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P-5 Communications, Networks, & Safeguards PDF
P-5 Communications, Networks, & Safeguards PDF
P-5 Communications, Networks, & Safeguards PDF
McGraw-Hill
Communications, Networks, &
Safeguards 6
McGraw-Hill
6-3
6.2 Networks
What’s a Network?
A system of interconnected computers, telephones,
and/or other communications devices that can
communicate with one another and share applications
and data
6.2 Networks
Benefits of Networks
Share peripheral devices, such as printers, scanners, disk
drives
Share programs and data
Better communications, including email
Security of information, because of improved backup
systems
Access to shared databases
6.2 Networks
Category Description
WAN – Wide Area Network Covers a wide geographic area, such as a
country or the world; largest WAN is the internet
MAN – Metropolitan Area Network Covers a city or a suburb
LAN – Local Area Network Connects computers and devices in a limited
geographic area such as an office, a building, or
a group of nearby buildings
HAN – Home Area Network Uses wired, cable, or wireless connections to
link a household’s digital devices
PAN – Personal Area Network Uses short-range wireless technology to connect
an individual’s personal electronics, such as
cellphone, PDA, MP3 player, notebook PC, and
printer
Home Automatic Network Relies on very inexpensive, very short-range,
low-power wireless technology to link switches
and sensors around the house and outdoors
© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill
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6.2 Networks
How Networks Are Structured: Two Principal
Structures
1. Client/Server
Consists of clients, which are computers that request data,
and servers, which are computers that supply data
File servers act like a network-based shared disk drive
Database servers store data but don’t store programs
Print servers connect one or more printers and schedule
and control print jobs
Mail servers manage email
6.2 Networks
How Networks Are Structured: Two Principal
Structures (continued)
2. Peer-to-Peer (P2P)
All computers on the network are ―equal‖ and communicate
directly with one another, without relying on servers
6.2 Networks
6.2 Networks
Intranets, Extranets, & VPNs
Intranets—use infrastructure and standards of the
internet and the web, but for an organization’s internal
use only
Extranets—similar to intranets but allows use by selected
outside entities, such as suppliers
VPNs—virtual private networks: use a public network
(usually the internet) plus intranets and extranets to
connect an organization’s various sites) but on a private
basis, via encryption and authentication; regular internet
users do not have access to the VPN’s data and
information
© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill
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6.2 Networks
Network Components
Wired/Wireless Connections
wired = twisted-pair, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable
wireless = infrared, microwave, Wi-Fi, satellite
Hosts and Nodes: Client/server network has a host
computer, which controls the network; a node is any
device attached to the network.
Packets– fixed-length blocks of data for transmission;
reassembled after transmission; a packet is also called a
datagram, a segment, a block, a cell, or a frame,
depending on the protocol.
© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill
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6.2 Networks
Network Components (continued)
Network Linking Devices
Protocol—set of conventions, or rules, governing the exchange of
data between hardware and/or software components in the
network; built into the hardware or software you are using
Hub—Common connection point for devices on a network; has
multiple ports and can send to all connected devices
Switch—Device that connects computers to a network; sends only
to intended recipients
Bridge—Interface that connects same type of networks
Gateway—Interface that connects dissimilar networks
6.2 Networks
Network Components (continued)
Network Linking Devices(continued)
Router—Special computer that directs messages among several
networks
Backbone—The main internet highway that connects all networks
in an organization; includes gateways, routers, etc.
NIC—Network interface card; inserted in a slot on the
motherboard, enables computer to operate as part of a network
NOS—network operating system; the system software that
manages network activity
Components of Networks
6.2 Networks
Topologies: Bus, Ring, Star
Bus – all nodes are connected to a single wire or cable
6.2 Networks
Topologies
Ring – all nodes are
connected in a
continuous loop
6.2 Networks
Topologies
Star – all nodes are
connected through a
central host
6.2 Networks
Packet Collision Schemes (Protocols)
Collisions happen when two data packets are going
opposite directions on shared media
Ethernet – deals with LAN collisions
All devices send data at once
Collisions happen regularly
Data is resent until it arrives
Token ring – avoids LAN collisions
Devices take turns sending data
Token is sent around the ring
Wait to get the token, then send data
© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill
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