Networks and

Communications

By:
Prof. Rose Bella T. Lacanilao
 Technical Terms:

• Node – any device attached to the network.

• Workstation – most common type of a node.
• Client – a type of computer that request
information.
• Host – a type of computer that provides
information requested.
• Server – a powerful computer whose sole purpose
is to serve network clients.
• Topology - the layout pattern of computers within
a network.
• Protocols – rules for exchanging data between
computers.
What is A Network?
a set of technologies – including
hardware, software, and media-
that can be used to connect
computers together, enabling them
to communicate, exchange
information, and share resources in
real time
What is Network?
A computer network is a group of
interconnected computers.

It allows computers to communicate

with each other and to share
resources and information.
A Simple Network
Device Sharing
Sharing of:
o Hardware
o Software
o Information
Uses of Network
o Simultaneous Access

o Shared Peripheral Devices

o Personal Communications
Simultaneous Access
Shared Peripheral Devices
 Personal Communications

videoconferencing – enables real-time

communication over a distance by
allowing people at two or more sites to
communicate at each other by seeing
video picture of the people at the other
sites
Advantages of Computer Networks

• Resource Sharing – all resources will

be delivered to users as long as there is
a reliable connectivity
• File Sharing – it provides people with
access to share their files easily
• Flexibility – you will have the
accessibility to all information that
you need
Advantages of Computer Networks

• Inexpensive - Installing networking

software would not cost too much and
there is no need to change the software
regularly
• Increases storage capacity - You can
access files which you store remotely
on other machines or network-attached
storage devices
Disadvantages of Computer Networks

• Security Issues – There are illegal

activities on a network, especially on
the web, which you need to be aware
and careful of
• Presence of computer viruses and
malware – There would be instances
that stored files are corrupted due to
computer viruses
Disadvantages of Computer Networks

• It requires an expensive set-up –

Though computer networks are said to
be inexpensive system when it is
running, its initial set up cost can be
still high depending on the number of
computers and network hardware
connected
 Common Types of Networks

• LAN (Local Area Network)

• WAN (Wide Area Network)

• CAN (Campus Area Network)

• MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

Local Area Network (LAN)
o A network of computers and other devices that is
confined to a relatively small space, such as one
building or even one office
o Contains printers, servers and computers
o Systems are close to each other
o Organizations often have several LANS

back
Wide Area Networks (WAN)
o A network that connects two or more geographically
distinct LANs or MANs.
o WANs commonly connect separate offices in the
same organization whether they are across town or
across the world.
o Over a large geographic area
o Typically use public or leased lines
o Phone lines
o Satellite
o The Internet is a WAN
Wide Area Networks (WAN)
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
o A network that is larger than a LAN and
connects clients and servers from multiple
buildings
o Large network that connects different
organizations
o not owned by a single organization
o communication devices and equipment are
usually maintained by a group or single
network provider that it sells its networking
services to corporate customers

back
Campus Area Networks (CAN)

• follows the same principles as a

local area network, only on a large
and more diversified scale
• allows different campus offices
and organizations can be linked
together
Home Area Network (HAN)

• a network contained within a user’s

home that connects a person’s digital
devices.

• Cell phones, PDAs, MP3 players

LANs, MANs, and WANs
Intranet – company’s internal network
that uses Internet technologies

Extranet – partially accessible internal

company website for authorized users
physically located outside the
organization
How Networks are Structured

• Server Based Network

• Client / Server
• Peer to Peer (P2PN)
Server-Based Network

• Includes many nodes and one or more

servers
• Users must log on to the network to gain
access to its resources
• Ex. File server network

A node is a processing location that can be a PC

or some other device such as networked printer
Server Based Advantages

• Central security/ accounts/ access

• Simplify network administration
• Powerful/ efficient access to
resources
• Single password for each user
• Best for high use, user, networks
 Server Based Disadvantages

• Server failure results in unusable

network
• Server failure results in loss of resources
• Expert staff to manage increases cost
• Dedicated hardware increases cost
• Dedicated software increases cost
Client/Server network
• Uses a central computer, known as server, to
facilitate communication and resource sharing
between other computers on the network, which
are known as clients
• Nodes and servers share data roles
• Allows individual computers share processing and
storage workload with a central server
• Nodes are called clients
• Servers are used to control access
• Server is the most important computer
Client/Server Networks
Peer to peer networks (P2PN)
• Simplest form of a network that every computer
can communicate directly with every other
computer
• All nodes are equal
• All have similar types of software
• Each node controls its own resources
• Uses no other software than their PC’s own multi-
user OS
Peer-to-peer Network
Peer-to-peer Network
Peer to Peer Advantages
• Easy to install & configure
• Users control individual shared
resources
• Inexpensive to purchase & operate
• No Network Administrator
• Best for 10 or fewer users
Peer to Peer Disadvantages

• Security for only a single resource at

a time
• Users may need to know many
passwords
• Individual machine backups
• Speed decreases while sharing
• No central location/access of data
Network Topologies
Topology - Logical layout of cables and devices
Packets – pieces of a message broken down into
small units; data moves through network in a form
of packets

• Bus topology
• Star topology
• Ring topology
• Mesh topology
BUS TOPOLOGY
Consists of a single cable, called the bus, that
connects all the nodes on a network without
intervening connectivity devices

