Basics of Ethernet Communication

communication networks

Basics of Ethernet Communication

Introductions

Guy Walker
 North America Trainer
 A&E Program Manager

BICSI Credits
 4 CEC’s
 Basics of Ethernet Communication

ESA Credits
 .4 CEC’s
 Basics of Ethernet Communication
 10-2907
About Us
Founded in 2007 By George Lichtblau

 Former owner of International Fiber Systems.

 Recognized several technology shifts.

Same faces. New name

 The Majority of the ComNet team are former

IFS employees or have backgrounds in the
Security industry.

State of the art 25,000 square foot facility in

Danbury, CT
Products
Legacy Fiber Optic

Hardened Ethernet

Commercial Ethernet

Retrofit Network
 Chapter 1
Introduction to Networking
Why is IP transmission so hot?

Standards Based

Multiple Signals

Scalability

Redundancy

Monitoring
Basic Network Components
Cabling (physical layer)
Switches, hubs
Edge devices
Protocols
 Language of packets
 Relates to network
 Relates to devices on network
Edge Device Edge Device
100Mbps Network

Parking Lot

Edge Switch
Wireless Bridge

Bridge Core Switch

Gigabit Network
Gateway

Remote Office Building DVR

Office Building

WAN

Remote Client
Types of Networks
LAN – Local Area Network
 A network covering a small physical area, like a home, business, or small group of
buildings, such as a school.
 All devices are considered to be “on the same network.”

WAN – Wide Area Network

 A network that covers a broad area, such as a national corporation or Gov’t Agency.
 Many different LAN’s are combined to make a WAN.
• LAN’s can be in the same building or around the world.

Source: IEEE Standards

Ethernet “Language”
Ethernet is a family of frame-based networking technologies for LANs.
 Packets

Frames use a source and destination addresses, error correction.

 Layer 1 and 2

Standardized as IEEE 802.3.

Versions for Coax, UTP, fiber optics and wireless.

 10Base-T
 100Base-T (Fast Ethernet)
 1000Base-T (Gigabit)
 100Base-FX, etc. (fiber-based)
The Ethernet Packet

Range means
packets are
different sizes

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Types of Messages (packets)
Unicast
 A one-to-one communication link. Packets are sent from one IP address to another IP address.

Broadcast
 A one-to-everyone communication link. Packets are sent from one IP address to all ports and IP
addresses on the network.

Multicast
 A dynamic, one-to-many communication link. Packets are sent from one IP address to any other
IP addresses that request the packets. Since this a dynamic relationship, devices can “subscribe”
and “un-subscribe” at will.
 IGMP – Internet Group Multicasting Protocol
TCP/IP
The “Internet Protocol Suite” is the set of communications protocols used for
the Internet and other similar networks.

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)

Internet Protocol (IP)
Internet Protocol
TCP - is responsible for verifying the correct delivery of data from client to client, and
to trigger re-transmission until the data is correctly and completely received.

IP - is responsible for moving packets of data from node to node.

 192.168.10.35

Socket - an end-point of a bidirectional process-to-process communication.

 192.168.10.35:8080

Source: Wikimedia Commons

IP Addressing 126.15.0.10

IP Version 4 (current) IP Version 6

 32 bit binary code  128 bit binary code
 4 sections of 8 bits each (octets)  3ffe:1900:4545:3:200:f8ff:fe21:67cf
 Network ID, Host ID  Backwards compatible

IP Addressing rules:
 The Network ID cannot start with a ZERO
 The Host ID cannot end with a ZERO
 No two systems on one network can have the same IP Address.
 An octet’s value will never exceed 255
IP Addressing 126.15.10.10

Class A
n = network h = host

nnnnnnnn.hhhhhhhh.hhhhhhhh.hhhhhhhh

Network ID Host ID

First Octet range (1 - 127)

NOTES:
 The 127.1.1.1 address is reserved for MS Loopback.
 Only 128 possible networks, but over 16 million possible HOSTS
IP Addressing 151.15.10.10

Class B
n = network h = host

nnnnnnnn.nnnnnnnn.hhhhhhhh.hhhhhhhh

Network ID Host ID

First Octet range (128 - 191)

NOTES:
 Over 65,000 possible networks or HOSTS
IP Addressing 201.15.10.10

Class C
n = network h = host

nnnnnnnn.nnnnnnnn.nnnnnnnn.hhhhhhhh

Network ID Host ID

First Octet range (192 - 223)

NOTES:
 Only 254 possible HOSTS, but 16 million possible networks
IP Addressing
Class D
Multicast – a “virtual” IP address
224.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255

Class E
Future or Experimental Use
240.0.0.0 to 254.255.255.255
IP Addressing
Private Addresses

 Three ranges assigned by Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA):

10.0.0.0 To 10.255.255.255
172.16.0.0 To 172.31.255.255
192.168.0.0 To 192.168.255.255
 Computers not connected to the Internet do not need to have globally unique IP addresses, and thus do
not need to be coordinated with an IP address registry.

