HARDWARE AND NETWORKING

Hardware and Networking course is all about the fundamentals of personal computing
and basics networking concepts . This course teaches about the hardware .operating
systems ,application software and networking. Networking hardware typically refers to
equipment facilitating the use of a computer network.the coursegives visual elements and
hands on approach designed to enable the learner to a get a perfect blend of theory and
practice so as to become a complete IT professional.

Computer hardware is the combination of the different physical parts of a computer.

Networking is the practice of linking a group of two or more computer systems for the
purpose of sharing information and data. The professionals associated with the discipline
of research of computer hardware and developments of computer network are known as
hardware and networking engineers. They also design and supervise the process of
manufacturing and installation of hardware.

This course help you and understand the basics with broad level of technical detail.

HARDWARE

A personal computer is made up of multiple physical components of computer

hardware, upon which can be installed an operating system and a multitude of software
to perform the operator's desired functions.

Though a PC comes in many different form factors, a typical personal computer consists
of a case or chassis in a tower shape (desktop) and the following parts:

Motherboard

The motherboard is the "brain” of the computer. Components directly attached to the
motherboard include:

• The central processing unit (CPU) performs most of the calculations which
enable a computer to function, and is sometimes referred to as the "brain" of the
computer. It is usually cooled by a heat sink and fan.
• The chipset mediates communication between the CPU and the other components
of the system, including main memory.
• RAM Stores all running processes (applications) and the current running OS.
RAM Stands for Random Access Memory
• The BIOS includes boot firmware and power management. The Basic Input
Output System tasks are handled by operating system drivers.
• Internal Buses connect the CPU to various internal components and to expansion
cards for graphics and sound.
 o Current
 The northbridge memory controller, for RAM and PCI Express
 PCI Express, for graphics cards
 PCI, for other expansion cards
 SATA, for disk drives
o Obsolete
 ATA (superseded by SATA)
 AGP (superseded by PCI Express)
 VLB VESA Local Bus (superseded by AGP)
 ISA (expansion card slot format obsolete in PCs, but still used in
industrial computers)
• External Bus Controllers support ports for external peripherals. These ports may
be controlled directly by the southbridge I/O controller or based on expansion
cards attached to the motherboard through the PCI bus.
o USB
o FireWire
o eSATA
o SCSI

Power supply
Main article: Power supply unit (computer)

Includes power cord, switch, and cooling fan. Supplies power at appropriate voltages to
the motherboard and internal disk drives. It also converts alternating current to direct
current and provides different voltages to different parts of the computer.

Video display controller

Main article: Graphics card

Produces the output for the visual display unit. This will either be built into the
motherboard or attached in its own separate slot (PCI, PCI-E, PCI-E 2.0, or AGP), in the
form of a graphics card.

Removable media devices

Main article: Computer storage

• CD (compact disc) - the most common type of removable media, suitable for
music and data.
o CD-ROM Drive - a device used for reading data from a CD.
o CD Writer - a device used for both reading and writing data to and from a
CD.
• DVD (digital versatile disc) - a popular type of removable media that is the same
dimensions as a CD but stores up to 12 times as much information. It is the most
common way of transferring digital video, and is popular for data storage.
o DVD-ROM Drive - a device used for reading data from a DVD.
 o DVD Writer - a device used for both reading and writing data to and from
a DVD.
o DVD-RAM Drive - a device used for rapid writing and reading of data
from a special type of DVD.
• Blu-ray Disc - a high-density optical disc format for data and high-definition
video. Can store 70 times as much information as a CD.
o BD-ROM Drive - a device used for reading data from a Blu-ray disc.
o BD Writer - a device used for both reading and writing data to and from a
Blu-ray disc.
• HD DVD - a discontinued competitor to the Blu-ray format.
• Floppy disk - an outdated storage device consisting of a thin disk of a flexible
magnetic storage medium. Used today mainly for loading RAID drivers.
• Zip drive - an outdated medium-capacity removable disk storage system, first
introduced by Iomega in 1994.
• USB flash drive - a flash memory data storage device integrated with a USB
interface, typically small, lightweight, removable, and rewritable. Capacities vary,
from hundreds of megabytes (in the same ballpark as CDs) to tens of gigabytes
(surpassing, at great expense, Blu-ray discs).
• Tape drive - a device that reads and writes data on a magnetic tape, used for long
term storage and backups.

Internal storage

Hardware that keeps data inside the computer for later use and remains persistent even
when the computer has no power.

• Hard disk - for medium-term storage of data.

• Solid-state drive - a device similar to hard disk, but containing no moving parts
and stores data in a digital format.
• RAID array controller - a device to manage several internal or external hard disks
and optionally some peripherals in order to achieve performance or reliability
improvement in what is called a RAID array.

