Networking Fundamentals

By Praphul Kolte
WHAT IS A NETWORK?
 A network is simply two or more computers that are linked
together.
 A network is simply a collection of computers or other
hardware devices that are connected together, either
physically or logically, using special hardware and software,
to allow them to exchange information and cooperate
 The most common types of networks are:
 Local Area Networks (LANS) and
 Wide Area Networks (WANS).
 The primary difference between the two is that a LAN is
generally confined to a limited geographical area, whereas
a WAN covers a large geographical area. Most WANs are
made up of several connected LANs.
A SIMPLE NETWORK
BENEFITS OF A NETWORK
 Information sharing: Authorized users can use other
computers on the network to access and share information
and data. This could include special group projects,
databases, etc.
 Hardware sharing: One device connected to a
network, such as a printer or scanner, can be shared by
many users.
 Software sharing: Instead of purchasing and installing
a software program on each computer, it can be installed
on the server. All of the users can then access the
program from a single location.
 Collaborative environment: Users can work together
on group projects by combining the power and capabilities
of diverse equipment.
BENEFITS OF A NETWORK
 Internet Access: The Internet is itself an enormous
network, so whenever you access the Internet, you are
using a network. The significance of the Internet on
modern society is hard to exaggerate, especially for those
of us in technical fields.

 Internet Access Sharing: Small computer networks

allow multiple users to share a single Internet connection.
Special hardware devices allow the bandwidth of the
connection to be easily allocated to various individuals as
they need it, and permit an organization to purchase one
high-speed connection instead of many slower ones.
Cost/Disadvantages of Networking
 Network Hardware, Software and Setup Costs:
Computer don't just magically network themselves, of
course. Setting up a network requires an investment in
hardware and software, as well as funds for planning,
designing and implementing the network.

 Hardware and Software Management and

Administration Costs: In all but the smallest of
implementations, ongoing maintenance and management
of the network requires the care and attention of an IT
professional. In a smaller organization that already has a
system administrator, a network may fall within this
person's job responsibilities, but it will take time away from
other tasks.
Cost/Disadvantages of Networking
 Undesirable Sharing: With the good comes the bad;
while networking allows the easy sharing of useful
information, it also allows the sharing of undesirable data.
One significant “sharing problem” in this regard has to do
with viruses, which are easily spread over networks and the
Internet. Mitigating these effects costs more time, money
and administrative effort.

 Data Security Concerns: If a network is implemented

properly, it is possible to greatly improve the security of
important data. In contrast, a poorly-secured network puts
critical data at risk, exposing it to the potential problems
associated with hackers, unauthorized access and even
sabotage .
TYPES OF NETWORKS
 Local Area Network (LAN) – a network that spans a
small area such as a building or an office.
 Software applications and other resources are stored on a
file server.
 Print servers enable multiple users to share the same
printer.
 Wide Area Network (WAN) – a network that spans a
wide geographical area; there are several types of WANS
 Metropolitan area network (MAN)
 Public access network (PAN)
 Value added network (VAN)
 Virtual private network (VPN)
TYPES OF NETWORKS
 Intranet – An intranet is a private LAN designed for use by
everyone within an organization. An intranet might consist of
an internal e-mail system, a message board and one or more
Web site portals that contain company news, forms, and
personnel information.
Access to an intranet’s web site is restricted by a firewall.
 Extranet – a network that connects people within your
company with people who are outside your company--all
within a secure, password-protected network that can be
accessed from anywhere.
http://www.clienthelpdesk.com/dictionary

people who are outside your company--all within a secure,

password-protected network that can be accessed from
anywhere.
RISKS OF NETWORK COMPUTING
 The security of a computer network is challenged
everyday by:
 Equipment malfunctions
 System failures
 Note: equipment malfunctions and system failures may be
caused by natural disasters such as floods, storms, or fires,
and electrical disturbances
 Computer hackers
 Virus attacks
COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA
 Communications Channel

