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Chapter 8: Networks and
Communication
Dr. NAME
Computer Networks Components
Computer networks connect two or more computers. Some specialized network terms
include:
1. Node: any device connected to a network.
2. Client: node requesting resources.
3. Server: node providing resources.
4. Directory server: specialized node that manages resources.
5. Host: any computer system that provides access to its resources over a network.
6. Router: a node that forwards data packets from one network to another network.
7. Switch: node that coordinates direct flow of data between other nodes. Hub is an older
device that directed flow to all nodes.
8. NIC (network interface card): LAN adapter card for connecting to a network.
9. NOS (network operating system): controls and coordinates network operations.
10. Network administrator: network specialist responsible for network operations.
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Components
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Elements of a Network
• Communication systems transmit data from one location to another. There are four
basic elements:
1. Sending and receiving devices originate or accept messages.
2. Connection devices act as an interface between sending and receiving devices
and the communication channel.
3. Data transmission specifications are rules and procedures for sending and
receiving data.
4. Communication channel is the actual connecting or transmission medium for
messages.
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Communication Channels
• Communication channels carry data from one computer to another.
• Could be wired or wireless. Wireless channels include:
1. WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access)
2. Bluetooth transmits data over short distances
3. Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) uses high-frequency radio signals
4. Microwave line-of-sight communication
5. Cellular uses cell towers to send and receive data within relatively small
geographic regions or cells
6. Satellite uses microwave relay stations
7. Infrared uses light waves over a short distance.
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Physical Connections
• Physical connections use a solid medium to connect sending and receiving devices.
• These connections include twisted-pair, coaxial, and fiber-optic cables:
1. Fiber-optic cable transmits data as pulses of light through tiny tubes of glass.
2. Coaxial cable, a high-frequency transmission cable, replaces the multiple wires of
telephone lines with a single solid-copper core.
3. Twisted-pair cable consists of pairs of copper wire that are twisted together. Both
landline telephone lines and Ethernet cables use twisted pair.
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Types of Networks
• Local Area Networks (LANs): LANs are typically confined to a single building or a
campus. They provide high-speed connectivity for devices within a limited area.
• Wireless LANs (WLANs) use a wireless access point (base station) as a hub. Hotspots
provide Internet access in public places.
• Wide Area Networks (WANs): WANs cover larger geographic areas and connect
multiple LANs. They span states and countries or form worldwide networks.
• Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs): MANs cover cities or large campuses and are
larger than LANs but smaller than WANs.
• Personal Area Networks (PANs): PANs are short-range networks designed for
connecting personal devices like smartphones, laptops, and wearables.
• Campus Area Networks (CANs): CANs are networks that cover a specific campus or
university and often consist of interconnected LANs.
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Network Devices
1. Routers connect different networks and determine the best path for data to travel.
2. Switches connect devices within the same network. They are essential for LANs.
3. Hubs are older devices that simply broadcast data to all connected devices, lacking the
intelligence of switches.
4. Access Points (Aps) provide wireless connectivity in Wi-Fi networks, allowing devices to
connect wirelessly to a wired network.
5. Modems modulate and demodulate digital data to transmit it over analog communication
channels, such as telephone lines or cable connections. There are three commonly used types of
modem:
• A wireless modem is also known as a WWAN (wireless wide area network),
• DSL, and cable.
• Gateways connect different types of networks and translate between different network
protocols.
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Connection Services
• T1, T3 (DS3), and OC (optical carrier) lines provide support for very-high-speed,
all digital transmission for large corporations.
• Cellular service providers support voice and data transmission using cellular
networks. These mobile telecommunications networks have gone through different
generations:
1. 1G, using analog radio signals;
2. 2G, using digital radio signals;
3. 3G, beginning of cell phones;
4. 4G, using LTE (Long Term Evolution);
5. 5G, being developed.
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Network Protocols
• Communication rules for exchanging data between computers
• Internet standard: TCP/IP (Transmission control protocol/Internet protocol)
• Identification – unique IP address
• Packetization – information broken down into small parts (packets)
and then reassembled
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Network Protocols
• TCP/IP: The foundation of the internet, TCP/IP is a suite of protocols for data transmission and
network communication.
• HTTP: The Hypertext Transfer Protocol is used for web browsing and requesting web pages.
• FTP: File Transfer Protocol is used for transferring files over a network.
• SMTP: Simple Mail Transfer Protocol is used for sending email messages.
• DNS: The Domain Name System translates domain names into IP addresses.
• DHCP: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol automates the assignment of IP addresses to
devices on a network.
• SNMP: Simple Network Management Protocol is used for monitoring and managing network
devices.
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IP Addresses
• IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses
• IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses to accommodate the growing number of devices on the internet.
• Subnetting divides a larger IP network into smaller subnetworks for efficient IP address allocation.
• Private IP addresses are used within LANs
• public IP addresses are used for devices accessible from the internet.
• IP Classes (A, B, C, D, E) classify IP addresses based on their range and purpose.
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Network Architecture – Bus and Ring
• Bus network, devices link to a shared cable, forming a
backbone.
• Ring network interconnects devices in a circular manner
forming a ring
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Network Architecture - Star
• Star network involves devices directly connected to a central
switch, representing the most common type in modern networks
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Network Architecture - Tree
• Tree (hierarchical) network, a central node connects to
subordinate nodes, forming a tree-like structure.
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Network Architecture - Mesh
• Mesh networks, the latest, have each node linked to two or
more connecting nodes
• Hybrid topologies by combining various structures to fulfill
specific requirements, providing flexibility and customization.
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Network Strategies
• Client/server (hierarchical) network central computers coordinate and
supply services to other nodes; based on specialization of nodes; widely
used on the Internet
• Peer-to-peer network nodes have equal authority and act as both clients
and servers; widely used to share games, movies, and music over the
Internet
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Network Security
• Firewall
• Hardware and software controls access to network
• Proxy server provides pass-through access
• Protects against external threats
• Intrusion detection system (IDS)
• Works with firewall to protect organization's network
• Analyzes all incoming and outgoing network traffic
• Virtual private network (VPN)
• Creates a secure private network connection between your computer and the
organization
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