PW COMPUTER NETWORKS – TS2 ELECTRONIC / ENGINEER HAYTHAM HARB

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION TO NETWORKS

1.1- What is a Computer Network?

Computer networking refers to interconnected computing devices that can exchange
data and share resources with each other. These networked devices use a system of
rules, called communications protocols, to transmit information over physical or wireless
technologies.

1.2 - Network Architectures:

Network architecture refers to the way network devices and services are structured to
serve the connectivity needs of client devices. Network devices typically include
switches and routers. Types of services include DHCP and DNS.
The two types of network architectures are used:
 Peer-To-Peer network.
 Client/Server network.

 What is a peer-to-peer network?

In a P2P network, computing devices use software to connect with each other over a
private network, such as a home local area network (LAN) or a public network,
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Such as the Internet. This direct connection allows each device to share files without
requiring the assistance of a remote serve.

 What is a client server network?

The client-server architecture refers to a system that hosts, delivers, and manages most
of the resources and services that the client requests. In this model, all requests and
services are delivered over a network, and it is also referred to as the networking
computing model or client server network.

1.3 - Types of Networks:

There are several different types of computer networks. Computer networks can be
characterized by their size as well as their purpose.
The size of a network can be expressed by the geographic area they occupy and the
number of computers that are part of the network. Networks can cover anything from a
handful of devices within a single room to millions of devices spread across the entire
globe.
Some of the different networks based on size are:

 Personal area network, or PAN

 Local area network, or LAN
 Wireless Local area network WLAN
 Metropolitan area network, or MAN
 Wide area network, or WAN

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 Personal Area Network

A personal area network, or PAN, is a computer network organized around an
individual person within a single building. This could be inside a small office or
residence. A typical PAN would include one or more computers, telephones, peripheral
devices, video game consoles and other personal entertainment devices.
If multiple individuals use the same network within a residence, the network is sometimes
referred to as a home area network, or HAN. In a very typical setup, a residence will have
a single wired Internet connection connected to a modem. This modem then provides
both wired and wireless connections for multiple devices. The network is typically
managed from a single computer but can be accessed from any device.
This type of network provides great flexibility. For example, it allows you to:

 Send a document to the printer in the office upstairs while you are sitting on the
couch with your laptop.
 Upload a photo from your cell phone to your desktop computer.
 Watch movies from an online streaming service to your TV.

If this sounds familiar to you, you likely have a PAN in your house without having called
it by its name.

 Local Area Network

A local area network, or LAN, consists of a computer network at a single site,
typically an individual office building. A LAN is very useful for sharing resources, such
as data storage and printers. LANs can be built with relatively inexpensive hardware,
such as hubs, network adapters and Ethernet cables.
The smallest LAN may only use two computers, while larger LANs can accommodate
thousands of computers.

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A LAN typically relies mostly on wired connections for increased speed and security, but
wireless connections can also be part of a LAN. High speed and relatively low cost are
the defining characteristics of LANs.
LANs are typically used for single sites where people need to share resources among
themselves but not with the rest of the outside world. Think of an office building where
everybody should be able to access files on a central server or be able to print a document
to one or more central printers. Those tasks should be easy for everybody working in the
same office, but you would not want somebody just walking outside to be able to send a
document to the printer from their cell phone! If a local area network, or LAN, is entirely
wireless, it is referred to as a wireless local area network, or WLAN.

 Wireless Local Area Network

A wireless local-area network (WLAN) is a group of collocated computers or other
devices that form a network based on radio transmissions rather than wired connections.
A Wi-Fi network is a type of WLAN; anyone connected to Wi-Fi while reading this
webpage is using a WLAN.

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 Metropolitan Area Network

A metropolitan area network, or MAN, consists of a computer network across an
entire city, college campus or small region. A MAN is larger than a LAN, which is
typically limited to a single building or site. Depending on the configuration, this type of
network can cover an area from several miles to tens of miles. A MAN is often used to
connect several LANs together to form a bigger network. When this type of network is
specifically designed for a college campus, it is sometimes referred to as a campus area
network, or CAN.

 Wide Area Network

A wide area network, or WAN, occupies a very large area, such as an entire country or
the entire world. A WAN can contain multiple smaller networks, such as LANs or MANs.
The Internet is the best-known example of a public WAN.
A WAN can be setup both physically and virtually. A WAN can connect multiple other
LANs virtually, creating what is called a VLAN. In this sense it is like a LAN of LANs!
When it comes to today's increased use of remote work connections, the WAN is a
powerful tool that provides interfaces to the Internet as well as giving access to systems
that may be spread throughout the world.
One means of connecting to a WAN is through a VPN or virtual private network. This
allows a secure connection to the WAN, thus protecting your data and device from attack.
In addition to virtual connections, fiber optic provides a backbone to many WAN setups.

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o Private Networks
One of the benefits of networks like PAN and LAN is that they can be kept entirely
private by restricting some communications to the connections within the network. This
means that those communications never go over the Internet.

1.4 - Networking Cables

Networking cables are networking hardware used to connect one network device to
other network devices or to connect two or more computers to share devices...
Fiber optic cable, twisted pair cable, and coaxial cable are the three main types of
network cables used in communication systems. Each of them is different and suitable
for various applications.

 Fiber Optic Cable

Fiber optic cable consists of a bundle of glass threads, each of which is capable of
transmitting messages modulated onto light waves.
Fiber Optic cable has a complicated design and structure. This type of cable has an outer
optical casing that surrounds the light and traps it within a central core. The inside of the
cable (the core) must configured in two different ways – Single-mode and multi-mode;
although the difference may seem small, it makes a tremendous difference to the
performance and the usage of fiber optic cables.

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 Twisted Pair Cable

Twisted pair cable is a type of ordinary wiring which connects home and many
business computers to the telephone company. It is made by putting two separate
insulated wires together in a twisted pattern and running them parallel to each other,
which helps to reduce crosstalk or electromagnetic induction between pairs of wires.
Twisted pair cable is suitable for transferring balanced differential signals. The method
of transmitting signals dates back to the early days of the telegraph and radio. The
advantages of improved signal-to-noise ratio, crosstalk, and ground bounce that balanced
signal transmission brings are particularly valuable in wide bandwidth and high fidelity
systems.
According to whether the cable has a shielding layer, there are two common types of
twisted pair cables—shielded twisted pair (STP) cable and unshielded twisted pair (UTP)
cable. STP cable is available for Token Ring networks, while the UTP cable is more
suitable for Ethernet networks. The most common UTP cable types applied in Ethernet
network are cat5e, cat6a, and cat7 cables, etc. The following image shows the different
structures of UTP and STP cables.

 Coaxial Cable
Coaxial cable, or coax cable, is another type of copper cable which has an inner
conductor surrounded by foam insulation, symmetrically wrapped by a woven braided
metal shield, then covered by in a plastic jacket (as shown in the following image). This
unique design allows coaxial cable runs too installed next to metal objects such as gutters
without the power losses that occur in other types of transmission lines. The coaxial cable
acts as a high-frequency transmission cable made up of a single solid copper core and
compared to twisted pair cable. It has 80 times or more transmission capability. This kind
of cable is mainly adopted in feedlines connecting radio transmitters and receivers with
their antennas, computer network connections, and distributing cable television signals.

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Conclusion
Choosing among coaxial cable, twisted pair cable, and fiber optic cable mainly
depends on your needs and network topology. You can balance the cost and the
requirements of bandwidth to make a choice. No matter coaxial cable, twisted pair cable,
or fiber cable, suiting your network requirements is the best.