Advantages
• Easy to setup
• Small amount of wire

Disadvantages
• Slow
• Easy to crash
BUS TOPOLOGY
STAR TOPOLOGY
• Every node on the network is connected
through a central device

Advantages
• Easy to setup
• One cable can not crash network

Disadvantages
• One hub crashing downs entire network
• Uses lots of cable
STAR TOPOLOGY
RING TOPOLOGY
• Each node is connected to the two nearest nodes so
that the entire network forms a circle
• Data are transmitted clockwise in one direction
around the ring
• If the ring is broken, the network is unable to
communicate
Advantages
•Time to send data is known
• No data collisions
Disadvantages
• Slow
• Lots of cable
RING TOPOLOGY
MESH TOPOLOGY
• All computers connected together
• Least used network topology
• Most inexpensive to implement
• Internet is a mesh network

Advantage
• Data will always be delivered

Disadvantages
• Lots of cable

• Hard to setup
 TREE

• Hierarchal Model

• Advantages
• Scaleable
• Easy Implementation
• Easy Troubleshooting
Network Media

Media refers to the means used to link a network’s

nodes together

Wired Based Media

▪ Twisted-pair cable
▪ Coaxial cable
▪ Fiber-optic cable
Twisted-pair cable
• A type of cable that consist of two independently
insulated wires twisted around one another
• It is widely used for telephone communication
and a medium for networking
• Most common LAN cable
• Four pairs of copper cable twisted
 Coaxial cable

• A type of wire that consists of a center wire

surrounded by insulation and then a grounded shield
of braided wire.
• It found success in both TV signal transmission and
network implementation
• Nearly obsolete
Fiber-optic cable
• A technology that uses glass (or plastic) threads
(fibers) to transmit data.
• It consists of a bundle of glass threads, each of
which is capable of transmitting messages
modulated onto light waves
• Very secure
• Hard to work with
• Speeds up to 100 Gbps
Wireless Media
• Data transmitted through the air

• LANs use radio waves

• WANs use microwave signals

• Easy to setup

• Difficult to secure
Wireless Media
 Infrared (IR) – sends signals using infrared light
waves; mobile computers and devices

 Broadcast radio – distributes radio signals through the

air

 Cellular radio – used widely for mobile

communications

 Microwaves – radio waves that provide high speed

signal transmission

 Communication satellite – space station that receives

microwave signals from an earth-based station
Types of Networking Devices
Network Hub
• It is the most basic networking device that
connects multiple computers or other
network devices together.
• A network hub has no routing tables or
intelligence on where to send information
and broadcasts all network data across each
connection
Network Switch
• A networking device that connects devices
together on a computer network by using
packet switching to receive, process, and
forward data to the destination device.
Router
• Are small electronic devices that join multiple
computer networks together via either wired or
wireless connections.
• A router is connected to at least two networks,
commonly two LANs or WANs or a LAN and its
ISP’s network
• used to translate information from one network
to another
Repeater
• A network device that receive and retransmit
incoming electrical, wireless or optical signals.
• It attempts to preserve signal integrity and
extend the distance over which data can safely
travel
• It boosts a network’s signal as it passes through
Network Interface Card
(NIC)
• Also known as network adapter card or
network card
• A network device that enable a node to
receive and transmit data over the
network media
• NICs contain a transceiver, which
transmits and receives data signals
Network Interface
Card (NIC)
Network Protocols
• Each LAN is governed by a protocol
• Agreed-upon format for transmitting data
between two devices
• Takes the form of software or hardware
installed on every computer on the
network
Examples of Protocols

• TCP/IP for the Internet

• IPX/SPX for Novell
• NetBIOS/NetBEUI for Microsoft
• 802.11 (Wi-Fi) – wireless devices communicate
over the air with each other
• Bluetooth – use short range radio waves to
transmit data
 Examples of Protocols
o IRDA – transmit data via infrared (IR) light
waves

o RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)

o WiMax – also known as 802.16

o WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) – how

smart phones and PDAs can display content
of Internet services
 DATA COMMUNICATIONS

Dial-Up Line is a temporary connection that uses

one or more analog telephone lines for
communications. Using it to transmit data is
similar to using the telephone to make a call.

Modem (short for modulator/demodulator) is a

device needed to translate digital signals into
analog signals that can travel over standard
telephone lines
 DATA COMMUNICATIONS
Bits per Second (bps) modem’s transmission
speed (the rate at which it can send data)
measurement

Broadband is used to describe any data

communication that can transmit data faster than
is possible through a standard dial-up connection
using modem.
 DATA COMMUNICATIONS
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is a very popular
technology, especially with home users. Transmit
at fast speeds on existing standard copper
telephone wiring. Some DSL installations include
dial tone, providing users with both voice and
data communications.
 WIRELESS NETWORKS
802.11 Or Wi-Fi is a wireless standard that is
becoming very popular follows the family of
specification. The 802.11b standard describes
specifications for wireless speed up to 11 Mbps.

Wireless Access Point (WAP) to create a

wireless LAN, a wireless access point is needed.
In a wireless environment, single or multiple PCs
can connect through a single wireless access
point.