AMERICAN INSTITUTE

COMPUTER DEPARTMENT
Chapter 6
Network Infrastructure Concepts
Contents:
In this module, we will cover the following topics:

• Wired Networks
• Network Hardware Devices
• Wireless Networks
• Internet Connection Types
• Network Configuration Concepts

Module Overview
In this lesson, you will learn about the technologies underpinning networking infrastructure, such
as network cables, wireless standards, switches, routers, and protocols. Having a basic background
in networking fundamentals is a vital prerequisite for providing IT support. In today's environment,
standalone computing is a rarity. Just about every digital device on the planet today is connected to
external resources via some kind of network, whether it is a small office/home office network, a
corporate Wide Area Network (WAN), or directly to the Internet itself.

The ability to connect, share, and communicate using a network is crucial for running a business
and staying connected to everything in the world, so as a CompTIA® A+® support technician, you
will need to understand the technologies that underlie both local and global network
communications to ensure that the organization you support stays connected

Network Types
A network is two or more computer systems linked together by some form of transmission medium that
enables them to share information. The network technology is what connects the computers, but the
purpose of the network is to provide services or resources to its users.

 Purpose: provide services and resources to users

 Historically: files, folders, printers, email, databases
 Modern: web applications, social networking, VoIP, multimedia conferencing
 Types: LANs, WANs, MANs

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Local Area Networks (LAN)
A LAN is a self-contained network that spans a small area, such as a single building, floor, or room. In a
LAN, all the nodes or hosts participating in the network are directly connected with cables or short- range
wireless media.

Wide Area Networks (WAN)

A Wide Area Network (WAN) spans multiple geographic locations. WANs typically connect multiple
LANs using long-range transmission media. WANs are usually thought of as relying on some
intermediate network, such as the Internet or phone system, to connect geographically diverse LANs. A
network where remote users "dial-in" is also a type of WAN.

Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN)

The term Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is sometimes used, though it doesn't really have a clear
definition other than an area equivalent to a city or other municipality. It could mean a company with
multiple connected networks within the same metropolitan area—so, larger than a LAN but smaller than a
WAN.
Ethernet Types and Standards

Most cabled LANs are based on the Ethernet networking product, developed by the DIX consortium
(Digital Equipment Corporation [DEC], Intel, and Xerox). Ethernet standards are now maintained by the
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Ethernet is technically known by the series of
standards produced by the IEEE 802.3 working group. Although the product name is not used in 802.3
standards documentation, it is otherwise universally referred to as Ethernet.

There are four broad "types" of Ethernets:

• 10 Mbps (10BASE-)—this is the original standard

• Fast Ethernet (100BASE-)—copper wire and fiber optic implementations of 100 Mbps
LANs.
• Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-)—1000 Mbps LANs. This has replaced Fast Ethernet as
the
• "standard" for a typical LAN.
• 10G Ethernet (10GBASE-)—10 Gbps links for LANs and WANs, mostly using fiber optic
media. 10G Ethernet is widely used in data centers.

The IEEE 802.11 series of standards (Wi-Fi) are used to implement Wireless Local Area
Networks (WLAN) so the technologies complement one another and are often used
together in the same network. Ethernet is a very flexible technology. It can support a
wide range of different types and sizes of LAN.

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Common Ethernet Network Implementations
Networks can range in size from just a few connected devices in a home environment, to thousands of
devices in a large worldwide enterprise.

These Internet appliances provide the following functions:

• Access point—allows clients with wireless radio adapters to connect to the network.
• Ethernet switch—connects wired client devices and printers with RJ-45 cables.
• Internet modem—interfaces with the physical link to the ISP's routers (DSL or cable, for
instance).
• Internet router—forwards communications to and from the Internet Service Provider (ISP)
routers to provide Internet access.

Twisted Pair Cabling and Connectors

Most cabled LANs use a type of copper wire called twisted pair as transmission
media.
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)
 Most widely used
 Four copper conductor pairs
 Paired wires carry equal/opposite signals
 PVC jacket
 Works well in low interference; has limited range

Category Frequency Capacity Max. Distance

5 100MHz 100MBps 100m
5e 100Mhz 1GBps 100m
6 250MHz 1GBps 100m
6 250MHz 10GBps 50m
6A 500MGz 10GBps 100m

Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)

 Originally used braided shield to reduce interference and crosstalk; can be bulky,
difficult to install.
 Modern STP uses screened cables; shield positioned around all pairs.
 Shielded Cat 53/6/6A:
 Modern STP solutions incorporate grounding in each element.

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Wiring Standards for Twisted Pair
Twisted pair cabling for Ethernet is terminated using modular RJ-45 connectors. RJ-45
connectors are also referred to as 8P8C, standing for 8-position/8-contact. Each
conductor in 4-pair Ethernet cable is color-coded. Each pair is assigned a color (Blue,
Orange, Green, or Brown). The first conductor in each pair has a predominantly white
insulator with stripes of the color; the second conductor has an insulator with the solid
color.

