© 2002, Cisco Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved

© 2002, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
1
Panduit Network Infrastructure
Essentials
Copyright 2005 Panduit Network Infrastructure Essentials Cisco Networking Academy Program
Chapter 2 Networking Basics
Chapter Objectives
• Learn about network topologies

• Learn about the OSI model
• Understand physical layer functions
• Understand data link layer functions
• Learn about other layer’s functions
Network Definition
• There are many different types of networks. The

term “computer network” is often used
interchangeably with any network where data
communications take place. A network can be
voice, data, or even people or groups of people
speaking with each other without the aide of
electronic devices
A Typical Computer Network
Goals of the Network
The network should be:

• Simple
• Manageable
• Adaptable and scalable
• Reliable
• Transparent
Benefits of Networking
• Sharing Output Devices - Printers, other output

devices, and fax machines can be shared
• Sharing Input Devices - High-end devices are
typically used occasionally and are often
expensive so it makes sense to configure them for
multiple users on the network
• Sharing Storage Devices - Files can be saved or
accessed to storage devices on computers
anywhere on the network
More Benefits of Networking
• Sharing Internet Connections - With the proper

software, an entire LAN can connect to the
Internet through one phone line and a single ISP
account
• Security – It is much easier to secure data and
resources when policies and enforcement are
centralized and managed
• Sharing Data and Applications - Sharing data files
result in the efficient use of disk space and easier
collaboration on multi-user projects
Types of Computer Networks
• A local area network (LAN) is a computer

network that connects a cluster of users and
devices within a building and is managed on site
• Multiple LANs can be internetworked together to
form Building Area Networks (BANs) or
Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs)
• LANs, BANs, and MANs can be internetworked
together over large geographical regions to form
Wide Area Networks (WANs)
Local Area Networks
• A computer network that

connects users and
devices within a building
or campus and is
managed on site is
called a Local-Area
Network (LAN). LANs
are found in businesses,
schools, governments,
and even homes
Metropolitan Area Networks
• When two or more

LANs are linked
within a city or
limited geographic
area, it is called a
metropolitan-area
network (MAN)
Wide Area Networks
• A wide-area network (WAN) has few geographic limits.

WANs can cover a city, country, or even the entire world
• The Internet is an example of a WAN
Network topologies
• Computer networks have physical and logical

topologies
• Physical topologies are the layout of the
networking cables, devices, and workstations
• Logical topologies dictate the path data takes
between devices and workstations
• Every network has both a logical and a physical
topology
Physical Topologies
•Physical topologies describe the actual

physical layout of the network
The Bus Topology
• A physical bus topology uses a single length of cable

that runs from one end of the network to the other
• Users are connected to the central cable by segments
of cable
Ring and Dual Ring Topologies
• In a physical ring topology, all devices are connected by
a circle of wire
• The dual-ring topology provides additional reliability
since it has two pathways for traffic to flow
Ring Dual Ring
The Star and Extended Star Topology
• A star topology connects all cables to a central point

• An extended star topology is created by linking
together several star topologies to a central point
Ring
Star Extended Star

The Hierarchical Topology
• The hierarchical topology imposes order on the

network by grouping hosts based on their
physical location on the network
Hierarchical
Mesh Topology
• A mesh topology provides redundancy for a network

by connecting each host to every other host
Mesh
The OSI reference model
• The OSI reference model is used universally as

a method for teaching and understanding
network functionality
• Following the OSI model when designing,
building, upgrading, or troubleshooting will
achieve greater compatibility and interoperability
between various types of network technologies
The OSI reference model
Reasons for using the OSI model
• Divides the aspects of network operation into less complex

elements
• Enables engineers to specialize design and development
efforts on specific functions
• Prevents changes in one area from affecting other areas,
so that each area can evolve more quickly
• Allows network designers to choose the right networking
devices and functions for that layer
• Helps with testing and troubleshooting
Physical layer (Layer 1)
• This layer provides the electrical, mechanical,

procedural, and functional means for activating
and maintaining whatever physical link exists
between hosts
• If the link between hosts or networks is severed
or experiencing problems, data may not transmit
• Networking media such as twisted-pair, coaxial,
and fiber-optic cable are layer 1 equipment
Data link layer (Layer 2)
• This layer deals with speed of transmission, flow

