JH2304

INSTALL COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND NETWORKS

Definition of Terms
• Active hubs – amplify or boost signals
• Anti-static – A product that prevents the build-up of static electricity
• BIOS - Basic Input/Output System, a chip that controls the most basic functions of the computer and
performs a self-test every time you turn it on
• Flash drive - RAM that can retain data without electrical power. It is widely used for BIOS chips,
digital cameras, and digital music storage
• Graphic tablet - objects are drawn using a pen or a puck. The puck is technically a tablet cursor, not
a mouse
• Hard-disk drive - a storage device that stores billions of characters of data on a non-removable disk
• Hardware - refers to the tangible (things you can touch) components of a computer system.
• Host - any computer, whether mainframe, server, or even PC, that acts as an information source on
a network
• Intelligent Hubs - select which path a specific signal will travel
• Joystick - a hand-held control stick that allows a player to control the movements of a cursor on a
computer screen or a symbol in a video game
• LAN Card – Local Area Network interface card
• Laptop computer - A small, portable computer -- small enough that it can sit on your lap

Personal Safety and Workplace Hazards

Occupational Health and Safety Policy
Occupational Health and Safety is a cross-disciplinary area concerned with protecting the safety, health, and
welfare of people engaged in work. The goal of all occupational health and safety programs is to foster a safe
work environment. As a secondary effect, it may also protect co-workers, family members, employers,
customers, suppliers, nearby communities, and other members of the public who are impacted by the
workplace environment. It may involve interactions among many subject areas, including occupational
medicine, occupational (or industrial) hygiene, public health, safety engineering, chemistry, and health
physics.

Safety practices should be learned early and always adhered to when working with any electrical device,
including personal computers and peripherals. This is for the protection of not only the people working with
them but also for the devices themselves. The basis for this process begins with your Occupational Health
and Safety Policies.

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Personal Safety While Working Along With PC’s

While working inside your computer, do not attempt to service the computer except as explained in this
guide and elsewhere in the product documentation. Always follow the instructions closely.

Computer equipment can be dangerous, and you or others can be injured or even killed if you don’t follow
proper safety guidelines when working alongside PCs. The following are some precautionary measures to
take before working with any computer equipment:
1. Wear shoes with non-conductive rubber soles to help reduce the chance of being shocked or
seriously injured in an electrical accident.
2. Do not work on components that are plugged into their power source.
3. Do not remove expansion cards from a computer when it is turned on.
4. Remove all jewelry when working inside any computer-related equipment.
5. Be sure not to mix electronic components and water.
6. When you shut down your computer, be sure to shut it down properly. Do not turn it off with the
case switch.
7. Wear anti-static materials.
8. Don’t eat or drink while working.

Before you start to work on the computer, perform the following steps in the sequence indicated:
1. Turn off the computer and all peripherals.
2. Touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis, such as the metal around the card-slot
openings at the back of your computer, before touching anything inside your computer.
3. Disconnect the computer and peripherals from their electrical outlets. Doing so reduces the
potential for personal injury or shock. Also, disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines
from the computer.

Note: Before disconnecting a peripheral from the system or removing a component from the system board,
verify that the standby power light-emitting diode (LED) on the system board has been turned off.

While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis to dissipate any
static electricity that might harm internal components. In addition, it is recommended that you periodically
review the safety instructions in your System Information Guide.

Computer Peripherals/ Devices/ Systems Networking Devices

Types of Computers
Workstation
It is a high-end personal computer designed for technical or scientific applications. Intended primarily to be
used by one person at a time, they are commonly connected to a local area network and run multi-user
operating systems.

Desktop computer
Desktop computers come in a variety of styles, ranging from large vertical tower cases to small form factor
models that can be tucked behind an LCD monitor. In this sense, the term 'desktop' refers specifically to a

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horizontally oriented case, usually intended to have the display screen placed on top to save space on the
desktop. Most modern desktop computers have separate screens and keyboards.

Single Unit
Single-unit PCs (also known as all-in-one PCs) are a subtype of desktop computers that combine the monitor
and case of the computer within a single unit.

Nettop
A subtype of desktops, called nettops, was introduced by Intel in February 2008 to describe low-cost, lean-
function desktop computers.

Laptop
A laptop computer, or simply a laptop, also called a notebook computer or sometimes a notebook, is a small
personal computer designed for portability.

Netbook
Netbooks (also called mini notebooks or subnotebooks) are a rapidly evolving category of small, light, and
inexpensive laptop computers suited for general computing and accessing web-based applications; they are
often marketed as "companion devices," that is, to augment a user's other computer access.

Tablet PC
A tablet PC is a notebook or slate-shaped mobile computer, first introduced by Pen computing in the early
90s with their PenGo Tablet Computer and popularized by Microsoft. Its touchscreen or graphics
tablet/screen hybrid technology allows the user to operate the computer with a stylus, digital pen, or a
fingertip instead of a keyboard or mouse.

Ultra-Mobile PC
The ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) is a specification for a small form factor of tablet PCs. It was developed as a joint
development exercise by Microsoft, Intel, and Samsung, among others. Current UMPCs typically feature the
Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Linux operating system and low-voltage Intel Atom or VIA C7-M
processors.

