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IT Is Gr8! at Grade 11 - Module 2.1 (Networks)

The document discusses various aspects of computer networks including definitions, reasons for having networks, physical components, wired and wireless transmission media, limitations of different media, network sizes, and innovations like VoIP, VPN, and location-based computing.

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123 views15 pages

IT Is Gr8! at Grade 11 - Module 2.1 (Networks)

The document discusses various aspects of computer networks including definitions, reasons for having networks, physical components, wired and wireless transmission media, limitations of different media, network sizes, and innovations like VoIP, VPN, and location-based computing.

Uploaded by

tmsanema
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Module 2.

1
A collection of computers or other computing devices, such as
smartphones, connected by some sort of communication medium to
allow users to share software, hardware, data and information.
Reasons for having a network

• Fast, effective communication


• Sharing of hardware
• Centralisation of data
• Transfer of files
• Leisure
• Increased control and security
• Flexible access
Physical aspects of a network
Network Interface Controller
•NIC
•Encodes data so that it can be sent
•Decodes data that is received
•On-board vs. card
•Wired vs. wireless
•Speed
•10 / 100 /1000 Mbps
•802.11 b/g/n (g - 10Mbps, n – 50Mbps)
Wired data transmission media

• UTP – Unshielded twisted pair


• Cheaper
• EMI, Listening in, Signal gets degraded
• Easy to install
• 100 m reach
• Fibre optic cables
• Consists of fine glass tubes
• More expensive
• Signal not degraded
• Longer reach
• Larger bandwidth
• Mainly used as a backbone
Additional aspects of wired media

• Topology/Layout
• Star
• Ring and bus (Not common)
• Other devices
• Switch
• Router
• Modem
• 3G
• ADSL-modem
• WiFi access point
Wireless data transmission media
• WiFi (Wireless Fidelity)
• Wireless connection to
existing network
• Multiple connections
• 10-100m

• WiMAX
• Upgrade of WiFi
• Safer
• Wider range
Wireless data transmission media
• Hotspot
• An area – usually in a public place, like an airport or
a restaurant –
• where people can use WiFi through an access point.
• You are connected to the Internet via a wireless
connection to a wired network.

• You can set up your own hotspot at home.


• Public hotspots give you a small free ‘cap’, and
you then need to pay if you want more.
• Limited range
• 10m – 100m
Wireless data transmission media
• Cellular technology
• GPRS
• EDGE
• 3G 1 Mbps – 4 Mbps
• HSDPA
• HSDPA+
• 4G (LTE) 100 Mbps
• Provided by Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, 8ta ,Virgin Mobile
• 2 – 3 km range in built environments
Physical limitations of the different media
• Range
• WiFi: 10 – 100 meter
• Cellular: 2 – 3 km in built-up areas, up to 30 km over flat, open areas
• UTP-cable: about 100 m
• Fibre optic cables: can be 100s of kilometers, depending on the strength of the
lasers
• Accessibility
• Depends on the availability of cables
• Access to wireless networks tend to be easier
• Bandwidth or data speed
• Total amount of data that can be transferred from one point to another in a given
period of time
• Measured in Kbps or Mbps
• Fibre optic cable is the fastest, followed by copper cables, then radio-based
media.
Network sizes
• PAN – Personal Area Network
• Laptop, smartphone, printer, etc.
• Used for short exchanges of data, simple tasks like printing, downloading
files from a cellphone, etc.
• HAN – Home Area Network
• Computer, smartphones, Xbox, garden irrigation systems, etc.
• LAN – Local Area Network
• Small area like a school or university
• A WLAN (Wireless Lan) uses WiFi
WAN
instead of cables
• WAN LAN
• A wide area, like cities, countries, continents
• E.g. Cellphone networks, bank networks HAN
and the Internet
PAN
Network innovation:
VoIP

• VOiP – Voice over Internet Protocol


A protocol that allows telephone calls over LANs, WANs and the Internet,
to anyone in the world.
• Skype
• Advantages
• Cheaper than normal telephone calls
• Software generally free
• Allows you to transfer files,
as well as make video conference calls.
• Disadvantages
• Must have Internet access to use it.
Both users need to use the same software
• Need to purchase credits to call telephones not on the Internet
• Call quality may be poor on slow Internet connections
• Video might use up the data cap quickly
Network innovation:
VPN
VPN – Virtual Private Networks
Log in to a network via the Internet
Useful if you need to log in to your work’s network from home, or while
you are travelling.
Network innovation:
Location-based computing
• In location-based computing, the location of objects or people are
determined and used.

– GPS (Global Positioning System) – can be used to determine the


location of objects
– Examples of applications
• Tracking your location via that of your smartphone
• Helping to find lost cellphones and cars
• Used by cameras for geo-tagging
• Can be used to get directions
• Used in geo-location apps such as Foursquare
• http://networking116.wikispaces.com/Wire+Advantages+and+Disa
dvantages

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