Lesson 6

Basic Computer Network

What is computer network?
interconnection of multiple devices,
generally termed as hosts (can be a client
computer or server) connected using
multiple paths for the purpose of
sending/receiving a data or media.
A server is a large-capacity that can
store a wide variety of files such as
application or data files. A client on the
other hand is a computer or device that
accesses a server through a network.
The relationship between the client and a server is
called a client-server model. In client-server
model, the client machine sends the request to the
server machine. When the server receives the client
request, it looks out for the requested data and
sends it
back with the response. An example is searching
for a definition of a term in Google.
Suppose we are using a smartphone (client) to
search. After typing the to search term and
pressing enter, the smartphone will send the term
in a form of request the server, which in this case is
the Google server. The server receives the request,
looks for the
requested information and sends information back
to the client as a response.
Note: Both client and server are computers
How does it know where to send data?
Now you may be wondering how the network knows the exact
sender and/or
receiver of the data that is passed over the network. Computer
network uses addressing to manage the flow of data. Hosts
have two types of addressing. These are IP (Internet Protocol)
address and MAC (Media Access Control) address. IP address
is an address assigned to a device on a network. It is composed
of four dot-separated decimal numbers ranging from 0 to 255.
For example, 192.168.1.37.
MAC address is a hardware identification number that
uniquely identifies each device on a network. The MAC
address is manufactured into every network card, such as an
Ethernet card or Wi-Fi card, and therefore cannot be changed.
MAC addresses are made up of six two-digit hexadecimal
numbers, separated by colons or hyphen. For example, an
Ethernet card may have a MAC address of
00:0D:83:B1:C0:8E. These addresses work like your home
address which you
can use for delivery or mailing.
Network Devices
When setting up a network, a physical device is used to build connections between
computing devices. The following are the most common network devices that we can find in offices and home networks.
Modem (Modulator-Demodulator). The name modem is a shorthand expression derived
from the technical processes that the device performs, i.e. modulation and demodulation.
 Modulation and demodulation are
processes whereby signals
travelling between multiple
networks are converted into
different forms of signals
appropriate for transmission over
Image Source: cables or other media.
https://seniortv.com/wpcont
ent/
uploads/2018/01/docsis-
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Think of it this way: it is impossible (nor practical) to
transport pure ice over pipes designed for water, but it
is possible to melt the ice. Much like ice is melted in
order to be transported over a pipe as water and then
refrozen at the other end, computer data are converted
from one form to another to be transferred over cables or
wirelessly and then reverted back into their original
form at the destination.
With the ice, the form changes, but the
chemical composition does not—the same
applies to data because its form changes, but
the information contained within does not.
Hubs connect multiple computer networking devices together. It broadcasts data from one
computer to the other units that are connected to it. This means when computer A sends a
message to computer E, the hub will send the data to every computer connected to it.

Image Source: https://seniortv.com/wpcontent/

uploads/2018/01/docsis-3.jpg
Switches generally have a more intelligent role
than hubs. A switch is a multiport device that
improves network efficiency. Unlike hubs, a switch is able to handle the data and knows the specific
addresses (MAC Address) to send the message.

Image Source:
http://itmtechnologies.ca/sites/default/files/field/image/Switch.jpg
Router. Routers are more intelligent than switches. It can
calculate the best route for sending data and communicating with
each other. Routers are computer networking devices that serve
two primary functions: [1] create and maintain a local area
network
and [2] manage the data entering and leaving the network and the
data moving inside of it. It uses an address called IP Address to
know the destination and source of data. In simpler terms, a
router is the post office of the computer networking
world.
Wireless Router. A wireless router
is a device that performs the
functions of a router and also
includes the functions of a
wireless access point. Depending
on the manufacturer and model, it
can function in a wired local area
network, in a wireless-only LAN, or in a mixed wired and wireless
network.
Ethernet Cable. An Ethernet cable is a common type of network cable used with wired
networks. Ethernet cables connect devices such as PCs, routers, and
switches within a local area network. These physical cables are limited by length and durability.

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Network Speed
If you have tried accessing the internet or a
network, surely you have noticed an important
aspect that affects your activities. That is the
speed of the internet or network.
Speed is essentially a subjective evaluation of
the combination of bandwidth and latency.
 The speed of internet or network is measured by these two factors.
Bandwidth, typically measured in bits, kilobits, or megabits per
second (mbps), is the rate at which data flows over the network. This
is a measure of throughput (amount per second) rather than speed
(distance traveled per second). Just as more water flows through a
wide river than a small, narrow creek, a high bandwidth network
generally can deliver more information than a low bandwidth
network given the same amount of a time. Because this can make the
network feel faster, high bandwidth networks and connections often
are called "high-speed".
Network Speed
Residential cable and DSL Internet connections
often are advertised as high-speed connections,
even though the actual speed of the information
traveling from one end to another is roughly the
same for cable, DSL, and normal phone
connections.
On the other hand, latency, usually measured in
milliseconds (ms), is the time that elapses between a
request for information and its arrival. The “lateness”
of transmission. Sometimes referred to as “ping”.
Higher means slower network.
Types of Area Network. When we talk about area network, we
are pertaining to the distance that a network covers. It could be
in a building, a campus or between cities and around the globe.
CAM (Campus Area Network)
Is a network of multiple interconnected local area networks
(LAN) in a limited geographical area. A CAN is smaller than a
wide area network (WAN) or metropolitan area network
(MAN). A CAN is also known as a corporate area network
(CAN).
LAN (Local Area Network) A LAN connects
network devices over a relatively short
distance. A networked office building, school,
or home usually contains a single LAN,
though sometimes one building will contain a
few small LANs (perhaps one per room), and
occasionally a LAN will span a group of
nearby buildings.
WAN (Wide Area Network)
As the term implies, a WAN spans a large physical
distance. The internet is the largest
WAN, spanning the Earth.
MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
A network spanning a physical area larger than a LAN
but smaller than a WAN, such as a
city. A MAN is typically owned and operated by a single
entity such as a government body
or large corporation.
PAN (Personal Area Network)
A network that surrounds an individual. A
wireless PAN (WPAN) might be created
between Bluetooth devices.
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