NETWORKING BASICS

Course Prepared
By
Merga Tadesse
 What is Computer Networking?
Definitions
• A Computer network is any collection of
independent computers that communicate with
one another over a shared network medium.
• A System in which a number of independent
Computers are linked together to share data or
information and peripherals such as hard disks
and printers.
- When computers and other devices connected
together is called a Network.
- The concept of connected computers sharing
resources such like files and/or peripheral
devices (Printer, Scanner) is called Networking.
Advantage of Networking:
- Share Documents
- Exchange e-mail messages
- Live audio and video broadcast
- Using one device for many computers like printer
- Sharing external memory like Hard disk.
- Security.
 Categorizing Network
Categorizing network by Functional
Relationship:
1. Peer-to-Peer
2. Client-Server
Categorizing network by Its Coverage:
1. LAN (Local Area Network)
2. MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
3. WAN (Wind Area Network)
Categorizing network by Network Topology:
1. BUS Topology
2. Star Topology
3. Ring Topology
4. Mesh Topology
5. Hybrid of the above
  Category by Functional Relationship:
1. Peer-to-Peer Networking:
- Peer-to-Peer (or P2P) network is a simpler
network in which each workstation has
equivalent capabilities and responsibilities. In
otherword a pure peer-to-peer file transfer
network does not have the notion of clients or
servers, but only equal peer nodes that
simultaneously function as both "clients" and
"servers“.
- peer-to-peer computer network is a network
that relies on computing power at the edges of
a connection, there is no hierarchy among the
computers.
 Peer-to-peer networks are generally simpler, but
they usually do not offer the same performance
under heavy loads. Which means as the number
of computers increases within this network you
will be obliged to use Client-server network
system. It is also called Workgroups.
Characteristics of this network:
– Peers act as clients and server
– There is no central server
– There is no central router
2. Server-Based Networking:
In the environment with more than 10 users, a
peer to peer network will not adequate. There
need comes to use a dedicated computer which
optimized (increase) the service of network to
clients quickly and ensure the security of files.
Therefore, there will be one or more server
computers which serves other station (client)
computers to optimized network system.
What is Server?
Server is a dedicated computer that provide
resources to Network users or Client computers.
Continued …
A dedicated computer with software that
carries out some task on behalf of users. This
is usually divided into file serving, allowing
users to store and access files on a common
computer; and application serving, where the
software runs a computer program to carry out
some task for the users. The term is now also
used to mean the physical computer on which
the software runs.
Continued …
In general a server computer shares its
resources, such as software, peripherals and file
storage, to the users' computers, called clients,
on a network.
Types of Server:
- File and Printer server
- Mail server
- Communication server
- Directory service server
- Application server
- Fax server
- Backup Server
Advantage of Server-Based Network
1. Sharing Resource
2. Keeping the Network Security
3. Backup
4. Increase number of computer in the Network
5. Hardware consideration (Hard disk capacity)
  Category by Its Coverage
1. LAN (Local Area Network)
What is LAN( Local Area Networks)?
• A Local Area Network (LAN) is a network
that is confined (restricted) to a relatively small
area. It is generally limited to a geographic
area such as a writing lab, school, or building.
Rarely are LAN computers more than a A
kilometer apart.
• When using ethernet the computers are usually
wired to a hub or to a switch.
LAN EXAMPLE
2. MAN (Metropolitan Area Network):
- Is a network that interconnects users with
computer resources in a geographic area or
region larger than that covered by even a
large local area network (LAN) but smaller
than the area covered by a wide area
network (WAN).
- The term is applied to the interconnection of
networks in a city or town into a single larger
network.
3. WAN (Wide Area Networks)
• Often a network (LAN) is located in multiple
physical places. Wide area networking combines
multiple LANs that are geographically separate.
This is accomplished by connecting the different
LANs using services such as dedicated leased phone
lines, dial-up phone lines, satellite links, and data
packet carrier services.
• Wide area networking can be as simple as a modem
and remote access server for employees to dial into,
or it can be as complex as hundreds of branch
offices globally linked using special routing
protocols and filters to minimize the expense of
sending data sent over vast distances.
 Categorizing network by Network Topology:
1. BUS Topology
- This network topology has computers connected
to a strand of network cabling that is connected
to network repeaters at one end and terminated
at the other. If you break part of the cable or
remove the terminator, all machines on that
segment lose communication with the network.
- The Bus topology is often referred to as a
Linear bus, because the computers are
connected in main cable as straight line.
