COLLEGE OF BUSINESS EDUCATION

(CBE-Mwanza)

Basics of Computer Networking

Course Code: ITT04102

Lecture: TWO

Computer Network Architecture

C o m p u t e r N e t w o r k A r c h i t e c t u r e – is defined as the physical and logical

design of the software, hardware, protocols, and media of the transmission of data.
Simply we can say that how computers are organized and how tasks are allocated to the
computer.

The two types of network architectures are used:

o Peer-To-Peer network
o Client/Server network

Pe e r- To - Pe e r n e t w o r k
o Pe e r- To - Pe e r n e t w o r k is a network in which all the computers are linked
together with equal privilege and responsibilities for processing the data.
o Peer-To-Peer network is useful for small environments, usually up to 10
computers.
o Peer-To-Peer network has no dedicated server.
o Special permissions are assigned to each computer for sharing the resources, but
this can lead to a problem if the computer with the resource is down.

1 | 10 P a g e s Prepare By: ALOYCE, N

A d v a n t a g e s o f Pe e r- To - Pe e r N e t w o r k :
o It is less costly as it does not contain any dedicated server.
o If one computer stops working but, other computers will not stop working.
o It is easy to set up and maintain as each computer manages itself.
o Disadvantages Of Peer-To-Peer Network:
o In the case of Peer-To-Peer network, it does not contain the centralized system.
Therefore, it cannot back up the data as the data is different in different locations.
o It has a security issue as the device is managed itself.

Client/Ser ver Network

o C l i e n t / S e r v e r n e t w o r k is a network model designed for the end users
called clients, to access the resources such as songs, video, etc. from a central
computer known as Server.
o The central controller is known as a server while all other computers in the
network are called clients.
o A server performs all the major operations such as security and network
management.
o A server is responsible for managing all the resources such as files, directories,
printer, etc.
o All the clients communicate with each other through a server. For example, if
client1 wants to send some data to client 2, then it first sends the request to the
server for the permission. The server sends the response to the client 1 to initiate

2 | 10 P a g e s Prepare By: ALOYCE, N

 its communication with the client 2.

Advantages of Client/Ser ver network :

o A Client/Server network contains the centralized system. Therefore we can back
up the data easily.
o A Client/Server network has a dedicated server that improves the overall
performance of the whole system.
o Security is better in Client/Server network as a single server administers the
shared resources.
o It also increases the speed of the sharing resources.

D i s a d va n t a g e s o f C l i e n t / S e r v e r n e t w o r k :
o Client/Server network is expensive as it requires the server with large memory.
o A server has a Network Operating System (NOS) to provide the resources to the
clients, but the cost of NOS is very high.
o It requires a dedicated network administrator to manage all the resources.

Computer Network Components

Computer network components are the major parts which are needed to install the
software. Some important network components are NIC, switch, cable, hub, router,
and modem. Depending on the type of network that we need to install, some network
components can also be removed. For example, the wireless network does not require a
cable.

3 | 10 P a g e s Prepare By: ALOYCE, N

Following are the major components required to install a network:

1 . R e p e a t e r – A repeater operates at the physical layer. Its job is to regenerate

the signal over the same network before the signal becomes too weak or
corrupted so as to extend the length to which the signal can be transmitted over
the same network. An important point to be noted about repeaters is that they
do not amplify the signal. When the signal becomes weak, they copy the signal
bit by bit and regenerate it at the original strength.

2 . H u b – A hub is basically a multiport repeater. A hub connects multiple wires

coming from different branches, for example, the connector in star topology
which connects different stations. Hubs cannot filter data, so data packets are
sent to all connected devices. In other words, the collision domain of all hosts
connected through Hub remains one. Also, they do not have the intelligence to
find out the best path for data packets which leads to inefficiencies and wastage.

Ty p e s o f H u b

 A c t i v e H u b : - These are the hubs that have their own power supply
and can clean, boost, and relay the signal along with the network. It serves
both as a repeater as well as a wiring center. These are used to extend the
maximum distance between nodes.

 P a s s i v e H u b : - These are the hubs that collect wiring from nodes and
power supply from the active hub. These hubs relay signals onto the
network without cleaning and boosting them and can’t be used to extend
the distance between nodes.

 I n t e l l i g e n t H u b : - It works like active hubs and includes remote

management capabilities. They also provide flexible data rates to network
devices. It also enables an administrator to monitor the traffic passing
through the hub and to configure each port in the hub.

3 . B r i d g e – A bridge operates at the data link layer. used for interconnecting two
LANs working on the same protocol. It has a single input and single output port.

