The biggest of all networks is the Internet. The backbone of the Internet consists of powerful computers all over
the world with high-speed connections between them. Individual computers such as yours then connect to this
backbone through an Internet Service Provider or ISP.
Ethernet
Most LANs in existence today use a technology called Ethernet. In an Ethernet network, every piece of
information put on the network is seen by every other computer on the network, and each computer must
determine if that information is meant for itself.
To make this work, before the information goes out on the network it is first broken up into small pieces called
packets, and each packet has added to it the address of the computer that should receive it. The part of the
packet containing the address is called the header.

Header
Packet diagram
Then, each computer looks at the address on each packet that comes by on the network cable, and copies the
ones that have the right address. The computer that sent the packet is called the source, and the one that is
supposed to receive it is called the destination.
Network Connections
When a packet comes out of the computer that originated it, that packet must have a complete electrical path to
every other computer. The simplest way to do this is to have a cable that goes from one computer to the next until
it has connected to each one. This is called a bus network.
Bus Network
A bus network is the simplest to explain and draw, but it’s not often the simplest one to use, especially if
computers are distributed around various offices in a building, and then get added, taken away, moved around
and so forth.
A much more practical way to connect more than a couple of systems is to connect each one to a device called a
hub. Each system has a cable that goes from it to the hub, and inside the hub an electrical connection is made
between all of the cables. Each place where a cable plugs into the hub is called a port.

5-port hub ports
To create larger networks, hubs can use one or more of their connections to connect to other hubs. This is called
a star network, but as far as the electrical signals are concerned, they go from one computer to every other
computer, no different than the bus network.
3-hub star network
When networks get really big, with 100s of systems or more, it’s no longer such a good idea to have each
computer look at every packet, because almost none of the packets will be for that computer. The large network
can be broken up into smaller groups called subnets, and these are connected with a device called a data
switch, or just a switch.
Within each subnet, all of the computers still see every packet, and so does the switch. Normally the switch won’t
pass those packets on to the other subnets, but if the packet has an address for a destination in another subnet,
the switch will pass the packet to the port for that subnet. All of the systems in that subnet will then see the packet,
including the system it is actually addressed to. In order to know where to send a packet, the switch must have a
table of addresses for each subnet.

Switch with 4 subnets
The simplest form of a switch is called a bridge, and it connects just two subnets. A bridge only needs two ports
then, one for each of the subnets.
Sometimes a network will be so big and complex that one switch isn’t enough to connect all of the subnets. In that
case the subnet receiving a packet might be connected to a different switch than the subnet where the packet
started. This is a more complicated problem, because the switch would need to know not only the packet’s
destination, but also where to send it next to make sure it got there.
For this, a smarter device is needed, called a router. The router needs to know not only the subnet addresses,
but also the best path, or route, to get from one to another.
Route path diagram
One place where routers are used in a big way is the Internet. If you send a message on the Internet, it might go
through many routers before it reaches its destination. And when you surf to a website, all of the graphics and text
showing up on your screen had to go through routers to find their way from the web site to your computer.
By the way, every LAN that connects to the Internet becomes a subnet of the Internet, even if it has its own
internal subnets.

Clients and Servers
In addition to the various ways networked systems can be physically connected, there are two basic ways that
network activities can be arranged. In one, all of the computers have equal status. This is called peer-to-peer,
because a peer means someone (or something) that is the equal of another. Peer-to-peer is used mostly in very
small networks of less than a dozen systems.
The more common arrangement is called client-server. One system, called the server, is responsible for a
particular activity or resource. The other systems are called clients, and they go through the server when they
want to use the function or resource that the server is responsible for.
Some of the things servers are commonly used for include network administration, e-mail, printers, file storage,
and Internet access. Often several of these functions will be combined into one machine. There is no rule that
says a network server and a print server can’t be the same system.
Clients Server
print server
There is also no rule that says a server must serve the entire network. It is usually convenient to have a separate
network server for each subnet. There are other divisions that can occur even within a subnet. Computers that
need to share the same resources can be organized into workgroups. With the Windows NT operating system,
the LAN can be divided into sections called domains, and each domain needs its own server called a domain
controller.
Protocols
A protocol is an agreed-upon standard for how something will be done. When your mother taught you to chew
with your mouth closed and keep your elbows off the table, that was a protocol for proper dining. Computer
protocols are the rules for connecting with other computers and exchanging information with them.
Ethernet is a protocol. Earlier we called it a technology, but it is also a set of rules for how that technology is used.
If each piece of hardware and software complies with the rules, then information can be correctly transferred from
one from one system to another in a LAN.
There are many protocols used in networking. There are some protocols that are used together with other
protocols, where each one takes care of different aspects of networking. Sometimes two protocols do the same
thing in different ways, and it is necessary to choose one or the other. The important thing is that both systems
trying to communicate with each other have matching protocols that they can use.
TCP/IP

