Network Fundamentals

R1.0
By A. Awadhi
What is the Network?
A network consists of two or more computers that are
linked in order to share resources (such as printers and
CD-ROMs), exchange files, or allow electronic
communications.
The computers on a network may be linked through cables,
telephone lines, radio waves, satellites, or infrared light
beams.
Benefits of Network
† Sharing resources.
† Centralizing administration.
† Control of security.
Types of Networks
The basic types of networks include:

Local Area Network (LAN):

LAN is a network that is confined to a relatively small area.
It is generally limited to a geographic area such as a
company school, or building.

Wide Area Networks (WAN):

WAN connect larger geographic areas, such as city to
another, or the world. Dedicated transoceanic
cabling or satellite uplinks may be used to connect this type
of network.
Protocol
What is a Protocol?

A protocol is a set of rules that governs the

communications between computers on a network. These
rules include guidelines that regulate the following
characteristics of a network:
† Access method.
† Type of physical topologies.
† Types of cabling.
† Speed of data transfer.
 Protocol
Protocol Types

The most common protocols are:

† Ethernet
† LocalTalk
† Token Ring
† FDDI
† ATM
Network Layers
Scientists had divided the
network to layers in order to Application layer Layer 7

simplify understanding and

troubleshooting. There are two Application Presentation layer Layer 6

standard TC/IP & IOS which is

Session layer
more used. Layer 5

Data are segmented. Transport layer Layer 4

Segments are encapsulated

into packets.
Network layer Layer 3

Packets are encapsulated

into frames.
Data link layer Layer 2

Frames are converted into bits.

Networking media.
Physical Layer Layer 1
 Network Devices
Network devices includes all computers, peripherals, interface cards
and other equipment needed to perform data-processing and
communications within the network.
Network devices can be divided in to two groups.

User devices

such as PC’s, printers, scaners..etc, where the user will be in direct touch with
them.

Network devices

such as Hubs, switches, routers..etc, where user will communicate through

them without having direct touch.
 Network Devices
Hubs

concentrate connections. In other words, they take a group of hosts and allow
the network to see them as a single unit. Hubs use MAC Address to forward
Data frame.
A
When host “A” wants to send data to host “B”,
the Hub will broadcast the data to all hosts in
the network. However, only destination host
“B” will respond to source host “A”.
Imagine if all hosts are sending data and hub
broadcasting to all, what will happen?
B
The network traffic will get jam and network
will fail.

Hub
 Bridges

Provides connections between LANs, they also perform a check on the data to
determine whether it should cross the bridge or not. Therefore Bridge
minimizes traffic jam. Bridges use MAC Address to forward Data frame. Bridge
will build up a table which identify which host is on which port.

Segment 1 Segment 2

Bridge
 Switches

It is called also multiport bridge. It has same function of the bridge but with
more ports.

Host Port MAC Address

A 1
B 2
A
C 3
B
D 4
1 C E 5
D F 6
6
E

Switch
F
Routers

They can regenerate signals, concentrate multiple connections, convert data

transmission formats, and manage data transfers. They can also connect to a
WAN, which allows them to connect LANs that are separated by great
distances.
Internet
Network Cabling
The types of cables used in networks are:
† Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable: mostly used.
† Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable: more expensive then UTP.
† Coaxial Cable: old type of cabling.
† Fiber Optic Cable: used for long distances.
† Wireless LANs
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable
RJ-45 connector it is called also
10BaseT

Coaxial cable BNC connector, it is called also 10Base2

Fiber optic cable

Wireless LANs
 Topology

What is a Topology?

The physical topology of a network refers to the

configuration of cables, computers, and other peripherals.
The following are types of physical topologies used in networks.
• Linear Bus, mostly used Coaxial cable.
• Star, used Twisted Pair and Fiber.
• Tree, used Twisted Pair, Coaxial or Fiber.
 Linear Bus topology

Star topology Tree topology

 Data Frame

The data will be sent from a host to another in a form called Frame. Data
frame contains many informations including the data it’s self, one of these
are the source & destination address.
Two types of address are available IP & MAC.

A
Data frame
B

Source Destination
Media Access Card (MAC) address

It is called also Physical address, it consists of 48 bits expressed as 12 Hex digits

divided in to two halfs, the first represents the manufacturer code and the second is
serial no.
MAC Address burned in to the RAM and therefore it can’t be changed once written
at factory.

Example of MAC Address: 00602F3A07BC

The first half in orange represents CISCO manufacturer and second half for particular
device.

Internet Protocol (IP) address

It is called also logical address, it consists of 32 bits divided in to four parts

Some of them are network address while others are host address.

Example of IP Address: 192.183.38.96

Transmission of Data Frame

When a host send the data frame in the network it could be one of following cases.

Unicast

In this case host A will send the data frame to destination host only Ex. host B.

A
B

D C
 Multicaste

In this case host A will send the data frame to more then one destination host
Ex. hosts B & C.

A
B

D C
 Broadcast

In this case host A will send the data frame to all hosts in the network.

A
B

D C
If all hosts in the network send a Broadcast frame then what will happen ??

The amount of collision between data frames will increase and the traffic jam
will take place. when the number of users on the network increases, the
increased number of collisions can cause intolerably bad performance.

A
B

D C
• What is collision?
When two hosts send data frame in the same time, the two fames will
collide.

The area were collision occurs called Collision Domain.

Collision domains are the connected physical network segments where
collisions can occur. Every time a collision happens on a network, all
transmission stops for a period of time. The length of this period of time varies
and is determined by each network device.
Layer 1 devices such as repeaters and hubs do not break up collision domains,
Layer 2 and Layer 3 devices such as Bridges, Switches and routers do break
up collision domains. Breaking up, or increasing the number of collision
domains with Layer 2 and 3 devices is also known as segmentation.
Segment 1 Segment 2

Network segmentation