4 . S w i t c h – A switch is a multiport bridge with a buffer and a design that can

4 | 10 P a g e s Prepare By: ALOYCE, N

 boost its efficiency (a large number of ports imply less traffic) and performance. A
switch is a data link layer device. The switch can perform error checking before
forwarding data, which makes it very efficient as it does not forward packets that
have errors and forward good packets selectively to the correct port only. In
other words, the switch divides the collision domain of hosts, but broadcast
domain remains the same.

5 . R o u t e r s – A router is a device like a switch that routes data packets based on

their IP addresses. The router is mainly a Network Layer device. Routers normally
connect LANs and WANs together and have a dynamically updating routing table
based on which they make decisions on routing the data packets. Router divide
broadcast domains of hosts connected through it.

6 . Ga t e w a y – A gateway, as the name suggests, is a passage to connect two

networks together that may work upon different networking models. They
basically work as the messenger agents that take data from one system, interpret

5 | 10 P a g e s Prepare By: ALOYCE, N

 it, and transfer it to another system. Gateways are also called protocol converters
and can operate at any network layer. Gateways are generally more complex than
switches or routers. Gateway is also called a protocol converter.
7 . N I C – NIC or network interface card is a network adapter that is used to
connect the computer to the network. It is installed in the computer to establish a
LAN. It has a unique id that is written on the chip, and it has a connector to
connect the cable to it. The cable acts as an interface between the computer and
router or modem. NIC card is a layer 2 device which means that it works on both
physical and data link layer of the network model.

8. M o d e m - A modem is a hardware device that allows the computer to connect

to the internet over the existing telephone line. A modem is not integrated with
the motherboard rather than it is installed on the PCI slot found on the
motherboard. It stands for Modulator/Demodulator. It converts the digital data
into an analog signal over the telephone lines.

C a b l e s a n d C o n n e c t o r s - Cable is a transmission media used for transmitting a

signal.

There are three types of cables used in transmission:

o Twisted pair cable - is special type cabling that is used in telephone
communication and Ethernet network. This cable is made with two separate
insulated copper wires, which are twisted together with each other as well as run
in parallel form.

o Coaxial cable - is a type of cable that has an inner conductor surrounded by an

insulating layer, surrounded by a conductive shielding.

6 | 10 P a g e s Prepare By: ALOYCE, N

 o Fibre-optic cable - also known as an optical-fiber cable, is an assembly similar to
an electrical cable, but containing one or more optical fibers that are used to
carry light.

UTP cables categories and colour

In the Un-Shielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cable, digital signal protection comes from the
twists in the wire. The more twists per inch, the farther the digital signal can supposedly
travel without interference. For example, categories 5 and 6 have many more twists per
inch than category 3 UTP has. The Twists are given to the wire to reduce the Cross talk
or interference to electrical signals.

There are 4 twisted pairs with four different colored wires. Each colored wire
is twisted with white wire with a strip of same color on it. For example, an Orange color
twisted pair would a one wire of Orange color and one of while color with a strip of
orange color on it.

Only Two pairs are used with cable numbers 1, 2, 3, and 6 for Tx and Rx signals. You
would notice Tx+/Tx- and Rx+/Rx. + and - terms are the voltages. 10 BaseT uses two
different voltages i.e. +2.5V and -2.5V.

7 | 10 P a g e s Prepare By: ALOYCE, N

There are 3 types of cables
 Straight
 Cross
 Rollover or Console

Identifying the Cable type

Hold both ends/RJ-45connectors of cable with their Jack in downward position. Now
start matching the color coding from left pin of connector towards right. Below is
example to identify a cross cable.

St r a i g h t C a b l e - It is used to connect devices having different function. For

example:

8 | 10 P a g e s Prepare By: ALOYCE, N

  Connecting a router to a hub or switch.
 Connecting a server to a hub or switch.
 Connecting workstations to a hub or switch.

Below is the color coding of Straight cable. The color coding is kept same on both ends.

C r o s s C a b l e - It is used to connect devices having same functions or roles. For

example:
 Connecting uplinks between switches.
 Connecting hubs to switches.
 Connecting a hub to another hub.
 Connecting PC to PC
 Connecting PC to a Router
 Connecting 2 routers together without a hub or a switch.

Below is the color coding for a Cross cable. The only difference with respect to straight
cable is that 1st and 3rd / 2nd and 6th numbered cables are swapped on the 2nd end of
the cable.

9 | 10 P a g e s Prepare By: ALOYCE, N

Console or Rollover cable - It is used for device configuration. For example you have
bought a new router and what to configure it with initial config. You need a console
cable for same. One end of console cable is connected to console port of the router or a
switch and other end would be connected to NIC port of your laptop or PC. Below is the
color coding of Console cable. The color coding of both ends are totally reversed.

10 | 10 P a g e s Prepare By: ALOYCE, N