One very important set of protocols is called TCP/IP. It is important because it is what the creators of the Internet
decided would be used for that particular network, which means that any computer that wants to connect to the
Internet must also use TCP/IP. TCP/IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol.
TCP/IP is actually in two parts. The TCP portion covers the agreements between systems about how they will
carry on their ‘conversation’, and the IP portion deals with addressing the packets and routing them.
The TCP part all happens in the background and we don’t really need to concern ourselves with it under normal
circumstances. However, in a network that uses TCP/IP, every system must have a unique IP address, and that is
something that requires human intervention in one way or another.
IP Addresses
An IP address is made up of four sets of numbers separated by periods. An example is:
192.168.42.122
Each of these sets of numbers is called an octet, because they started out as 8-digit binary numbers. By changing
them into 3-digit decimal numbers, the whole address is shorter and easier to remember. The highest value for
any octet is 255, because the highest number you can make with eight binary digits is equal to 255 in decimal.
In most networks, the first three octets are the same for all systems, and the last octet is different for every
machine. If there are more than 255 computers in a network, it is usually divided into smaller subnets.
Static or Dynamic?
There are two ways to associate a unique IP address to a specific computer. One way is for the administrator to
assign a number, which stays the same unless somebody decides to change it some day. That number is then a
static IP address.
The other way is to assign a group of addresses to a server, and let the server hand them out as needed to any
system that wants to communicate on the network. This produces a dynamic IP address. It is sometimes
important to know which method is in use on a network, because with dynamic addressing, the IP address of a
machine may be different each time you try to communicate with it.
Computer Names
The example address 192.168.42.122 is only one digit longer than a phone number with area code, but that’s
plenty long enough to give most of us a hard time. It’s much easier for people to remember a name instead of a
number, and for this reason computers in a network are also given a unique name. It may be something mundane
like Sales14, but at least it’s a name and not a number.
This is not only easier to remember, but it solves the problem of a dynamic address that changes all the time,
because the computer name doesn’t normally change. It does create another problem though, because the
computers use only the addresses and not the names to keep track of each other. Fortunately there is a part of
the TCP/IP protocol called address resolution, and it matches up the names and addresses so things keep
rolling smoothly along.
Security

The problem with connecting computers to the Internet is that they are then sharing a network with many other
computers from all over the world, and the users of some of those other computers are not such nice folks.
Protecting the network and the information on it is one of the most important parts of a network administrator’s
job.
Encryption
One way to protect information is to scramble it so that it appears to be gibberish unless someone has the right
‘key’ to unscramble it. Scrambling it is called encryption, and unscrambling it is called decryption. There are
many ways to encrypt information, and of course just as many keys to decrypt it.
Encrypting and decrypting information slows things down a bit, so a decision must be made about when to use it.
For packets going around the LAN, it depends on how likely it is that someone will gain unauthorized access to
the LAN, called hacking. It also depends on how much damage would be done if that happened. If the threat is
severe, encryption can be done not only on the transmitted packets but also to information stored on the disk
drive.
For information going over the Internet, encryption is much more important unless it’s all right for the whole world
to see the information. If you send your credit card number to a vendor, you must trust that vendor to encrypt and
safeguard the information.
Virus Software
A computer virus is a little program that makes copies of itself to send to other computers. It’s very similar in some
ways to contagious germs spreading a disease from one person to the next. And like diseases, some of these
computer viruses have some really nasty side effects, like wiping out important files in the operating system or
filling up the hard drive with garbage data.
As we will discuss a little later, there are ways to keep these virus programs from getting to your computer, but
they are not foolproof. A lot of viruses come in attached to e-mail, and then they will mail copies of themselves to
everyone in your e-mail address folder. You can’t completely block them without blocking e-mail, and most of us
like to get e-mail from our friends and coworkers.
The most important prevention for viruses is to have a good anti-virus program installed on your computer.
Norton, McCaffey and Panda are probably the most popular. The next most important thing is to keep the anti-
virus software up-to-date, because the delinquents who write virus software are always coming up with new tricks,
and the anti-virus companies are just as quickly coming up with new versions to stop them.
Access Control
If you have ever had a computer that was connected to a local area network, you almost certainly had to type in a
user name and password to get network access. It’s two forms of ID, just like when you cash a check at
department store.
The network administrator used that identification information to determine what you could and couldn’t do on the
network. And there may have been additional passwords to access the company’ customer database, employee
payroll records, or files stored on someone else’s computer.
Here are a few tips about passwords:

1. First, if you share files on your computer, use password protection for them even if they are available to
everyone in the network. That way they can’t be tampered with if a hacker breaks in.
2. In choosing a password, never use your name, your birthday or other obvious personal information. The
best is a random combination of letters and numbers.
3. Commit the password to memory, and if you must write it down, hide it. A password written on a post-it
note stuck to your monitor is probably worse than no password at all.
4. Don’t give your password to someone you don’t know personally just because they claim to be tech
support, the phone company, the police or your long-lost Aunt Matilda. Refer them to the network
administrator, or better yet, get their phone number and have the network administrator call them back.
Firewalls
In a building, a firewall is a wall to keep fire from spreading from one area to another. In a computer network, a
firewall is a boundary that can block unwanted data packets. The firewall may be program running on the server
or router, or it may be a separate piece of hardware or even a complete computer system just for that purpose. In
any case, its purpose is to look at all of the packets coming through, and decide which ones can pass and which
ones get blocked.
Ports – Several pages ago, we defined a port as the place in a hub that a cable plugs into. There is another
completely different kind of thing called a port, and that is a location in a computer’s memory that is used by a
device or application to send and receive data. Each application will have one (or more) of these locations for its
own use.
For instance, there is a common e-mail program that has port # 110, which means that the program exchanges
information with the rest of the system at memory location 110. The popular game called Doom uses port # 666.
When a packet is sent over a network, it will contain not only the destination address, but also the port number of
the application that will use it at that destination. One of the ways a firewall controls the packets is by looking at
the port number, and only passing packets with ports that are appropriate for the destination. If nobody should be
playing Doom on the network’s computers, then it would make sense to block port 666.
Another way a firewall can control traffic is to look at the source of the packet. It can have a ‘prohibited’ list that
keeps out packets from certain IP addresses, or it can have an ‘allowed’ list and block everyone who isn’t on it.
Ports can be done the same way, with a ‘prohibited’ or ‘allowed’ list of ports.
Conclusion
There is much more to know about security, and about networks in general, if one is to be involved in managing
them. The purpose of this paper is to present just enough information to enable you talk with network
administrators and to understand their concerns when presenting network products to them. For additional
training in this subject, we recommend the Micro2000 A+ and Network+ courses.

Terms for Networking Course
802.11 : The IEEE standard for wireless networking.
Access point : The transceiver where a wireless node connects to the network. Also the control system in a
HyperLAN network.
Activation: The process of validating the Console and Client seat license information.
administrator: The person in charge of managing a system or network.
Advanced Encryption Standard : A 128-bit encryption used by some government agencies. Abbreviated AES.
Compare to DES, Data Encryption Standard.
alphanumeric: Consisting of letters and numbers. Names used in NT and RemoteScope must be made of
alphanumeric characters, with no spaces, symbols or punctuation except the dash and underscore.
Anti-virus Software: A utility to detect the intrusion of virus programs and limit their damage.
Application: A computer program to perform a specific task for the user, as opposed to the operating system that
runs the computer itself.
Architecture : The way something is built. Network architecture refers to the various ways a network can be put
together or implemented.
ASCII : American Standard Code for Information Interchange : A digital code for transmitting characters. The
format used by personal computers for data exchange.
Back Office : See Microsoft Back Office.
Bandwidth : The carrying capacity of a data channel, usually expressed in bps (bits per second). Also called
throughput or transfer rate.
bit : The smallest unit of information in a computer, either a zero or a one.
Boot ROM : A ROM chip added to a network card that allows a system with no local disk drive to access and boot
from an operating system residing on the server.
Bootleg : Something made or used illegally or without authorization. In software it refers to additional copies
installed on computers other than the one for which the software was licensed.
Bottleneck : A portion of a system or network that is slower than the rest of the data path, either because of its
throughput speed or because of multiple data streams converging at that point.
bps : Abbreviation for bits per second.
Bps : Abbreviation for bytes per second.
Bridge: a device for passing signals between two LANs or two segments of a LAN.

