15th
Edition
Understanding
Computers Today and
Tomorrow
Comprehensive
Chapter 7
Computer
Networks
Deborah
Morley Copyright 2015 Cengage
Learning
Learning Objectives
1. Define a computer network and its purpose.
2. Describe several uses for networks.
3. Understand the various characteristics of a network, such as
topology, architecture, and size.
4. Understand characteristics about data and how it travels
over a network.
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 2
15th Edition
Learning Objectives
5. Name specific types of wired and wireless networking media
and explain how they transmit data.
6. Identify the most common communications protocols and
networking standards used with networks today.
7. List several types of networking hardware and explain the
purpose of each.
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 3
15th Edition
Overview
• This chapter covers:
– Computer network is defined
– Common networking and communications applications
– Networking concepts and terminology
– Technical issues related to networks, including general
characteristics of data transmission, and types of
transmission media in use today
– Explanation of the various communications protocols and
networking standards
– Various types of hardware used with a computer network
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 4
15th Edition
What Is a Network?
• Network
– A connected system of objects or people
• Computer network
– A collection of computers and other hardware devices
connected together so users can share hardware,
software, and data, and electronically communicate
• Computer networks are converging with telephone and other
communications networks
• Networks range from small private networks to the Internet
• In most businesses, computer networks are essential
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 5
15th Edition
Network Characteristics
• Wired vs. Wireless Networks
– Wired
• A network in which computers and other devices are
physically connected to the network with cables
• Found in schools, businesses, and government facilities
– Wireless
• A network in which computers and other devices are
connected to the network without physical cables
• Data is typically sent via radio waves
• Found in homes, schools, and businesses
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 6
15th Edition
Network Characteristics
• Network Topologies: Indicate how the devices in the network
are arranged
– Star Networks
• All networked devices connect to a central
device/server
• If the central device fails, the network
cannot work
– Bus Network
• Uses a central cable to which all network devices
connect
– Mesh network
• Multiple connections among the devices on the
network so that messages can take any of several
15th Edition
possible paths
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 7
Network Characteristics
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 8
15th Edition
Network Characteristics
• Network Architectures
– Client-Server Networks
• Client
– Computer or other device on the network that
requests and utilizes network resources
• Server
– Computer dedicated to processing client
requests
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 9
15th Edition
Network Characteristics
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 10
15th Edition
Network Characteristics
– Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Networks
• Central server is not used
• All computers on the network work at the same
functional level
• Users have direct access to the computers and devices
attached to the network
• Less complicated and less expensive to implement than
client-server networks
• Internet P2P Computing
– Content is exchanged over the Internet
directly between users
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 11
15th Edition
Network Characteristics
• Network Size and Coverage Area
– Personal Area Networks (PANs)
• Connect an individual’s personal devices
– Devices must be physically located close
together
– Local Area Networks (LANs)
• Connect devices located in a small geographic area
– Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs)
• Cover a metropolitan area such as a city or county
– Wide Area Networks (WANs)
• Cover a large geographic area
• Two or more LANs connected together
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 12
15th Edition
Network Characteristics
– Intranets and Extranets
• Intranet
– Private network designed to be used by an
organizations’ employees; set up like the Internet
• Extranet
– Company network accessible by authorized
outsiders
– Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
• Private, secure path over the Internet that provides
authorized users a secure means of accessing a private
network via the Internet
• Uses tunneling and special encryption technology
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 13
15th Edition
Data Transmission
Characteristics
• Bandwidth
– The amount of data that can be
transferred in a given period of time
– Measured in bits per second (bps),
Kbps (thousands), Mbps (millions ), or
GFbps (billions)
• Analog vs. Digital Signals
– Data represented by two discrete
states: 0s and 1s
– Conventional telephone systems
use
analog signals
• Represent data with continuous
waves
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 14
15th Edition
Data Transmission
Characteristics
• Transmission Type and Timing
– Serial
• Data sent one bit at a time,
one after another, along a
single path
– Parallel
• Data sent at least one byte at
time with each bit in the byte
taking a different path
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15
15th Edition
Data Transmission
Characteristics
• Synchronous Transmission
