Information Technology

Networks 1 - Types of networks and functions of basic components

Topics
1. Distinguish among networks and functions of basic components
a. Network Types (Size)
b. Transmission media
c. Network devices
d. Network Topology

Text Book - Log onto IT for CSEC (Third Edition) by Roland BIRBAL, Michelle TAYLOR
➔ Chapter 7, pgs 101 - 111
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REVIEW
▪ A network is a group or system of interconnected people or things.
▪ Data communication is the transfer of data from one person or thing to another.

Define: Computer Network

■ A group (set) of computers (nodes) linked together by communication channels.
○ Combination of hardware and software determine the setup and control configurations.
○ Shared resources - hardware, software and data.
○ Communicate between remote computer systems.

Define: NETWORK TYPE (size)

● Geographic area (scope), and inclusion of the number of devices, connecting a group of devices in a network.
Primary and best-known network types are LAN and WAN; others have emerged with technology advances.
▪ Local Area Network (LAN) – operates within a radius of 150 metres (relatively close proximity) generally at a
single site; Example an office building, school, or home.
▪ Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) – operates within a radius of 15 kilometres across a small region, a city, a
metropolis (relatively remote distance) and can contain a number of LAN networks: Example banks,
university/college campus, etc.
▪ Wide Area Network [WAN] – operates across regions, cities, states, countries or continents (relatively remote
distances) and can contain multiple smaller networks of dissimilar protocols: Example - banks, conglomerates,
universities, NASA etc.
NOTES: Area Networks
Video: Area Networks explained

Review: Network Topology - Cue cards

Define: Data transmission

■ Process of transfer of data signals from sender (transmitter) to receiver.
○ A signal is in the form of light, electrical or electromagnetic current.
Analog signals - Continuously variable, physical quantity expressed in a wave form; example [A/C] etc.
Digital signals - Discrete variable, physical quantity expressed as a series pulses for digits 0 and 1.
Bandwidth - Characteristic of a communication channel that determines the speed at which data can be transmitted
over the channel. The measure is referred to as data capacity and is expressed as transmission speed of bits per
second (bps) or frequency range (Hertz).
○ Common bandwidth descriptions are narrowband, voiceband and broadband.
Notes: Electromagnetic spectrum and bandwidth

Define: TRANSMISSION MEDIA

■ Communication channel that transfers data signals from source node to destination node in a network.
✔ It is the hardware interface for communication between a transmitter and a receiver.
The two (2) major categories of transmission media are
▪ wired (guided) transmission media – Bounded transmission, such as cables, that possess a tangible, physical
existence.
▪ wireless (unguided) transmission media – Unbounded transmission, such as air, that does not possess a tangible,
physical existence.
video: Electromagnetic [EM] Spectrum

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Network (cont.)

Apart from signal type and channel bandwidth, data transmission is characterised by transmission mode (rate of
intervals), data flow direction and the communication media.

1. Wired transmission media

Twisted Pair Cable
Pair of insulated copper wires twisted together that
conducts electrical signals.
o Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) - No physical
shielding for insulated conductors.
o Shielded Twisted Pair (ST)] – Metal sheath
surrounding completely metallic pairs.
See Twisted Pair standards

Coaxial Cable (coax)

Tubular shielded, insulated copper/metal wire that
conducts electrical signals.
o The tubular conducting cover shields the cable from
physical dangers as well as from electromagnetic
interference.
o Data rate of 10 Mbps; can be increased with the
increase in diameter of the inner conductor.
See Coaxial cable
Fibre-Optic Cable
Extremely thin strands of glass or plastic fibres that acts as
a waveguide for pulses of light signals over long distances,
generated by laser beams or LEDs.
o Each strand is composed of two layers of glass:
✔ the core – narrow strand of glass that carries the
actual light signal.
✔ cladding - thin coating of glass over individual
fibres, which reflects light inward to avoid loss of
signal and allows the light to pass through bends
on the cable.
o Data rate of 2.5 Gbps.
See Fibre Optic cable

video: Transmission Media - wired (Translation required)

