Computer Networking Grade 10 ICT
Computer Networking Grade 10 ICT
A simplex connection is a
connection in which the data flows in
only one direction, from the
transmitter to the receiver. This type
of connection is useful if the data do
not need to flow in both directions.
A half-duplex connection is a
connection in which the data flows in
one direction or the other, but not both
at the same time. With this type of
connection, each end of the connection
transmits in turn.
What is a Network?
For example a network allows computers to share files, users to message each other, a
whole room of computers to share a single printer,
etc.
An intranet is a private network that provides similar services to The Internet: e-mail,
messaging, web pages and documents sharing only within one organization.
Extranet
An extranet is a computer network that allows controlled access from the specific
outsiders for specific tasks. Extranet only communicate with specific outsiders.
Internet
The Internet is a world-wide network that has grown and evolved from an experimental
network (ARPANet) created by the US military back in the 1960s.
Network Topologies
The word topology means ‘arrangement’, so when we talk about the topology of a
network, we mean how the different parts are arranged and connected together.
Bus Topology
A bus network…
• Can be quite slow since all computers share the same cable when communicating
A ring network…
• Can cope with a break in the ring cable since all computers are still joined together
(it is now a bus network)
Star Topology
A star network…
• Is quite expensive to install (you have to buy lots of cable and the central device)
• Is very fast since each computer has its own cable which it doesn’t need to share
• Can cope with a broken cable (only one computer will be affected)
• Will stop working if the central device breaks
• Is the most common network topology
Tree Topology
Mesh Topology
Consists of physical connection between source and destination via a wire or a cable.
These connections are bounded to a channel to follow. There are three basic types of
guided media.
This cable is the most commonly used and is cheaper than others. It is lightweight, cheap,
can be installed easily, and they support many different types of network.
Two different types of twisted pair cable, unshielded twisted pair (UTP) and shielded
twisted pair.
Coaxial is called by this name because it contains two conductors that are parallel to each
other. Copper is used in this as centre conductor which can be a solid wire or a standard
one. It is surrounded by PVC
installation, a sheath which is encased
in an outer conductor of metal foil,
barid or both.
No physical connection between source and destination, instead they use air itself. These
connections are not bounded to a channel to follow.
I. Radiowaves
These are easy to generate and can penetrate through buildings. The sending and
receiving antennas need not be aligned. Frequency Range:3KHz – 1GHz. AM and FM
radios and cordless phones use Radiowaves for transmission.
II. Microwaves
It is a line of sight transmission i.e. the sending and receiving antennas need to be
properly aligned with each other. The distance covered by the signal is directly
proportional to the height of the antenna. Frequency Range:1GHz – 300GHz. These are
majorly used for mobile phone communication and television distribution.
III. Infrared
Infrared waves are used for very short distance communication. They cannot penetrate
through obstacles. This prevents interference between systems. Frequency
Range:300GHz – 400THz. It is used in TV remotes, wireless mouse, keyboard, printer, etc.
Network Hardware
Hub
A switch, like a hub, is a device that connects a number of computers together to make a
LAN.
The typical use of a switch is at the centre of a star network (or as part of a hybrid
network) - the switch has cables plugged into it from each computer.
Router
Before the days of broadband Internet connections, most computers connected to the
Internet via telephone lines (dial-up connections).
The problem with using telephone lines is that they are designed to carry voices, which
are analogue signals. They are not designed for digital data.
Firewall
MAC address
Every piece of hardware on a network has a unique MAC address. This is embedded in
the hardware when the product is made in the factory, and the user cannot change it. On
a computer, the MAC address is a unique code built into a NIC. No two computers have
the same MAC address.
▪ Web servers
▪ Application servers
▪ Network attached storage (NAS)
▪ Print servers
▪ Mail server
Network Architectures
There are different networking architectures for how to connect computers over a
network. Computers that request information are called clients and computers that
provide information are servers.
Client-server
The client-server model is the relationship between two computers in which one, the
client, makes a service request from another, the server. The key point about a client-
server model is that the client is dependent on the server to provide and manage the
information.
Peer-to-peer (P2P)
Advantages
Disadvantages
• Viruses - networks make it easier to share viruses and other malware. They can
quickly spread and damage files on many computers via a network.
1) A school has a cabled LAN. The head teacher of the school wants to replace it with a
WLAN. Explain the differences between a cabled LAN and a WLAN, giving two
advantages and two disadvantages of having a WLAN.
2) A desktop computer is already used in an office which does not have an internet
connection.
a) Name two items of hardware which would enable the computer to be
connected to a local area network.
b) Name one item of hardware which would enable the network to be connected
to the internet.
3) A media company with branches around the world has recently opened a new branch
in London. The branch includes a number of different computer networks. Identify
the most appropriate type of network to answer each of the questions.
a) The type of network used to connect the branch to its head office in New York
is called a
b) The type of cabled network used to connect computers together in one of the
offices is called a
5) A school wants to buy some new computers. Some of the computers they buy will
be networked and others will be standalone computers which will not be
networked.
Eventually the school will use sets of networked Wifi laptops and cabled desktop
computers which will also be networked.