Recognizing The Computer Network
Recognizing The Computer Network
e. The networks help effort for client service with is more effective. Far
distance access go to the server impossible functionary can service
clients in outplace all at once calling the server.
3. Network types
a. Workgroup Network
Advantages:
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2) Access from data/to unit another computer can limited with security
degree on the password given
3) When one of the computer unit connected with modem, all or partly
of computer unit can access to internet network
b. LAN Network
c. WAN Network
• Speed. Networks provide a very rapid method for sharing and transferring
files. Without a network, files are shared by copying them to floppy disks,
then carrying or sending the disks from one computer to another. This
method of transferring files (referred to as sneaker-net) is very time-
consuming.
• Cost. Networkable versions of many popular software programs are
available at considerable savings when compared to buying individually
licensed copies. Besides monetary savings, sharing a program on a
network allows for easier upgrading of the program. The changes have to
be done only once, on the file server, instead of on all the individual
workstations.
• Security. Files and programs on a network can be designated as "copy
inhibit," so that you do not have to worry about illegal copying of
programs. Also, passwords can be established for specific directories to
restrict access to authorized users.
• Centralized Software Management. One of the greatest benefits of
installing a network at a school is the fact that all of the software can be
loaded on one computer (the file server). This eliminates that need to
spend time and energy installing updates and tracking files on
independent computers throughout the building.
• Resource Sharing. Sharing resources is another area in which a network
exceeds stand-alone computers. Most schools cannot afford enough laser
printers, fax machines, modems, scanners, and CD-ROM players for each
computer. However, if these or similar peripherals are added to a network,
they can be shared by many users.
• Electronic Mail. The presence of a network provides the hardware
necessary to install an e-mail system. E-mail aids in personal and
professional communication for all school personnel, and it facilitates the
dissemination of general information to the entire school staff. Electronic
mail on a LAN can enable students to communicate with teachers and
peers at their own school. If the LAN is connected to the Internet, students
can communicate with others throughout the world.
• Flexible Access. School networks allow students to access their files from
computers throughout the school. Students can begin an assignment in
their classroom, save part of it on a public access area of the network,
then go to the media center after school to finish their work. Students can
also work cooperatively through the network.
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• File Servers
• Workstations
• Network Interface Cards
• Switches
• Repeaters
• Bridges
• Routers
File Servers
A file server stands at the heart of most networks. It is a very fast computer with
a large amount of RAM and storage space, along with a fast network interface
card. The network operating system software resides on this computer, along
with any software applications and data files that need to be shared.
The file server controls the communication of information between the nodes on
a network. For example, it may be asked to send a word processor program to
one workstation, receive a database file from another workstation, and store an
e-mail message during the same time period. This requires a computer that can
store a lot of information and share it very quickly. File servers should have at
least the following characteristics:
Workstations
The network interface card (NIC) provides the physical connection between the
network and the computer workstation. Most NICs are internal, with the card
fitting into an expansion slot inside the computer. Some computers, such as Mac
Classics, use external boxes which are attached to a serial port or a SCSI port.
Laptop computers can now be purchased with a network interface card built-in or
with network cards that slip into a PCMCIA slot.
Network interface cards are a major factor in determining the speed and
performance of a network. It is a good idea to use the fastest network card
available for the type of workstation you are using.
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The three most common network interface connections are Ethernet cards,
LocalTalk connectors, and Token Ring cards. According to a International Data
Corporation study, Ethernet is the most popular, followed by Token Ring and
LocalTalk (Sant'Angelo, R. (1995). NetWare Unleashed, Indianapolis, IN: Sams
Publishing).
Ethernet Cards
LocalTalk Connectors
Ethernet LocalTalk
Token Ring network cards look similar to Ethernet cards. One visible difference is
the type of connector on the back end of the card. Token Ring cards generally
have a nine pin DIN type connector to attach the card to the network cable.
Switch
Repeaters
A good example of the use of repeaters would be in a local area network using a
star topology with unshielded twisted-pair cabling. The length limit for
unshielded twisted-pair cable is 100 meters. The most common configuration is
for each workstation to be connected by twisted-pair cable to a multi-port active
concentrator. The concentrator amplifies all the signals that pass through it
allowing for the total length of cable on the network to exceed the 100 meter
limit.
