NETWORKING

Understanding Networks:
These days no organisation can work efficiently without networking its resources. It has become a primary
requirement for any workplace. A network can be with wires or wireless. Better operating systems are
making networks more secure and ensure that data is secure.

What is a Computer Network?

A computer network is a set of computers connected together for the purpose of sharing resources. The
most common resource shared today is connection to the Internet. Other shared resources can include a
printer or a file server. Networks are commonly categorized based on their characteristics.

Computers on a network may be linked through cables, telephone lines, radio waves, satellites or infrared
light beams.
Things you need to form a basic network:

An Ethernet cable A Hub A LAN card

Besides computers, one requires network interface cards, a hub or switch, network software and Ethernet
cables to form computer network. Networking software like Windows NT, control and manage all types of
activities on the network. The software works with the hardware to create a networking environment on each
computer, allowing the user to access/ view shared files and resources. It also allows for administration of
the network.
1. Hubs and switches both join PCs in a network together. A hub receives data from one computer and
copies the data to other ports on it. A switch does the same job, but filters the data and then copies it
to other ports. A router connects two different networks together (Ex: the home network with
internet.)
2. An Ethernet cable plugs into a network card located in each computer on the LAN.

Advantages of a Network:

Allows File Sharing

When computers are connected together, the shared folders can be viewed easily by all the computers
connected together.
Provides Convenient Resource Sharing
This is another benefit of computer networking. This is very important particularly for large companies which
deal with a large number of employees and resources need to be shared among the employees. By
connecting the resources (say a printer) with the network, any employee can use the same printer when in
need instead of the company shelling out money for many printers.
Flexible to be Used
Computer networking allows for flexibility. This means that the network allows us to connect / disconnect
systems based on need.
Internet Service
Computer networks provide internet service over the entire network. Every single computer attached to the
network can experience high speed internet.
Reliable
Computer networks are reliable with respect to the functioning of the network. If one of the attached
systems collapses, the entire network does not collapse and does not cause the organization to be shut
down. Moreover, the lost data can be recovered from another system attached to the same network.
Security
Files and programs on a network can be password protected and specific users can be given different
access rights to folders and files. This allows access to authorized users only.

Classification of Networks

● Classification by network geography

● Classification by component roles

Classification by network geography:

Computer networks can be characterized by their size as well as their purpose.

The size of a network can be expressed by the geographic area they occupy and the number of computers
that are part of the network. Networks can cover anything from a handful of devices within a single room to
millions of devices spread across the entire globe.

Some of the different networks based on size are:

● Local area network, or LAN

● Metropolitan area network, or MAN
● Wide area network, or WAN

Local Area Networks

Local area networks (LANs) are used to connect networking devices that are in a small area, such as a
floor of a building, the building itself, or a campus environment. A LAN is very useful for sharing resources,
such as data storage and printers. LANs are inexpensive to install.

Metropolitan Area Networks

A metropolitan area network, or MAN, consists of a computer network across an entire city, college campus
or small region. A MAN is larger than a LAN, which is typically limited to a single building or site. MANs use
high-speed connections such as fiber optics to achieve higher speeds.
Wide Area Networks
A wide area network, or WAN, occupies a very large area, such as an entire country or the entire world. A
WAN can contain multiple smaller networks, such as LANs or MANs. The Internet is the best-known
example of a public WAN.These use long distance telecommunication networks for connection, thereby
increasing the cost.

Classification by Component Roles:

Networks can also be classified according to the roles that the networked computers
play in the network’s operation.
❏ Peer-to-peer
❏ Client - server-based
Peer-to-peer:

In a peer-to-peer network, all computers are considered equal. Each computer controls its own information.
Peer-to-peer networks are inexpensive and most operating systems come with built-in peer-to-peer
networking capability.
Each peer shares resources and allows others open access to them.
Peer-to-peer networks become difficult to manage when more security is added to resources, since the
users control their security by password-protecting shares.
Shares can be document folders, printers, peripherals, and any other resource that they control on their
computers.

