Basic Computer Network

Networks
◼ A network is a collection of computers and
devices connected together via communications
devices and transmission media
◼ Advantages of a network include:

Facilitating Sharing Sharing data

communications hardware and information

Transferring
Sharing software
funds

2
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Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 9
Figure 9-9 3
Advantages of networking
◼ Connectivity and Communication
◼ Data Sharing
◼ Hardware Sharing
◼ Internet Access
◼ Internet Access Sharing
◼ Data Security and Management
◼ Entertainment
The Disadvantages (Costs) of Networking

◼ Network Hardware, Software and Setup Costs

◼ Hardware and Software Management and
Administration Costs
◼ Undesirable Sharing
◼ Illegal or Undesirable Behavior
◼ Data Security Concerns
How many kinds of Networks?
• Depending on one’s perspective, we can classify
networks in different ways
• Based on transmission media: Wired (UTP, coaxial cables, fiber-
optic cables) and Wireless
• Based on network size: LAN and WAN (and MAN)
• Based on management method: Peer-to-peer and Client/Server
• Based on topology (connectivity): Bus, Star, Ring …
:
:

6
Networks
◼ A local area network
(LAN) is a network
that connects
computers and
devices in a limited
geographical area
◼ A wireless LAN
(WLAN) is a LAN that
uses no physical
wires

7
 Networks

◼ A metropolitan area network (MAN) connects

LANs in a metropolitan area
◼ A wide area network (WAN)
is a network that covers a
large geographical area

8
 Networks
◼ The design of computers, devices, and media on
a network is sometimes called the network
architecture
Client/server network Peer-to-peer network

Pages 473 – 474

Figures 9-13 – 9-14 9
Peer-to-Peer Networks
• Peer-to-peer network is also called workgroup
• No hierarchy among computers  all are equal
• No administrator responsible for the network

Peer-to-peer

10
• Advantages of peer-to-peer networks:
• Low cost
• Simple to configure
• User has full accessibility of the computer
• Disadvantages of peer-to-peer networks:
• May have duplication in resources
• Difficult to uphold security policy
• Difficult to handle uneven loading

• Where peer-to-peer network is appropriate:

• 10 or less users
• No specialized services required
• Security is not an issue
• Only limited growth in the foreseeable future

11
Clients and Servers
• Network Clients (Workstation)
• Computers that request network resources or services

• Network Servers
• Computers that manage and provide network resources and services to
clients
• Usually have more processing power, memory and hard disk space
than clients
• Run Network Operating System that can manage not only data, but
also users, groups, security, and applications on the network
• Servers often have a more stringent requirement on its performance
and reliability

12
LAN (Local Area Network)
◼ A network of computers that are in the same
physical location, such as home or building
◼ Usually connected using Ethernet
❑ A standard on how computers communicate over
a shared media (cable)
Old: BNC connector for coaxial cable New: RJ45 for twisted pair cable

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:BNC_connector.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ethernet_RJ45_connector_p1160054.jpg
LAN (Local Area Network)

◼ Ethernet Standard
❑ 10BaseT
◼ 10Mbps (Mega bits per second)
❑ 100BaseT
◼ 100Mbps
❑ 1000BaseT
◼ 1000Mbps or 1Gbps
WLAN (Wireless LAN)

◼ Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity)

❑ A wireless technology that connects computers without
cables
◼ Access Point (AP)
❑ A device (base station) that connects wireless devices
together
❑ Usually connected to a wired-network
◼ Hotspot
❑ The area covered by wireless access points
 Network Communications Standards

◼ Wi-Fi identifies any

network based on the
802.11 standard that
facilitates wireless
communication
◼ Sometimes referred
to as wireless
Ethernet

Page 479
Figure 9-20 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 9 16
Networks

An intranet is an An extranet allows

internal network customers or
that uses Internet suppliers to access
technologies part of its intranet

17
Home Network (single machine)
Wall Jack

DSL/Cable
Modem
USB/Ethernet
Cable
Home Network (multiple machines)
Wall Jack

DSL/Cable
Hub/Switch/Router
Modem
USB/Ethernet
Cable
Home Network (multiple machines)
Wall Jack

Ethernet Cable

DSL/Cable
Hub/Switch/Router
Modem
Home Wireless Network
Wall Jack

Ethernet Cable

DSL/Cable
Hub/Switch/Router
Modem
Broadband Services

◼ Cable
❑ A technology that provides digital data transmission over cable
TV infrastructure
❑ Speed
◼ Downlink

❑ 128Kbps - 3~5Mbps
◼ Uplink
❑ 64Kbps - 128Kbps~1Mbps
❑ Need a cable modem
Broadband Services

◼ Satellite
❑ A technology that provide digital data transmission over
satellites
❑ Speed
◼ Downlink

❑ 500Kbps - 1Mbps
◼ Uplink
❑ 50Kbps - 100Kbps
❑ Need a satellite dish
 Networks

◼ A network topology refers to the layout of the

computers and devices in a communications
network
Star network Bus network Ring network

24
Network topology

◼ A topology is a way of “laying out” the

network. Topologies can be either physical or
logical.
◼ Physical topologies describe how the cables
are run.
◼ Logical topologies describe how the network
messages travel
Network topology (cont.)

