Introduction to

Networks

Dr. Ghada Afify

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Network Architectures

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

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1.1 Networks Affect Our
Lives

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Networking Today
Networks Connect Us

§ Communication is almost as important to us as our reliance on air,

water, food, and shelter.

§ In today’s world, through the use of networks, we are connected like

never before.

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Networking Today
No Boundaries
• World without boundaries
• Global communities
• Human network

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1.2 Network Components

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Network Components
Host Roles
§ Every computer on a network
is called a host or end device.
§ Servers are computers that
provide information to end
devices:
• email servers
Server Description
• web servers Type
• file server Email Email server runs email server software.
Clients use client software to access email.
§ Clients are computers that
send requests to the servers Web Web server runs web server software.
to retrieve information: Clients use browser software to access web
pages.
• web page from a web
File File server stores corporate and user files.
server
The client devices access these files.
• email from an email server

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Network Components
Peer-to-Peer
• A peer-to-peer (P2P) network is group of computers, each of which acts as a
node for sharing files within the group. Instead of having a central server to
act as a shared drive, each computer acts as the server for the files stored
upon it.

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Network Components
Peer-to-Peer

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Network Components
Network Infrastructure
The network infrastructure contains three categories of network
components:
Ø Devices
Ø Media
Ø Services

§ Devices and media are the physical elements, or hardware, of the

network.

§ Services include many of the common network applications people

use every day.

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Network Components
End Devices
An end device is where a message originates from or where it is received. Data
originates with an end device, flows through the network, and arrives at an end
device.

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Network Components
End Devices
Some examples of end devices are:

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Network Components
Intermediary Network Devices
An intermediary device interconnects end devices.
Management of data as it flows through a network is also the role of
an intermediary device, including:
• Regenerate and retransmit data signals.
• Maintain information about what pathways exist in the
network.
• Notify other devices of errors and communication failures.

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Network Components
Intermediary Network Devices
Examples of intermediary network devices are:
Ø Network Access Devices (switches, and wireless access points)
Ø Internetworking Devices (routers)
Ø Security Devices (firewalls)

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Network Components
Network Media
Communication across a network is carried through a medium which allows a
message to travel from source to destination.

Media Types Description

Metal wires within cables Uses electrical impulses

Glass or plastic fibers Uses pulses of light.

within cables (fiber-optic
cable)

Wireless transmission Uses modulation of

specific frequencies of
electromagnetic waves.

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1.3 Network Topologies

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Network Topologies
Network Diagrams
§ Network diagrams, often called topology diagrams, use symbols
to represent devices within the network.

§ Important terms to know include:

• Network Interface Card (NIC): Each computer in a network
requires a NIC. It NIC allows the stations on the network to
communicate with each other.
• Physical Port
• Interface

• Note: Often, the terms port and interface are used

interchangeably

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Network Topologies
Topology Diagrams
Physical topology diagrams illustrate Logical topology diagrams illustrate
the physical location of intermediary devices, ports, and the addressing
devices, configured ports, and cable scheme of the network.
installation.

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1.4 Common Types of Networks

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Common Types of Networks
Networks of Many Sizes
• Small Home Networks – connect a few
computers to each other and the
Internet
• Small Office/Home Office – enables
computer within a home or remote
office to connect to a corporate
Small Home SOHO network
• Medium to Large Networks – many
locations with hundreds or thousands
of interconnected computers
• World Wide Networks – connects
hundreds of millions of computers
Medium/Large World Wide world-wide – such as the internet

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Common Types of Networks
LANs and WANs
Network infrastructures vary greatly
in terms of:
• Size of the area covered
• Number of users connected
• Number and types of services
available
• Area of responsibility

Two most common types of

networks:
• Local Area Network (LAN)
• Wide Area Network (WAN).

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Common Types of Networks
LANs and WANs (cont.)
A LAN is a network infrastructure that A WAN is a network infrastructure that
spans a small geographical area. spans a wide geographical area.

LAN WAN
Interconnect end devices in a limited area. Interconnect LANs over wide geographical
areas.
Administered by a single organization or Typically administered by one or more service
individual. providers.
Provide high-speed bandwidth to internal Typically provide slower speed links between
devices. LANs.
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Common Types of Networks

Other Types of Networks

Other types of networks include:
• Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) - A network infrastructure that
spans a physical area larger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN (e.g.,
a city). MANs are typically operated by a single entity such as a large
organization.

• Wireless LAN (WLAN) - Similar to a LAN but wirelessly interconnects

users and end points in a small geographical area.

• Storage Area Network (SAN) - A network infrastructure designed to

support file servers and provide data storage, retrieval, and replication

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Common Types of Networks
The Internet
§ The internet is a worldwide collection
of interconnected LANs and WANs.
• LANs are connected to each other
using WANs.
• WANs may use copper wires, fiber
optic cables, and wireless
transmissions.
§ The internet is not owned by any
individual or group.

