Communicating over the

Network

Session 1&2

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Part I

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Objectives
 Describe how networks impact our daily lives.
 Describe the role of data networking in the human
network.
 Identify the key components of any data network.
 Identify the opportunities and challenges posed by
converged networks.
 Describe the characteristics of network architectures:
fault tolerance, scalability, quality of service and
security.

© 2007 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 3

How Networks Impact Daily Life
 The benefits of instantaneous communication and how
it supports and improves our lives

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How Networks Impact Daily Life
 The characteristics and purpose of popular
communication media such as, IM, Wikis , Blogs,
Podcasting, and Collaboration Tools
– Instant messaging
• Real time communication
between 2 or more
people based on typed text
– Weblogs (Blogs)
• Web pages created
by an individual
– Podcasting
• Website that contains
audio files available
for downloading
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How Networks Impact Daily Life
 Using information networks to share and collaborate
improves teaching and learning

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How Networks Impact Daily Life
 Communication over a network changes the way we
work

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How Networks Impact Daily Life
 Communication over a network supports the way we
play

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Data Networking Role, Components, and Challenges
 Basic characteristics of communication
– Rules or agreements are 1st established
– Important information may need to be repeated
– Various modes of communication may impact the
effectiveness of getting the message across

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Data Networking Role, Components, and Challenges

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Components

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Components

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 Data Networking Role, Components, and Challenges
 Various elements that make
up a network
– Devices
• These are used to
communicate with one
another
– Medium
• This is how the
devices are connected
together
– Messages
• Information that travels
over the medium
– Rules
• Governs how
messages flow across
network

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Data Networking Role, Components, and Challenges
 Role of converged networks in communications
– Converged network
• A type of network that can carry voice, video & data over
the same network

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Network Architecture Characteristics
 Four characteristics that are addressed by network
architecture design
– Fault tolerance
– Scalability
– Quality of service
– Security

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Network Architecture Characteristics
 How packet switching helps improve the resiliency and
fault tolerance of the Internet architecture

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Network Architecture Characteristics
 Characteristics of the Internet that help it scale to meet
user demand
– Hierarchical
– Common standards
– Common protocols

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Network Architecture Characteristics
 The factors that necessitate Quality of Service and the
mechanisms necessary to ensure it

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Network Architecture Characteristics
 QoS mechanisms work to ensure quality of service for
applications that require it

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 Network Architecture Characteristics
 Basic measures to secure data networks
– Ensure confidentiality through use of
• User authentication
• Data encryption
– Maintain communication integrity through use of
• Digital signatures
– Ensure availability through use of
• Firewalls
• Redundant network
architecture
• Hardware without a single
point of failure

© 2007 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 20

Part II

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 Network Structure
 Define the elements of communication
– 3 common elements of communication
• Message source
• The channel
• Message destination
 Define a network
– Data or information networks capable of carrying many different
types of communications

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Network Structure
 How messages are communicated
– Data is sent across a network in small “chunks” called
segments

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Network Structure
 Define the components of a network
– Network components
• Hardware
• Software

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Network Structure
 End Devices and their Role in the Network
– End devices form interface with human network &
communications network
– Role of end devices:
• Client
• Server
• Both client and server

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Network Structure
 Identify the role of an intermediary device in a data
network and be able to contrast that role with the role of
an end device
– Role of an intermediary device
• Provides connectivity and ensures data flows
across network

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Network Structure
 Define network media and criteria for making a network
media choice
– Network media – this is the channel over which a message
travels

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 Network topology
 A bus topology uses a single
backbone cable that is terminated at
both ends. All the hosts connect
directly to this backbone.
 A ring topology connects one host to
the next and the last host to the first.
This creates a physical ring of cable.
 A star topology connects all cables to
a central point.
 An extended star topology links
individual stars together by connecting
the hubs or switches.
 A hierarchical topology is similar to an
extended star. However, instead of
linking the hubs or switches together,
the system is linked to a computer that
controls the traffic on the topology.
 A mesh topology is implemented to
provide as much protection as
possible from interruption of service.
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 Network topology
The diagram in
Figure to the right
shows many
different topologies
connected by
network devices. It
shows a network
of moderate
complexity that is
typical of a school
or a small
business. The
diagram includes
many symbols and
networking
concepts that will
take time to learn.