 To transfer data from one computer to another requires

some type of link through which the data can be
transmitted. This link is known as the communications
channel.
 To send data through the channel requires some type of
transmission media, which may be either physical or
wireless.
PHYSICAL MEDIA
 Twisted-pair cable – consists of two independently
insulated wires twisted around each other (least expensive
type of cable—the kind that is used in many telephone systems)
 Coaxial cable – consists of an insulated center wire
grounded by a shield of braided wire (the primary type of
cabling used by the cable television industry; it is more expensive
than twisted pair)
 Fiber-optic cable – contains hundreds of clear fiberglass
or plastic fibers (threads) (made from thin, flexible glass tubing;
bandwidth is greater, so it can carry more data; it is lighter than metal
wires and is less susceptible to interference; it is fragile and expensive)
 ISDN line – a special digital telephone line that
transmits and receives information at very high speeds
WIRELESS MEDIA
 Microwave system – transmits data via high-frequency
radio signals through the atmosphere
 Satellite system – receive transmitted signals, amplify
them, and then transmit the signals to the appropriate
locations
 Cellular technology – uses antennae resembling
telephone towers to pick up radio signals within a specific
area (cell)
 Infrared technology – transmits data as infrared light
waves from one device to another, providing wireless
links between PCs and peripherals
Note: The type selected is determined by the type of
network, the size of the network, and the cost.
 HOW ARE NETWORKS
CATEGORIZED?

 Networks are usually classified using

three properties:
 Topology

 Protocol

 Architecture
NETWORK TOPOLOGY
 Network Topology (or layout) – refers to the way
computers and peripherals are configured to form
networks
 Bus topology – all computers are linked by a single
line of cable
 Star topology – multiple computers and peripheral
devices are linked to a central computer, called a
host
 Ring topology – each computer or workstation is
connected to two other computers, with the entire
network forming a circle
 Hybrid topology – combine network layout
types to meet their needs
 NETWORK/COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS

 A protocol is simply an agreed-on set of rules

and procedures for transmitting data between
two or more devices.
 Features determined by the protocol are:
 How the sending device indicates it has finished sending
the message.
 How the receiving device indicates it has received the
message.
 The type of error checking to be used.
 NETWORK/COMMUNICATIONS PROTOCOLS

 Most networks use Ethernet, but some

network may use IBM’s Token Ring
protocol.
 On the Internet, the major protocol is
TCP/IP (an acronym for Transmission
Control Protocol/Internet Protocol).
EXAMPLE OF AN ETHERNET BUS

 Ethernet LANs use a bus

topology.
 All stations are connected to
a single long cable. 
 Any station can send a
signal along the cable,
which all other stations will
receive.  Unlike ring
topologies, the cable doesn't
close a loop.
TOKEN RING NETWORK
 A token passing ring LAN is a
group of computers connected in
a loop.  The group uses a token
passing access mechanism. 
 A computer wishing to send data
should first receive permission. 
When it gets control of the
network it may transmit a
frame.  Each frame transmitted
on the ring is transmitted from
one computer to the next, until
it ultimately returns to the
initiator of the transmission.
NETWORKING HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

 Hub – electronic device (with a number of ports) used in

a LAN to link groups of computers
 Repeaters (also called amplifiers) – electronic devices
that receive signals and amplify and send them along
the network
 Routers - electronic devices used to ensure messages
are sent to their intended destinations
 Gateway – consists of hardware and/or software that
allows communications between dissimilar networks
 Bridge – consists of hardware and/or software
that allows communication between two
similar networks
HUBS

The original Ethernet LANs relied on certain physical

characteristics of the cable carrying the network data
(usually coaxial cable).  New Ethernet technologies
introduced new cable types that we unable to fulfill the
original physical requirements.  New devices - hubs -
were introduced to simulate those characteristics.
Simply put, the hub's major function is to replicate data it
receives from one device attached to it to all others.
REPEATERS
A common problem in the networking world is that of weakening
electrical signals.  Electrical signals traveling through wires (such as
copper wires used in most networks), weaken due to the wire's
electrical resistance.  This effect limits the lengths of the cable that can
be used.  A repeater will overcome this limit, when there is a need to
connect two computers at a larger distance.
A repeater is connected to two cable segments.  Any electrical signal
reaching the repeater from one segment, will be amplified and
retransmitted to the other segment.