Bridges
A bridge is a device that allows you to segment a large network into two smaller,
more efficient networks. If you are adding to an older wiring scheme and want
the new network to be up-to-date, a bridge can connect the two.
A bridge monitors the information traffic on both sides of the network so that it
can pass packets of information to the correct location. Most bridges can "listen"
to the network and automatically figure out the address of each computer on
both sides of the bridge. The bridge can inspect each message and, if necessary,
broadcast it on the other side of the network.
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The bridge manages the traffic to maintain optimum performance on both sides
of the network. You might say that the bridge is like a traffic cop at a busy
intersection during rush hour. It keeps information flowing on both sides of the
network, but it does not allow unnecessary traffic through. Bridges can be used
to connect different types of cabling, or physical topologies. They must, however,
be used between networks with the same protocol.
Routers
While bridges know the addresses of all computers on each side of the network,
routers know the addresses of computers, bridges, and other routers on the
network. Routers can even "listen" to the entire network to determine which
sections are busiest -- they can then redirect data around those sections until
they clear up.
If you have a school LAN that you want to connect to the Internet, you will need
to purchase a router. In this case, the router serves as the translator between
the information on your LAN and the Internet. It also determines the best route
to send the data over the Internet. Routers can:
What is a Topology?
The following sections discuss the physical topologies used in networks and
other related topics.
• Linear Bus
• Star
• Star-Wired Ring
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• Tree
• Considerations When Choosing a Topology
• Summary Chart
Linear Bus
A linear bus topology consists of a main run of cable with a terminator at each
end (See fig. 1). All nodes (file server, workstations, and peripherals) are
connected to the linear cable. Ethernet and LocalTalk networks use a linear bus
topology.
Star
A star topology is designed with each node (file server, workstations, and
peripherals) connected directly to a central network hub or concentrator (See fig.
2).
Data on a star network passes through the hub or concentrator before continuing
to its destination. The hub or concentrator manages and controls all functions of
the network. It also acts as a repeater for the data flow. This configuration is
common with twisted pair cable; however, it can also be used with coaxial cable
or fiber optic cable.
The protocols used with star configurations are usually Ethernet or LocalTalk.
Token Ring uses a similar topology, called the star-wired ring.
Star-Wired Ring
Tree
5-4-3 Rule
This rule does not apply to other network protocols or Ethernet networks where
all fiber optic cabling or a combination of a fiber backbone with UTP cabling is
used. If there is a combination of fiber optic backbone and UTP cabling, the rule
is simply translated to 7-6-5 rule.
• Money. A linear bus network may be the least expensive way to install a
network; you do not have to purchase concentrators.
• Length of cable needed. The linear bus network uses shorter lengths of
cable.
• Future growth. With a star topology, expanding a network is easily done
by adding another concentrator.
• Cable type. The most common cable in schools is unshielded twisted
pair, which is most often used with star topologies.
Summary Chart:
Twisted Pair
Ethernet
Linear Bus Coaxial
LocalTalk
Fiber
Star-Wired
Twisted Pair Token Ring
Ring
Twisted Pair
Tree Coaxial Ethernet
Fiber
D. Data Communication
1. Using cable
Cable is the medium through which information usually moves from one
network device to another. There are several types of cable which are
commonly used with LANs. In some cases, a network will utilize only one type
of cable, other networks will use a variety of cable types. The type of cable
chosen for a network is related to the network's topology, protocol, and size.
Understanding the characteristics of different types of cable and how they
relate to other aspects of a network is necessary for the development of a
successful network.
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The following sections discuss the types of cables used in networks and other
related topics.
Twisted pair cabling comes in two varieties: shielded and unshielded. Unshielded
twisted pair (UTP) is the most popular and is generally the best option for school
networks (See fig. 1).
The quality of UTP may vary from telephone-grade wire to extremely high-speed
cable. The cable has four pairs of wires inside the jacket. Each pair is twisted
with a different number of twists per inch to help eliminate interference from
adjacent pairs and other electrical devices. The tighter the twisting, the higher
the supported transmission rate and the greater the cost per foot. The EIA/TIA
(Electronic Industry Association/Telecommunication Industry Association) has
established standards of UTP and rated five categories of wire.
