Network Fundamentals

TechEdge Academy
What is Networking?
 Networking is the practice of connecting computers and other devices (like phones, printers,
servers, personal computers, etc.).
 So they can communicate, share data and access resources.

Types of Networks
Based on the geographic dispersion of network components,
 LAN (Local Area Network)
 WAN (Wide Area Network)
 CAN (Campus Area Network)
 MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
 SAN (Storage Area Network)
 PAN (Personal Area Network)
 BAN (Body Area Network)
 RAN (Radio Access Network)
 NANO Network
LAN (Local Area Network)
A LAN interconnects network components with a local area (for example, within a building).
A Local Area network is a group of computers that area confined to a small geographic area usually one building.
Most common type of LAN is the Wired LAN and Wireless LAN. Examples of common LAN technologies you are likely
to meet include Ethernet network or wired network (that is, IEEE 802.3) and wireless network (that is, IEEE 802.11).
WAN (Wide Area Network)
A WAN interconnect network components that are geographically separated. For example, A corporate
headquarters might have multiple WAN connection to remote office sites.
CAN (Campus Area Network)
A university covered several square miles and have several dozen buildings. Within Many of these building was a LAN.
However, those building-centric LAN were interconnected. By these LANs being interconnected, another type of LAN was
created, a CAN. Beside an actual university campus, you might also find a CAN in an industrial park or business park.
MAN (Wide Area Network)
More widespread than a CAN and less widespread than a WAN, a MAN interconnects locations scattered throughout a
Metropolitan Area. One example of a Metropolitan Technology is Metro Ethernet, which features must higher speed than
the traditional WAN Technologies that might have been used in the past to connect such locations.
SAN (Storage Area Network)
You can construct a high-speed , highly reliable network for the express purpose of Transmitting data stored data.
This network is called a Storage Area Network (SAN)
PAN (Personal Area Network)
A PAN is a network whose scale is even smaller than a LAN. For example, connection between a PC and a digital camera via
universal serial bus(USB) cable could be consider a PAN. Another example is a PC connected to an external hard drive via a
FireWire connection. A PAN however is not necessarily a wired connection. A Bluetooth connection between your cell phone
and your car’s audio system is consider a wireless PAN (WPAN). The main distinction of a PAN, however, is that it’s range is
typically limited to just a few meters.
BAN (Body Area Network)
A body area network (BAN) is a short range wireless network comprised of devices positioned in, on and around the body.
It’s provided data communication over short distances , limited to range of just a few meters.This new, inherently personal
type of network wearable and implanted electronic circuits. It’s implements highly useful functions and capabilities in
convenient, unobtrusive configuration that operate at very low power and deliver superlative security.
RAN (Radio Access Network)
A RAN uses radio access technology. RANs have been in use since the beginning of cellular technology. This network uses a
base station and antennas to cover a region. This includes 3G, 4G, and 5G network connections.

NANO Network
A nano network is a set of small devices (a few hundred nanometers or a few micrometers) that can perform only simple tasks
These devices could be sensors, actuators, or data storage or computing devices. Nano networks allow new applications in
fields such as environmental research, military technology, and the biomedical field. IEEE created the P1906.1 workgroup
to develop a common framework for nano-scale and molecular communication.
Computer Network Essentials
Network is a collection of interconnected devices and system that can connect and share data resources each other.
These devices can be Personal Computer(PC), Switches, Routers, Servers and so on. However the true value of a
network comes from the traffic flowing over those connections.
Network Hardware Devices
1. Host Devices
2. Network Interface Card (NIC)
3. Communication Links
4. Switches
5. Routers
6. Firewalls
Network Hardware Devices
Host devices
Host devices are the devices that are used by end users. A decade ago, we mostly used desktop computers but
nowadays we have laptops, personal computer, smartphones, and tablets. And host devices are also called end device,
terminal , node.

Desktop Mobile Phone Printer Personal Computer

Network Interface Card (NIC)
To connect our computers and servers to a network, there has to be some interface. We use NICs (Network Interface Card)
for this. In laptops, tablets, and smartphones you will find wireless NICs with radios/antennas. There’s wired and wireless
NIC cards.

Network Interface Card (NIC)

Communication Links
Communication Links There are different types of communication links and cables. On your local network, you probably have
seen UTP cables before.
For Internet connectivity, you might use DSL which uses the phone line from the telecom, or perhaps you have cable Internet
access which uses the COAX cable like your TV. For long distance links, a lot of fiber cable is used.
Nowadays we also use a lot of wireless technology where we use radios, antennas and radio waves for communication.

Copper Cable Fiber Optic Cable

Switches
On local networks we typically use switches to connect computers and servers to the network, allowing them to communicate
with each other. These switches can be as small as the one below, something you might find at home or at a small company
network.

Fixed Switch Modular Switch Stackable Switch

Routers
Routers are used for a number of reasons. The main reason is that they figure out what path to use to get to a certain
destination. For example, you might live in New York but the e-mail server you use to check your e-mail is located in
Los Angeles. Just like there are many different roads to take if you want to drive from New York to Los Angeles, there are many
different network paths to take in order to send our network traffic from A to B. By exchanging information about networks
between different routers, we are able to calculate a path to get to each destination. Routers can be as small as something
we use at home or at a small business:
Firewalls
In a perfect world, we could trust everyone and we don’t have to worry about security. Unfortunately, besides all the great
things the Internet offers us there is also a lot of malicious stuff. Think of viruses, malware, and hackers. Firewalls are used to
inspect network traffic and drop malicious traffic. We also use them to encrypt network traffic so that remote workers can
access applications on the company network in a secure way.

Palo Alto Firewall

Fortinet Firewall

Juniper Firewall
Network and Inter-network
What is Network?
A network is a system where two or more computers or devices are connected to each other so they can
share information and resources like files, printers, or internet access.
Network and Inter-network
What is Inter-network?
An internetwork is a system where two or more separate networks are connected together, allowing devices in different
networks to communicate with each other. This connection is often made using routers.
What is Protocol?
A protocol is a set of rules that defines how data is transmitted and received between computers or devices in a network.
There are many different vendors that sell networking hardware. There is Cisco, Juniper, HP, Dell, Mikrotik and many others.
Somehow, we can build networks using equipment from different vendors without any issues. This is because networking
is mostly based on standards. Even though the hardware is different, we use the same networking protocols pretty much
everywhere.