Notes prepared by Beatrice Kariuki

NETWORKING AND INTERNET:

TYPES OF COMPUTER NETWORKS

Network

A Network can be defined as a collection of independent entities that are arranged in such a manner as
to exchange data, information or resources.

Examples of networks:

 Road network: - this is the interconnection of roads in a country, continent or throughout the world.
Road networks facilitate the transfer of goods & services from one area to another.

 Telephone network (voice networks): - it includes the many lines that criss-cross a country, and
enables people to communicate.

 Railway network.
 Nervous system.

Computer Network

A computer network can be defined as a collection 2 or more computers connected together using
transmission media (e.g., telephone cables, or Satellites) for the purpose of communication and sharing
of resources.

Usually there can be from 2 to hundreds or even thousands of computers on the network. Apart from
computers, other devices such as Printers, plotters, fax machines, modems, etc can also be connected to
the network.

The term Transmission media refers to any physical or non-physical link between 2 or more
computers, and in which a signal can be made to flow from source to destination.

Network Server.

Computer networks usually have one computer reserved as the “Mother” of all the other computers on
the network.

A Server is a powerful computer that provides services (shared resources) to the other computers on the
network. It enables information, resources & network devices to be shared by users on a computer
network.

Network servers;

i). Have a higher hard disk & main memory (RAM) capacity than the other computers on the
network.
ii). Store & run a special program called the server software (network operating system), which
controls computers on the network.

Clients (workstations)

Clients (also referred to as Workstations) are Personal Computers (PCs) attached to the network, on
which the network users do their work. They are used by network users to send their requests to the
server.

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 Notes prepared by Beatrice Kariuki

Clients;

i). Are usually less powerful than the server, and use the resources provided by the Server.
ii). Have their own operating systems and files.
The PCs can be IBM or compatible running MS-DOS, OS/2, Windows, etc.

Computer networks are usually classified according to size. The three most common types of networks
are:

1. Local Area Network (LAN).

2. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN).
3. Wide Area Network (WAN).

Local Area Network (LAN).

This is a computer network that is formed whenever computers are connected together in a relatively
small geographical area, e.g., in one building or a school.

LAN is the smallest size of network & it normally covers an area within the radius of 10M – 3 Km.

LAN is usually owned by one organization. However, one LAN can be connected to other LANs over
any distance via data transmission lines or wireless media.

A LAN connects several Personal Computers to a Server computer. The server computer makes
available the resources requested by the other computers (workstations) on a network.

In most LANs, each workstation has its own CPU which it uses to execute programs, but still the
workstation user can also access data & devices anywhere on the network.

Advantages of LANs.

1). They enable many users to share expensive devices such as Laser printers, as well as data.
However, the no. of computers that can be connected & the distance to be covered is limited.

2). Have Low cost (requires less expensive equipment).

3). Enable users to communicate with each other, by sending messages or engaging in chat sessions.

4). LANs transmit data at very fast rates. They are much faster than data transmitted over telephone
lines.
5). Small error counts (low error rates).

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN).

A MAN is made up of many LANs connected together.

It covers a metropolitan (medium-sized geographical) area, e.g., a town or an entire city, within a radius
of 5 – 50 Km.

Characteristics of MAN

- Larger than LAN.

- Slower than LAN, but faster than WAN with data rates of 100MBps & above.

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- Are more expensive than LANs, since special equipment is needed to connect the different networks
together.
- Prone to few errors (moderate error rates).

Wide Area Network (WAN).

This is the largest size of network.

A WAN covers a large geographical area such as an entire country, a continent, or even the whole
world.

It consists of many LANs and MANs connected together to form one large network such as the
Internet.

Characteristics of WAN

 They cover an unlimited (a very large) geographical area, e.g., can cover the whole world.
 They are expensive to build since it requires special equipment for connection.
 Their transmission links are also expensive.
 Long distance transmission.
 Have low data transfer rates compared to LANs (i.e., they are slower than LANs & MANs)
 More prone to errors (very high possible error rates compared to LANs and MANs).

Differences between a Local Area Network and a Wide Area Network.

1. LAN is limited to a small geographical distance.

2. Data transmission speed in LANs is higher.
3. Cost of data transmission in LANs is small.
4. There are less transmission errors in LANs.