Broadcasting: Sending a message simultaneously to all systems of a network, without requiring an

acknowledgement. Compare to multi-casting.
brouter : A device combining the capabilities of a bridge and a router.
Browser : A program that allows viewing of HTML pages.
byte : A unit of digital data consisting of eight bits.
CAT 5 : The twisted-pair cable normally used for networks.
Cisco : A large supplier of networking hardware and software, including router and security products.
Client : 1. A workstation in a client-server network. 2. A system controlled by the Remote-Scope Console.
Client-server network : An arrangement where some programs, files or other resources are located on one
computer, called the server, but are available to other systems on the network, called clients.
Command line : In a text-based operating system, the line on which the user types instructions for the system.
Compression : A method of compacting data for storage or transfer.
Configuration : The way the parts of a system or network are arranged or connected.
Console : The primary RemoteScope program from which Clients are controlled. Also, the workstation on which it
is installed.
Data Encryption Standard : A common 56-bit encryption standard, and the one used by RemoteScope.
Abbreviated DES.
Data switch : A device used to connect multiple networks or segments. It differs from a hub in that packets are
routed to the proper port rather than being broadcast on all ports.
Dial-up connection : Accessing a network or the internet through a modem attached to a standard phone line.
Direct connection : The local connection to a network made by a network card, as opposed to the remote
connection made by a modem.
Distribution : Copying a file or software package to multiple Client systems.
DNS : Domain Name System.
Domain : An area under a single point of control. On the Internet there are different levels of control and each is a
domain. At the lowest level is each local area network that has its own network ID. Top-level domains are .com,
.org etc. In some operating systems such as NT, a domain is a group of associated computers within a LAN.
Domain Name System (also Domain Name Service): An Internet service that translates the domain names
used by people into the numeric IP addresses used for routing on the Internet. The domain name system is
actually a network of domain name (DNS) servers.

Download : Copy a file from another computer to one's own, over a network or from the Internet.
Driver : A file containing information the operating system needs to interact with a hardware device or software
module. In the case of hardware, it is usually called a device driver.
Dynamic addressing : Assigning IP addresses as needed from a pool of available addresses maintained on a
server, rather than assigning a fixed IP address to each system.
Encryption : Encoding data to protect it from being intercepted by unauthorized persons. RemoteScope encrypts
all data transmissions, all password and user name information, and some application files.
Ethernet : A widespread standard for local area networks. There are versions for coaxial cable, twisted pair cable,
fiber optic cable and wireless.
Exporting : Outputting report information in another format, to be used in a different application. RemoteScope
provides nearly 40 formats and variations for exporting report information.
Firewall : A barrier in a network that will only pass packets authorized to reach the other side.
Frame : A data structure used in network transmissions, consisting of one or more headers and a footer
bracketing a data packet.
Full Control : One of the three remote control modes. Only the user of the Console will be able to enter
keystrokes and mouse movements for the Client machine. The user at the Client has no keyboard or mouse
control.
Group : A collection of RemoteScope Clients assembled into a unit for common access. Actions can be taken
with all clients in a group simultaneously instead of one at a time.
Header : Data that comes in front of a data packet, containing address and handling information for that packet.
HTML : HyperText Markup Language. A program language for writing web pages that can include links to other
pages.
HTTP : HyperText Transfer Protocol. The standard for accessing HTML pages.
Hub : A device providing a central point of connection for network cables.
I/O port : A hex memory address used by a device or program to exchange data with the rest of the computer
system.
IEEE 802.11 : A common standard for wireless networking, issued by the IEEE.
Internet : A cooperative system linking computer networks worldwide.
Inventory : A list of the installed hardware, applications and operating system for a particular system, maintained
in a database at the Console.
Internet Protocol : The portion of the TCP/IP suite that specifies packet formatting, naming and routing.
Abbreviated IP.

IP address : A 32-bit number designating an individual machine on a network or on the Internet. It is usually listed
as four groups of three-digit decimal numbers.
IPv6 : A plan for expansion of the domain name system. It stands for Internet Protocol version 6.
IRQ : Interrupt ReQuest. The signal that a peripheral or program uses to request service from the CPU. There are
15 different IRQ values that can be used by system hardware.
ISP : Internet Service Provider. An organization providing access to the Internet.
ISS file : A file created for a silent or unattended install using InstallShield. It contains a record of all the
keystrokes required to complete the installation. ISS stands for InstallShield Silent Response.
LAN : Local Area Network. A group of computers connected to each other by cable or some form of wireless
technology, and usually located within the same building.
log on : Gain access as a current user of a system or network, usually by entering a user ID and password.
Mbps : Megabits per second. A data transfer rate of one million bits each second.
Messaging : A form of network communication that appears instantly on the monitor of the receiving system. Also
called instant messaging.
Microsoft Back Office : A collective term for server functions other than domain controller, such as file and print
server, on a Microsoft network.
Modem : A device for sending computer data over a voice phone line. Modem stands for modulate/demodulate.
Multi-Casting : Sending a message simultaneously to a select group of systems. Compare to broadcasting.
Name resolution : The process of converting a people-friendly alphanumeric system name or domain name into
the IP address recognized by the network.
NetWare : A network server operating system from Novell.
Network : A system or group of interconnected elements. A computer network is a group of computers and
peripherals connected together to communicate with each other and to share information and resources.
Network adapter card : A plug-in expansion card with a connection for a network cable, or an antenna for
wireless transmission. Also called a network interface card or NIC.
NIC : Network Interface Card. A plug-in expansion card with a connection for a network cable, or an antenna for
wireless transmission. Also called a network adapter card.
node : Any point in a network that can influence the flow of data on that network. This usually refers to each of the
systems and peripherals on the network that have their own physical device address.
Novell : A software company that produces NetWare and other networking products.
NT : Windows NT, an operating system from Microsoft.

