Computer Network and

Network Components
Gil Nicholas Cagande

What is Computer Network

Network Components

Differenc
e
 What is Computer Networks?
 A computer network consists of a collection of computers, printers
and other equipment that is connected together so that they can
communicate with each other.
Advantages Disadvantages

It enhances communication and availability It lacks independence.

of information.

It allows for more convenient resource It poses security difficulties.

sharing

It makes file sharing easier It lacks robustness.

It is highly flexible It allows for more presence of computer

viruses and malware.

It is an inexpensive system. Its light policing usage promotes negative

acts.

It increases cost efficiency It requires an efficient handler.

It boosts storage capacity It requires an expensive set-up

Components Of Computer Network

 HUBS - Hubs are simple network devices,

and their simplicity is reflected in their low cost.
Small hubs with four or five ports (often referred
to as workgroup hubs) cost less than $50; with
the requisite cables, they provide everything
needed to create a small network. Hubs with
more ports are available for networks that
require greater capacity.
How hubs Works?
 SWITCHES - looks much like a hub.
Despite their similar appearance, switches are
far more efficient than hubs and are far more
desirable for today’s network environments.
How Switch Works?
 Switching Methods
 Switches use three methods to deal with data as it arrives:

 Cut-through—In a cut-through configuration, the switch begins to forward the packet as soon as it is received. No error
checking is performed on the packet, so the packet is moved through quickly. The downside of cut-through is that because the
integrity of the packet is not checked, the switch can propagate errors.

 Store-and-forward—In a store-and-forward configuration, the switch waits to receive the entire packet before beginning to
forward it. It also performs basic error checking.

 Fragment-free—Building on the speed advantages of cut-through switching, fragment-free switching works by reading only
the part of the packet that enables it to dentify fragments of a transmission.
 BRIDGES - are networking devices that
connect networks. Sometimes it is necessary to
divide networks into subnets to reduce the
amount of traffic on each larger subnet or for
security reasons. Once divided, the bridge
connects the two subnets and manages the
traffic flow betweenthem. Today, network
switches have largely replaced bridges.
How Bridges Works?
 Types Of Bridges
 Transparent bridge—A transparent bridge is invisible
to the other devices on the network.
 Translational bridge—A translational bridge can
convert from one networking system to another. As
you might have guessed, it translates the data it
receives.
 Source-route bridge—Source-route bridges were
designed by IBM for use on Token Ring networks. The
source-route bridge derives its name from the fact that
the entire route of the frame is embedded within the
frame.
 ROUTERS - are an increasingly common
sight in any network environment, from a small
home office that uses one to connect to an
Internet service provider (ISP) to a corporate IT
environment where racks of routers manage data
communication with disparate remote sites.
Routers make internetworking possible, and in
view of this, they warrant detailed attention.
Function of A
Router
 Two Types of Network Protocols
 Routable Protocols - Large internetworks need protocols
that allow systems to be identified by the address of the
network to which they are attached and by an address that
uniquely identifies them on that network. Network protocols
that provide both of these features are said to be routable.
 Three routable LAN network protocols are used today:
 Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
(TCP/IP)
 Internetwork Packet Exchange/Sequenced Packet
Exchange (IPX/SPX)
 AppleTalk
 Routing Protocols - are the means by which
routers communicate with each other. This
communication is necessary so that routers can
learn the network topology and changes that
occuring it.
 The two types of routing protocols
 Distance-Vector Protocols
 Link-State Protocols
 Brouters - A brouter is a device that can route
traffic that can be routed and bridge anything
that cannot be routed. As bridges have been
replaced by the more flexible routers, brouters
have also fallen out of favor. In today’s
networking world, routers rule. Just ask Cisco.
 GATEWAYS - gateway is applied to
any device, system, or software application that
can perform the function of translating data from
one format to another. The key feature of a
gateway is that it converts the format of the
data, not the data itself.
How Gateway works?
 CSUs/DSUs - Channel Service
Unit/Data Service Unit (CSU/DSU) acts as a
translator between the LAN data format and the
WAN data format. Such a conversion is
necessary because the technologies used on
WAN links are different from those used on
LANs.
How CSU/DSU used in a Network?
 MODEM - is a contraction of the terms
modulator and demodulator. Modems perform a
simple function: They translate digital signals
from a computer into analog signals that can
travel across conventional phone lines. The
modem modulates the signal at the sending end
and demodulates at the receiving end.
Commonly Used AT Modem
Commands
ATA Answers an incoming call

ATH Hangs up the current connection

ATZ Resets the modem

ATI3 Displays modem identification information

 Network Interface Cards (NICs) - NICs—
sometimes called network cards—are the mechanisms
by which computers connect to a network. NICs come in
all shapes and sizes, and they come in prices to suit all
budgets.
 NIC Terminology - Many different terms are used to refer
to NICs, such as network card, network adapter, and
LAN adapter. All refer to the same thing.
 Things To Consider When Buying
NIC
 Network compatibility
 Bus compatibility
 Port compatibility
 Hardware compatibility
A network interface typically has at least two LEDs
that indicate certain conditions:
 Link light—This LED indicates whether a network connection exists between the card and the
network. An unlit link light is an indicator that something is awry with the network cable or connection.

 Activity light—This LED indicates network activity. Under normal conditions, the light should flicker
sporadically and often. Constant flickering may indicate a very busy network or a problem somewhere
on the network that is worth investigating.

 Speed light—This LED indicates that the interface is connected at a certain speed. This feature is
normally found on Ethernet NICs that operate at 10Mbps/100Mbp— and then only on certain cards
 ISDN Terminal Adapters When the
speed provided by a modem just isn’t enough,
you must seek alternatives. One of the speedier
options available is an ISDN link. ISDN is a
digital communication method that can be used
over a conventional phone line, although certain
criteria must be met for an ISDN line to be
available (such as the availability of the service
and the proximity of your location to the telco’s
site).
 Wireless Access Point (WAP)
- referred to as either WAPs or wireless APs,
are a transmitter and receiver (transceiver)
device used for wireless LAN (WLAN) radio
signals. A WAP is typically a separate network
device with a built-in antenna, transmitter, and
adapter. WAPs use the wireless infrastructure
network mode to provide a connection point
between WLANs and a wired Ethernet LAN.
WAPs connect WLANs and a
wired Ethernet LAN.
An infrastructure wireless
network uses a WAP.
 Transceivers - does not necessarily
describe a separate network device but rather an
integrated technology embedded in devices such
as network cards. In a network environment, a
transceiver gets its name from being both a
transmitter and a receiver of signals, such as
analog or digital.
 is responsible to place signals onto the network
media and also detecting incoming signals
traveling through the same cable.
 Firewalls - is a networking device,
either hardware or software based, that controls
access to your organization’s network. This
controlled access is designed to protect data
and resources from outside threat.