PURPOSE OF NETWORKING

Some of the reasons for setting up computer networks include:

1). Resource sharing

A Network resource refers to any component that can be attached to the network for access by
users.
Some of the shared resources include:

i). Application programs. vii). Network Printers

ii). Data and information. viii). Fax machines
iii). Messages. ix). Modems
iv). Graphics. x). Storage devices (optical drives).
v). Files. xi). Communication ports.
vi). Computer processing power. xii). Disk space

Users whose computers are connected to a network can, for example, share their files, exchange
mails, send faxes, schedule meetings, and print documents from any point on the network. This
centralized access to data & information leads to less waste of time, and hence greater productivity.

2). Remote communications

Remote communication refers to the transmission of data signals between two communication
devices located at different geographical locations.
E.g., using remote communication, one can work from home just as if he/she is in the office.
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 Notes prepared by Beatrice Kariuki

It is mainly through remote communications that people can be able to share ideas, and pass
messages over the Internet.

A computer that tries to access resources from another computer on the network is called a remote
client, while the computer being accessed is called a remote host.

Remote communication has been made possible by use of wireless transmission media such as
radio waves, microwave, and satellite.

3). Distributed processing facilities

Distributed processing refers to the act of running the same programs or databases on different
computers, which are on the same network but placed in separate locations.

Each computer has its own local peripherals, e.g., disks, printers, terminals, etc.
For example;

In a large organization, each branch office has its own server that stores data, information, and other
resources required for their daily operations.
This implies that, files reside on the user’s computer rather than on a central computer, and are only
transmitted periodically to update the central computer.

Advantages of distributed processing.

1. Failure of the central computer does not affect the operations of the other terminals.
2. Processing load is shared equally; hence, no time wastage.
3. There is faster access of data as each machine can process & store its data.
4. It doesn’t need powerful and expensive servers for data storage.
5. It can accommodate users with variety of needs.

Disadvantages of distributed processing.

1. It is more susceptible to virus, as any user could introduce an infected file and spread it
throughout the network.
2. Developing an effective back up plan is more difficult when users store data in their individual
systems.
3. File management (organization) is difficult as the files are stored in different locations.
4). Cost effectiveness

The initial cost of purchasing and laying down of networks components may be expensive.
However, the savings experienced and the value added to service delivery make networks cost
effective.

 Networks greatly increase the efficient use of scarce resources. E.g., a large organization with
many stand alone computers will need a printer for each computer. However, if the computers
are networked, only one printer is used.

 Computer networks have also enhanced daily communication, i.e., they have made the flow of
information from one place to another easy. Users can send mails (e.g., e-mails) to each other,
without having to bear the cost of stamp duty or delivery charges.
Similarly, company executives can hold electronic video conferences, thus reducing the
traveling costs.

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 Notes prepared by Beatrice Kariuki

5). Reliability

A computer network is reliable especially when communicating or accessing information:

i). Data can be transferred with minimum errors from source to destination.
ii). Incase one computer breaks down; the user can still access data & information from the other
computers using another computer on the network.

LIMITATIONS (DISADVANTAGES) OF NETWORKING

1). Security issues

Data & information held on a network is open to many people across the world, and can easily be
accessed illegally. In addition, when information is sent over the network from one place to
another, it can be tapped or listened to by unauthorized parties.

2). High initial cost

The initial cost of buying network hardware & software is very high.

3). Moral and cultural effects

Large networks such as the Internet have chat rooms and messaging services. These enable
underage children to meet peers and adults on the net, some of whom may have bad intentions.

Access to pornographic and other negative material on the Internet has made the fight against social
problems such as HIV/AIDS, bad sexual behaviour, and drug abuse more complicated.

4). Spread of terrorism and drug trafficking

The Internet makes it easy for terrorists and drug traffickers to operate. This is because; they use
information networks for their business communications.

5). Over-reliance on networks.

Most organizations have done away with manual operations. This means that, all business
processes, and the society depend on computer networks. Therefore, if by any chance the network
fails or goes down, then many systems in the society will stop working.

Network Topologies

The term network Topology refers to the way in which computers, cables, and other devices have been
arranged in the network.

It can also refer to how data is passed from one computer to another in the network.

Logical and physical topologies

Network topology can be viewed in 2 ways; Logical or Physical.