An illustration of a repeater at work

The electrical signal entering the repeater at one end is weakened.
The repeater amplifies the electrical signals and resends the data.
ROUTERS

 
                                                      

                          
Routers connect two or more networks and forward data
packets between them.  When data arrives from one of
the segments, the router decides, according to it's
routing table, to which segment to forward that data.
GATEWAY

 "Gateway" is a term that was once used to refer to a routing device.  Today, in the TCP/IP world, the term "router" is used
to describe such a device.

The term gateway now refers to special-purpose devices, that perform protocol conversions.  Gateways implement
application layer conversions of information received from various protocols.

 Examples of gateways found on today's markets are:

 VocalTec Gateway: A gateway that converts human speech traveling on analog phone lines into local area network protocol data,
and visa-versa.
 RadVision Gateway: Converts video from digital phone lines into local area network protocol data, and visa-versa.

Networks for Beginners: http://compnetworking.about.com/

MODEMS

An illustration of data sent using a modem and a regular

telephone line.

A modem is a device that converts digital data originating from a

terminal or computer, to analog signals used by voice
communication networks such as the telephone system. At one
end, modems convert the digital pulses to audible tones and
convert audio tones back to digital pulses at the other.
The word "Modem" stands for "MOdulator-DEModulator".
MODEMS
 Transmission speed

Modems are available in different transmission speeds, which

are measured in BPS (bits per second) also called BAUD rate.
Standard modems speeds: 9600 baud, 14400 baud, 28800
baud, 33600 baud, 56800 baud.
 
 Internal/External

Internal modems are electronic cards. An internal modem is

installed in one of the computer's expansion slot.
External modems are fully functioning external devices. The
external modem is connected to a computer using a serial
cable to one of the computer's serial ports, and draws power
from an external power source.
EXAMPLE OF FIREWALL

                                                                               
     

 Firewalls are systems that establish access control policies among

networks. They can block information from entering a network or from
getting out of that network, they can permit different users to perform
different kinds of operations, according to the user's authorizations .
NETWORK ARCHITECTURE
 Network architecture – refers to the way a
network is designed and built. The two major
types are:
 Peer-to-peer architecture – Computers connect with
each other in a workgroup to share files, printers,
and Internet access. This is used to connect a small
number of computers.
 Client/server architecture – sends information from a
client computer to a server, which then relays the
information back to the client computer, or to other
computers on the network
COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS
 File transfer protocol (FTP) – used to transmit files.
 Simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP) – used to transmit
e-mail messages.
 Post office protocol (POP) – allows the recipient to
retrieve messages.
 Wireless application protocol – enables wireless devices
to access and use the Internet using a client/server
network.
 802.11 – protocol for wireless LAN technology
DATA TRANSMISSION CHARACTERISTICS
 Bandwidth (rate of transmission)
 Analog or Digital (type of signal)
 Analog transmission – takes the form of continuous
waves transmitted over a medium at a certain frequency
rage
 Digital transmission – sends data in the form of bits
 Serial or Parallel (order of bits)
 Serial transmission – all of the data bits are transmitted
one bit after another in a continuous line
 Parallel transmission – data bits are sent at the same
time along multiple paths
COMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE

 E-Mail Software – used to send and receive

electronic messages using the Internet
 Web Browser – allows users to access and view
Web pages
 Groupware – allows groups of people on a
network to share information and to
collaborate on various projects