Home Theater PC
A home theater PC (HTPC) is a convergence device that combines the functions of a personal computer and a
digital video recorder. It is connected to a television or a television-sized computer display and is often used
as a digital photo, music, video player, TV receiver, and digital video recorder.

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Pocket PC
A pocket PC is a hardware specification for a handheld-sized computer (personal digital assistant) that runs
the Microsoft Windows Mobile operating system. It may have the capability to run an alternative operating
system like NetBSD or Linux. It has many of the capabilities of modern desktop PCs.

Computer Peripherals/ Devices

• Computer case - A computer case is an enclosure that contains the main components of a computer.
Cases are usually constructed from steel or aluminum, although other materials, such as wood and
plastic, have been used. Cases can come in many different sizes or form factors.
• Processor - The central processing unit, or CPU, is that part of a computer that executes software
program instructions. In older computers, this circuitry was formerly on several printed circuit
boards, but in PCs is a single integrated circuit. Nearly all PCs contain a type of CPU known as a
microprocessor with a fan attached via a heat sink.
• Motherboard - The motherboard, also referred to as systemboard or mainboard, is the primary
circuit board within a personal computer.
• Main memory - A PC's main memory is fast storage that is directly accessible by the CPU and is used
to store the currently executing program and immediately needed data.
• Hard disk - Mass storage devices store programs and data even when the power is off; they do
require power to perform read and write functions during usage. Although flash memory has
dropped in cost, the prevailing form of mass storage in personal computers is still the hard disk.
• Video card - The video card - otherwise called a graphics card, graphics adapter, or video adapter -
processes and renders the graphics output from the computer to the computer display and is an
essential part of the modern computer.
• Visual display unit - A visual display unit (or monitor) is a piece of electrical equipment, usually
separate from the computer case, which displays viewable images generated by a computer without
producing a permanent record.
• Keyboard - In computing, a keyboard is an arrangement of buttons that each correspond to a
function, letter, or number. They are the primary devices for inputting text.
• Mouse - A Mouse on a computer is a small, slidable device that users hold and slide around to point
at, click on, and sometimes drag objects on the screen in a graphical user interface using a pointer
on the screen.

Other components
Mass storage - All computers require either fixed or removable storage for their operating system,
programs, and user-generated material. Formerly, the 5¼ inch and 3½ inch floppy drives were the principal
forms of removable storage for backup of user files and distribution of software.

Computer communications
• Internal modem card
• Modem

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• Network adapter card

• Router

Common peripherals and adapter cards

• Headset
• Joystick
• Microphone
• Printer
• Scanner
• Sound adapter card as a separate card rather than located on the motherboard
• Speakers
• Webcam

• LAN Card – is a network interface card. This is a computer circuit board or card that is installed
in a computer so that it can be connected to a network.
• Modem - (Modulator-Demodulator) The modem is a device that allows a given computer to
share data or otherwise a device that lets computers exchange information.
• USB – Universal Serial Bus, a hardware interface for low-speed peripherals such as the keyboard,
mouse, joystick, scanner, printer, and telephony devices.
• Scanner- it is an input device that reads text or illustration printed on paper, and translates the
information into a form that a computer can use.
• Printer - it is a piece of hardware that produces a paper copy (also known as ‘hardcopy’) of the
information generated by the computer.
• RAM – Random Access Memory, is a primary memory. This memory is used inside the computer
to hold programs and data while it is running.
• BIOS – Basic Input/Output System, the chip that controls the most basic functions of the
computer and performs a self-test every time you turn it on.
• Flash drive– RAM that can retain data without electrical power. It is widely used for BIOS chips,
digital cameras, and digital music storage.
• Video Camera - camera using videotape: a camera that records onto videotape

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Systems Networking Devices

Figure 1. Networking Devices

Networking devices are more than just computers and wires. Certain hardware devices should be able to
manage digital network connections and carry out their respective functions with efficiency. These devices
also assist in this regard.

These Networking Devices used in isolation are principally responsible for the following:
• Traffic Control: Information traffic needs to be separated and filtered by giant networks. Thus,
various gadgets are introduced.
• Connectivity: Various protocols are used by different kinds of networks, and these devices are
used to establish connectivity between them.

According to EDUCBA, here are the common networking devices:

• The bridge is a device that can forward information and is supported by a physical. In technical
terms, packets are filtered and forwarded by physical address through a Bridge.

Types of bridges:

1. Transparent Bridge
➢ Their network is connectionless and doesn’t support multipath routing.
➢ Transparent bridges are invisible to other devices on the network.
➢ Construct the bridging table where the MAC address will store various nodes or
devices.
➢ It is transparent to all the network’s connected hosts.