Logical (Signal) topology

Logical topology deals with the way data passes from one device to the next on the network.

Examples of logical topologies are:

(a). Ethernet.
(b).Token ring.

Ethernet topology

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 Notes prepared by Beatrice Kariuki
In Ethernet topology, all computers listen to the network media, and a particular computer can only
send data when none of the others is sending.
Token ring topology

In Token ring topology, a special package for data called a token goes around the network. The
computer whose address is on the data held in the token picks it up, reads the data, and then releases the
token. The token can then be captured by another computer which needs to transmit data.

Physical topology

Physical topology refers to the physical arrangement of components on the network.

Examples of physical topologies are:

(a). Star topology.

(b).Bus topology.
(c). Ring topology.
(d).Mesh topology.
(e). Tree (Hierarchical) topology.

The choice of the topology to adopt depends on factors such as Reliability, Expandability, and
Performance.

1. Star topology

Star topology consists of computers and other devices, each connected to a common central server
called the Hub. However, to connect to the central machine, each computer uses a separate cable.

Nodes communicate across the network by passing data signals through the hub, i.e., any two
computers (workstations) in the network communicate through the central machine.

When the hub receives data from a transmitting computer, it broadcasts the message to all the other
nodes on the network.

Advantages of Star topology.

1. Allows key networking resources such as concentrators & servers to be centralized.

2. Easy to configure.
3. Enhances operational survivability.

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 Notes prepared by Beatrice Kariuki

The hub isolates the network cables from each other. Even if a wire between a workstation and the
hub breaks or develops a bad connection, the rest of the network remains operational.

4. Simple to control.
5. It can be extended easily, since a workstation is simply connected to the hub.
6. Provides flexibility in adding or deleting devices.

The wiring hubs increase the flexibility for growth. Addition & removal of nodes does not involve
cutting and joining of cables.

7. Easier to troubleshoot.
When something goes wrong with the network, the administrator can troubleshoot it from the
wiring hub.
8. The Hub can support multiple types of cables.

Disadvantages of Star topology.

1. If the central switch node (Hub) fails, it may bring down the entire network.
2. It is costly because; each workstation is connected to the central concentrator by is own dedicated
cable (i.e., it requires a lot of cables).
3. Installation is time consuming, because each node forms a segment of its own.
4. May require a special device for signal regeneration across the network.

2. Bus topology (Daisy-chain topology)

In Bus topology, all the devices in the network are connected directly, through appropriate interfacing
hardware, to a single transmission cable called the Bus (or Backbone) on which information is
broadcast.

Bus topology uses Coaxial cable as transmission medium. The cable can carry only one message at a
time and each workstation on the network must be able to know when it can and cannot transmit using
this cable.

A Terminator is attached to each end of the cable to avoid signals from bouncing back and forth on the
cable causing signal distortion.

For communication to take place, data is addressed to a particular computer & put in the cable in the
form of electronic signal. As the data passes along the cable, each workstation checks whether the data
is addressed to it. If the address in the data matches that of the machine, it picks up the data and
processes it.

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 Notes prepared by Beatrice Kariuki

Bus topology doesn’t need any special equipment such as switches or repeaters to amplify the signal.

Advantages of Bus topology.

1. Easy to install.
2. Inexpensive (less costly) because; it does not require a complete cable length per computer.
3. Can easily be extended.
4. It allows the workstations to communicate independently (separately) of each other.
5. Failure of one station on the network does not affect the operations on the bus.

Disadvantages of Bus topology.

1. A cable break in each section brings down the whole network.

2. The performance degrades since there is no signal integration.
3. Troubleshooting the cable fault can be quite difficult because; the fault could be anywhere on the
cable.
4. Only a limited number of computers can be connected to the cable. This is because; each computer
is listening to the cable in order to transmit. This means that, if the number of computers increase,
there will be more collision as the workstations compete for transmission.

3. Ring topology

In a ring topology, the computers are connected to one another in the shape of a closed loop using a
single cable.

Data flows from one computer to another in one direction, and each computer actively participates in
data transfer from one station to the other. In other words, each workstation acts as a booster by
regenerating and retransmitting the signals around the network to its neighbour.

