CPIS 371
Computer Network
Chapter -III
Networking Components
1
A network is a collection of computers, servers, mainframes,
network devices, peripherals, or other devices connected to one
another allowing for data to be shared and used. A great example of
a network is the Internet, connecting millions of people all over the
world together.
Mainframe:
Referred to as a big computer, a mainframe is a large central
computer with more memory, storage space, and processing power
than a standard computer. They are typically utilized by
governmental and corporate organizations for added security as
well as processing large sums of data; such as consumer statistics,
census data or electronic transactions. Their reliability and high
stability allow these machines to run for a very long time, even
decades.
Outline
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals
(device )
Network Interface Card (NIC)
Sending and Controlling Data
3
Peripherals:
A peripheral is any accessory or add-on that can be attached to your
computer, but is not required. For example, a computer printer is a
perfect example of a peripheral. See the peripheral definition for a
full list of peripherals that can be attached to your computer.
Consumables:
Consumables are goods used by individuals and businesses that must
be replaced regularly because they wear out or are used up.
screen wipes,
ink cartridges or refill kits,
speakers and headsets,
mouse pad, floppy diskettes and cd/dvd discs,
printer paper and labels, software cds,
Hardware, Software and Networks
Peripherals (device)
Network Interface Card (NIC)
Repeater
Hub
Bridge
Routers
Switch
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Network Interface Card (NIC): A network interface card (NIC) is a circuit board
or card that is installed in a computer so that it can be connected to a network. A network
interface card provides the computer with a dedicated, full-time connection to a network.
Personal computers and workstations on a local area network (LAN) typically contain a
network interface card specifically designed for the LAN transmission technology
NIC provides the physical interface between computer and cabling.
It prepares data, sends data, and controls the flow of data. It can also receive and translate
data into bytes for the CPU to understand.
The following factors should be taken into consideration when choosing a NIC:
1. - Preparing data
2. - Sending and controlling data
3. - Configuration
4. - Drivers
5. - Compatibility
6. - Performance
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Preparing Data
In the computer, data moves along buses in parallel, as on a four-
lane interstate highway. But on a network cable, data travels in a
single stream, as on a one lane highway. This difference can cause
problems transmitting and receiving data, because the paths
traveled are not the same.
It is the NIC’s job to translate the data from the computer into
signals that can flow easily along the cable.
It does this by translating digital signals into electrical signals (and
in the case of fiber-optic NICs, to optical signals).
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Sending and Controlling Data
For two computers to send and receive data, the cards must agree on several
things. These include the following:
- The maximum size of the data frames
- The amount of data sent before giving
confirmation
- The time needed between transmissions
- The amount of time needed to wait before sending
confirmation
- The amount of data a card can hold
- The speed at which data transmits
In order to successfully send data on the network, you need to make sure the
network cards are of the same type and they are connected to the same piece of
cable.
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals
(cont.) Configuration
The NIC’s configuration includes things like a
manufacturer’s hardware address, IRQ address, Base I/O
port address, and base memory address. Some may also
use DMA channels to offer better performance.
Each card must have a unique hardware address. If two
cards have the same hardware addresses, neither one of
them will be able to communicate.
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Drivers
For the computer to use the network interface card, it is very
important to install the proper device drivers.
These drivers communicate directly with the network
redirector and adapter. They operate in the Media Access
Control sublayer of the Data Link layer of the OSI model.
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Compatibility
When choosing a NIC, use one that fits the bus type of your
PC. If you have more than one type of bus in your PC (for
example, a combination ISA/PCI), use an NIC that fits into
the fastest type (the PCI, in this case).
This is especially important in servers, as the NIC can very
quickly become a bottleneck if this guideline isn’t followed.
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Performance
The most important goal of the network adapter card is to
optimize network performance and minimize the amount of
time needed to transfer data packets across the network.
There are several ways of doing this, including assigning a
DMA channel (DMA channels are used by high speed
devices and they allow them to communicate directly with
the main memory (RAM) on our system), use of a shared
memory adapter, and deciding to allow bus mastering.
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Repeaters
A network device used to regenerate or replicate a signal.
Repeaters are used in transmission systems to regenerate analog or digital
signals distorted/unclear by transmission loss. Analog repeaters frequently
can only amplify/ increase the signal while digital repeaters can reconstruct
a signal to near its original quality.
Repeaters are very simple devices. They allow a cabling system to extend beyond
its maximum allowed length by amplifying the network voltages so they travel
farther.
Repeaters are nothing more than amplifiers and, as such, are very inexpensive.
Repeaters can only be used to regenerate signals between similar network
segments.
The main disadvantage to repeaters is that they just amplify signals. These signals
not only include the network signals, but any noise on the wire as well.
Eventually, if you use enough repeaters, you could possibly drown out the signal
with the amplified noise. For this reason, repeaters are used only as a temporary
fix.
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Repeaters
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Hubs
Hubs are devices used to link several computers together.
They repeat any signal that comes in on one port and copy it to
the other ports (a process that is also called broadcasting).
There are two types of hubs: active and passive.
Passive hubs simply connect all ports together electrically and are
usually not powered.
Active hubs use electronics to amplify and clean up the signal
before it is broadcast to the other ports.
In the category of active hubs, there is also a class called
“intelligent” hubs, which are hubs that can be remotely
managed on the network.
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Hubs
A bridge is a computer networking device that
builds the connection with the other bridge
networks which use the same protocol. It works
at the Data Link layer of the OSI Model and
connects the different networks together and
develops communication between them. It
connects two local-area networks; two physical
LANs into larger logical LAN or two segments of
the same LAN that use the same protocol.
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Bridges
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Routers
Routers are highly intelligent devices that connect multiple network
types and determine the best path for sending data.
The advantage of using a router over a bridge is that routers can
determine the best path that data can take to get to its destination.
Like bridges, they can segment large networks and can filter out noise.
However, they are slower than bridges because they are more intelligent
devices; as such, they analyze every packet, causing packet-forwarding
delays. Because of this intelligence, they are also more expensive.
Routers are normally used to connect one LAN to another.
Typically, when a WAN is set up, there will be at least two routers used.
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Routers
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Switch
A network switch is a computer networking device that connects network
segments.
Low-end network switches appear nearly identical to network hubs, but a switch
contains more "intelligence" (and a slightly higher price tag) than a network hub.
Network switches are capable of inspecting data packets as they are received,
determining the source and destination device of that packet, and forwarding it
appropriately.
By delivering each message only to the connected device it was intended for, a
network switch conserves network bandwidth and offers generally better
performance than a hub.
A vital difference between a hub and a switch is that all the nodes connected
to a hub share the bandwidth among themselves, while a device connected to a
switch port has the full bandwidth all to itself.
For example, if 10 nodes are communicating using a hub on a 10-Mbps network,
then each node may only get a portion of the 10 Mbps if other nodes on the hub
want to communicate as well. .
But with a switch, each node could possibly communicate at the full 10 Mbps.