 A Gateway or proxy server is used to send data over the internet or WAN from these devices.
Proxy Server

Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

IP Addressing
Subnet Masking
 A way of further segregating HOSTS in a network.
 Logically dividing the physical network.
 Different hosts will use different routers.

Class A – 255.0.0.0 Class C – 192.168.151.10

Class B – 255.255.0.0 Class C – 255.255.255.0
Class C – 255.255.255.0 masking
Chapter 2
Evolution of Ethernet
MAC Address
The Media Access Control layer of the OSI stack.
 Layer 1
48-bit address defined by the manufacturer and the hardware.
Hard-coded, unique address
Burned onto the device during manufacturing.

00-2A-9Z-3C-78-05
Manufacturer Hardware
MAC Address
Provides an unchanging, unique network identifier for a device.
Layer of security.
Switches convert IP addresses to MAC addresses to deliver
packets.
 ARP Table
OSI Model
Open System Interconnect Model
7 Application
“Layers” 6 Presentation
Created by the International Standards 5 Session
Organization (ISO) in 1984 4 Transport
Shows the progression of how computers 3 Network
communicate to each other
2 Data Link
1 Physical
OSI Model
EndH TUser
T P, Te l n e t 7 Application

Software
Applications

Mostly
MPEG, H.264, SSL
and Networking 6 Presentation
Half/Full Duplex 5 Session
Network &DP
T C P, U End- 4 Transport
to-End
I P, I G M P, R o u t e r s 3 Network

Hardware
Communication

Mostly
IEEE 802.3
LAN/WAN
(Ethernet), VLANs 2 Data Link
&C AT
Transport
5, Fiber Optic,
Wi r e l e s s , Hu b s
Systems 1 Physical
Switch vs. Router
Network 1 Network 2
What is a Switch?
 Layer 2 (typically)
 LAN

What is a Router?
 Layer 3 (always at least)
 Connects different LANs
 Gateway
• Acts as Traffic Cop
 Forwarding & Prioritization Internet
Network 3
Routing
A Layer 3 protocol. Network
Destination
Netmask Gateway Interface Metric

 Uses IP address 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.0.1 192.168.0.100 10

Uses Routing Table. 127.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1 1

 Lists routes and topologies
192.168.0.0 255.255.255.0 192.168.0.100 192.168.0.100 10
 Metrics (cost)
192.168.0.100 192.168.0.100 192.168.0.100 127.0.0.1 10
The three common routing tools:
192.168.0.255 255.255.255.255 192.168.0.100 192.168.0.100 10
 IP Address
 QoS
 System Name (DNS)
Protocols
RIP – Routing Information Protocol: an older interior gateway protocol (IGP) using the
distance-vector routing algorithm. Considered outdated.

IS-IS – Intermediate System to Intermediate System: is a link-based routing

protocol, meaning that it operates by flooding network topology information throughout the routers.
Each router will then independently build a picture of the network's topology. Likewise, packets are
forwarded based on the best path through the network to the destination address.

OSPF – Open Shortest Path First - is another dynamic routing protocol for use in IP
networks. Specifically, it is a link-state routing protocol and falls into the group of interior gateway
protocols, operating within an autonomous system.
Protocols
TCP versus UDP
 TCP has error correction

 UDP is “fire and forget”

• Implications for video streaming
Protocols
QoS - Quality of Service is the ability to provide different priority to different applications,
users, or data flows, or to guarantee a certain level of performance to a data flow.

CoS - Class of Service is a field within a layer two Ethernet frame header. It specifies a
priority value of between 0 (signifying best-effort) and 7 (signifying priority real-time data)
that can be used by Quality of Service disciplines to differentiate traffic.

DHCP  (Server) - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol is used by networked devices

(hosts) to obtain the parameters necessary for operation in an IP network.