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Common Types of Networks
Intranets and Extranets

§ An intranet is a private collection

of LANs and WANs internal to an
organization that is meant to be
accessible only to the
organizations members or others
with authorization.
§ An organization might use an
extranet to provide secure
access to their network for
individuals who work for a
different organization that need
access to their data on their
network.

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1.5 Internet Connections

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Internet Connections
Internet Access Technologies

Many activities involve “Seeking Information”

1-27
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Internet Connections
Internet Access Technologies
There are many ways to connect
users and organizations to the
internet:
• Popular services for home
users and small offices
include broadband cable,
broadband digital subscriber
line (DSL), wireless WANs, and
mobile services.
• Organizations need faster
connections to support IP
phones, video conferencing and
data center storage.
• Business-class
interconnections are usually
provided by service providers
(SP) and may include: business
DSL, leased lines, and Metro
Ethernet.

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Internet Connections
Internet Access Technologies

§ Internet service providers (ISPs) A company that

provides a home or business access to the internet.

§ It maintains the hardware and software required for

those connections.

§ It protects their sites and networks from outside

threats.

1-29
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Internet Connections
Home and Small Office Internet Connections
Connecti Description
on
Cable high bandwidth, always on,
internet offered by cable
television service providers.
DSL high bandwidth, always on,
internet connection that runs
over a telephone line.
Cellular uses a cell phone network to
connect to the internet.
Satellite major benefit to rural areas
without Internet Service
Providers.
Dial-up an inexpensive, low bandwidth
telephone option using a modem.

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Internet Connections
Businesses Internet Connections
Corporate business connections may
require: Type of Description
Connecti
• higher bandwidth
on
• dedicated connections
Dedicated These are reserved circuits
• managed services Leased within the service provider’s
Line network that connect distant
offices with private voice and/or
data networking.
Ethernet This extends LAN access
WAN technology into the WAN.

DSL Business DSL is available in

various formats including
Symmetric Digital Subscriber
Lines (SDSL).
Satellite This can provide a connection
when a wired solution is not
available.

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Internet Connections
The Converging Network

§ Before converged networks, an

organization would have been
separately cabled for telephone,
video, and data.
§ Each of these networks would use
different technologies to carry the
signal.
§ Each of these technologies would
use a different set of rules and
standards.

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Internet Connections
The Converging Network (Cont.)
§ Converged data networks carry
multiple services on one link
including:
• data
• voice
• video
§ Converged networks can deliver
data, voice, and video over the
same network infrastructure.
§ The network infrastructure uses
the same set of rules and
standards.

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Internet Connections
The Converging Network (Cont.)

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1.6 Reliable Networks

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Reliable Network
Network Architecture
§ Network Architecture refers to the
technologies that support the
infrastructure that moves data across
the network.
§ There are four basic characteristics
that the underlying architectures
need to address to meet user
expectations:
• Fault Tolerance
• Scalability
• Quality of Service (QoS)
• Security

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Reliable Network
Fault Tolerance
§ A fault tolerant network limits the
impact of a failure by limiting the
number of affected devices. Multiple
paths are required for fault
tolerance.
§ Reliable networks provide
redundancy by implementing a
packet switched network:
• Packet switching splits traffic into
packets that are routed over a
network.
• Each packet could theoretically
take a different path to the
destination.

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Reliable Network
Scalability
§ A scalable network can
expand quickly and easily to
support new users and
applications without impacting
the performance of services to
existing users.

§ Network designers follow

accepted standards and
protocols in order to make the
networks scalable.

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Reliable Network
Quality of Service
§ Voice and live video
transmissions require higher
expectations for those services
being delivered.
§ Have you ever watched a live
video with constant breaks and
pauses? This is caused when
there is a higher demand for
bandwidth than available – and
QoS isn’t configured.
• Quality of Service (QoS) is the
primary mechanism used to
ensure reliable delivery of
content for all users.
• With a QoS policy in place, the
router can more easily manage
the flow of data and voice traffic.

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Reliable Network
Network Security § There are two main types of network
security that must be addressed:
• Network infrastructure security
• Physical security of network devices
• Preventing unauthorized access to the
devices
• Information Security
• Protection of the information or data
transmitted over the network
§ Three goals of network security:
• Confidentiality – only intended
recipients can read the data
• Integrity – assurance that the data
has not be altered with during
transmission
• Availability – assurance of timely and
reliable access to data for authorized
users

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1.7 Network Trends

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Network Trends
Recent Trends
§ The role of the network must adjust
and continually transform in order
to be able to keep up with new
technologies and end user devices
as they constantly come to the
market.

