Module 1: Networking Today

1.1 Networks Affect Our Lives

Introduction to Networks v7.0

(ITN)
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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Network Components 1.2 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
Type
• web servers
• file server
Email Email server runs email server software.
Clients use client software to access email.
Clients are computers that send Web Web server runs web server software.
requests to the servers to retrieve Clients use browser software to access web
information: pages.
• web page from a web server File File server stores corporate and user files.
The client devices access these files.
• email from an email server

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Network Components
Peer-to-Peer
It is possible to have a device be a client and a server in a Peer-to-Peer Network. This type of
network design is only recommended for very small networks.

Advantages Disadvantages

Easy to set up No centralized administration

Less complex Not as secure
Lower cost Not scalable

Used for simple tasks: transferring files and sharing printers Slower performance

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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
Intermediary Network Devices

An intermediary device interconnects end devices. Examples include switches, wireless

access points, routers, and firewalls.
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 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 Uses electrical impulses

cables

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 Representations and Topologies
Network Representations

Network diagrams, often called topology

diagrams, use symbols to represent
devices within the network.
Important terms to know include:
• Network Interface Card (NIC)
• Physical Port
• Interface

Note: Often, the terms port and

interface are used interchangeably

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Network Representations and Topologies
Topology Diagrams

Physical topology diagrams illustrate the Logical topology is a concept in networking that
physical location of intermediary devices defines the architecture of the communication
and cable installation. mechanism for all nodes in a network

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 1.4 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 network

Small Home SOHO • Medium to Large Networks – many

locations with hundreds or thousands of
interconnected computers
• World Wide Networks – connects
hundreds of millions of computers world-
wide – such as the internet

Medium/Large World Wide

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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
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. The following groups
were developed to help maintain structure
on the internet:
• IETF
• ICANN
• IAB

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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

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
Home and Small Office Internet Connections
Connection Description

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 option using a

telephone modem.

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Internet Connections
Businesses Internet Connections
Type of Description
Corporate business connections may Connection
require:
Dedicated These are reserved circuits within the service
• higher bandwidth Leased Line provider’s network that connect distant offices
with private voice and/or data networking.
• dedicated connections
• managed services
Ethernet WAN This extends LAN access 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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 1.6 Reliable Networks
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.
This is not possible with circuit-switched
networks which establish dedicated
circuits.

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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 There are two main types of network
Network Security 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

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 (BYOD)
Bring Your Own Device 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 calls are made to anyone, regardless of where they are located.

• Video conferencing is a powerful tool for communicating with others.

• Video is becoming a critical requirement for effective collaboration.

• Cisco TelePresence powers is one way of working where everyone,

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:
• Public Clouds
• Available to the general public through a pay-per-use model or for free.
• Private Clouds
• Intended for a specific organization or entity such as the government.
• 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.
• 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 can
Powerline Networking 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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Network Trends
Wireless Broadband
In addition to DSL and cable, wireless is
another option used to connect homes
and small businesses to the internet.
• More commonly found in rural
environments, a Wireless Internet Service
Provider (WISP) is an ISP that connects
subscribers to designated access points
or hotspots.
• Wireless broadband is another solution
for the home and small businesses.
• Uses the same cellular technology used by a
smart phone.
• An antenna is installed outside the house
providing wireless or wired connectivity for
devices in the home.

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 1.8 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
External Threats:
Security Threats (Cont.)
• Viruses, worms, and Trojan
horses
• Spyware and adware
• Zero-day attacks
• Threat Actor 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 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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 1.9 The IT Professional
The Cisco Certified Network Associate
CCNA (CCNA) certification:
• demonstrates that you have a knowledge
of foundational technologies
• ensures you stay relevant with skills
needed for the adoption of next-
generation technologies.
The new CCNA focus:
• IP foundation and security topics
• Wireless, virtualization, automation, and
network programmability.
New DevNet certifications at the
associate, specialist and professional
levels, to validate your software
development skills.
Specialist certification validate your skills
in line with your job role and interests.

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