– Blocks of data are transferred at regular, specified intervals
– Most data transmissions within a computer and over a
network are synchronous
• Asynchronous Transmission
– Data is sent when ready without being synchronized
– Start bits and stop bits used to identify the bits that belong
in each byte
• Isochronous Transmission
– Data sent at the same time as other, related, data
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 16
15th Edition
Data Transmission
Characteristics
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 17
15th Edition
Data Transmission
Characteristics
• Simplex Transmission
– Data travels in a single direction only
• Half-Duplex Transmission
– Data travels in either direction but only one way at a time
• Full-Duplex Transmission
– Data travels in both directions at the same time
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 18
15th Edition
Data Transmission
Characteristics
• Delivery Method
– Circuit-Switching
• Dedicated path over a network is established between
sender and receiver; all data follows that path
– Packet-Switching
• Messages are separated into small units called packets
and travel along the network separately; packets are
reassembled once destination is reached
– Broadcasting
• Data is sent out to all other nodes on the network and
retrieved only by the intended recipient; primarily used
with LANs
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 19
15th Edition
Data Transmission
Characteristics
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 20
15th Edition
Communications Protocols and
Networking Standards
• Protocol
– A set of rules for a particular situation
– Communications Protocol
• A set of rules that determine how devices on a network
communicate
• Standard
– A set of criteria or requirements approved by a recognized
standards organization
– Address how networked computers
connect/communicate
– Needed to ensure products can work with other products
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 21
15th Edition
TCP/IP and Other
Communications Protocols
• TCP/IP
– Most widely used communications protocol
– Consists of two protocols
• Transmission Control Protocols (TCP)
– Responsible for delivery of data
• Internet Protocols (IP)
– Provides addresses and routing information
– Uses packet switching to transmit data
– TCP/IP support is built into almost all operating systems
and IP addresses are used to identify computers and
devices on networks
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 22
15th Edition
TCP/IP and Other
Communications Protocols
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 23
15th Edition
TCP/IP and Other
Communications Protocols
• Other Protocols
– HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and HTTPS (Secure
Hypertext Transfer Protocol)
• Used to display Web pages
– FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
• Used to transfer files over the Internet
– SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol and POP3 (Post Office
Protocol)
• Used to deliver e-mail over the Internet
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 24
15th Edition
Ethernet (802.3)
• Ethernet (802.3)
– Most widely used standard for wired networks
– Typically used with LANs that have a star topology
– Works with twisted-pair, coaxial, and fiber-optic cabling
– Continually evolving
– Most common today are Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet,
and 10 Gigabit Ethernet
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 25
15th Edition
Ethernet (802.3)
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 26
15th Edition
Ethernet (802.3)
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 27
15th Edition
Cellular Standards
• Cellular Standards
– First Generation
• Analog and voice only
– 2G (Second Generation)
• Digital, both voice and data, faster
– 3G and 4G networks
• Current standards
• Use packet
switching
• 3G speeds are
between 1 and 4
Mbps
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 28
15th Edition
Networking Hardware
• Network Adapter
– Used to connect a computer to a network
– Also called network interface card (NIC) when in the form
of an expansion card
• Modem
– Device that enables a computer to communicate over
analog networking media
– Term is often used interchangeably with network adapter
– Most computers and mobile devices today come with a
built-in network adapter and/or modem
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 29
15th Edition
Networking Hardware
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 30
15th Edition
Networking Hardware
• Switch
– Central device that connects devices in a wired network but only
sends data to the intended recipient
– Hub – similar but sends data to all recipients
• Router
– Connects multiple networks: two LANs, two WANS,
LAN and the Internet
– Passes data to intended recipient only
– Routes traffic over the Internet
• Wireless Access Point
– Device used to grant network access to wireless client
devices
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 31
15th Edition
Networking Hardware
• Wireless Router
– Typically connects both wired and wireless devices to a
network and to connect the network to the Internet
– Often integrates a switch, router, and wireless access
point
• Bridge
– Used to connect two LANs together
– In a home network, wirelessly connects a wired device to
the network
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 32
15th Edition
Networking Hardware
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 33
15th Edition
Summary
• Networking Applications
• Network Characteristics
• Data Transmission Characteristics
• Communications Protocols and Networking Standards
• Networking Hardware
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 34
15th Edition