Type Use
Category
Voice Only (Telephone Wire)
1
Category
Data to 4 Mbps (LocalTalk)
2
Category
Data to 10 Mbps (Ethernet)
3
Buy the best cable you can afford; most schools purchase Category 3 or
Category 5. If you are designing a 10 Mbps Ethernet network and are considering
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the cost savings of buying Category 3 wire instead of Category 5, remember that
the Category 5 cable will provide more "room to grow" as transmission
technologies increase. Both Category 3 and Category 5 UTP have a maximum
segment length of 100 meters. In Florida, Category 5 cable is required for retrofit
grants. 10BaseT refers to the specifications for unshielded twisted pair cable
(Category 3, 4, or 5) carrying Ethernet signals. Category 6 is relatively new and
is used for gigabit connections.
The standard connector for unshielded twisted pair cabling is an RJ-45 connector.
This is a plastic connector that looks like a large telephone-style connector (See
fig. 2). A slot allows the RJ-45 to be inserted only one way. RJ stands for
Registered Jack, implying that the connector follows a standard borrowed from
the telephone industry. This standard designates which wire goes with each pin
inside the connector.
Coaxial Cable
Coaxial cabling has a single copper conductor at its center. A plastic layer
provides insulation between the center conductor and a braided metal shield
(See fig. 3). The metal shield helps to block any outside interference from
fluorescent lights, motors, and other computers.
The most common type of connector used with coaxial cables is the Bayone-
Neill-Concelman (BNC) connector (See fig. 4). Different types of adapters are
available for BNC connectors, including a T-connector, barrel connector, and
terminator. Connectors on the cable are the weakest points in any network. To
help avoid problems with your network, always use the BNC connectors that
crimp, rather than screw, onto the cable.
Fiber optic cabling consists of a center glass core surrounded by several layers of
protective materials (See fig. 5). It transmits light rather than electronic signals
eliminating the problem of electrical interference. This makes it ideal for certain
environments that contain a large amount of electrical interference. It has also
made it the standard for connecting networks between buildings, due to its
immunity to the effects of moisture and lighting.
Fiber optic cable has the ability to transmit signals over much longer distances
than coaxial and twisted pair. It also has the capability to carry information at
vastly greater speeds. This capacity broadens communication possibilities to
include services such as video conferencing and interactive services. The cost of
fiber optic cabling is comparable to copper cabling; however, it is more difficult
to install and modify. 10BaseF refers to the specifications for fiber optic cable
carrying Ethernet signals.
The most common connector used with fiber optic cable is an ST connector. It is
barrel shaped, similar to a BNC connector. A newer connector, the SC, is
becoming more popular. It has a squared face and is easier to connect in a
confined space.
Specificat Maximum
Cable Type
ion length
Unshielded Twisted
10BaseT 100 meters
Pair
Unshielded Twisted
100BaseT 100 meters
Pair
Wireless LANs
Not all networks are connected with cabling; some networks are wireless.
Wireless LANs use high frequency radio signals, infrared light beams, or lasers to
communicate between the workstations and the file server or hubs. Each
workstation and file server on a wireless network has some sort of
transceiver/antenna to send and receive the data. Information is relayed
between transceivers as if they were physically connected. For longer distance,
wireless communications can also take place through cellular telephone
technology, microwave transmission, or by satellite.
Wireless networks are great for allowing laptop computers or remote computers
to connect to the LAN. Wireless networks are also beneficial in older buildings
where it may be difficult or impossible to install cables.
The two most common types of infrared communications used in schools are
line-of-sight and scattered broadcast. Line-of-sight communication means that
there must be an unblocked direct line between the workstation and the
transceiver. If a person walks within the line-of-sight while there is a
transmission, the information would need to be sent again. This kind of
obstruction can slow down the wireless network.
Wireless LANs have several disadvantages. They provide poor security, and are
susceptible to interference from lights and electronic devices. They are also
slower than LANs using cabling.
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• Always use more cable than you need. Leave plenty of slack.
• Test every part of a network as you install it. Even if it is brand new, it
may have problems that will be difficult to isolate later.
• Stay at least 3 feet away from fluorescent light boxes and other sources of
electrical interference.
• If it is necessary to run cable across the floor, cover the cable with cable
protectors.
• Label both ends of each cable.
• Use cable ties (not tape) to keep cables in the same location together.
B. Network Design
2. Teleconference
3. Using LAN Network for manage the file between server and client, ex. For
copying/moving file inter-computer in local computer network