NTP - Network Time Protocol is a protocol for distributing the Coordinated Universal Time
(UTC) to computer systems across a network.
Chapter 3
Network Types
Point to Point Network
ANALOG VIDEO IP VIDEO

NTSC MONITORS

VIDEO VIDEO CODECS

CODEC

CNGE3FE7MS2 CNGE3FE7MS2

IP ACCESS VMS
CONTROL
Add/Drop Network (Daisy Chain)
ANALOG VIDEO IP VIDEO IP VIDEO

NTSC MONITORS

VIDEO VIDEO CODECS

CODEC

CNGE3FE7MS2 CNGE3FE7MS2

IP ACCESS VMS
CONTROL
Star Network
CNGE3FE7MS2
VOIP IP VIDEO
IP ACCESS
CONTROL

CNGE3FE7MS2 CNGE8FX4TX4US CNGE3FE7MS2

VMS

IP VIDEO IP VIDEO

CNGE3FE7MS2
VOIP
Self Healing Ring Network
ANALOG VIDEO IP VIDEO

VOIP
VIDEO MONITORS

VIDEO VIDEO CODECS

CODEC

CNGE3FE7MS2 CNGE3FE7MS2

IP ACCESS CPU/SERVER
CONTROL
“Real World” Network

WAN

VMS

VMS
Redundancy
Spanning Tree Protocol (802.1d)
 Slower fail over, but less overhead
 Learns topology
 Can be manually configured

Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (802.1w)

 Faster fail over, but more overhead

Originally written to stop bridge loop condition.

Only for simple ring topologies.

 Only ONE failure
Self Healing Ring Network

Client

VMS

Client
Wireless
IEEE 802.11
 Standards for WLAN
 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz public spectrum bands (unlicensed)
 Elliptical shape

802.11b & 802.11g

 Use 2.4GHz ISM band and gets up to 54Mbps over max
distance of 38 meters

802.11n
 Not a standard yet, but up to 600Mbps by utilizing MIMO.
Wireless
Pros
 Less expensive than running cable
 Indoor and outdoor
 Flexible

Cons
 Unreliable or finicky
 Interference
 Limitations
Wireless Topologies Point-to-Point
Wireless Topologies Point-to-Multi-Point
Wireless Topologies Mesh
Chapter 4
Network Technologies
VLAN
Virtual Local Area Network
802.1Q
“Virtually” separate network traffic, but on same “physical” network
 Increased Security
 Reduce broadcast domain
Port-Based
Tagged – Trunk or Uplink
VLAN
Configuration (default)
 Disabled
 Default VLAN, all ports
 Management VLAN
DHCP segmentation

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) IEEE 802.1q

IP Access
Control Seamless to the
operator
VLAN
2
IP Video
VOIP
VLAN VLAN
1 3
 VLAN

Port 8
VLAN 1 Network
Port 10 (trunk)
VLAN 1 & 2 & 3
Packets are
Port 3 “tagged”
VLAN 2

Port 1
VLAN 3
Multicast
 IGMP – Internet Group Management Protocol
 Reserved IP Addresses (Class D):

224.0.0.0 To 239.255.255.255
 Don’t ever program a HOST (device) with this IP address range.

 Two Parts of Multicast:

 Filtering (Snooping)
 Query
IGMP (Multicast)

Client

VMS

Client Client
Protocols
SNMP
Simple Network Management Protocol
 Monitor network-attached devices
 MIB – Management Information Base (MIB Library)
 Device – Agent - NMS

RMON
Remote Monitoring
 A MIB that uses SNMP to communicate
 “Flow based” monitoring versus SNMP’s “device based” monitoring
 A little easier to implement

RFC 3411 — An Architecture for Describing Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) Management Frameworks
 Chapter 5
Cabling & Fiber Considerations
Ethernet Media
Copper: Typically limited to 100 meter
transmission distance between Ethernet devices

Fiber Optic: Long distance, >100 Km, immunity to

RFI/EMI. Highest bandwidth capability

Wireless: IEEE 802.11, Point to point, point to

multipoint, Mesh, Interference and latency are
concerns.
Connectors and Cabling
Category 5 UTP
 Four twisted pairs in a single cable jacket – 24 AWG.
 Up to 100Mbps
 NO Power Over Ethernet (POE).

Category 5e UTP
 Four twisted pairs in a single cable jacket, but more twists per inch
 Up to 1000Mbps.