A token is used to exchange data from one station to another. A token can be viewed as an envelope or
a bag where data is placed for transmission and carried around the network.

Advantages of Ring topology.

1. They use a short length cable.
2. Simple to install.
3. Provides high performance for many users.
4. Provides an orderly network in which every device has access to the token and can transmit data.

Disadvantages of Ring topology.

1. Failure of one computer or the cable will affect the rest in the entire network.
2. Modification is difficult because; adding or removing a device can disrupt the entire network.
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 Notes prepared by Beatrice Kariuki
3. Troubleshooting can be difficult.
4. Mesh topology

Mesh topology uses separate cables to connect each device to every other device on the network
providing a straight communication path.

It is mostly used in Wide Area Networks where there are many paths between different locations.

Advantages of Mesh topology.

1. It is fast.
2. Failure on one node will not cause communication breakdown.
3. Easy to troubleshoot cable problems. If two machines are not communicating, the administrator
will only check the cable between them.
4. Enhances flexibility in communication.
5. Enhances fault tolerance provided by redundant/ excessive links.

Disadvantages of Mesh topology

1. Difficult and expensive to install and maintain.
2. Very costly as it requires large amounts of cables (or redundant links).
3. Difficult to add more nodes when the network is large.
4. Difficult to isolate faults due to lack of a central control point.

5. Tree (Hierarchical) topology

This is a hybrid topology where groups of star-configured networks are connected to a linear bus
(backbone).

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 Notes prepared by Beatrice Kariuki

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 Notes prepared by Beatrice Kariuki
INTERNET AND E-MAIL
DEFINATION:
The Internet is a worldwide network, connecting millions of computer users.
It is an interconnection of P C’s throughout the world, through ordinary telecommunication lines
and modems.
Internet is a system of computer devices (modes) which are connected by communication
circuits i.e. telephone lines and cables to permit files transactions of data processing needs of a
community or organization.
It is the interfacing of different independent networks into a single entity, hence the concept of
global village.
The other names for the Internet are:
 The Net
 The information Superhighway
 Cyberspace

INTRANET- network used within the organisation. An outsider isn’t allowed to access specific
information.
EXTRANET- network used within an organization but allows an outsider to access certain
organization’s information.

CLASSIFICATION OF NETWORKS
L.A.N (Local Area Network) formed whenever clients are connected within a small geographical
area i.e. within the same building or up to a radius 10m – 5km.
M.A.N. (Metropolitan area network) formed whenever clients are connected within a medium seized
area i.e. entire city within a radius of 10km.
W.A.N. (Wide Area Network) this cover huge areas covering different countries and continents.
The Internet falls under this category.

REQUIREMENTS OF INTERNET CONNECTION

Computer terminal i.e. a functional computer with a monitor, keyboard, mouse and a system unit
Telephone line; to allow flow of data (passes through telephone lines)
I.S.P. (Internet Service Provider) this provides the service over the Internet i.e. Africa online,
wananchi-online, access Kenya, Nairobi net, jambo net, safaricom, zain, orange etc.
Communication software; these are programmes that provide a simple and easy way of accessing
information anywhere in the world using the Internet i.e. Internet explorer, nets cape etc.
Username – Every time you get connected, you require a name to identify yourself in the Internet. This
is done when the user registers with the Internet service provider.
Password – This is needed for security purposes. You need to enter a user name and a password when
you want to access the Internet. This ensures that you are the only one who can access your Internet
account.
Modem – This is a device that is used to convert signals so that they can be transmitted through
telephone line.
Switch /hub- connect different client together .central connection point
Network cables- media of connection
Network card
Router- device that connect to an internet
Wireless device

INTERNET SOFTWARE
BROWSERS: These are programs that provide access to information anywhere in the world. They
translate the codes to display WebPages in browser windows. They help in:
 Loading and viewing web pages and documents
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 Notes prepared by Beatrice Kariuki
 Printing documents
 Keeping a list of useful documents
 Navigation through the web easily
 Giving access to use of e-mail
 Searching for websites
TYPE OF BROWSER
Line node browsers (LNB) this works when one is online e.g. www.
Netscape explorer this hosts the ones that work offline.
Examples of browsers: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Fire Fox, Opera Mail, Ms Outlook, Netscape
Explorer, Ovi Mail.