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➢ Keeping an eye on all the connected bridges and hosts, transparent bridge records,
and maintaining the source route address of the incoming frames.
2. Source Routing Bridge
➢ The source routing bridge emphasizes connections and uses multiple paths to the
exact location.
➢ The source Routing bridge is visible to other devices on the network.
➢ The source station executes the routing operations, and the frame flows through a
defined route.
➢ It is transparent because the bridges learn the location of the destination address by
the discovery frame that is spread through the entire network.
➢ The bridge number and address must be entered manually and should be unique;
relocating the bridge can be challenging.
3. Translational Bridge
➢ Allows connection only to non-routable protocols such as local area transport(LAT),
network basic input/output system(NetBIOS), and maintenance operation
protocol(MOP).
➢ The translational bridge can be visible or invisible depending on the device’s specific
implementation and configuration.
➢ The bridge connects two different or dissimilar types of LAN protocol, such as a
Token ring or Ethernet network.
➢ Add or remove information depending on the traveling direction and fields from the
frame according to the requirement.
➢ A translational bridge can configure each other’s source and destination address
when switching between Ethernet and Token ring frame format.

• Hub
A network segment is formed by attaching network cables to a connectivity device. And this
connectivity device is called a Hub. Hubs generally don’t filter information; instead, they conduct
incoming information frames or packets to any or all the elements. Nowadays, a central switch
or hub is used by all the networks to which computers are connected.

Types of Hubs:
1. Active hub
➢ They can boost, relay, and clean the signals along with the network
➢ They don’t need power from the outside, as they have their own
➢ They serve each as a repeater and further as a wiring center.
➢ It helps to extend the maximum distance between them
2. Passive hub
➢ They collect wiring from the nodes.
➢ An active hub is the source of the power supply

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➢ They do not help to extend the distance between nodes

3. Intelligent hub
➢ They provide flexible data to the system devices
➢ Help the controller to compose each port in the Hub and look into the traffic passing
through the Hub.
➢ They include remote management capabilities and work as an Active hub.

• Switch
• The switch is designed in such a way that it can boost its productivity.
• It is designed with a buffer.
• It is a multi-port bridge device.
• It forwards data, but before doing that, it checks errors. This makes it more efficient and
improves its performance, as it only forwards the excellent and efficient packet to the
correct port, which doesn’t have errors.
• It simply is a better version of a hub. As with a hub, with a switch also, the computer
device is connected through one line, but the switch works smartly about where it sends
the data that is coming through one of its ports.

• Router
Data can be forwarded and filtered based on a logical address using a connective device called a
Router. The IP address would be used in the case of TCP/IP networks. They play a major role in
an extensive TCP/IP network. In reality, TCP/IP routing protocols and network routers have
helped the Internet to become as huge as it is today. They control traffic and keep the network
productive.

• Modem
A Modem is somewhat of an additional attention-grabbing network device in our lifestyle. Thus,
if you have noticed, you get an internet connection through a wire (different types of cables) to
your house. This wire is employed to hold our internet data outside the internet world.

However, binary data, in varieties of 0s and 1s, is generated by our computer. On the other
hand, an analog signal is carried by a wire, and that’s where a modem comes in.
A modem works as a Modulator and Demodulator; that is, it modulates and demodulates the
signal between the binary data or digital data of a computer and, therefore, the analog signal of
a telephone line.

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• Repeater
A device that, on receiving the signals, amplifies it is called a repeater. In other words, it can be
said that a repeater is a device that, on receiving a signal, retransmits it at a higher level so that
the signal can cover longer distances.

For Example, within a university field, the hostels may be isolated from most school areas
wherever the ISP line comes in. If the university authority desires to tug a wire between the
hostels and the main field, they’ll need to use repeaters if space is more; thus, differing types of
cables have limitations in terms of the distances they will carry the information.

When these network devices take a selected configured form on a network, their configuration
gets a chosen name, and this whole formation is termed Network topology. Ensure
circumstances, once we add some additional network devices to a Network topology, it is known
as Daisy chaining.

• Gateway
By the name only, we can get the meaning of it. It is a passage between the networks,
connecting them so that this connection works upon completely different networking protocols.
They primarily work as the middleman who takes information from a system, translate it, and
then transfer it to another system.

They are also protocol converters that may be operated at different networking layers. They are
usually additionally complicated than switches and routers.

• Access Point
While a wired or wireless link is technological in an AP, it usually means a wireless device. An AP
operates on the second OSI layer, the data link layer, and can either act as a bridge that connects
a standard wireless network to wireless devices or as a router that transmits data to another
access point. Wireless connectivity points (WAPs) are devices used to generate a wireless LAN
(WLAN) transmitter and receiver. Access points are usually separate networked machines with
an integrated antenna, transmitter, and adapter.

To provide a link between WLAN and wired Ethernet LAN, APs are using wireless infrastructure
network mode. They have several ports, which allow you to extend the network to support other
customers. One or more APs may need to have full coverage, depending on the size of the
network. APSAPs may also provide multiple ports that can be used to increase the network’s
size, firewall capabilities, and DHCP. So, we’re getting switch-based APs, DHCP servers, firewalls,
and routers.

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References
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Duenas General Comprehensive High School. (n.d.)
Information and communication technology: Computer hardware servicing nc ii. Retrieved from
https://www.academia.edu/41002360/Module_1_Installing_Computer_System_and_Networks

Swati. Tawde. August 3, 2023. EDUCBA. Types of Network Devices. Retrieved from
https://www.educba.com/types-of-network-devices/

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