Computers Are

Your Future
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 2
Computers Are Your Future
Chapter 6

Networks: Communicating and
Sharing Resources

Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 3
What You Will Learn About
Basic networking concepts
The three major types of physical media
Bandwidth
How modems transform digital computer signals into
analog signals
Circuit switching and packet switching networks
Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 4
What You Will Learn About
The importance of protocols in a computer network
The advantages of a network
Peer-to-peer and client/server LANs
The most widely used LAN protocol
Ways that businesses use WANs

Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 5
Network Fundamentals
A computer network consists of
two or more computers linked
together to exchange data and
share resources.
Communications is the process
of sending and receiving
messages.
Communications channels are
the paths through which messages
are passed.
Communications devices
transform electronic signals.
Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 6
Physical Infrastructure
Physical infrastructure refers to cables, modems, switches,
and routers.
Twisted-pair Two insulated wires twisted around each other;
the same type of wire as that used for telephones
Types of twisted-pair technologies:
Leased line (T1)
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
Coaxial cable Consists of an insulated center wire
surrounded by a layer of braided wire; the same type of wire as
that used for cable TV
Fiber-optic cable Type of fiber glass cable that transmits
data in the form of light impulses; can carry more data for
longer distances than other wire
Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 7
Bandwidth
Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be
transmitted through a communications channel.
Digital bandwidth is measured in bits per second
(bps), kilobits per second (Kbps), megabits per
second (Mbps), or gigabits per second (Gbps).
Low bandwidth is 56 Kbps and high bandwidth is
622 Mbps.
Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 8
Modulation
Digital
Analog
Analog
Digital
Demodulation
Modems: From Digital to Analog and Back
Modems are devices that transform signals when sending
and receiving transmissions.
Modulation Transforming digital signals to analog
Demodulation Transforming analog signals to digital
Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 9
Internal Modem External Modem
Modems: From Digital to Analog and Back
Two types of modems:
Internal modems Fit into a computers expansion slot
External modems Connect to a port outside the system
box
Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 10
Asynchronous and Synchronous
Communications
Asynchronous communication is a method of
networking in which bits of data are sent and
received one bit at a time; each byte contains a start
and stop bit.
Synchronous communication requires a
synchronization signal that identifies units of data.
Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 11
Modulation Protocols
Modulation protocols are communications standards
that modems conform to.
Data transfer rate is the rate at which two modems
can exchange data. It is measured in bits per second
(bps).
A modulation protocol called V.90 enables modems
to transfer data at 56 Kbps.
Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 12
Cable Modems
Cable modems enable computers to access the
Internet by way of a cable TV connection.
Data is transferred through a coaxial cable.
Bandwidths range from 500 Kbps to 1 Mbps.
Bandwidth is divided among the number of
subscribers using it.

Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 13
Circuit switching
Networks create an end-
to-end circuit between the
sending and receiving
computers.
Electronic switches
establish and maintain the
connection.
Switching and Routing Techniques
Packet switching
Outgoing messages are
divided into fixed-size
data units called packets.
Packets are numbered and
addressed to the receiving
computer.
Routers examine the
packets and send them to
their destination.
Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 14
Advantages Disadvantages
Circuit switching
Voice and real-time
transmission
No delivery delays
Costly
A direct electrical
connection between the
computers is required
Packet switching
Efficient, less
expensive, and reliable
Will function if part of
the network is down
Delays in receiving
packets
Not ideal for real-time
voice communication
Advantages and Disadvantages of Circuit and
Packet Switching
Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 15
Protocols
Protocols are fixed, formalized standards that specify
how computers can communicate over a network.
Protocol suite The total package of protocols that
specify how a network functions
Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 16
Network Layers
Network architecture is the overall design of a network.
The network design is divided into layers, each of which
has a function separate from that of the other layers.
Protocol stack The vertical (top to bottom) arrangement
of the layers; each layer is governed by its own set of
protocols
user
physical media
user
physical media
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protocol
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Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 17
Reduced hardware costs
Users share equipment
Connected people
People can work
together without being
at the same location
Groupware enables
sharing of schedules
and communications
Advantages of Networking
Shared applications
Users share software
File server enables all
users to work with the
same application program
Building information
resources
Users create common
pools of data that can be
accessed by employees

Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 18
Local Area Network (LAN)
Links computers within a
building or group of
buildings
Uses direct cables, radio, or
infrared signals

Types of Computer Networks
Wide Area Network (WAN)
Links computers separated
by a few miles or thousands
of miles
Uses long-distance
transmission media

Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 19
Local Area Networks (LANs)
Network access is controlled by a network administrator.
Users can access software, data, and peripherals.
LANs require special hardware and software.
Computers connected to a LAN are called workstations
or nodes.
Types of LANs:
Peer-to-peer
Client-server
Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 20
LAN Hardware and Software
Networking Hardware
Network interface card
(NIC) Provides the
connection between the
computer and the network
Inserted into a computers
expansion slot
Networking Software
Operating system that
supports networking
(Unix, Linux, Windows,
Mac OS)
Additional system
software
NIC
Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 21
Peer-to-Peer Networks
All computers on the network are treated as equal.
There are no file servers.
Users decide which files and peripherals to share.
Peer-to peer is not suited for networks with many
computers.
Peer-to-peer is easy to set up. Example: home
networks
Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 22
Client-Server Networks
Typical corporate networks are client-server.
Client-server requires various topologies or physical layouts.
The network requires file servers, networked computers
(clients), and a network operating system (NOS).
Clients send requests to servers for programs and data, and
to access peripherals.
Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 23
LAN Topologies
The physical layout of a LAN is called its topology.
Topologies resolve the problem of contention, which
occurs when multiple users try to access the LAN at the
same time.
Collisions or corrupt data occur when different computers use
the network at the same time.
Bus topology
Called a daisy chain
Every workstation is connected to a
single cable
Resolves collisions through
contention management
Difficult to add workstations
Star topology
Contains a hub or central wiring
concentrator
Easy to add workstations
Resolves collisions through
contention management

Ring topology
All workstations are attached in a
circular arrangement
A special unit of data called a
token travels around the ring
Workstations can only transmit data
when they possess a token
Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 24
Wide Area Networks (WANs)
WANs are similar to long-distance telephone systems.
They have a local access number called a point of presence
(POP).
They contain long-distance trunk lines called backbones.
Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 25
WAN Applications
LAN-to-LAN
WANs are used to connect
LANs at two or more
geographic locations.
Companies use WANs to
connect their branches to
one network system.
Transaction Acquisition
Information about
transactions is instantly
relayed to the corporate
headquarters.
Point-of-sale (POS)
terminals relay
transactions to central
computers through WANs.
Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 26
Backbones
Backbones, high-capacity transmission lines, are
regional, continental, or transcontinental.
Internet backbones can carry 2.5 gigabits of data per
second.
Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 27
WAN Protocols
X.25 is the oldest packet switching protocol. It is used
by automated teller machines and credit card
authorization devices.
New protocols designed for digital lines and faster
data transfer rates are:
Switched Multimegabit Data Service (SMDS)
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 28
Public Data Network (PDN)

PDN is a for-profit data communications network.
Fees are paid on a per-byte-transferred basis.
They offer good security and network availability.

Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 29
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
A virtual private network consists of lines that are
leased to a single company.
The network is not open to the public.
It is the most secure type of WAN.


Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 30
Chapter 6 Summary
Computer networks link two or more computers to exchange
data and share resources.
Two types of computer networks:
Local area network (LAN)
Wide area network (WAN)
Computer networks:
Reduce hardware costs
Enable users to share applications
Provide a means to pool an organizations data
Foster teamwork
Computer networks require physical media such as telephone
wire, coaxial cable, or fiber-optic cable to connect the
computers.
Computers Are Your Future Chapter 6
2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 31
Chapter 6 Summary continued
Modems transform analog and digital signals.
Network protocols enable the network to function smoothly.
Data is sent through the network by switching and routing
techniques.
LAN topologies include:
Bus topology
Star topology
Ring topology
Wide area networks are used to link computers throughout the
world.