FACILITIES OFFERED BY THE INTERNET

Electronic mail(E-mail) – You can exchange electronic mail with people around the world, including
friends, customers and even people you meet on the Internet. Electronic mail is faster than ordinary
mail, easy to manage, inexpensive and saves paper.
Information – You can review newspapers, magazines, academic papers and much more governments,
colleges, universities, company and individuals all offer free information on the Internet.
Programs – Thousands of programs are available on the Internet. These programs include word
processors, spreadsheets, games and much more. You can look for the latest software over the Internet,
e.g. you can get the latest Anti-virus software available and in addition, retrieve a free trial issue,
Entertainment – The Internet also lets you review current movies and hear television theme songs.
Discussion Groups (Chat groups) – You can join discussion groups on the Internet to meet people
around the world with similar interests. There are many discussion groups on various topics.
Online Shopping – You can order goods and services on the Internet without leaving your desk. For
example you can view a catalogue of a certain clothes shop over the Internet and fill in an online order
form.

USERS OF INTERNET
 Students
 Businessmen
 Ordinary people
 Researchers
 Business and co-operate organisations
 Educationist-scholars, lecturers

DISADVANTAGES OF INTERNET
 It’s expensive to connect, maintain
 Source of virus
 Has negative moral behavior on the society
 Encourages laziness for students and workers
 Erodes creativity
 Needs literate individuals to use it

INTERNET ADDRESSES/ WEB ADDRESS/ URL-UNIFORM RESOURCE LOCATOR

In order to access Internet, one needs an address. They are contained in each packet to identify landing
zones and destination domain name service maps, each domain name to a corresponding address. An
Internet or Web address (sometimes called a URL, or Uniform Resource Locator) typically is
composed of four parts referred to as levels

A protocol name (a protocol is a set of rules and standards that enable computers to exchange
information)

The location of the site

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 Notes prepared by Beatrice Kariuki
The name of the organization that maintains the site

A suffix that identifies the kind of organization it is (such as .com for a commercial organization)

Structure of Domain name

(a) [Link]
5 4 3 2 1
The top level (1) refers to the country (ke)
The second level (2) refer to the type of organization (ac)
The third level (3) refer to the name of organization (com)
The forth level (4) refer to the service type (www)
The fifth level (5) refer to the protocol (http)

(b) [Link]
1 2 3 4
The last level (1) refer to the protocol
The second level (2) refer to the service type
The third level (3) refers to the name of organization
The forth level (4) refer to the type of organisation

Organisations type
.org- Non Organisations
.net – Network
.gov – Government
.ac – Academic
.mil – Military
.com – Commercial
.edu-education
.biz-business

FACTORS DETERMINING INTERNET SPEED

1. BAUDRATE
The speed at which modem can process data is measured in baud rates, which is approximately the
number of bits per second being the most commonly used. You can only turn your modem at the same
speed as the one at the other end and he faster your modem at the same speed as the one at the other
end and the faster our modem the less time you have to wait for your information to come down the
line and the lower telephone bills.
2. DATA COMPRESSION
This involves compression of larger files into small files. Small files even from longer as extra date
must be added to identify the type of compression.

SEARCH ENGINES
These are programs that help find information on the web. They catalogue information on the Internet
and give the user interface to enter search criteria. They have got the ability to classifying various
types of information i.e. through indexing. Search engines accomplish a task of cataloguing
information by using a program called we spinners within themselves that more across web servers
looking for new websites hence cataloguing information.
Examples: Google, Yahoo, Excite, [Link]. AltaVista, Lycos
WORLD WIDE WEB-WWW-W3
WWW is collection of hyperlinked web pages published on the internet. This collection of documents
is stored on HOST COMPUTERS; they include text, pictures, sounds, programs
CONVERSION TERMINOLOGIES ON THE WEB
 Teleconferencing – refers to holding meetings over the web in a remote sense. There are no
physical contacts with people who are holding the meeting.
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 Notes prepared by Beatrice Kariuki
 A web server – This is the computer that controls and contains information of other clients in a
network.
 Gopher – Is a program that helps in information retrieval over the net.
 Internet chat – Program for chatting, refers to an electronic chart of the Internet.
 Home page – A page that is displayed every time one opens a browser, The first page of a
website which contains hyperlinks
 Website – a collection of web pages (files and folders) stored in a web server link Web page –
An Internet document designed using hypertext.
 Web Browser – Programs assist in exploring the web program that provides a simple and easy
way or access any information worldwide.
 Hyperlinks – This allows interconnection between web pages.
 Bookmarks – refers to a list of interesting pages, sometimes referred to as favourite.
 Client- computer used to access websites
 Surfing/ browsing- accessing information on the internet