§ Several new networking trends that

effect organizations and
consumers:
• Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
• Online collaboration
• Video communications
• Cloud computing

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Network Trends
§ Bring Your Own Device
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) allows users to use
their own devices giving them
more opportunities and greater
flexibility.
§ BYOD allows end users to
have the freedom to use
personal tools to access
information and communicate
using their:
• Laptops
• Netbooks
• Tablets
• Smartphones
• E-readers
§ BYOD means any device, with
any ownership, used
anywhere.

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Network Trends
Online Collaboration § Collaborate and work with others
over the network on joint
projects.
§ Collaboration tools including
Cisco WebEx (shown in the
figure) gives users a way to
instantly connect and interact.
§ Collaboration is a very high
priority for businesses and in
education.
§ Cisco Webex Teams is a
multifunctional collaboration tool.
• send instant messages
• post images
• post videos and links

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Network Trends
Video Communication
• Video conferencing is a powerful tool
for communicating with others.
• CISCO TelePresence powers is one
way of working everywhere.

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Network Trends
Cloud Computing

§ Cloud computing allows us to store personal

files or backup our data on servers over the
internet.
• Applications can also be accessed using
the Cloud.
• Allows businesses to deliver to any
device anywhere in the world.
§ Cloud computing is made possible by data
centers.
• Smaller companies that can’t afford their
own data centers, lease server and
storage services from larger data center
organizations in the Cloud.

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Network Trends
Cloud Computing (Cont.)

Four types of Clouds:

1. Public Clouds
• Available to the general public through a pay-per-use model or for free.
2. Private Clouds
• Intended for a specific organization or entity such as the government.
3. Hybrid Clouds
• Made up of two or more Cloud types – for example, part custom and part
public.
• Each part remains a distinctive object but both are connected using the
same architecture.
4. Custom Clouds
• Built to meet the needs of a specific industry, such as healthcare or media.
• Can be private or public.

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Network Trends
Technology Trends in the Home
• Smart home technology is a
growing trend that allows
technology to be integrated into
every-day appliances which allows
them to interconnect with other
devices.

• Ovens might know what time to

cook a meal for you by
communicating with your calendar
on what time you are scheduled to
be home.

• Smart home technology is currently

being developed for all rooms
within a house.

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Network Trends
Powerline Networking
• Powerline networking can allow
devices to connect to a LAN where
data network cables or wireless
communications are not a viable
option.
• Using a standard powerline
adapter, devices can connect to the
LAN wherever there is an electrical
outlet by sending data on certain
frequencies.
• Powerline networking is especially
useful when wireless access points
cannot reach all the devices in the
home.

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1.8 Network Security

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Network Security
Security Threats • Network security is an integral part
of networking regardless of the size
of the network.
• The network security that is
implemented must take into account
the environment while securing the
data, but still allowing for quality of
service that is expected of the
network.
• Securing a network involves many
protocols, technologies, devices,
tools, and techniques in order to
secure data and mitigate threats.
• Threat vectors might be external or
internal.

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Network Security
Security Threats (Cont.) • External Threats:
• Viruses, worms, and Trojan
horses
• Spyware and adware
• Zero-day attacks
• Denial of service attacks
• Data interception and theft
• Identity theft

• Internal Threats:
• lost or stolen devices
• accidental misuse by employees
• malicious employees

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Network Security
Security Threats (Cont.)
§ Viruses, worms, and Trojan horses - malicious software and arbitrary code
running on a user device

§ Spyware and adware - software installed on a user device that secretly

collects information about the user

§ Zero-day attacks, also called zero-hour attacks - an attack that occurs on the
first day that a vulnerability becomes known

§ Denial of service attacks - attacks designed to slow or crash applications and

processes on a network device

§ Data interception and theft - an attack to capture private information from an

organization’s network

§ Identity theft - an attack to steal the login credentials of a user in order to

access private data
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Network Security
Security Solutions

§ Security must be implemented in

multiple layers using more than
one security solution.
§ Network security components for
home or small office network:
• Antivirus and antispyware
software should be installed
on end devices.
• Firewall filtering used to block
unauthorized access to the
network.

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Network Security
Security Solutions (Cont.)
• Larger networks have additional
security requirements:
• Dedicated firewall system
• Access control lists (ACL)
• Intrusion prevention
systems (IPS)
• Virtual private networks
(VPN)

• The study of network security starts

with a clear understanding of the
underlying switching and routing
infrastructure.

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Network Security
Security Solutions (Cont.)

§ Dedicated firewall systems - to provide more advanced firewall capability

§ Access control lists (ACL) - to further filter access and traffic forwarding

• Intrusion prevention systems (IPS) - to identify fast-spreading threats, such

as zero-day attacks

§ Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) - to provide secure access to remote

workers

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