Sound card
Main article: Sound card

Enables the computer to output sound to audio devices, as well as accept input from a
microphone. Most modern computers have sound cards built-in to the motherboard,
though it is common for a user to install a separate sound card as an upgrade. Most sound
cards, either built-in or added, have surround sound capabilities.

Other peripherals
Main article: Peripheral

In addition, hardware devices can include external components of a computer system.

The following are either standard or very common.
Includes various input and output devices, usually external to the computer system.

Input
Main article: Input

• Text input devices

o Keyboard - a device to input text and characters by depressing buttons
(referred to as keys), similar to a typewriter. The most common English-
language key layout is the QWERTY layout.
• Pointing devices
o Mouse - a pointing device that detects two dimensional motion relative to
its supporting surface.
o Optical Mouse - a newer technology that uses lasers, or more commonly
LEDs to track the surface under the mouse to determine motion of the
mouse, to be translated into mouse movements on the screen.
o Trackball - a pointing device consisting of an exposed protruding ball
housed in a socket that detects rotation about two axes.

• Gaming devices
o Joystick - a general control device that consists of a handheld stick that
pivots around one end, to detect angles in two or three dimensions.
o Gamepad - a general handheld game controller that relies on the digits
(especially thumbs) to provide input.
o Game controller - a specific type of controller specialized for certain
gaming purposes.
• Image, Video input devices
o Image scanner - a device that provides input by analyzing images, printed
text, handwriting, or an object.
o Webcam - a low resolution video camera used to provide visual input that
can be easily transferred over the internet.
• Audio input devices
o Microphone - an acoustic sensor that provides input by converting sound
into electrical signals.
o Mic - converting an audio signal into electrical signal.
NETWORKING

Computer networking is the engineering discipline concerned with communication

between computer systems or devices. Networking, routers, routing protocols, and
networking over the public Internet have their specifications defined in documents called
RFCs.[1] Computer networking is sometimes considered a sub-discipline of
telecommunications, computer science, information technology and/or computer
engineering. Computer networks rely heavily upon the theoretical and practical
application of these scientific and engineering disciplines.

A computer network is any set of computers or devices connected to each other with the
ability to exchange data.[2] Examples of different networks are:

• Local area network (LAN), which is usually a small network constrained to a

small geographic area.
• Wide area network (WAN) that is usually a larger network that covers a large
geographic area.
• Wireless LANs and WANs (WLAN & WWAN) are the wireless equivalent of the
LAN and WAN.

All networks are interconnected to allow communication with a variety of different kinds
of media, including twisted-pair copper wire cable, coaxial cable, optical fiber, power
lines and various wireless technologies.[3] The devices can be separated by a few meters
(e.g. via Bluetooth) or nearly unlimited distances (e.g. via the interconnections of the
Internet[4]).

Typically, this includes routers, switches, hubs, gateways, access points, network
interface cards, Networking cables, network bridges, modems, ISDN adapters, firewalls
and other related hardware.

The most common kind of networking hardware today is copper-based Ethernet adapters,
helped largely by its standard inclusion on most modern computer systems. Wireless
networking has become increasingly popular, however, especially for portable and
handheld devices.

Other hardware prevalent within computer networking is datacenter equipment (such as

file servers, database servers and storage areas), network services (such as DNS, DHCP,
email etc) as well as other specific network devices such as content delivery.

Other diverse devices which may be considered Networking hardware include mobile
phones, PDAs and even modern coffee machines. As technology grows and IP-based
networks are integrated into building infrastructure and household utilities, network
hardware becomes an ambiguous statement owing to the increasing number of 'network
capable' endpoints.

Brainware has responded to the need of the hour by incorporating in its portfolio a
comprehensive hardware & networking training programme. The syllabus of this course
is mapped to leading global certifications from CompTIA, Microsoft, Cisco & RedHat.
last decade has been a witness to an unforeseen upswing in the Indian IT industry. Today,
even the most remote corner of the country has access to computers. This has resulted in
an increased demand for hardware & networking professionals throughout the country.
MAIT is forecasting manpower recruitment to the tune of 2 million in the hardware &
networking industry by the year 2008.

Career Options

Hardware Engineer • Networking Engineer • PC Assembler • System Admin

Site Engineer • Network Security Specialist • Peripheral Engineer...

Scope
Recent surveys have revealed that the electronics and hardware sector in India is
expected to grow above the $60 billion landmark. The popularity of software industry
had overshadowed the hardware sector. But the scenario is likely to experience a change
in the coming years. Hardware and networking jobs in India are growing in potential.

The field of hardware jobs in India is saturated at the moment. The marginal increment in
employment against the number of pass-outs is on the lower side. Students often choose
to start their own business ventures in the form of assembling and maintenance.

Remuneration
A diploma holder earns around Rs.8000-10000 at the entry level. Those with vendor
certification courses can expect a salary of Rs.20000-25000.