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Network Types
 Define Local Area Networks (LANs)
– A network serving a home, building or campus is considered a
Local Area Network (LAN)

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Network Types
 Define Wide Area Networks (WANs)
– LANs separated by geographic distance are connected by a
network known as a Wide Area Network (WAN)

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e technologies that send signals across public areas can also be used to create a MAN. A MAN usually consists of two or more LANs in a common geo

Network Types
 Metropolitan-area networks (MANs)
Wireless bridge technologies that send signals across
public areas can also be used to create a MAN. A MAN
usually consists of two or more LANs in a common
geographic area.

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e technologies that send signals across public areas can also be used to create a MAN. A MAN usually consists of two or more LANs in a common geo

Network Types
 Storage-area networks (SANs)
A storage-area network (SAN) is a
dedicated, high-performance
network used to move data
between servers and storage
resources. Because it is a
separate, dedicated network, it
avoids any traffic conflict
between clients and servers.

© 2007 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 33

e technologies that send signals across public areas can also be used to create a MAN. A MAN usually consists of two or more LANs in a common geo

Network Types
 Virtual private network (VPN)
A virtual private network (VPN) is
a private network that is
constructed within a public
network infrastructure such as
the global Internet. Using VPN, a
telecommuter can remotely
access the network of the
company headquarters. Through
the Internet, a secure tunnel can
be built between the PC of the
telecommuter and a VPN router
at the company headquarters.

© 2007 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 34

e technologies that send signals across public areas can also be used to create a MAN. A MAN usually consists of two or more LANs in a common geo

Network Types
 Virtual private network (VPN)
 The following are the three main types of VPNs:
 Access VPNs provide remote access for mobile
and small office, home office (SOHO) users to an
Intranet or Extranet over a shared infrastructure.
Access VPNs use analog, dialup, ISDN, DSL,
mobile IP, and cable technologies to securely
connect mobile users, telecommuters, and
branch offices.
 Intranet VPNs use dedicated connections to link
regional and remote offices to an internal network
over a shared infrastructure. Intranet VPNs differ
from Extranet VPNs in that they allow access
only to the employees of the enterprise.
 Extranet VPNs use dedicated connections to link
business partners to an internal network over a
shared infrastructure. Extranet VPNs differ from
Intranet VPNs in that they allow access to users
outside the enterprise.

© 2007 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 35

e technologies that send signals across public areas can also be used to create a MAN. A MAN usually consists of two or more LANs in a common geo

Network Types
 Intranets and extranets
 Intranet Web servers differ from public Web
servers in that the public must have the proper
permissions and passwords to access the
intranet of an organization. Intranets are
designed to permit users who have access
privileges to the internal LAN of the organization.
Within an intranet, Web servers are installed in
the network. Browser technology is used as the
common front end to access information on
servers such as financial, graphical, or text-based
data.
 Extranets refer to applications and services that
are Intranet based, and use extended, secure
access to external users or enterprises. This
access is usually accomplished through
passwords, user IDs, and other application-level
security. An extranet is the extension of two or
more intranet strategies with a secure interaction
between participant enterprises and their
respective intranets.
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Network Types
 Define the Internet
– The internet is defined as a global mesh of interconnected
networks

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Network Types
 Describe network representations

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Function of Protocol in Network Communication
 The importance of protocols and how they are used to
facilitate communication over data networks
– A protocol is a set of predetermined rules

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Function of Protocol in Network Communication
 Explain network protocols
– Network protocols are used to allow devices to communicate
successfully

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Function of Protocol in Network Communication
 Describe Protocol suites and industry standards
– A standard is a process or protocol that has been endorsed by
the networking industry and ratified by a standards organization

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© 2007 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 42