Offline : Not available to the network.
Online : Turned on and connected to the network.
Operating system : The master control program that runs the computer and allows it to execute applications.
OS X : The latest operating system for Macintosh computers, based on the Linux kernel but with a more user-
friendly graphic interface. It includes networking capabilities.
Packet : A block of information configured for transmission over a network.
Password : A string of characters that a user must enter to gain access to a resource that is password-protected.
PC Anywhere : A common program used for control of a remote system.
Peer-to-peer : A small network where each computer has equal status and control. Compare to client-server.
Port : An address in memory used to transfer data into and out of a system. TCP/IP needs a port number to be
able to provide the communication connection. RemoteScope allows configuring the Port number between
10000~50000.
Protocol : An agreed-upon standard for how something will be done. Computer protocols are rules for the
exchange of information.
Proxy server : A server that sits between a client and a web server and represents itself to each end as being the
other. It can be used in two ways. For the web server it can cache frequently accessed pages to reduce the web-
server's traffic. For security of the LAN clients it can present a single IP address to the Internet and prevent direct
access to the rest of the LAN.
Remote Access Service : The protocol used in Windows NT and its successors to provide remote dial-in access
to a network running Windows NT or its successors. Abbreviated RAS.
Remote connection: The link between a modem and a network through a dial-up connection. Compare to the
direct connection made by a network card.
Repeater: A device to boost network signals transmitted over a long span.
RJ-11 : A four-wire jack used with Cat3 cable for telephone
RJ-45 : An eight-wire jack used with Cat5 cable and Ethernet cabling.
Rollout: Installing new software or updates to multiple systems in a network.
Router: An intelligent packet sorting device, used to route traffic on a network or between networks.
Sniffer: A utility program that captures packets going over a network.
SOHO network : Small Office / Home Office network, often peer-to-peer.

Static addressing: Assigning a specific IP address permanently to a specific system. Compare to dynamic
addressing.
Subnet: A LAN that is part of a larger logical network.
System administrator: A person who manages and maintains a network of computers or a large multi-user
computer.
TCP/IP : A suite of communication protocols used on the Internet and other networks. It stands for Transmission
Control Protocol / Internet Protocol.
Template: A document or other file used as a standard to create other documents and files. The template will
already contain the properties and content that are common to those files created with the template so that they
do not have to be re-created or re-entered each time.
Throughput: A measure of the amount of data transferred in a specific amount of time, usually expressed as bits
per second (bps).
Tree: A way of organizing information in a hierarchy, with primary levels that have branches and sub-branches
under them.
Tutorial videos: A collection of video clips on the RemoteScope CD that that give a visual presentation of the
more common tasks. Highly recommended for new users.
UNIX : Any of a group of operating systems derived from an original program written at AT&T and licensed to
universities. The trademark to the name UNIX is owned by Novell, who sells a version called UnixWare.
User: A person who requires a computer for the performance of a task or recreational activity. Also called an end-
user.
User ID: The series of characters a system or network uses to distinguish one user from another. Also called a
user name.
Virus: A program that cause damage either by deleting or corrupting files, or by interfering with computer
operations by reproducing itself to fill up disk or RAM space. Originally the term applied only to the reproducing
kind but it has come to mean any deliberately harmful software.
Virtual Private Network : A secure connection created over a public network by using tunneling-mode
encryption. Abbreviated VPN.
WAN: Wide Area Network. A connection between computers or networks located in separate cities or area codes.
Windows NT : The first full-featured network operating system from Microsoft, replaced by Windows 2000 but still
in widespread use.
Workgroup: A group of systems within a network that share specific resources.
WWW : The World Wide Web. That portion of the Internet that uses linking HTML pages.