Bus Topology
2. Star Topology
A star network is a local area network (LAN)
in which all nodes (workstations or other
devices) are directly connected to a common
central Hub or Switch. Every workstation is
indirectly connected to each other through
the central Hub or Switch.
Star Topology
3. Ring Topology
A ring is a network topology or circuit
arrangement in which each device is
attached along the same signal path to two
other devices, forming a path in the shape
of a ring. Each device in the ring has a
unique address.
Ring Topology
4. Mesh Topology
A mesh network is a local area network
(LAN) that employs one of two connection
arrangements, full mesh topology or partial
mesh topology. In the full mesh topology,
each node (workstation or other device) is
connected directly to each of the others. In
the partial mesh topology, some nodes are
connected to all the others, but some of the
nodes are connected only to those other
nodes with which they exchange the most
data.
Mesh Topology
5. Hybrid Topology
A combination of any two or more network
topologies. These instances can occur where
two basic network topologies, when
connected together, can still retain the basic
network character, and therefore not be a
hybrid network. For example, a tree network
connected to a tree network is still a tree
network. Therefore, a hybrid network occurs
only when two basic networks are connected
and the resulting network topology fails to
meet one of the basic topology definitions.
Network Media (Hardware)
SWITCH
BRIDGE
ROUTER
REPEATER
FILE SERVER
CONNECTORS
CABLES
MODEM
• What is Networking Hardware?
Networking hardware includes all computers,
peripherals, interface cards and other
equipment needed to perform data processing
and communications within the network.
Let us have a look on the picture of next slide
when some hardware are connected each
other.
Some Network Hardware
Station Computer (PC)
• A small, single-user computer based on a microprocessor.
In addition to the microprocessor, a personal computer has
a keyboard for entering data, a monitor for displaying
information, and a storage device for saving data.
Server
A file server stands at the heart of most networks. It is a
very fast computer with a large amount of RAM and
storage space, along with a fast network interface card.
The network operating system software resides on this
computer, along with any software applications and data
files that need to be shared
Network Interface Card (NIC)
An adapter circuit board installed in a computer
to provide a physical connection to a network.
This circuit board, which we also call network
card, serves as the interface between a
computer and the communications network.
The three most common network interface Card are:
1. Ethernet cards
2. LocalTalk connectors
3. Token Ring cards.
1. Ethernet card:
Ethernet cards are usually purchased
separately from a computer or comes as
built-in on the motherboard. It is the most
common type of card used for networking.
Ethernet cards contain connections interface
for either coaxial or twisted pair cables (or
both).
- For coaxial BNC Connecter (called T-
connecter)
- For Twisted cable RJ-45 connecter
Ethernet Card
2. LocalTalk Connectors
• LocalTalk is Apple's built-in solution for
networking Macintosh computers. It utilizes a
special adapter box and a cable that plugs into
the printer port of a Macintosh (See fig. 2). A
major disadvantage of LocalTalk is that it is slow
in comparison to Ethernet. Most Ethernet
connections operate at 10 Mbps (Megabits per
second). In contrast, LocalTalk operates at only
230 Kbps (or .23 Mbps)
LocalTalk Connector
3. Token Ring Cards:
Token Ring network cards look similar to
Ethernet cards. One visible difference is the type
of connector on the back end of the card. Token
Ring cards generally have a nine pin connector
to attach the card to the network cable.
Token Ring Card
 Connecters
We have two most common types of connecters:
1. RJ-45 connecter
2. BNC connecter (T-connecter)
- RJ- 45 connecter is now most common type
used with twisted pair cable.
- BNC is now obsolete type used with coaxial
cable.
RJ45 Connecter
 Cables
There are three major types of cables used for
networking. These are:
1. Coaxial Cable
2. UTP or STP Cable
3. Fiber Optics
We are now most concerned on the UTP cable
type, which is widely used, and our cabling will
depend on this cable type.
10BaseT Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)
One of the most common and most used cable
which has four twisted pair is UTP cable.
