Unit Four:-Install and Configure peripherals to a network

 Computer networking refers to interconnected computing devices that can exchange

data and share resources with each other.

 These networked devices use a system of rules, called communications protocols, to

transmit information over physical or wireless technologies.

 A computer network is a set of computers sharing resources located on or provided by

network nodes.
 Cont’s
 A computer network, also referred to as a data network, is a series of
interconnected nodes that can transmit, receive and exchange data, voice and
video traffic.

 Computer networks commonly help endpoint users share resources and

communicate.
 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.
A computer network is mainly of four types by their geographical coverage:

1. LAN(Local Area Network)

2. PAN(Personal Area Network)
3. MAN(Metropolitan Area Network)
4. WAN(Wide Area Network)
 LAN(Local Area Network)

 A local area network (LAN) is a collection of devices connected together in one

physical location, such as a building, office, or home.

 A network is a group of two or more connected computers, and a LAN is a network

contained within a small geographic area, usually within the same building.

 Home WiFi networks and small business networks are common examples of LANs.
 Personal area network (PAN)

 A PAN is a computer network for interconnecting electronic devices within an

individual person's workspace.

 A PAN provides data transmission among devices such as computers, smart

phones, tablets and personal digital assistants.

 One of the most common real-world examples of a PAN is the connection

between a Bluetooth earpiece,Remote and a Smartphone.

 PANs can also connect laptops, tablets, printers, keyboards, and other
computerized devices.
Features of PAN :
 Low cost, little or No infrastructure setup.

 Short range communication.

 Small personal network , use anywhere.

 Wide range of devices.

 Low power consumption.

 No complex connectivity.
There are two types of Personal Area Network:

 Wireless Personal Area Network:

 Wireless Personal Area Network is developed by simply

using wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth. It is
a low range network.
 Wired Personal Area Network:

 Wired Personal Area Network is created by using the USB

and Network cable.
 MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

 A MAN is a network that covers a larger geographic area by interconnecting a

different LAN to form a larger network.

 Government agencies use MAN to connect to the citizens and private industries.

 In MAN, various LANs are connected to each other through a telephone exchange
line.

 It has a higher range than Local Area Network(LAN).

Uses of Metropolitan Area Network:

 MAN is used in communication between the banks in a city.

 It can be used in an Airline Reservation.

 It can be used in a college within a city.

 It can also be used for communication in the military.

 WAN (Wide Area Network)
 A Wide Area Network is a network that extends over a large geographical area such
as states or countries.

 A Wide Area Network is quite bigger network than the LAN.

 A Wide Area Network is not limited to a single location, but it spans over a large
geographical area through a telephone line, fibre optic cable or satellite links.

 The internet is one of the biggest WAN in the world.

 A WAN is widely used in the field of Business, government, and education.

 Advantages of Wide Area Network:

a. Geographical area: A Wide Area Network provides a large geographical area.

b. Centralized data: In case of WAN network, data is centralized. Therefore, we do

not need to buy the emails, files or back up servers.

c. Get updated files: Software companies work on the live server. Therefore, the
programmers get the updated files within seconds.
 Cont’s

d. Exchange messages: In a WAN network, messages are transmitted fast. The web
application like Facebook, Whatsapp, Skype allows you to communicate with friends.

e. Sharing of software and resources: In WAN network, we can share the software and
other resources like a hard drive, RAM.

f. Global business: We can do the business over the internet globally.

g. High bandwidth: If we use the leased lines for our company then this gives the high
bandwidth. The high bandwidth increases the data transfer rate which in turn increases the
productivity of our company.
 Disadvantages of Wide Area Network:

a. Security issue: A WAN network has more security issues as compared to LAN and MAN
network as all the technologies are combined together that creates the security problem.

b. Needs Firewall & antivirus software: The data is transferred on the internet which can
be changed or hacked by the hackers, so the firewall needs to be used. Some people can
inject the virus in our system so antivirus is needed to protect from such a virus.

c. High Setup cost: An installation cost of the WAN network is high as it involves the
purchasing of routers, switches.

d. Troubleshooting problems: It covers a large area so fixing the problem is difficult.

 Category of computer Network by its Functional Relationship:

1. Peer-to-Peer Networking

 In P2P networking, a group of computers are linked together with equal permissions
and responsibilities for processing data. Unlike traditional client-server networking,
no devices in a P2P network are designated solely to serve or to receive data.

 In a peer-to-peer network, computers on the network are equal, with each workstation
providing access to resources and data.

 This is a simple type of network where computers are able to communicate with one
another and share what is on or attached to their computer with other users.
 Cont’s

 The primary goal of peer-to-peer networks is to share resources and help computers
and devices work collaboratively, provide specific services, or execute specific tasks.
As mentioned earlier, P2P is used to share all kinds of computing resources such as
processing power, network bandwidth, or disk storage space.

 Other key uses of a P2P network include: File sharing: The use of P2P in file sharing
is extremely convenient for businesses. P2P networking can also save you money with
this feature because it eliminates the need to use another intermediate server to
transfer your file.