Basic Tools for Networking
Crimping Tools UTP Cable RJ – 45 Repeaters LAN Card
Bridge Switches Router Hub
Coaxial Cable Cable Ties Screws Pliers
Multimeter Soldering Iron Desoldering Tool LAN Tester
Wireless Hub Bluetooth Device Telephone Cable Modem

Local Area Networking
Data Communications
Data Communications
 Is any system of computers, computer terminals or computer peripheral equipment used to

transmit/receive information between two or more locations
Data Network Classifications
 Local Area Networks

ex. Office Computer System
 Metropolitan Area Networks

ex . Bank to bank computer access

 Wide Area Networks
ex. Continental business access

 Global Area Networks
ex. Internet and Satellite Communications
Data Network Classifications
Local Area Networks
- A data network
covering a relatively
small geographical
area.
Metropolitan Area Networks
- A data network
designed for a town or city.
In terms of geographic breadth,
MANs are larger than local
area networks (LANs), but
smaller than wide-area
networks (WANs).
Wide Area Networks
- A data networks that

serve users across a broad
geographic area and often
uses transmission devices
provided by common carriers.
Global Area Networks
- A data networks
designed to interconnect
computer systems around
the entire globe.

Networking Media
Copper Media
- Twisted Pair
ex. Unshielded Twisted Pair
Twisted Pair
ex. Shielded Twisted Pair
Coaxial Cable
- Thinnet (RG-58) for - Thicknet (RG-8 or RG-11) 10Base2

ethernet network 10Base5 ethernet network

Reason behind twisting
 Cancellation
 Differential signal generation

Optical Media
- Fiber Optic Cable

ex. Single Mode FOC
Most Commonly Used Medium In Local Area Networking
 Twisted Pair

- UTP Cat 5 and above
Unshielded Twisted Pair
 The following summarizes the features of UTP Cable:
 SPEED AND THROUGHPUT = 10 to 1000 Mbps
 AVERAGE COST PER NODE = Least expensive
 MEDIA AND CONNECTOR SIZE = Small
 MAXIMUM CABLE LENGTH = 100 m
UTP Cabling Types
 Cat 1 – Used for telephone communication

 Cat 2 – Capable of transmitting data at speeds up to 4 Mbps
 Cat 3 – Used in 10BASET ethernet at speeds up to 10 Mbps
 Cat 4 – Used in Token Ring Networks at speeds up to 16 Mbps
 Cat 5 – Used in Fast ethernet at speeds up to 100 Mbps
 Cat 5e – Gigabit Ethernet speeds up to 1000 Mbps
 Cat 6 – Used in 10Gigabit Ethernet
 Cat 7 – Used in 10Gigabit Ethernet and above
UTP Implementation
 Cable Specification or Standards are set of rules or procedures that are widely
used and serve as the accepted method of performing a task.

A. TIA/EIA-568-A
- This is a commercial building standard for telecommunications pathways and
spaces.
 Types of UTP Network Cable
a. Straight-through cable – a cable that maintains the pin connection.
Applications of a straight-through cable
a. Switch to router
a. Switch to PC or server

a. Hub to PC or router
b. Crossover cable – a cable that crosses the critical pair to properly align, transmit and
receive signals on the device with line connection.
Applications of a crossover cable
a. Switch to switch
b. Switch to hub
c. Hub to hub
d. Router to PC
e. PC to PC
f. Router to router
Pin Locations on RJ45 Connectors
TIA/EIA-568-A TIA/EIA-568-B
Pin-outs Pin-outs
1 = White Green 1 = White Orange
2 = Green 2 = Orange
3 = White Orange 3 = White Green
4 = Blue 4 = Blue
5 = White Blue 5 = White Blue
6 = Orange 6 = Green
7 = White Brown 7 = White Brown
8 = Brown 8 = Brown
Pin Outs on RJ45 Connectors
TIA/EIA-568-A

Pin-outs Pin-outs
1 = White Green - - - - - - - - RD/TD + 1 = White Orange - - - - - - - - - RD/TD +
2 = Green - - - - - - - - - - - - - RD/TD - 2 = Orange - - - - - - - - - - - - - - RD/TD -
3 = White Orange - - - - - - - -TD/RD + 3 = White Green - - - - - - - - - - -TD/RD +
4 = Blue 4 = Blue
5 = White Blue 5 = White Blue
6 = Orange - - - - - - - - - - - - TD/RD - 6 = Green - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - TD/RD -
7 = White Brown 7 = White Brown
8 = Brown 8 = Brown
 RD – RECEIVE SIGNAL
 TD – TRANSMIT SIGNAL
 Ethernet Standards for RJ45 Connector

Networking Connectors
 Copper Media Connectors
- Twisted Pair Cable Connectors and Jacks

ex. RJ45 male jack ex. RJ45 module female jack
 Twisted Pair Connectors (communication cables, 25-pair cables)

ex UY Connectors

 Coaxial Cable Connectors
 Optical Media Connectors

- Fiber Optic Cable Connectors
ST- Connector SC – Connector

- A structural guideline for information transfer

- A great compatibility and interoperability among various
types of network technologies.
O S I LAYER MODEL
 The Open Systems Interconnection Reference Model (OSI Model or OSI Reference
Model for short) is a reference model provided vendors with a set of standards
that ensured greater compatibility and interoperability among various types of
network technologies that were produced by many companies around the world.
 Is a primary model used as a guideline for network communications
 It defines the network functions that occur at each layer
 It is a framework that facilitates an understanding of how information travels
throughout a network.



