Unit 1—Computer Basics
Lesson 7
Networks
Objectives
Describe the benefits and disadvantages of
networks.
List and describe the types of networks.
List and describe communications hardware.
List and describe communications media.
Describe the different network topologies.
Describe network architecture and protocols.
Computer Concepts BASICS - 2
Introducing Networks
A network is a group of two or more computers linked
together.
Most networks have a server that manages
the network resources.
Most networks have multiple clients, which
are computers that access the server.
Computer Concepts BASICS - 3
Introducing Networks (cont.)
A network confined to a limited geographical
area is called a local area network (LAN).
A network spread over a wide area is called a
wide area network (WAN).
The transmission of data from one location to
another is called data communications.
Computer Concepts BASICS - 4
Network Building Blocks
Sending data from one computer to
another requires a channel, the link
through which the message is sent.
A phone line or cable is a channel.
A device on each end of the channel
converts the computer signal to a signal
type that the channel can send/receive.
Computer Concepts BASICS - 5
Network Building Blocks (cont.)
Sending a message through the channel
requires a transmission media, which can
be physical or wireless.
Computer Concepts BASICS - 6
Network Building Blocks (cont.)
This figure shows the
main components
required for data
communications: a
sending device, a
receiving device, a
communication path
or channel, a device to
convert the signal so
that the channel can
carry it, and the soft-
ware to send and
receive messages.
Computer Concepts BASICS - 7
Network Benefits
Networks provide almost instant
communication with other users on the
network.
Users can share information.
Users can share hardware.
Users can share software.
Users can work on group projects.
Computer Concepts BASICS - 8
Network Disadvantages
Data security and unauthorized access are
disadvantages of a network.
Other disadvantages are
Maliciouscode
Network faults
Setup and management costs
Computer Concepts BASICS - 9
Types of Networks
Two of the more common types of
networks
Localarea networks (LANs)
Wide area networks (WANs)
Computer Concepts BASICS - 10
Local Area Networks
Localarea networks usually are
confined to a limited area.
The two most popular LANs are
Client/server
Peer-to-peer
Computer Concepts BASICS - 11
Computer Concepts BASICS - 12
Client/Server vs. Peer-to-Peer
Computer Concepts BASICS - 13
Wide Area Networks
Wide area networks are spread across a
city, a state, the country, or the world.
Most WANs consist of two or more LANs
connected by routers.
Some WANs may be configured as intranets
or extranets.
Computer Concepts BASICS - 14
Other Types of Networks
Metropolitanarea network (MAN)
Neighborhood area network (NAN)
Personal area network (PAN)
Home area network (HAN)
Campus area network (CAN)
Computer Concepts BASICS - 15
Computer Concepts BASICS - 16
Network Hardware
Most networks consist of a server and
multiple client computers.
They also include two other categories of
hardware: communications hardware and
network transmission hardware.
Computer Concepts BASICS - 17
Network Hardware (cont.)
Communications hardware
These devices facilitate the transmitting and
receiving of data.
Network transmission hardware
These devices connect the cabling and
amplify.
Computer Concepts BASICS - 18
Communications Hardware
Modems: Convert analog signals to
digital and vice versa
Dial-upmodems enable a computer to send
data over a standard phone line.
The
sending computer and the receiving
computer must both have modems.
Computer Concepts BASICS - 19
Communications Hardware (cont.)
Modems (cont.)
Cablemodems use coaxial cable to send
data over cable TV lines.
These have much faster transmission rates
than a standard telephone line modem.
DSL and ISDN modems use telephone lines.
Computer Concepts BASICS - 20
Communications Hardware (cont.)
Network interface cards (NICs)
All PCs in a LAN must have a NIC.
Gateway
Links networks using different protocols
Router
Connects multiple networks and determines
the fastest route for sending data over the
network
Computer Concepts BASICS - 21
Communications Hardware (cont.)