THE EXPLORERS SCREEN

This contains the tool bar button:-
Backward – Move back to the page s visited previous or click the arrow to drop down the list of visited
pages
Forward – forward again after you have been back.
Stops – stop downloading current pages
Refresh – reload page –use this if the page fails to load properly.
Home – go to home page
Search – run on line searching explorer bar.
Favourites – Opens favourites list in explorer bar.
History – stores all visited sites
Mail – run mail/news software to read mail or send message.
Print – print the current page
Edit – edit (make changes) to your document.

NB: The list records your visits (records pages visited recently) but keeps the list for a limited time, for
permanent links to a page add it to favorites.

COOKIES
Cookies are files created by a Web site that store information on your computer, such as your
preferences when visiting that site. Cookies may also store personally identifiable information, such as
your name or e-mail address.

CONTROL BARS
This is the main page displayed area. There are number of control bars almost all of which can be
turned on and off. They include,
The explore bar – it can be opened to display the history (page visited recently favourite or an
outline search)
The menu bar – it gives access to all commands but the most common used ones can be reached
through the toolbar.
Address bar – it shows the address of the page.
The radio bar – it let’s you link to an Internet radio, broadcast for music, news, sports etc.

SECURITY ZONES
Internet Explorer divides your Internet world into zones, so that you can assign a Web site to a zone
with a suitable security level.
There are four zones:
 Internet zone: By default, this zone contains anything that is not on your computer or an intranet, or
assigned to any other zone.
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 Notes prepared by Beatrice Kariuki
 Local intranet zone: This zone typically contains any addresses that don't require a proxy server, as
defined by the system administrator. These include sites specified on the Connections tab, network
paths (such as \\computername\foldername), and local intranet sites (typically addresses that don't
contain periods, such as [Link]
 Trusted sites zone: This zone contains sites you trust—sites that you believe you can download or run
files from without worrying about damage to your computer or data.
 Restricted sites zone: This zone contains sites you don't trust—sites that you're not sure whether you
can download or run files from without damage to your computer or data.

ELECTRONIC MAIL (E-MAIL)

This refers to a mean of communication between registered users on the Internet enabling sending
correspondences and documents between each other. E-mail communication has provided an easy and
inexpensive way of communication between people who may be miles away from each other.
To communicate using an e-mail the following components are needed:
 Computer
 E-Mail Program
 E-Mail Address
 An ISP Company

COMPONENTS OF AN E-MAIL
bilhamaingi@[Link]
bilhamaingi- user identifier on the internet (username)
@ - suffix
Yahoo- - organisation name (domain)
.com - organisation type (commercial)
ADVANTAGES OF E-MAIL
 Fast delivery of information i.e. within minutes.
 Very cheap to use i.e. charges are low.
 Incoming mail can be easily returned to the sender or forwarded to other people.
 Documents, pictures and other files can be attached to messages and easily detached and viewed
at the other end.
 Copies of the same document can be sent to various people at the same time easily

DISADVANTAGES OF E-MAIL
 Few people check e-mail messages regularly.
 The slightest error in the address is enough to prevent delivery and even when you go
everywhere right there is always a chance of failure in one of the links between you and the
reception.
 Source of virus spreading in to your computer.
 To have an e-mail, one must be computer literate.
WEB – MAIL
A Web-mail is much the same as E-mail but with one difference. Normal e-mail needs to be
online the entire time while you are sending and receiving e-mails while web-mail needs to be online
only while you are sending and receiving messages. They can be read or written, moved or deleted
offline.
But with e-mail, your messages are stored online and you must be online the whole time you are
dealing with your mail thus it is costly since you have to online.
The advantage of web-mail over e-mail is that you can handle your mail from anywhere as long as you
can get into the Internet somehow. This may be through a terminal in a library from a friend or
colleague desktop or through your temporary account at your work place.

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