Patch Panels and Structured Cabling

 Gigabit Ethernet: no more than 100 m of cable between switch and computer
 Solid cabling:
• Single thick wire for permanent links, aka “drop cables”
• Links RJ-45 port on wall plate with patch panel
 Patch cord connects RJ-45 port on panel to port on switch
• Stranded cable; flexible, less efficient
• 5 m maximum length
 Second patch cord from computer to wall
 Structured cabling system

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Network cable Installation and testing tools
The range of tools you require will of course depend on the cabling
work you do, but the following can be considered typical.
• Wire stripper/cutter: for cutting wire and stripping insulation and cable jackets.
• Punch-down tool: fixes conductors into an IDC.
• Crimpers: fix a jack into a cable.
• Cable testing:
o Verify wiring installation and termination just after making connections, with access
to cable runs.
o Simpler than during user device setup.
o Consider:
• Patch cord between PC and wall.
• Wall port and wall cabling.
• Port on patch panel and patch cord to switch port.
o Test with a known good cable.
• Multimeter: basic cable testing tool; tests for copper wire continuity, existence of short,
integrity of terminator.
• Wire map tester: identifies transpositions and reverse pairs.
• Advanced testers: show cable’s physical/electrical properties.

Fiber Optic Cabling and Connectors

Copper wire carries electrical signals, which are subject to interference. Light signals are
not susceptible to interference, cannot easily be intercepted (eavesdropped), and suffer
less from attenuation. Consequently, fiber optic cabling can support much higher
bandwidth, measured in multiple gigabits or terabits per second, and longer cable runs,
measured in miles rather than feet.

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• Single-Mode Fiber (SMF)
o Small core, long wavelength, near-infrared signal generated by laser.
o Data rates up to 10 Gbps or more; cable runs of many kilometers (suitable for
WANs).
• Multi-Mode Fiber (MMF)
o Larger core, shorter wavelength.
o Less expensive optics, less expensive deployment.
o Lower signaling speeds, shorter distances (suitable for LANs).
• Connector types:
o Straight Tip (ST), Subscriber Connector (SC), Lucent/Local Connector (LC).
o Patch cords can have same or mixed connectors.
o Connectors damage easily; plug/unplug only when needed.

Network Interface Cards

• Network Interface Card (NIC) port provides connection to network media.
• Data signals must come in regular units with consistent format.
• May be PCIe expansion board.
• All onboard cards support copper-based Ethernet with RJ-45 ports.
• MAC address: unique address for each Ethernet adapter port.
• LED status lists show connection status:
o Link light shows if network signal present.
o Activity light flickers when packets received/sent.
o Dual-color LEDs combine functions.

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Legacy Networking Devices

In a structured cabling system, the computer is connected to a wall port and—via cabling
running through the walls—to some sort of patch panel. The port on the patch panel is then
connected to a port on the switch. The switch is the network appliance that "ties" the whole local
network together.
However, while switches are the appliances at the core of most modern Ethernet networks, you
should also be aware of the basic function of legacy appliances, such as hubs and bridges.
• Switch is appliance at core of modern networks.
• Legacy appliances include:
o Hub: center of Ethernet star topology, works as multiport repeater.
o Repeater: retransmits signal to overcome distance limitations.
o Bridge: divides network into segments (collision domains) to reduce collision.

Managed and Unmanaged Switches

• Unmanaged switch:
o Performs micro segmentation without configuration.
o May be found in small networks (4 or 8 port switches).
o Embedded in most ISP’s Internet routers/modems.
• Managed switch:
o For larger workgroups and corporate networks.
o Unmanaged out of the box, but can be configured administratively.
o Can provide thousands of access ports by linking switches.
o Can divide into virtual LANs (VLANs).

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Power Over Ethernet (PoE)
• Supplies power from a switch port over Cat 5 or better to a powered device.
• Two IEEE standards (both now in 802.3-2012):
o 802.3af
o 802.3at (PoE+)
• Switch detects if connected device is PoE-enabled.
• More efficient than powering each device through a wall socket.
• Network-management software can control devices, apply power schemes.

What is Wireless Networking?

"Wireless" encompasses a whole range of connectivity products and technologies, from personal area
networking to Internet connectivity. Most wireless technologies use radio waves as transmission
media. Radio systems use transmission and reception antennas tuned to a specific frequency for the
transfer of signals.

Internet Service Providers

Home and business networks use ISP to connect to Internet.
Network connects to ISP’s Point of Presence (PoP).
Dial-up, broadband (DSL, FTTx, cable), wireless connections.
• ISP allocates IP addresses, registers domain names, hosts email and websites.
• Enterprise ISPs offer high bandwidth through fiber optic cable.