 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.
 Advantages

 Much easier to set up than a client-server network - does not need specialist
knowledge
 Less initial capital – no need for a dedicated server
 No need for system administration (administrator)

 Disadvantages

 Ensuring that viruses are not introduced to the network is the responsibility of
each individual user
 Decentralized – no central repository for the files and application.
 Security – does not provide the security available on a client/server network.
 2. Client-Server Network

 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 serve
other station (client) computers to optimized network system. A dedicated
computer with software that carries out some task on behalf of users.

 Server is a dedicated computer that provide resources to Network users or

Client computers.
 Advantages of server-based network
 Centralized – resources and data security are controlled through the server
 Scalability – any or all elements can be replaced individually as need increase.
 Flexibility – new technology can be easily integrated into system
 Interoperability – all components (client/network/server) work together
 Accessibility – server can be accessed remotely and across multiple platforms.

 Disadvantages of server-Based computer networks

 Expensive – requires initial investment in dedicated server
 Maintenance – large networks will require a staff to ensure efficient operations
 Dependence- when a server goes down, operations will cease across the network.
 Server may fail- incase the server failed, the entire network goes down
 Types of Server:

 File and Printer server

 Mail server

 Communication server

 Directory service server

 Application server

 Fax server

 Backup Server
 Network Topology
 Network topology is the arrangement of the elements of a communication
network.

 Network topology is the topological structure of a network and may be depicted

physically or logically.
 The term topology, or more specifically, network topology, refers to the
arrangement or physical layout of computers, cables, and other components on
the network.
 In addition, the term “topology” you will find several other terms that are used to
define a network’s:
Physical design network diagram/Map

a. Bus Topology
b. Star Topology
c. Ring Topology
d. Mesh Topology
e. Hybrid Topology
 a. Bus topology

 Bus Topology also known as line topology, is a type of

network topology in which all devices in the network are
connected by one central RJ-45 network cable or coaxial
cable. The single cable, where all data is transmitted
between devices, is referred to as the bus, backbone, or
trunk.

 The purpose of the server is to exchange data between

client computers.
 Cont’s
 It is often referred to as a “linear bus” because the computers are connected in a
straight line. This is the simplest and most common method of networking
computers.

 In a bus topology, all computers are connected to a shared communication line,

called a trunk or a backbone.

 The computers are connected to the backbone using T-connectors.

 Both ends of the backbone use terminators in order to prevent reflection of

signals.

 If the terminator is missing or is deliberately removed, the data transmissions

are disrupted.

 There is no central device or any special configuration.

 Advantages
 A bus network is the cheapest of all topologies.
 No special configuration is required.
 It is easy to install, and no special equipment is
 needed for installation.
 It needs less cable length than do other topologies.

 Disadvantages

1. A break in cable or a missing terminator can

2. bring down the entire network.
3. It is not possible to add or remove computers
4. without disrupting the network.
5. It is difficult to troubleshoot and administer.

 Addition of more computers degrades performance

 Star Topology

 Star topology is a network topology in which each network component is

physically connected to a central node such as a router, hub or switch.

 In a star topology, the central hub acts like a server and the connecting
nodes act like clients.

 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.
 Data on a star network passes through the hub, switch, or concentrator before continuing
to its destination. The hub, switch, or concentrator manages and controls all functions of
the network. It also acts as a repeater for the data flow. This configuration is common with
twisted pair cable; however, it can also be used with coaxial cable or fiber optic cable.

 Advantages of a Star Topology

 Easy to install and wire.
 No disruptions to the network when connecting or removing devices.
 Easy to detect faults and to remove parts.

 Disadvantages of a Star Topology

 Requires more cable length than a linear topology.
 If the hub, switch, or concentrator fails, nodes attached are disabled.
 More expensive than linear bus topologies because of the cost of the hubs, etc.
 Ring Topology

 Ring topology is a type of network topology in which each device is

connected to two other devices on either side via an RJ-45 cable or

coaxial cable. This forms a circular ring of connected devices which
gives it its name. Data is commonly transferred in one direction
along the ring, known as a unidirectional ring.

 A ring network is a network topology in which each node connects

to exactly two other nodes, forming a single continuous pathway for

signals through each node – a ring. Data travels from node to node,
with each node along the way handling every packet.
 A Comparison Table for Advantages and Disadvantages of Ring
Topology

Advantages Disadvantages
Fast Execution Quite Expensive
Better Administration Slow Activity Rate
Straightforward Adaptability
Unprotected use
Easy to install
Need for Hardiness
Break in a cable /fault computer can bring slow
down entire network
Difficult to troubleshoot
 Mesh Topology

 A mesh topology is a network setup where each computer and

network device is interconnected with one another.

 This topology setup allows for most transmissions to be distributed

even if one of the connections goes down. It is a topology
commonly used for wireless networks.

 In a mesh topology, all computers in the network are connected to

every other computer, forming a mesh of connections and each
computer makes a point-to-point connection to every other
computer.
 There are two types of mesh topology

 Full mesh topology

 Each node (workstation or other device) is connected directly to each of the

others.