2. Wireless transmission media

Radio wave
A type of electromagnetic wave propagation via a carrier
interface (media).
○ In the case of wireless transmission, the media would
refer to the air.
○ Frequency is the speed (cycles) of propagation
measured in units known as Hertz, and to the speed of
light.
○ Bluetooth, WiFi are technology standards utilising an
air interface within short or medium distances.
Microwave
Technology referred to as terrestrial microwave, a form of
ultra-high frequency radio waves that sends messages
through the earth’s atmosphere .
o Frequency is Gigahertz (GHz) and the wavelength in
the millimetre range, hence the term microwave.
o Line-of-sight signal which can propagate up to 30
miles (point-to-point)
Satellite
(Extra-terrestrial) microwave station that orbits the earth.
o Receives signal and rebroadcasts at different
frequencies.
o Transmits data over long distances quickly; high
speed link to communicate over large geographic Application: Global Positioning System (GPS)
locations.
Infra-red
Technology similar to microwave but low-frequency light Application: TV controller systems
waves on the electro-magnetic spectrum.
video: Transmission Media - wireless (Translation required)

video: How does GPS work

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Network (cont.)

video: Components of a computer network

NETWORK DEVICES
■ Hardware components used to connect computers or other electronic devices to a network

Network Interface Card (NIC)

Network adapter that is the hardware interface
between a processor and a network; enabling
communication with other devices on a network.
○ Each NIC is manufactured with a unique
identifier referred to as Media Access Control
[MAC] address, the physical address for the
device.
○ Data transfer is determined by both data-link
and physical layers communication protocols.
Wired NICs are for wired data transmission,
such as Ethernet LAN, and wireless NICs are
for wireless data transmission such as Wi-Fi.
video: Network Interface Card (NIC)
Network connector
Hardware that terminates a segment of cabling OR
provides an entry point to a network interface of
host computer, access point, hub and router. It is
differentiated according to the external appearance
and connection characteristics.
○ Physical characteristics are “male” jacks (i.e.
terminator) and “female” ports (i.e. adapter).
○ Other characteristics support data transmission
features such as analog/digital signals, serial vs
parallel transmission, mode, direction,
bandwidth.

Modem (modulator/demodulator)
A device that converts digital signals generated by
the computer into analog signals which can be
transmitted over telecommunication or cable lines
and vice-versa.
Hub
A device that is a point of connection for multiple
computers or other network devices and forwards
data within a single network segment.
o A node containing multiple ports, each
connected to a node in the network.
o Data blocks received from a node are copied
and sent to all other nodes in the network.
(collision domain)
Switch
Considered to be an ‘intelligent’ hub in a LAN,
there is knowledge of each node's physical address
in the network segment.
○ Data blocks received from a node are sent only
to the intended destination node in the network
(point-to-point, broadcast domain)
Router
A device or virtual system that is a point of
connection for two or more network segments and
routes (forwards) data packets to the best of
available paths for transmission in the network.
o It behaves as an ‘intelligent’ hub in a WAN,
whereby it identifies logical network segments
or sub-networks. Each subnetwork is given a
logical address.

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Network (cont.)

Bridge
A device, that is a node, connecting two or more Example: Layer 2 Switch
homogeneous network segments, i.e. use of same
(data link) protocols. (broadcast domains)
Gateway
A device, which is a node, interconnecting two or Example: Router
more incompatible sub-networks that use dissimilar
protocols.
Wireless Access Point (WAP)
A device, that is a node, connecting wireless
devices to a wired LAN. It is the client of the
Wireless LAN controller.
○ Primary purpose is to offer connectivity to
devices that either lack a built-in adapter or
cannot directly connect to the wired network.
Examples - Root AP, Repeater AP

video: Network devices

Define: NETWORK TOPOLOGY

■ Layout structure or arrangement of how elements (nodes, links) are interconnected in a network.
○ Node - A device within a network of other devices that sends, receives, and/or forwards data.

Basic network topologies:

Star network - Features a central connection point
(hub), to connect devices.
o A multipoint device, the central connection
point, referred to as a "hub node" may be a
network hub, switch or router.
o Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) network
devices typically connect to the hub with
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Ethernet.
Star network - Advantages and Disadvantages
Failure in the hub node can take down the entire
network.
Ring network - Every device has exactly two
adjacent devices forming a ring for
communication purposes.
o All messages travel through a ring in the same
direction (either "clockwise" or "counter-
clockwise").
Ring network - Advantages and Disadvantages
Failure in any cable or device breaks the loop and
can take down the entire network.
Bus network - Use of a common backbone to
connect all devices.
o A single cable, the backbone, functions as a
shared communication medium that devices
attach or tap into with an interface connector.
o A sender device transmits a message onto the
backbone that is broadcast to all other devices,
but only the intended receiver device accepts
and processes the message.
Bus network - Advantages and Disadvantages
Failure on the backbone takes down the entire
network.
More complex networks can be built as hybrids of One example is mobile networks.
two or more of the above basic topologies.

Video: Network Topology

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