◼ Bus (can be both logical and physical)

◼ Star (physical only)
◼ Ring (can be both logical and physical)
◼ Mesh (can be both logical and physical)
 Bus Topology
◼ A bus topology connects each computer (node) to a single segment
trunk.
❑ A ‘trunk’ is a communication line, typically coax cable, that is
referred to as the ‘bus.’ The signal travels from one end of the bus
to the other.
❑ A terminator is required at each end to absorb the signal so it
does not reflect back across the bus.
◼ In a bus topology, signals are broadcast to all stations. Each
computer checks the address on the signal (data frame) as it passes
along the bus. If the signal’s address matches that of the computer,
the computer processes the signal. If the address doesn’t match, the
computer takes no action and the signal travels on down the bus.
◼ Only one computer can ‘talk’ on a network at a time. A media access
method (protocol) called CSMA/CD is used to handle the collisions
that occur when two signals are placed on the wire at the same time.
◼ A bus topology is normally implemented with coaxial cable.
Bus Topology
◼ Advantages of bus topology:
❑ Easy to implement and extend
❑ Well suited for temporary networks that must be set up in a hurry
❑ Typically the cheapest topology to implement

◼ Disadvantages of bus topology:

❑ Difficult to administer/troubleshoot
❑ Limited number of stations
❑ A cable break can disable the entire network
❑ Maintenance costs may be higher in the long run
❑ Performance degrades as additional computers are added
Star Topology
◼ All of the stations in a star topology are connected to a
central unit called a hub.
❑ The hub offers a common connection for all stations on the
network. Each station has its own direct cable connection to the
hub. In most cases, this means more cable is required than for a
bus topology. However, this makes adding or moving computers a
relatively easy task; simply plug them into a cable outlet on the
wall.
◼ If a cable is cut, it only affects the computer that was
attached to it. This eliminates the single point of failure
problem associated with the bus topology. (Unless, of
course, the hub itself goes down.)
◼ Star topologies are normally implemented using twisted
pair cable, specifically unshielded twisted pair (UTP). The
star topology is probably the most common form of
network topology currently in use.
Star Topology

◼ Advantages of star topology:

❑ Easy to add new stations
❑ Easy to monitor and troubleshoot
❑ Can accommodate different wiring
◼ Disadvantages of star topology:
❑ Failure of hub can disable the entire network
❑ More cable required (more expensive to wire a
building for networking)
 Ring Topology
◼ A ring topology consists of a set of stations connected serially by cable. In
other words, it’s a circle or ring of computers. There are no terminated ends to
the cable; the signal travels around the circle in a clockwise (or anticlockwise)
direction.

◼ Note that while this topology functions logically as ring, it is physically wired as a
star. The central connector is not called a hub but a Multistation Access Unit
or MAU.
Under the ring concept, a signal is transferred sequentially via a "token" from
one station to the next. When a station wants to transmit, it "grabs" the token,
attaches data and an address to it, and then sends it around the ring. The token
travels along the ring until it reaches the destination address. The receiving
computer acknowledges receipt with a return message to the sender. The
sender then releases the token for use by another computer.

◼ Each station on the ring has equal access but only one station can talk at a
time.

◼ Rings are normally implemented using twisted pair or fiber-optic cable

Ring Topology

◼ Advantages of ring topology:

❑ Growth of system has minimal impact on performance
❑ All stations have equal access
◼ Disadvantages of ring topology:
❑ Most expensive topology
❑ Failure of one computer may impact others
❑ Complex
Choosing a Topology
◼ The following factors should be considered when choosing a topology:
❑ Installation
❑ Maintenance and troubleshooting
❑ Expected growth
❑ Distances
❑ Infrastructure
❑ Existing network
◼ As a general rule, a bus topology is the cheapest to install, but may be more
expensive to maintain because it does not provide for redundancy.
◼ Various topologies can be mixed on the same network.
◼ One very common example is a large Ethernet network with multiple hubs.
Usually the hubs are located on different floors in a building or perhaps
outside in another building. Each hub is wired in the typical star
configuration. However, the hubs are connected together along a bus,
typically referred to as a ‘backbone.’
◼ The backbone between hubs might consist of fiber optic cable while the
workstations are wired to each individual hub with UTP (unshielded twisted
pair) cable.
Hub/Switch/Router

◼ To connect multiple segments of networks

into a larger one
◼ Hub
❑ A multiport repeater to enhance signal within the
same LAN
◼ Switch
❑ Like hub but with intelligent
❑ Better performance
◼ Router
❑ Forward packets from one LAN to another
Intranet vs. Internet

◼ Intranet
❑ A private network that is contained within an
enterprise
❑ Could be LANs and WANs
◼ Internet
❑ A public network of networks
◼ Both are using TCP/IP
TCP/IP

◼ A family of protocols that makes the Internet

works
◼ The Robustness Principle
❑ “Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in
what you send” - Jon Postel