Unit-1

The nature of technology: Networks

Overview of the unit
1.1 Network hardware- Network Components
1.2 How networks fit together- How network components are connected and work
together
1.3 Sending messages over internet- How does internet work?
1.4 Sending messages: Simulation
1.5 Connecting to network- How to connect to network and what are the troubleshooting
methods
1.6 In the cloud- Details about cloud storage
 Reflect and share
More than half of the people in
the world’s population has the
access to internet.

You can find that the state of

internet is too low for Africa when
compared to other places.

What are the reasons behind

this? Is there anything the rest of
the world could do to access
internet?
Activity- Timeline of internet
Internet 101: Reflection Worksheet

Name: _________________________
Date: _________________________

Instructions: After watching the "Internet 101" video, reflect on what you have learned by answering the following questions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O31TcSo3Unk
1.1 Network Hardware
What is a network?
1.1 Network Hardware
What is a network?

A network is a group of connected devices that can communicate and share

information with each other.

Networks can be small, such as those in a home or office or cities and even
countries.

The primary purpose of a network is to enable the sharing of data and resources
efficiently and securely.
1.1 Network Hardware
Component 1: Servers

● Center of a network
● Servers manage and store data within a
network.
● Servers provide resources and services
to other devices (clients) in the network,
such as hosting websites or running
applications, sharing hardware
Here are five examples of what a server can do:

1. Host Websites: Servers store and serve web pages to users when they visit a website.
2. Manage Emails: Email servers send, receive, and store emails for users.
3. Store Files: Servers can hold and manage files that can be accessed or shared by users on
a network.
4. Run Applications: Servers can run software applications that users access over a network.
5. Provide Security: Servers can manage and enforce security measures, like firewalls and
authentication, to protect data and network access.
More about servers
Powerful Hardware: Servers have strong CPUs, lots of RAM, and huge storage.

Reliability: Built with redundancy to avoid downtime.

Scalability: Can be easily expanded to handle more load.

Rooms allocated for Network
hardware components
SIS server room
Network components- Hubs and Switch
Hub:

● A hub is a device that connects multiple

computers together in a network.
● When a hub receives a message from one
computer, it broadcasts that message to
all connected computers, regardless of
the intended recipient.
Advantages:

● Simple and easy to use.

● Inexpensive and suitable for small networks.

Disadvantages:

● Inefficient for large networks due to broadcasting.

● Can cause network congestion and lacks security
features.
Switch
● Switch connects multiple computers
together in a network.
● When a switch receives a message from
one computer, it looks at the destination
address in the message and sends the
message only to the intended computer.
Advantages:

● Efficient management of network traffic.

● Reduces network congestion.
● Increases security by limiting message
broadcast.

Disadvantages:

● More expensive than hubs.

● Slightly more complex to configure.
Difference between hub and switch
Think and reflect
Imagine you work in the Computer Science Department and you received a mail
from your manager:

"I am planning to upgrade the network in our account department. I have been told
to use a hub instead of a switch due to less cost. What is your opinion?"

Task:

Write a reply email explaining your opinion on whether to use a hub or a switch for
the network upgrade.
Routers and modems
Router:

● Purpose: Connects two networks together

● Function:
○ Directs data between devices (like computers and
smartphones).
○ Allows devices to communicate with each other.
○ Connects the local network to the internet via the
modem.

Modem:

● Purpose: It takes data sent by one network and translates it

into a form that can be understood by the second network
● Function:
○ Converts internet signals from your service provider
into a digital format your devices can use.
○ Connects directly to your internet service provider
(ISP).
WAP(Wireless Access Point
WAP (Wireless Access Point) is a device that allows wireless devices, like laptops
and smartphones, to connect to a wired network without using physical cables. It
provides Wi-Fi connectivity, enabling wireless communication and internet access
for compatible devices.
NIC
A hardware component that enables a computer or other devices to connect to a
network.
Two types
● Wired Networks:
○ Uses Ethernet cables to connect devices.
● Wireless Networks:
○ Uses Wi-Fi technology to connect devices.
HW
Complete test questions from Page no.9

And solve the given worksheet

Prepare for your first FA

1.2 How a network fits together
You will learn

How the hardware components of the network are connected

How the hardware components of the network work together

How Internet Reaches Your Home

● Internet Signals: Delivered through telephone

or broadband cables.
● Router: Connects your home network to the
internet.
● Modem: Converts signals from
telephone/broadband cables to digital data for
your home network.
● Switch: Ensures messages are sent to the
correct devices within your home network.
● Wireless Access Point (WAP): Allows you to
connect to the network wirelessly from anywhere
in your home.
● ISP (Internet Service Provider): The company
that provides your internet connection.
LAN(Local Area Network)
Network which fits in a smaller geographical area.
Bigger than home network
More components than home network
Equipments may spread around a building and they use cabinets, or stick to
different walls of different rooms
Two types of cables that connect the network components
Think and reflect
You are tasked with setting up a network for a small office with a limited budget.
The office will have a few computers, printers, and telephones spread over a
single floor. The network needs to support basic internet access, file sharing. The
budget constraints mean that cost-effectiveness is a primary concern.