 Cabling
The way which we are going to attaché the cable
with the connecters is called cabling. There are
three types of cabling system. These are:
1. Straight through Cabling
2. Cross over Cabling
3. Roll over cabling
1. Straight through Cabling
A straight-through cable is used to connect
two none identical devices, such like
computer to switch, computer to hub,
computer to router. The combination of
numbers are as follows:
1 --- 1 5 --- 5
2 --- 2 6 --- 6
3 --- 3 7 --- 7
4 --- 4 8 --- 8
2. Crossover Cables
This cabling system is important to connect to
identical device such like switch to switch or
computer to computer. By this cabling system
the twisted pairs are crossed as shown in the
picture in the next slide. The combination of
Number is as follows:
1----- 3 6 ---- 2
2 ---- 6 7 ---- 7
3 ---- 1 8 ---- 8
4 ---- 4
5 ---- 5
Crossover cable
3. Rollover cable
A Rollover cable is used to connect between a
computer and the "Console" port on a Router
or Switch to allow Configuration. To make a
rollover cable you arrange wires on one side
and roll it on the other side. The combination
of numbers are as follows:
1 --- 8 5 --- 4
2 --- 7 6 --- 3
3 --- 6 7 --- 2
4 --- 5 8 --- 1
Rollover cable
Repeater
In digital communication systems, a repeater is a
device that receives a digital signal on an
electromagnetic or optical transmission medium
and regenerates the signal along the next leg of
the medium. In electromagnetic media, repeaters
overcome the attenuation (decrease) caused by
free-space electromagnetic-field divergence or
cable loss. A series of repeaters make possible
the extension of a signal over a distance.
Bridge
A device that connects two or more physical
networks and forwards packets between them.
Bridges can usually be made to filter packets,
that is, to forward only certain traffic. Related
devices are: repeaters which simply forward
electrical signals from one cable to another, and
full-fledged routers which make routing
decisions based on several criteria. In OSI
terminology, a bridge is a Data Link Layer
intermediate system.
Modem
A device that lets your computer communicate with
other computers by dialing a connection to the
Internet. A modem modulates outgoing digital
signals from a computer to analog signals for
transmittal over a conventional telephone line. It
demodulates the incoming analog signals into a
digital signal for the computer.
A modem converts (modulates) digital signals
(normally sent by a computer) to analogue signals
for transmission over conventional copper twisted
pair telephone lines. A modem also converts
(demodulates) incoming analogue signals received
over a telephone line and converts it to a digital
signal for the digital device (normally a computer).
A Beat About VSAT
What is VSAT?
VSAT (very small aperture terminal), an
earthbound station used in satellite
communications of data, voice and video signals,
excluding broadcast television. A VSAT consists
of two parts, a transceiver that is placed outdoors
in direct line of sight to the satellite and a device
that is placed indoors to interface the transceiver
with the end user's communications device, such
as a PC. The transceiver receives or sends a
signal to a satellite transponder in the sky. The
satellite sends and receives signals from a ground
station computer that acts as a hub for the system.
Continued …
Each end user is interconnected with the hub
station via the satellite, forming a star
topology. The hub controls the entire
operation of the network. For one end user
to communicate with another, each
transmission has to first go to the hub
station that then retransmits it via the
satellite to the other end user's VSAT.
Continued …
• In a typical VSAT network, remote user sites
have a number of personal computers, dumb
terminals and printers connected to the VSAT
terminal which connects them to a centralized
host computer either at the organization's head
office or data processing center. Data sent to the
VSAT terminal is buffered and transmitted to the
hub in packets.
What is Bandwidth?
- The amount of data that can be transmitted in a
fixed amount of time. For digital devices, the
bandwidth is usually expressed in bits per
second(bps, kbs, mbs, gbs). For analog devices,
the bandwidth is expressed in cycles per second,
or Hertz (Hz). For more clarity:
- Bandwidth is the amount of information that can
be transmitted over communications lines at one
time. The higher the bandwidth, the faster the
communication.
What is Broadband?
A transmission medium capable of supporting a
wide range of frequencies, typically from audio
up to video frequencies. It can carry multiple
signals by dividing the total capacity of the
medium into multiple, independent bandwidth
channels, where each channel operates only on a
specific range of frequencies.
Continued …
• The critical information for most systems is data
and video. Because of the near-term importance
of high-speed Internet access, current suppliers
of broadband hardware promote their Internet
Protocol (IP) capabilities and maximum data
rates.
• A true long-term broadband technology solution
is one that will offer high-speed data and video
beyond today's definition of high speed.
• In general, broadband refers to
telecommunication in which a wide band of
frequencies is available to transmit information.
Because a wide band of frequencies is available,
information can be multiplexed and sent on
many different frequencies or channels within
the band concurrently, allowing more
information to be transmitted in a given amount
of time (like a highway for cars)
Thank You