Wireless access point
Connects wireless communication devices
Hub
Receives and sends signals back out
Computer Concepts BASICS - 22
Communications Media
Physical media types
Twisted-pair cable
Coaxial cable
Fiber-optic cable
Wireless media types
Radio signals
Microwaves
Satellites
Computer Concepts BASICS - 23
Communications Media (cont.)
Twisted pair
Coaxial
Fiber-optic
Computer Concepts BASICS - 24
Wireless Media
Microwaves
Satellites
Computer Concepts BASICS - 25
Other Communications Media
IrDA
Infrared
transmission
Requires line of site
Bluetooth
Uses radio waves
Short distance transmission of about 30 feet
WI-FI
Wireless fidelity; wireless transmission
Computer Concepts BASICS - 26
Bluetooth Technology
Computer Concepts BASICS - 27
Network Topologies
A topology is the geometric arrangement
of the network.
The most common topologies are
Bus: All devices are connected to a master
cable.
Ring: Similar to a bus except that the
devices are connected in a circle
Star: All devices are connected to a central
hub or computer.
Computer Concepts BASICS - 28
Bus Topology
Computer Concepts BASICS - 29
Ring Topology
Computer Concepts BASICS - 30
Star Topology
Computer Concepts BASICS - 31
Communications Protocols
A protocol is a set of rules that allows
computers to exchange data.
The protocol determines
How a sending device indicates it has
finished sending
How a receiving device indicates the
message was received
The type of error-checking to use
Computer Concepts BASICS - 32
Communications Protocols (cont.)
The most common protocols are
Ethernet:Most common LAN protocol
Token ring: Also used on LANs
TCP/IP: Used on the Internet
Computer Concepts BASICS - 33
Network Operating Systems
Software
Networksrequire a network operating
system (NOS) and a desktop operating
system.
The clients run the desktop OS.
The NOS runs on the server and provides
Network administration tools
Print services
Client services
Security services
Computer Concepts BASICS - 34
Summary
Data communication is the transmission of
data from one location to another.
A network is a group of two or more
computers linked together.
The Internet is the biggest network of all.
Networks have advantages and
disadvantages.
Computer Concepts BASICS - 35
Summary (cont.)
A local area network generally is confined
to a limited geographical area.
A wide area network is made up of several
connected local area networks.
The two popular types of LANs are the
client/server network and peer-to-peer
network.
Computer Concepts BASICS - 36
Summary (cont.)
Other types of specialized networks
include metropolitan area networks
(MANs), neighborhood area networks
(NANs), personal area networks (PANs),
home area networks (HANs), and campus
area networks (CANs).
Computer Concepts BASICS - 37
Summary (cont.)
You can use a network for information
sharing, hardware sharing, software
sharing, and as a collaborative
environment.
The link through which data is transmitted
is the communications channel.
Transmission media can be either physical
or wireless.
Computer Concepts BASICS - 38
Summary (cont.)
Physical media includes twisted-pair cable,
coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable.
Wireless media includes radio signals,
microwaves, and satellites.
Most networks consist of a network server
and computer clients.
Computer Concepts BASICS - 39
Summary (cont.)
Communication devices facilitate the
transmitting and receiving of data,
instructions, and information.
Communication devices include dial-up and
cable modems, DSL and ISDN modems,
network interface cards, gateways, routers,
wireless access points, and hubs.
Computer Concepts BASICS - 40
Summary (cont.)
Network interface cards enable the sending
and receiving of data between the PCs in a
network.
A router directs the Internet or network
traffic.
Physical media includes twisted-pair cable,
coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable.
Wireless media includes microwaves,
satellites, IrDA, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.
Computer Concepts BASICS - 41
Summary (cont.)
Network topologies include bus, ring,
and star.
A protocol is an agreed on set of rules and
procedures for transmitting data between
two or more devices.
The Ethernet protocol is one of the most
popular LAN protocols.
Computer Concepts BASICS - 42
Summary (cont.)
Token ring is the second most widely used
LAN protocol.
TCP/IP is a protocol used by both LANs
and WANs to connect to the Internet.
All computers on a network require an
operating system, and networks require
network operating systems.
Computer Concepts BASICS - 43