CONTENTS
 Part 1: The definitions of networking
- N et w o r k
-Standalone
-LAN
- WA N
-Clients
-Ser ver
- C l i e n t s / S er v e r N et w o r k s
- Pe e r to Pe e r N et w o r k s
 Part 2: LAN (going in depth)
- A d v a n t a g e s a n d d i s a d va n t a g e s o f L A N
-T h e t y p e s o f c a b l e d L A N
-T h e m o s t e s s e n t i al p i e c e o f h a r d w a r e f o r l a n … T h e E t h e r n et c a b l e
-T h e d i f fe r e n c e b et w e e n E t h e r n et a n d c r o s s - ove r c a b l e s
- L A N To p o lo g i e s
 Part 3: Continuation…
- A d v a n t a g e s o f s o m e to p o l o g ie s
-Wireless LAN (WLAN)
- WA N
-Data transmission
NETWORK
A network is a collection
of hardware components and computers
connected by communication channels that allow
sharing of resources and information.
STANDALONE
A computer software that can work offline and does
not need a computer connection.
An example of a standalone device can be a TomTom
(GPS)
LAN
Local area network usually known as LAN, is
a computer network that connects computers in a
limited area such as a home, school, computer
laboratory or office building using network media
WAN
A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a telecommunication network that
covers a broad area. Business and government entities utilize WANs
to relay data among employees, clients, buyers, and suppliers from
various geographical locations. In essence this mode of
telecommunication allows a business to effectively carry out its daily
function regardless of location.
CLIENTS
A client is an application or system that accesses a service made
available by a server. The server is often (but not always) on
another computer system, in which case the client accesses the service
by way of a network. The term was first applied to devices that were not
capable of running their own stand-alone programs, but could interact
with remote computers via a network. These dumb terminals were
clients of the time-sharing mainframe computer.
SERVER
In the context of client-server architecture, a server is a computer
program running to serve the requests of other programs, the
clients. Thus, the "server" performs some computational task on
behalf of "clients". The clients either run on the same computer or
connect through the network.
CLIENT/SERVER NETWORKS
A computer network in which one centralized,
powerful computer (called the server) is a hub to which
many less powerful personal computers or
workstations (called clients) are connected. The clients
run programs and access data that are stored on the
server.
PEER TO PEER NETWORKING
Peer-to-peer also known as P2P, it refers to a computer
network in which each computer in the network can act
as a client or server for the other computers in the
network, It allows the sharing of files with a main or client
server. P2P networks can be set up Fo a home business
and the internet.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
OF LAN
Advantages
Disadvantages
-Workstations can share peripheral devices
like printers. This is cheaper than buying a
printer for every workstations.
- Networks are difficult to set up and need to
be maintained by skilled technicians.
- Workstations do not necessarily need their
own hard disk or CD-ROM drives, which
makes them cheaper to buy than stand-alone
PCs.
- If server develops a fault, users may not be
able to run the application programs.
- Users can communicate with each other and
transfer data between workstations very
easily.
- A fault in the network can cause user to lose
the data.
- One copy of each application package such
as a word processor, spreadsheet etc. can be
loaded onto the file and shared by all user.
-If the network stops operating then it may not
be possible to access various computers
THE 3 T YPES OF CABLED LAN
The 3 types of LAN Cables are Coaxial
cable, Optical fibre cable and twisted pair,
where as Optical fibre is is the fastest by
using the reflection of light to transfer
data.
OOOOO!
SHINY!
THE MOST ESSENTIAL PIECE OF
HARDWARE FOR LAN… THE
ETHERNET CABLE
The most essential thing for LAN is the Ethernet cable.
This cable connects all of the clients together without
this piece of hardware LAN is useless.
There are dif ferent LAN cables such as; Cat3, Cat5,
Cat5e, Cat6, Cat7 and the crossover cable.
The Cat series of cables are just dif ferent versions of the
default Ethernet cable each one is faster in its ways.
The cross over cable allows two clients to connect
directly without interference, this cable cannot be used
in replacement for a normal Ethernet cable. In a cross
over cable the wires are switched around on each end.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
ETHERNET AND CROSS-OVER CABLE
Cross-over Cable
Ethernet Cable
LAN TOPOLOGIES
LAN has dif ferent Topologies like
-Bus(Logical Ethernet)
-Hub and Spoke (Star)
-Hybrid (Bus and Star)
-Point to Point (Serial)
-Point to multipoint (Frame Relay)
-Ring (FDDI, Token ring)
Those are the dif ferent types of LAN topologies all following a
dif ferent method.
ADVANTAGES OF SOME TOPOLOGIES
Two advantages for Bus topologies are
-It is easy to handle and implement.
-It is best suited for small networks .
Some advantages and disadvantages of star topologies are
Advanta ges
Due to its centralized nature, the topology of fer s simplicity of operation.
It also achieves an isolation of each device in the network .
Disadvantage
The network operation depends on the functioning of the central hub. Hence,
the failure of the central hub leads to the failure of the entire network .
WIRELESS LAN (WLAN)
Links two or more devices to a wirelessly
transmitted HUB where the devices will
connect to the internet through the HUB.
WAN
WAN is mostly used in Businesses
allows The relaying of Data among the
clients, buyers and employees. This
mode of telecommunication allows for a
wide broad of ef ficiency to be carried
out.
DATA TRANSMISSION
Data transmission is the physical transfer
of data (a digital bit stream) over a point-topoint or point-to-multipoint
communication channel. Examples of such
channels are copper wires, optical
fibres, wireless communication channels,
and storage media. The data are represented
as an electromagnetic signal, such as
an electrical voltage, radio wave, microwave,
or infrared signal.