Networking Devices
 Repeaters
- a device that simply regenerate or amplify the network signals at the bit level.
- Layer 1 of the OSI model dependent

 Hub
- a common connection point of the network and simply act as a repeater.
- multiport repeater device Layer 1 dependent
 Network Interface Cards
- An expansion board you insert into a computer so the computer can be

connected to a network.
- Layer 2 device because it carries a unique physical address called Media
Access Control address.

 Bridge
- A device use to create 2 or more LAN segments, each of which is a separate
collision domain.
- Filters network traffic by simply seeing the MAC address. A layer 2 device
 Switches
- Are data link layer devices that let multiple LAN segments be interconnected
into single networks. A layer 2 device same as bridge.
 Router

- is an internetworking device that passes data packets between networks based

on Layer 3 addresses.
- makes decisions regarding the best path for delivery of data on the network.
Network Topologies
(Most common topologies)
 STAR – a multipoint data network where stations are connected by a cable directly to a
central common concentration point.
 BUS – multipoint data network that makes it relatively simple to control data flow
between and among the computers because this configuration allows all station to
receive every transmission over the network

 RING – multipoint data network where all the stations are connected in series to form a
close loop circle.
LAN Transmission Formats

TRANSMISSION IS SIMPLY A DATA TRANSFER
 Baseband Technology
- A type of data transmission in which digital or analog data is sent over a single
unmultiplexed channel, such as an Ethernet LAN. Baseband transmission use TDM to send
simultaneous bits of data along the full bandwidth of the transmission channel.
 Broadband Technology
- Broadband transmission formats use the connecting media as a multichannel device

with each channel occupies a different frequency band within the total allocated bandwidth.

Workstation and Server Relationships
 Peer-to-peer network (workgroup PC)
- a networked computer that acts as equal partners, or peers, to each

other.
- Each computer with in the network can take on the client function or
the server function.
 Client-Server Network
- In a client-server arrangement, network services are located on a
dedicated computer called a server, which responds to the request of
clients.
GLOSSARY
 ACCESS POINT - In a wireless local area network (WLAN), an access point is a station
that transmits and receives data (sometimes referred to as a transceiver).
 BANDWIDTH – The total allowable information that can pass through the medium.
 BITS - A bit (short for binary digit) is the smallest unit of data in a computer.
 COAXIAL CABLE - A type of wire that consists of a center wire surrounded by
insulation and then a grounded shield of braided wire. The shield minimizes electrical
and radio frequency interference.
 DIFFERENTIAL SIGNAL – A signal that is only its mirror image of each other.
 ETHERNET – A common LAN specification or standard for designing or
implementation.
 FDM - Frequency-division multiplexing (FDM) is a scheme in which numerous signals
are combined for transmission on a single communications line or channel. Each signal
is assigned a different frequency (subchannel) within the main channel.