Category 6 UTP or STP

 Four twisted pairs – 22 AWG
 Up to 1000Mbps
Small Form-factor Pluggable
SFP
 Evolution of the GBIC
• Mini-GBIC
 Fiber or Copper (RJ45)
 Standardized*

Combo Port
 Copper and SFP
Connectors and Cabling
RJ-45 ST SC LC

RJ45 – more correctly called the 8 Position 8 Contact (8P8C) connector.

ST – fiber optic cable connector (most popular with traditional gear)

SC – fiber optic cable connector (popular in IT)

LC – fiber optic cable connector (gaining popularity due to SFP). Here is is shown as a
dual-LC.
Beyond Copper
Fiber Optics (analog or IP)

Signal transmission
 100+ kilometers
 Immunity to EMI
 Lightning isolation
 Carry multiple signals

Optical Standards
 Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP)
 Many options for media/connector
Optical Fiber
Core (glass)
 Passes the light signal
 Refractive properties contain light
 50, 62.5, 9 micron

Cladding
 Helps keep light in glass

Coating/Buffer
Protects the fiber from abrasion and external forces
Optical Fiber
Fiber Optics
Types of Fiber

 Multimode LED
50 or 62.5 micron

 Singlemode
9 micron
Laser
Modal Dispersion
Sent Received
LED ON (1) LED ON (1)

LED OFF (0) LED OFF (0)

L
E
D

Core Cladding Separate light paths (modes)

Beyond Copper
Fiber Limitations
Analog - greater cost for singlemode transmission
Distance with Gigabit Ethernet
 300 meters over 62.5 micron fiber
 550 meters over 50 micron fiber

No Power over Ethernet

Often 2 fibers per link

Connectors
 Varied
 ST, SC, LC
Transmission Options
Analog over CAT 5e - 100 meters

Media Converter - 3 km to 45 km

Managed Network - 300 meters to 100 km between nodes

 Chapter 6
ComNet Ethernet Hardware
Considerations
Real Problems
Dropped Packets 
Routers or switches might fail to deliver (drop) some packets. This is normal for most
networks and is not a concern unless it happens in large amounts.
Lost Packets
This is not good. This means packets were dropped but can’t be retransmitted.
Delay 
It might take a long time for a packet to reach its destination because it gets held up
in long queues, or takes a less direct route to avoid congestion. In some cases,
excessive delay can render an application, such as video, unusable.
Jitter 
Packets from the source will reach the destination with different delays. This can
seriously affect the quality of streaming audio and/or video. (UDP can solve this)
Problems, Really?
Bad IP Scheme 
Can cause lots of problems – like edge devices dropping off the network.
Edge Devices
These need to be configured properly, especially video. Are reduced frame rates
being used? Is it your recorder? etc
Multicast Support 
All network devices need to support IGMP on large or busy systems.
Bandwidth  
Are you exceeding limits? What is an appropriate limit?
Standard vs. Custom Protocols
Many big switch manufacturers customize standard protocols.
Power Over Ethernet
PoE IEEE 802.3af PD
 DC power over Ethernet cable - CAT 5e or higher

powe
 Supplies 48V at 350 mA max

r
 15.5 Watts at port
 13.4 Watts max at 100m
PSE
PSE – Power Source Equip.
PD – Powered Device
Endspan Hub
Midspan Hub
Can you put a non-PoE Device into a PoE switch?
 Yes – due to 25k Ohm resistor in PD
Power Over Ethernet
Standard IEEE 802.3 af IEEE 802.3 at
  POE POE Plus

Ratified June 2003 Expected in 2010

Max Power 15.5 W 30 W
Voltage Range 44~57V 50~57V
Max Current 350mA 720mA
Power Delivery 2 pairs 2 pairs

Classification Layer 1 Layer 1 Layer 2 LLDP

Class ID 0~3, 4 as 0 Layer 1 class 4 only Layer 2 upto 1023 classes

Ethernet Switch
PSE Type Power Hub Ethernet Switch

Installation Endspan Midspan Endspan only

Standards

 100Base-TX 802.3u
 STP 802.1d RSTP
 RSTP 802.1w Or
Cisco’s
 IGMP RFC1112 and RFC2236 MISTP
 QoS 802.1p
 VLAN 802.1q
 SNMP  IGMP
filtering or
queuing? Proprietary
SFPs?
Ownership

Who designed the network?

What’s your liability?

Support