Which type of cable would you recommend for the network infrastructure in this small
office, and why?
Server room
Center of a network
Contains all the servers in a network
It can also contain Hubs or Switches
connected to server
Air conditioned because of heat
discharge from servers
Hub room

● Needed Hub room if area if network is more than

100 meters away from the server room

● It doesn’t include servers

● It connects to server room via fiber optic cables
H.W
Test questions in Page no.13
1.3 Sending messages over internet
You will learn the rules that internet uses to send messages
Packets
Role of router
Role of a server
How does packets travel across internet?
Why are internet messages sent as packets?
why packets over internet have to be numbered?
Sending message on internet
https://youtu.be/AYdF7b3nMto?si=OETi0JoJzmRoXk9J

H.W
Page no 17
What are packets?
● Any file sent over the internet is divided into small
sections called packets.
● Whether it's an email, photograph, or document, all
are split into packets before sending.
● This process makes it easier for network equipment to
manage the message.
● A packet is approximately 550 characters long.
● Inside a packet, you'll find digital data represented as
0s and 1s.
● At the destination, packets are automatically
reassembled into the original message by your
computer.
Simulation Activity
Add two lines from each server. Choose two different line styles
Label one style as 0 and one style as 1
Make sure each server is linked to at least one server

SIMULATION

See Page no.19 for the rules for the simulation.

Head-1 Tail-O
 SENDER
PACKETS 1 2 3 4 5 6 PACKETS
ROUTER

SERVER A SERVER B

SERVER C SERVER D

SERVER F
SERVER E
ROUTER
PACKETS 1 2 3 4 5 6 PACKETS

RECEIVER
 SENDER
PACKETS 1 2 3 4 5 6 PACKETS
ROUTER

SERVER A SERVER B

SERVER C SERVER D

SERVER F
SERVER E
ROUTER
PACKETS 1 2 3 4 5 6 PACKETS

RECEIVER
Simulation
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 7 8
Packet
1
Packet
2
Head – 1
Packet
Tails - 0
3
Packet
4
Packet
5
Packet
6
Receiver Router
2 1 4 3 5 6
Let’s find out
Look at your trace table
Did all the packets take same number of steps to receive the
destination?
Did all the packets take same routes to the destination?
Did any of the packets take the same steps to reach destination?
Did the packets arrived as the same order that they sent of from the
server?
What are packets?
● Any file sent over the internet is divided into small
sections called packets.
● Whether it's an email, photograph, or document, all
are split into packets before sending.
● This process makes it easier for network equipment to
manage the message.
● A packet is approximately 550 characters long.
● Inside a packet, you'll find digital data represented as
0s and 1s.
● At the destination, packets are automatically
reassembled into the original message by your
computer.
Role of router
● Routes packets from the sender to the receiver across different networks.
● Determines the best path for data to travel to its destination.
● Ensures efficient and reliable data transfer by managing traffic.
How Packets Travel to Their Destination:What does a server do

● Packets move from one server to another across the network.

● There is no set route for a packet.
● Each server forwards packets along the best available path.
● This process continues until all packets reach the destination and are reassembled.

(See the next slide)

Packet switching
Packet switching is a method used to send data over the internet.
Steps
● A message is split into small sections called packets
● As a packet travels across the the internet , it is switched onto clearest
route.
● Once all packets arrive, they are reassembled in the correct order to
recreate the original message or data
More details
● It reliable way of sending messages over the internet.Almost all
messages reach the destination correctly.
● Packet switching is carried out automatically by your computer and
other hardware devices in a network.
● We use packet switching everytime we log on to a network
 Why are internet messages sent as packets?
● Efficiency: Sending data in smaller packets makes the network work better and
faster.

● Avoid Data Loss: If a message is too long, it’s broken into smaller pieces to
avoid losing data.

● Multiple Routes: These small packets can take different paths to reach the
destination, and if any get lost, they can be sent again.
What a packet contains
● The packet has a “header” contains IP addresses of both sender
and receiver

Your computer adds two identifying numbers to each of the

smaller packets.

● The first number represents the number of packets that all of the
information is divided into.

● The second number represents the number of each individual

packet among the total sequence of packets.
1. IP of sender and IP receiver
2. Total number of packets
3. Order of the packets

Ip , 4,1 Ip,4,2 Ip,4,3 1p,4,4

Research Activity

Research the web about how packet switching deals with lost packets.
Let’s revise
Answer these questions
1. What are packets?
2. Role of router
3. Role of a server
4. How does packets travel across internet?
5. Why are internet messages sent as packets?
6. why packets over internet have to be numbered?
7. What does a packet contain?
 Read pages 22 -25 and find out answers to the following
questions

● List and explain three ways to connect to the internet.

● What is a hotspot?

● What problems might you encounter while trying to connect to the internet? List any 4.

● What is the difference in connecting your computer to school network and home

network?

● You want to connect your laptop to the internet. Why would you prefer a wireless

connection over a wired connection? Explain your point.

1.6 Cloud storage
• Cloud Storage: The cloud is a way to store data online using the internet.

• Data Centers: A data center is a large building that holds many computers and storage devices.

• Examples: Some examples of cloud storage are Google Drive and OneDrive

Resource link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9x0UO8MY0g&t=19s
Advantages Disadvantages

• Safe • Depends on owner

• Collaboration • Owner can change service
• Accessible from anywhere
• Change cost
• Low cost to start with
• Can copy easily
• Malware attacks
Cloud services
• Collaboration
• Software applications
• Web hosting
• Music
• Videos and game
Data centers
• A data center is a facility that contains
computers and servers used to store
and manage data.
• In cloud storage, data centers play a
crucial role by hosting the servers that
store users' files and information
online.
• This allows people to access their
data from anywhere, as the data is
securely stored in these centers rather
than on their personal devices.
Data center -Google- Layers of security
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd33UVZhnAA