 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.
  Advantages
 A mesh network is highly reliable because of redundant multiple paths between
computers.
 The failure of a single computer or a cable fault does not affect network
operations.
 Computers can be added or removed without affecting the network.
 Disadvantages
 It is difficult to install and troubleshoot.
 It is very expensive because of the length of cable required to make multiple
redundant connections.
 Only a limited number of computers can be connected in a mesh topology.
 Hybrid Topology

 It is combination of any two or more network topologies.

 A hybrid topology is a type of network topology that uses

two or more differing network topologies. These

topologies can include a mix of bus topology, mesh

topology, ring topology, star topology, and tree topology.

 Advantages of Hybrid Topology

 Used for a vast network

 Reliable to use
 Any topology can be combined to make a new network
 Scalable and very effective

 Disadvantages of Hybrid Topology

 Costly very expensive

 Difficult to install
 Need more Hardware requirements
 Cable failure
 Some of the major applications of the hybrid topology are the financial and
banking sector, automated industries, multi-national companies, research
organizations, and many educational institutions.

 The best cabled network topology for large businesses is the star topology.
This is because it is easier to control from a central console as the
management software just needs to communicate with the switch to get full
traffic management features.
 Network Transmission Media

 Transmission Media is the physical path between the transmitter and the
receiver in a data communication system.
 Transmission Media categorized in two categories:-

1. Wired/Guided

 Wire/Guided Transmission Media uses a "cabling" system that guides the data
signals along a specific path. The data signals are bound by the "cabling" system.

 Guided Media is also known as Bound Media. Cabling is meant in a generic

sense in the previous sentences and is not meant to be interpreted as copper wire
cabling only.
 Cont’s

2. Wireless/Unguided

 Wireless/Unguided Transmission Media consists of a means for the data signals to

travel but nothing to guide them along a specific path. The data signals are not bound

to a cabling media and as such are often called Unbound Media.

 Commonly types of guided transmission are:-

a. Twisted Pair Cable

b. Coaxial Cable

c. Optical fiber cable

 a. Twisted Pair Cable

 Twisted pair cabling is a type of wiring in which two conductors of a single

circuit are twisted together for the purposes of improving electromagnetic

compatibility.

 Twisted-pair cable consists of two insulated strands of copper wire twisted

around each other.

 Two types of twisted-pair cable:-

1. Unshielded twisted-pair (UTP)

 Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cables are widely used in the computer and
telecommunications industry as Ethernet cables and telephone wires.

 UTP cables are mostly used for LAN networks. They can be used for voice, low-
speed data, high-speed data, audio and paging systems, and building automation
and control systems.

 UTP cable can be used in both the horizontal and backbone cabling subsystems.
 Cont’s

 It is the most commonly used cable types in LANs.

 It is made up of four twisted pairs enclosed in a plastic jacket.

 Depending on the bandwidth offered there are seven types of UTP

cables such as Cat-1,Cat-2,cat-3,cat-4,cat-5,cat-6 and cat-7
 2. Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) cable

 Uses a woven copper braid jacket and higher quality protective jacket. Also
uses foil wrap b/n and around the wire pairs

 Much less susceptible to interference and supports higher transmission rates

than UTP

 shielding makes it somewhat harder to install

 same 100 meters limit as UTP

 uses RJ-45 telephone-type connectors (larger than telephone and consists of

eight wires vs. telephone’s 4 wires)
 b. Coaxial Cable

 Coaxial Cable consists of 2 conductors. The inner conductor is held inside an

insulator with the other conductor woven around it providing a shield. An insulating
protective coating called a jacket covers the outer conductor.

 The outer shield protects the inner conductor from outside electrical signals. The
distance between the outer conductor (shield) and inner conductor plus the type of
material used for insulating the inner conductor determine the cable properties or
impedance. Typical impedances for coaxial cables are 75 ohms for Cable TV, 50
ohms for Ethernet Thinnet and Thicknet. The excellent control of the impedance
characteristics of the cable allow higher data rates to be transferred than Twisted Pair
cable.
c. Fiber optic (Optical Fiber)

 Optical fiber is the technology associated with data transmission using light pulses
travelling along with a long fiber which is usually made of plastic or glass.

 The basic function of any optical fiber is to guide light, i.e., to act as a dielectric
waveguide. Light injected into one end should stay guided in the fiber.

 Optical fiber cables provide a high-speed, high-capacity solution for data transmission.
These cables use light to transmit information, allowing for much faster data transfer
rates than traditional copper cables.

 In other words, it must be prevented from getting lost e.g. by reaching the outer surface
and escaping there.
 Two types of optical fiber are commonly available:

These are:-

1. Multimode fiber, which has a large core and allows for multiple paths through the
fiber

2. Single-mode fiber which has only one path, through a much smaller core.
 Key Differences Between Multimode and Single-Mode Fiber

 As single-mode fiber can cover the large distance up to 20-40 km,

the regenerator is placed in between the distance of 20-40 km.
 Multimode fiber cover short distances and require to place the
regenerator in every 2 km.
 Multimode fiber involves more than one light ray while single-mode
includes a single ray of light.
 The fiber cost of multimode fiber is greater than single-mode fiber.