control, error identification, and topology
• This layer recognizes special identifiers that are
unique to each computer, called media access
control (MAC) addresses
Network layer (Layer 3)
• The network layer adds logical or network

addresses, such as Internet Protocol (IP)
addresses to information that passes through it
• With the addition of this information, the
segments are now called packets
• This layer is responsible for determining the best
way to move data from one network to another
• Routers perform this operation and are thus
referred to as Layer 3 devices
Transport layer (Layer 4)
• This layer takes the data file and divides it up

into segments to facilitate transmission
• This layer is also responsible for reliable delivery

of data between the two hosts
Session layer (Layer 5)
• The session layer establishes, maintains, and

manages conversations, called sessions,
between two or more applications on different
computers
• The session layer is involved in keeping the lines
open for the duration of the session and
disconnecting them at the conclusion
Presentation layer (Layer 6)
• This layer provides formatting services to the

application layer by ensuring the data that arrives
from another computer can be used by an
application
• For instance, it translates EBCDIC characters
from mainframe computers into ASCII characters
for PCs so that an application can read the data
• This layer is also responsible for encrypting or
compressing data
Application layer (Layer 7)
• The main function of the application layer is to

provide network services to the end user. These
network services include file access,
applications, and printing
Layer 1 problems
• When there are problems with a network,

troubleshooting should begin with
Layer 1
• It is estimated that about three-quarters of all
network problems are
Layer 1 problems
• Many of these could be avoided when installing
cable
Data Link Layer Functions
• Data Link layer (Layer 2) LAN devices help filter

network traffic by looking at the MAC addresses
in the frame
• These MAC addresses are physical addresses
burned into the network interface cards (NICs)
on PCs and devices
• The data link layer devices reference these
addresses when performing its functions
Bridges
• A bridge keeps a table with all MAC addresses

on the network
• This table enables the bridge to recognize which
MAC addresses are on each side of the bridge
• A bridge works by keeping traffic destined for
one side of the bridge to that side alone
Switches
• A switch can divide the network into many

subnetworks or smaller networks depending on
the number of ports on the switch
• A switch helps to keep network communications
from reaching beyond where they are destined
• A switch allows multiple connections within it.
When two hosts are communicating, they use
only a pair of ports
Network Layer Functions
• The network layer (Layer 3) deals with higher-

level addressing schemes and path
determination. The network layer address is the
Internet Protocol (IP) address of a computer
• Each computer on a network has an IP address
to identify its location on the network. It indicates
to which network and subnetwork a computer
belongs
Routers
• A router is a Layer 3 networking device that

connects network segments or entire networks
• It is considered more intelligent than Layer 2
devices because it makes decisions based on
information received about the network as a
whole
• A router examines the IP address of the
destination computer to determine which path is
best to take to reach the destination

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• Learn about network topologies

• There are many different types of networks. The

The network should be:

• Sharing Output Devices - Printers, other output

• Sharing Internet Connections - With the proper

• A local area network (LAN) is a computer

• A computer network that

• When two or more

• A wide-area network (WAN) has few geographic limits.

• Computer networks have physical and logical

•Physical topologies describe the actual

• A physical bus topology uses a single length of cable

Ring Dual Ring

• A star topology connects all cables to a central point

Star Extended Star

• The hierarchical topology imposes order on the

• A mesh topology provides redundancy for a network

• The OSI reference model is used universally as

• Divides the aspects of network operation into less complex

• This layer provides the electrical, mechanical,

• This layer deals with speed of transmission, flow

• The network layer adds logical or network

• This layer takes the data file and divides it up

• This layer is also responsible for reliable delivery

• The session layer establishes, maintains, and

• This layer provides formatting services to the

• The main function of the application layer is to

• When there are problems with a network,

• Data Link layer (Layer 2) LAN devices help filter

• A bridge keeps a table with all MAC addresses

• A switch can divide the network into many

• The network layer (Layer 3) deals with higher-

• A router is a Layer 3 networking device that

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