Chapter 1:

Exploring the Network

Introduction to Networks

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 Chapter 1: Objectives
After completing this chapter, students will be able to:
 Explain how multiple networks are used in everyday life.
 Explain the topologies and devices used in a small- to medium-
sized business network.
 Explain the basic characteristics of a network that supports
communication in a small- to medium-sized business.
 Explain trends in networking that will affect the use of networks in
small to medium-sized businesses.

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Chapter 1
1.1 Globally Connected
1.2 LANs, WANs, and the Internet
1.3 The Network as a Platform
1.4 The Changing Network Environment
1.5 Summary

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 1.1 Globally Connected

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Networking Today
Networks in Our Past and Daily Lives

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Networking Today
The Global Community

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Interconnecting Our Lives
Networking Impacts in Our Daily Lives
 Networks support the way we learn.
 Networks support the way we communicate.
 Networks support the way we work.
 Networks support the way we play.

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Some forms of communication include

 Instant Messaging (IM) / Texting

 Social Media
 Collaboration Tools (info sharing irrespective of location)
 Weblogs (blogs)
 Wikis
 Podcasting(audio-based medium to share audio )
 Peer-to-Peer (P2P) File Sharing ( without Central server )

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Providing Resources in a Network
Networks of Many Sizes

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Networks of Many Sizes
 Small home networks connect a few computers to each other
and the Internet.
 The Small Office/Home Office or SOHO network enables
computers within a home office or a remote office to connect
to a corporate network or access to centralized,
 Medium to large networks, such as those used by
corporations and schools, can have many locations with
hundreds or thousands of interconnected computers.
 The Internet is a network of networks that connects hundreds
of millions of computers world-wide.

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Providing Resources in a Network
Clients and Servers

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Providing Resources in a Network
Peer-to-Peer

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1.2 LANs, WANs, and the Internet

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LANs, WANs, and Internets
Components of a Network
There are three categories of network components:
 Devices
 Media
 Services

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Components of a Network
End Devices
Some examples of end devices are:
 Computers (work stations, laptops, file servers, web servers)
 Network printers
 VoIP phones
 TelePresence endpoint
 Security cameras
 Mobile handheld devices (such as smart phones, tablets, PDAs, and
wireless debit / credit card readers and barcode scanners)

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Components of a Network
Network Infrastructure Devices
Examples of intermediary network devices are:
 Network Access Devices (switches, and wireless access points)
 Internetworking Devices (routers)
 Security Devices (firewalls)
 Functions:
 Regenerate and retransmit data signals
 Maintain information about what pathways exist through the network and
internetwork
 Maintain information about what pathways exist through the network and
internetwork
 Direct data along alternate pathways when there is a link failure and
priority
 Permit or deny the flow of data, based on security settings

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Components of a Network
Network Media

• The distance the media

can successfully carry a
signal

• The environment in
which the media is to be
installed

• The amount of data and

the speed at which it
must be transmitted.

• The cost of the media

and installation

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Components of a Network
Network Representations

• NIC
• Ports
• Interface

1.2.1.2

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Components of a Network
Topology Diagrams • It provides a
visual map of
how the
network is
connected.

• Identify the
physical
location of
intermediary
devices,
configured
ports, and
cable
installation.

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Logical Topology

Identify devices, ports, and IP

addressing scheme.

1.2.1.7

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LANs and WANs
Types of Networks
The two most common types of network infrastructures are:
 Local Area Network (LAN)
- Provides access to users and end devices in a small geographical area.
 Wide Area Network (WAN).
- Provides access to other networks over a wide geographical area.

Other types of networks include:

 Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) (Larger than LAN and below WAN)
 Wireless LAN (WLAN)
 Storage Area Network (SAN)
- Infrastructure designed to support file servers and provide data storage,
retrieval, and replication. It involves high-end servers, multiple disk arrays
(called blocks), and Fibre Channel interconnection technology.
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LANs and WANs
Local Area Networks (LAN)
• LANs interconnect end
devices in a limited
area such as a home,
school, office building,
or campus.

• A LAN is usually
administered by a
single organization or
individual.

• The administrative
control that governs
the security and
access control policies
are enforced on the
network level.

• LANs provide high

speed bandwidth to
internal end devices
and intermediary
devices.

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LANs and WANs
Wide Area Networks (WAN)
WANs are
typically
managed by
service providers
(SP) or Internet
Service
Providers (ISP).

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LANs, WANs, and the Internet
The Internet

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LANs, WANs, and the Internet
Intranet and Extranet
Intranet
• private connection of LANs
and WANs that belongs to
an organization.

• accessible only by the

organization's members,
employees, or others with
authorization

Extranet
• Extranet to provide secure
and safe access to
individuals who work for a
different organizations, but
require company data.

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Connecting to the Internet
Connecting Remote Users to the Internet
Cable

• The Internet data signal is carried

on the same coaxial cable that
delivers cable television.