 FIBER OPTIC CABLE - A technology that uses glass (or plastic) threads (fibers) to
transmit data. A fiber optic cable consists of a bundle of glass threads, each of which is
capable of transmitting messages modulated onto light waves.
 FRAMES - In telecommunications, a frame is data that is transmitted between network
points as a unit complete with addressing and necessary protocol control information.
 INTEROPERABILITY – The ability of software/hardware in different machines from
different vendors to share data.
 MAC ADDRESS - In a local area network (LAN) or other network, the MAC (Media
Access Control) address is your computer's unique hardware number. (On an Ethernet
LAN, it's the same as your Ethernet address.)
 MAGNETIC FIELD – A field that is generated when electric charge carriers such as
electrons move through space or within an electrical conductor.
 MEDIA/MEDIUM – Any matter that is used to have a data transfer from one point to
another.
 MULTI-MODE FIBER CABLE – A fiber cable allows multiple paths of light to propagate
through the fiber optic core.
 MULTIPLEX - Multiplexing is sending multiple signals or streams of information on a
carrier at the same time in the form of a single, complex signal and then recovering the
separate signals at the receiving end.
 NOISE – Unwanted signal present in the information signal
 PACKETS - A packet is the unit of data that is routed between an origin and a
destination on the Internet or any other packet-switched network.
 RJ-45 – A registered jack is a physical interface often used for terminating twisted pair
type cables.
 SC CONNECTOR - A fiber-optic cable connector that uses a push-pull latching
mechanism similar to common audio and video cables. For multimode fiber.
 SINGLE-MODE FIBER CABLE – Uses only one mode of light to propagate through the
fiber optic core.
 ST CONNECTOR - A fiber-optic cable connector that uses a bayonet plug and socket. It
was the first de facto standard connector for most commercial wiring. For Single-mode
fiber
 TDM - Time-division multiplexing (TDM) is a method of putting multiple data streams in
a single signal by separating the signal into many segments, each having a very short
duration. Each individual data stream is reassembled at the receiving end based on the
timing.
 THROUGHPUT – The actual received information of the medium in a given time.
 TIA/EIA – Telecommunications Industry Association/Electronics Industry Association
 TWISTED PAIR CABLE - A type of cable that consists of two independently insulated
wires twisted around one another. The use of two wires twisted together helps to reduce
crosstalk and electromagnetic induction.

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Unit of Competency Configure Computer Systems and Networks ELC724320 – CN 25

Module Title Configuring Computer Systems and Networks Page 1 of 38

Computer  Plan and Prepare

CHS NC II, ICT Dept, Picardal Institute of Science and Technology

Basic Computer Network Information

There are three main reasons for connecting computers in a network:

CHS NC II, ICT Dept, Picardal Institute of Science and Technology

CHS NC II, ICT Dept, Picardal Institute of Science and Technology

5-port hub ports

3-hub star network

CHS NC II, ICT Dept, Picardal Institute of Science and Technology

Switch with 4 subnets

Route path diagram

CHS NC II, ICT Dept, Picardal Institute of Science and Technology

Clients and Servers

CHS NC II, ICT Dept, Picardal Institute of Science and Technology

An IP address is made up of four sets of numbers separated by periods. An example is:

CHS NC II, ICT Dept, Picardal Institute of Science and Technology

Here are a few tips about passwords:

CHS NC II, ICT Dept, Picardal Institute of Science and Technology

CHS NC II, ICT Dept, Picardal Institute of Science and Technology

Terms for Networking Course

802.11 : The IEEE standard for wireless networking.

administrator: The person in charge of managing a system or network.

Back Office : See Microsoft Back Office.

bit : The smallest unit of information in a computer, either a zero or a one.

bps : Abbreviation for bits per second.

Bps : Abbreviation for bytes per second.

CHS NC II, ICT Dept, Picardal Institute of Science and Technology

Broadcasting: Sending a message simultaneously to all systems of a network, without requiring an

brouter : A device combining the capabilities of a bridge and a router.

Browser : A program that allows viewing of HTML pages.

byte : A unit of digital data consisting of eight bits.

CAT 5 : The twisted-pair cable normally used for networks.

Client : 1. A workstation in a client-server network. 2. A system controlled by the Remote-Scope Console.

Compression : A method of compacting data for storage or transfer.

Distribution : Copying a file or software package to multiple Client systems.

DNS : Domain Name System.

CHS NC II, ICT Dept, Picardal Institute of Science and Technology

Hub : A device providing a central point of connection for network cables.

Internet : A cooperative system linking computer networks worldwide.

CHS NC II, ICT Dept, Picardal Institute of Science and Technology

ISP : Internet Service Provider. An organization providing access to the Internet.

Multi-Casting : Sending a message simultaneously to a select group of systems. Compare to broadcasting.

NetWare : A network server operating system from Novell.

NT : Windows NT, an operating system from Microsoft.

CHS NC II, ICT Dept, Picardal Institute of Science and Technology

Offline : Not available to the network.

Online : Turned on and connected to the network.

Packet : A block of information configured for transmission over a network.

PC Anywhere : A common program used for control of a remote system.

Repeater: A device to boost network signals transmitted over a long span.

RJ-11 : A four-wire jack used with Cat3 cable for telephone

Rollout: Installing new software or updates to multiple systems in a network.

Sniffer: A utility program that captures packets going over a network.

SOHO network : Small Office / Home Office network, often peer-to-peer.

CHS NC II, ICT Dept, Picardal Institute of Science and Technology

Subnet: A LAN that is part of a larger logical network.

Workgroup: A group of systems within a network that share specific resources.

CHS NC II, ICT Dept, Picardal Institute of Science and Technology

Basic Tools for Networking

Crimping Tools UTP Cable RJ – 45 Repeaters LAN Card