Client - Server-based:

A server-based network offers centralized control and is designed for secure operations.
In a server-based network, a dedicated server controls the network.
A dedicated server is one that services the network by storing data, applications, resources, and also
provides access to resources required by the client.
These servers can also control the network’s security.
WIRELESS LAN

In computing, Wireless LAN or Wireless Local Area Network is a term to refer to a Local Area Network that
does not need cables to connect the different devices.

Maintenance of cabling in a network is not an easy task.

Breakage, loose connections, disconnections from the
hub or the switch are common occurrences. This
hampers the working of a network. As long as wires are
going to be there, these problems cannot be avoided. So
the solution is a wireless LAN.

Forming Wireless connections:

In Wired networking, one end of the cable is in the

Network Interface Card(NIC) fixed in the CPU cabinet
and the other end is inserted into a port on the back of
the networking switch/ hub. If the NIC is wireless, the
card will feature a small antenna instead of an Ethernet port. The antenna transmits signals to the wireless
networking switch (or router) (also called Access point), which also bears an antenna rather than ports.
Normally, radio waves are used to form wireless LANs. A port is a type of socket where cable plug is
inserted.

Exercises

I. Answer the following questions:

1. Define a computer network and give the advantages of it.
2. Briefly explain the Classification by network geography.
3. Briefly explain the Classification by component roles.

II. Fill in the blanks:

1. Networks can be classified according to their _______ boundaries or their ________roles.
2. In a ______network, all computers are considered equal.
3. _______ does not need cables to connect the different devices.

4. ____ network are used to connect networking devices that are in a very close geographic area.
5. _____and ______ are examples of client-based networks.
Guided and Unguided Transmission Media for computer networks

(Source: http://computernetworkingsimplified.in/physical-layer/overview-guided-unguided-media/ )

What are Guided and Unguided media?

Telecommunication links can broadly be classified into two categories, namely, guided media (wired) and
unguided media(wireless). Both media are used for short distance (LANs, MANs) and long distance
(WANs) communication.

Guided Media or Wired links:

Examples of Wired Media

As the name indicates, in guided media:

● Electrical/Optical signals are passed through a solid medium (different types of cables/wires)
● As the path traversed by the signals is guided by the size, shape and length of the wire, this type of
media is called guided media. Also, in guided media, the signals are confined within the wire and do
not propagate outside of the wire/media.
● E.g., Copper Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP), Copper Shielded Twisted Pair (STP), Copper Co-axial
cables, Fiber Optic Cables.

Twisted Pair Copper:

● It is the most widely deployed media type across the world, as the last mile telephone link
connecting every home with the local telephone exchange is made of twisted pair copper. These
telephone lines are reused as last mile DSL access links to access the internet from home.
● They are also used in Ethernet LAN cables within homes and offices.
● They support low to High Data Rates (in order of Gigabits).

Copper Co-axial Cables

● Co-axial copper cables have an inner copper conductor and an outer copper shield, separated by a
insulating material that prevents signal losses.
 ● It is primarily used in cable TV networks.
● It serves as an internet access line from the home.
● It supports medium to High Data Rates.
● It has much better immunity to noise and hence signal strength is retained for longer distances than
in copper twisted pair media.

Fiber Optic Cables

● Here, information is transmitted by optical (light) signals through fiber optic cables and not through
electrical/electromagnetic signals. Due to this, fiber optics communication supports longer distances
as there is no electrical interference.
● As the name indicates, fiber optic cables are made of very thin strands of glass (silica).
● As they support very high data rates, fiber optic lines are used as WAN backbone.

Unguided Wireless Media:

Here information is transmitted by sending radio waves through free space and hence the name unguided
media, as the signals are not guided in any specific direction or inside any specific medium.
All unguided media transmission are classified as wireless transmission.
Wireless transmission can be used as the medium in both LAN and WAN environments, as illustrated in the
diagrams below:

Two laptops communicating within a LAN using a wireless Access Points

Two laptops communicating via. a long distance WAN using a WiMax Wireless transmission network

The diagram given below illustrates different types of antennae typically used in wireless communication.
 Different Types of Antennae Used in wireless communication

As illustrated in the diagram, antennae can be of many sizes and shapes. Some of them are point to point
antennae while others are omni-directional antennae. Even satellites act as giant antennae in the sky, by
receiving and transmitting signals generated from the earth.
Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, 3G and 4G are example wireless networks used for internet communication.