• Provide high bandwidth,

• cable modem separates the

Internet data signal from the other
signals carried on the cable
Dsl

• Provides a high bandwidth,

• line split into three channels.

- voice telephone calls
- faster download channel
- sending or uploading information.

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Connecting to the Internet
Connecting Businesses to the Internet

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1.3 The Network as a Platform

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Converged Networks
The Converging Network

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Converged Networks
Planning for the Future

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Reliable Network
Supporting Network Architecture
As networks evolves, we are discovering that there are four basic
characteristics that the underlying architectures need to address in order to
meet user expectations:
 Fault Tolerance(1.3.2.1)
 Scalability
 Quality of Service (QoS)
 Security

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Reliable Network
Fault Tolerance in Circuit Switched Network

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Reliable Network
Packet-Switched Networks

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Reliable Network
Scalable Networks

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Reliable Network
Providing QoS
Examples of priority decisions for an organization might include:
 Time-sensitive communication - increase priority for services like
telephony or video distribution.
 Non time-sensitive communication - decrease priority for web page
retrieval or email.
 High importance to organization - increase priority for production control
or business transaction data.
 Undesirable communication - decrease priority or block unwanted activity,
like peer-to-peer file sharing or live entertainment.

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Reliable Network
Providing Network Security

1.3.2.7
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Network Security
Two types of network security
 Network infrastructure security (Device Protection)
 Information security.(Data Protection)
Achieve the goals of network security
 Ensuring confidentiality
 Maintaining communication integrity - Data integrity
 Ensuring availability

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1.4 The Changing Network Environment

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Network Trends
New trends
Some of the top trends include:
 Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
 Online collaboration
 Video
 Cloud computing

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Network Trends
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

The concept of any device, to any content, in anyway is a major global

trend that requires significant changes to the way devices are used.
This trend is known as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD).

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Network Trends
Online Collaboration

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Network Trends
Video Communication

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Network Trends
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing offers the following potential benefits:
 Organizational flexibility
 Agility and rapid deployment
 Reduced cost of infrastructure
 Refocus of IT resources
 Creation of new business
models

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Network Trends
Data Centers
A data center is a facility used to house computer systems and associated
components including:
 Redundant data communications connections
 High-speed virtual servers (sometimes referred to as server farms or
server clusters)
 Redundant storage systems (typically uses SAN technology)
 Redundant or backup power supplies
 Environmental controls (e.g., air conditioning, fire suppression)
 Security devices

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Networking Technologies for the Home
Technology Trends in the Home

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Networking Technologies for the Home
Powerline Networking

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Networking Technologies for the Home
Wireless Broadband

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Future of Networking
Network Security

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Network Security
Security Threats
The most common external threats to networks include:
 Viruses, worms, and Trojan horses (Malicious software and arbitrary code
running on a user device)
 Spyware and adware(Software installed on a user device that secretly
collects information about the user)
 Zero-day attacks, also called zero-hour attacks(an attack that occurs on
the first day that a vulnerability becomes known)
 Hacker attacks (knowledgeable person to user devices or network
resources)
 Denial of service (DoS) attacks(attacks designed to slow or crash
applications and processes on a network device)
 Data interception and theft(attack to capture private information from an
organization’s network)
 Identity theft(an attack to steal the login credentials of a user in order to
access private data)
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Network Security
Security Solutions
Network security components often include:
 Antivirus and antispyware (to protect user devices from malicious
software)
 Firewall filtering(block unauthorized access to the network. )
 Dedicated firewall systems
 Access control lists (ACL)
 Intrusion prevention systems (IPS) (To identify fast-spreading threats,
such as zero-day or zero-hour attacks )
 Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) (To provide secure access to remote
workers)

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Network Architectures
Cisco Network Architectures

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Network Architectures
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

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Exploring the Networking
Summary
In this chapter, you learned:
 Networks and the Internet have changed the way we communicate, learn,
work, and even play.
 Networks come in all sizes. They can range from simple networks
consisting of two computers, to networks connecting millions of devices.
 The Internet is the largest network in existence. In fact, the term Internet
means a ‘network of networks. The Internet provides the services that
enable us to connect and communicate with our families, friends, work,
and interests.
 The network infrastructure is the platform that supports the network. It
provides the stable and reliable channel over which communication can
occur. It is made up of network components including end devices,
intermediate devices, and network media.

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Exploring the Networking
Summary (cont.)
In this chapter, you learned:
 Networks must be reliable.
 Network security is an integral part of computer networking, regardless of
whether the network is limited to a home environment with a single
connection to the Internet, or as large as a corporation with thousands of
users.
 The network infrastructure can vary greatly in terms of size, number of
users, and number and types of services that are supported on it. The
network infrastructure must grow and adjust to support the way the
network is used. The routing and switching platform is the foundation of
any network infrastructure.

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