Week 8: Networking and Telecommunication Basics McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Communication • Computer communications is the process of sharing data, programs, and information between two or more computers • Numerous applications depend on communication systems, including – – – – E-mail Instant messaging Internet telephone Electronic commerce Communications Today • Connectivity uses computer networks to link people and resources • The Wireless Revolution – Single most dramatic change in connectivity and communications has been widespread use of mobile telephones with wireless Internet connectivity Communication Systems • Four basic elements – – – – Sending and receiving devices Communication channel Connection devices Data transmission specifications Communication Channels • Communication channels carry the data from one computer to another • Two categories of communication channels – Physical connection – Wireless connection Computing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You Types of Transmission Media • Guided Media : 1. 2. 3. 4. Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Shielded Twisted Pair Coaxial Cable Optical Fibre • Unguided Media : McGraw-Hill 1. Radio Transmission 2. Microwave 3. Satellite Communication Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 9-6 Physical Connections • Ethernet cable (Twisted pair cable) • Coaxial cable • Fiber-optic cable Return Wireless Connections • Radio frequency (RF) – Bluetooth (short-range,10 Mtr) – Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity, 100 Mtr) – WiMax (1-5 KM) • Microwave • Satellite • Infrared – Short distances and line of sight Return Communication Channels Summary Connection Device Signals • Types of signals – Analog – Digital Connection Devices • Types of modems – – – – Telephone modem DSL (digital subscriber line) Cable modem Wireless modem (WWAN) Networks • A computer network is a communication system that connects two or more computers • Allows exchange of information and resources Computer Networks • • • • • • • Node Client Server Directory server Host Switch Network interface cards (NIC) • Network operating systems (NOS) • Network administrator Computing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You Types of netwoks • • • • • local-area networks (LANs) wide-area networks (WANs) campus-area networks (CANs) metropolitan-area networks (MANs) home-area networks (HANs) McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 9-15 Computing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You local-area networks (LANs) • The computers are geographically close together (that is, in the same building). McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 9-16 Computing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You wide-area networks (WANs) • The computers are farther apart and are connected by telephone lines or radio waves. McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 9-17 Computing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You campus-area networks (CANs) • The computers are within a limited geographic area, such as a campus or military base. McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 9-18 Computing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You metropolitan-area networks (MANs) • A data network designed for a town or city. McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 9-19 Computing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You home-area networks (HANs) • A network contained within a user's home that connects a person's digital devices. McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 9-20 LAN-MAN-WAN Network Architecture • Arrangement is called topology • Types of network topology – Legacy • Bus • Ring – Current • • • • Star Tree Hybrid Mesh Bus Network • Each device is connected to a common cable, called a bus or backbone • All communications travel along this bus Return Ring Network • Each device is connected to two other devices • No central file server or computer • Useful in a decentralized environment Return Star Network • Most widely used network topology for both homes and large businesses • Each device connects directly to a central network switch Return Tree Network • Each device is connected to a central node, either directly or through subordinate nodes • Also known as a hierarchical network Return Hybrid Network • Combination of different topologies Return Mesh Network • Does not use a specific physical layout, but requires that each node have more than one connection to other nodes • Wireless technologies are frequently used Return Network Topologies Network Strategies • • • • Terminal server network Client/server network Peer-to-peer (P2P) network Distributed processing network Terminal Server Client/Server Peer-to-Peer Networking hardware • Networking hardware typically refers to equipment facilitating the use of a computer network. Examples: bridge, hub, routers, switch, modem etc…… Bridge • A bridge device filters data traffic at a network boundary. Bridges reduce the amount of traffic on a LAN by dividing it into two segments. HUB • HUB - is a device for connecting multiple twisted pair or fiber optic Ethernet devices together and thus making them act as a single network segment. Routers • Routers are small physical devices that join multiple networks together. Switch • A network switch is a small hardware device that joins multiple computers together within one local area network (LAN). Modem Definition : a combined device for modulation and demodulation, for example, between the digital data of a computer and the analogue signal of a telephone line. Week 8 End