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Broadband Internet Access

Broadband covers a range of different connection technologies. The main characteristics are that
they are "always-on" (that is, the connection does not need to be re-established for each session) and
data transfer rates are (a lot) higher than analog dial-up.

DSL
• DSL uses high frequencies in digital phone line for
communications.
• Filter separates DSL signals from voice traffic.
• Advanced modulation and echo cancelling enable
high-bandwidth, full-duplex.
• DSL “modem” connects to phone system (usually
router/modem).
• Phone line connects to DSL modem bank (DSLAM).

Cellular Radio Networks

• High bit rate at expense of range
• Symmetric and asymmetric modes
• Asymmetric: 52 Mpbs downstream/6 Mpbs upstream over
300 m
• Symmetric: 26 Mbps in both directions
• SL2: 100 Mpbs bi-directional rate for very short range
Cellular radio wireless networking allows long-distance communications over
smartphone devices.
• Also used by IoT devices.
• Connects to nearest transmitter; base station range of up to 5 miles.
• Transmitter connects phone to mobile/landline networks.
• 850 / 1900 MHz bands (Americas); 900 / 1800 MHz bands (rest of world).
Generation Description

• GSM phones using a SIM card;

international
• Data access built on top of existing voice
network using CSD
2G • Must establish data connection to base
station, incurring charges; maximum
~14.4 Kpbs

• Deployed packet-switched technology to

3G mobiles
• GPRS/EDGE; HSPA+;
CDMA2000/Evolution Data Optimized
(EV-DO)

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LTE: converged 4G standard supported by
all network providers, requires a SIM.
4G Maximum 150 Mbps down; 20 Mpbs real-
world
• LTE-A: Intended to provide 300 Mbps
down; 40 Mbps current real-world

•Target is for 1 Gbps if stationary or slow-

moving; 100 Mbps if fast-moving
5G • Available in trial areas; commercially in
~2020
• 70 Gpbs in test conditions

Routers
Switches use MAC addresses; routers use logical network
and host IDs.
• Many different types and uses; two general tasks:
o LAN router: divides a physical network into
logical networks.
o WAN (edge/border) router: joins separate
networks (i.e.; LAN to Internet).
• Route/path to destination is selected either
dynamically or statically; packet moves by hops
along path to target.
• At target, hardware address determines destination
node.
• Routers and modems both connect to the Internet:
o Modem makes a physical link (like a switch).
o Router makes logical forwarding decisions.
o Often bundled in one device.

Switched enterprise networks can have thousands of ports; inefficient to treat as one logical
network.
o Use VLANs on managed switches to group ports into logical subnets.
o VLANs communicate through routers.
o Also provides filtering and monitoring to improve security.

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The TCP/IP Protocol Suite
Protocol: Rules and formats enabling systems to exchange data.
Protocol Suite: A collection of several protocols used for networking are designed to work together.
• Networks have converged on use of TCP/IP protocol suite
• Originally developed by US DoD; now an open standard
• Routers select the path for packets
• Main protocols handle addressing and transport
• Divided into four-layer model

LAYER DESCRIPTION
• Puts frames on physical network
LINK/NETWORK • Communications on local network
INTERFACE • Data packaged in frames
LAYER • Nodes identified by MAC address

NETWORK • IP provides packet addressing and routing

LAYER (IP • Best-effort delivery; unreliable, connectionless
PROTOCOL)

TRANSPORT • TCP guarantees orderly packet transmission

LAYER • UDP provides non-guaranteed packet transfer, but is
(TCP/UDP faster
PROTOCOLS)

• Numerous protocols for network configuration,

management, services; use TCP/UDP
APPLICATION ports
LAYER • ARP: Finds MAC address associated with IP address
• ICMP: delivers status and error messages (used by
ping and tracer)

IP Address

The IP address is a 32-bit value that uniquely identifies the system on the network
(or the Internet). An IP address looks similar in appearance to [Link].

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There are four decimal values in an IP address separated by periods (.). Each decimal value is made up
of 8 bits (1s and 0s), and there are four decimal values, so 8 bits times 4 equals the 32-bit address.

Since each of the decimal values is made up of 8 bits (for example, the 192), we refer to each of the
decimal values as an octet. There are four octets in an IP address. It is very important to understand
that the four octets in an IP address are divided into two parts—a network ID and a host ID. The
subnet mask determines the number of bits that make up the network ID and the number of bits that
make up the host ID.

The following are the three default subnet masks for class:

• Class A: 0 >127 subnet> [Link]

• Class B: 129 > 191 subnet> [Link]
• Class C: 192 > 223 subnet> [Link]

All Rights Reserved

©Abdirahman Saleban
American Institute
……………………………..

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