CHAPTER TWO

NETWORK CONFIGURATION

Data Communication and computer network

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Ambo University
 NETWORK CONFIGURATION
• In general, all networks have certain components,
functions, and features in common, as shown below.

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 These includes:-

• Servers—Computers that provide shared resources to network users.

• Clients/workstations—Computers that access shared network
resources provided by a server.
• Media—The wires that make the physical connections.
• Shared data—Files provided to clients by servers across the network.
• Shared printers and other peripherals—Additional resources
provided by servers.
• Resources—Any service or device, such as files, printers, or other
items, made available for use by members of the network.

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 The type of network you planed / choose
to implement will depend on some factors
such as:
– Size of the organization.

– Level of security required.

– Type of business.

– Level of administrative support available.

– Amount of network traffic.

– Needs of the network users.

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 Networks are divided into two broad categories, as shown below:
• Peer-to-peer networks
• Server-based networks
– each type has different capabilities.
 The difference between peer-to-peer and server-based networks .

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 Peer-to-Peer Networks
 In a peer-to-peer network:-

• There are no dedicated servers.

• There is no hierarchy among the computers.

• All the computers are equal and therefore are known as

peers.
• Each computer functions as both a client and a server.

• There is no administrator responsible for the entire

network.
• The user at each computer determines what data on
that computer is shared on the network.

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• Peer-to-peer network computers act as both clients
and servers.

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 Size

• Peer-to-peer networks are also called workgroups.

• The term "workgroup" implies a small group of people.

• In a peer-to-peer network there are 10 or fewer

computers
 Cost

• Peer-to-peer networks are relatively simple.

 no need for a powerful central server.

• So, it can be less expensive than server-based

networks.

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 Operating Systems
• In a peer-to-peer network:
 networking software does not require, so it has
the same standard of performance and
level of security
• Peer-to-peer networking is built into many operating systems.
 Implementation
• Implementation of a peer-to-peer network offers the
following advantages:-
• Computers are located at users' desks.
• Users act as their own administrators and plan their own
security.
• Computers in the network are connected by a simple,
easily visible cabling system.
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 Where a Peer-to-Peer Network Is
Appropriate
 A network planner needs to address /consider before choosing which type of
network is appropriate to implement.

1- Administration

– Network administration tasks include:-

 Managing users and security.

 Making resources available.

 Maintaining applications and data.

 Installing and upgrading application and operating system software.

In a typical peer-to-peer network, no system manager oversees administration for

the entire network. Instead, individual users administer their own computers.

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2- Sharing Resources
• All users can share any of their resources in any
manner they choose.

3- Security
• All peer-to-peer network users set their own
security, and shared resources can exist on any
computer rather than on a centralized server
only.

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 Peer-to-peer networks are a good choices than
a server-based for environments where:
– 10 users or fewer.

– Users share resources, such as files and

printers, but no specialized servers exist.
– Security is not an issue.

– The organization and the network will

experience only limited growth within the
near future.

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 Server-Based Networks
• In an environment with more than 10 users, a peer-to-peer
will probably not be adequate.
• Therefore, most networks have/required dedicated servers.
• A dedicated server is one that functions only as a server
and is not used as a client or workstation.

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 Specialized Servers
 Some of the examples of different types of servers
included on many large networks.

1-File Servers
• File servers offer services that allow network users to
share files.
• File services are the network applications that store,
retrieve, and move data.
• With network file services, users can exchange, read,
write, and manage shared files and the data contained in
them.
• File serves are designed specially to support the file
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services for a network.
2- Print Servers
 The advent of networking represented a whole new level of
computer printing, because a network can:
• Allow users to share printers

• Allow us to place printers where convenient, not just near

individual computers
• Achieve better workstation performance by using high-
speed network data transfer, print, queues, and spooling
 Print services :-

• Manage and control printing on a network,

• Allowing multiple and simultaneous access to printing

facilities. 15
3- Database Servers
 Database server can provide a network with powerful
database services.
 Most database systems are client-server based.
 This means that the database applications run on two
separate components:
• The client -side of the application runs on the client,
providing an interface and handling less intensive
functions, such as data requests.
• The server-side of the application handles the intensive
performance of database operations.
• Server side application - runs on database servers,
managing the database, processing queries, and replying
to clients.
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4 - Application Servers
• Servers store vast amounts of data that is organized to
make it easy to retrieve.
• An application server differs from a file server.

• With a file server, the data or file is downloaded to the

computer which making the request.
• With an application server, the database /file stays on
the server and only the results of a request are
downloaded to the computer which making the
request.
• A client application running locally accesses the data
on the application server. 17
5- Mail Servers
 Mail servers - separate server and client applications.
 Data selectively downloaded from the server to the
client.
6- Web Servers
 Stores different web pages.
7- Proxy Server
 A Proxy Server implements Internet connectivity and
network security for an entire organization.
 It is required to implement Internet connectivity to all
clients on a network.
• It is used as web cache server that improves network
response time and efficiency. 18
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Advantages of Server-Based Network
 Even if it is more complex to install, configure, and manage, a
server-based network has many advantages over a simple peer-
to-peer network.
 some of the advantages:

1. Sharing Resources
A server is designed to provide access to many files and
printers while maintaining performance and security for
the user.
Server-based data sharing can be centrally administered
and controlled.
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2. Provide effective Security
• Security is the primary reason for choosing a server-based
approach network.
 One administrator who sets the policy and applies it to every
user on the network can manage security.
• The following figure depicts security being centrally
administered.

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3- Backup

• Backups can be scheduled several times a day or once a

week depending on the importance and value of the data.
• Server backups can be scheduled to occur automatically,
according to a predetermined schedule.

4- Redundancy
• Through the use of backup methods known as redundancy
systems, the data on any server can be duplicated and
kept online.

5- Number of Users

• A server-based network can support thousands of users.

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Comparisons of Network Types

Peer-to-Peer Server-Based
Consideration
Network Network
Size Good for 10 or fewer Limited only by server
computers and network hardware

Security Security established by Extensive and consistent

the user of each resource and user
computer security
Administration Individual users Centrally located for
responsible for their own network control; requires
administration; no full- at least one
time administrator knowledgeable
necessary administrator
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NETWORK MEDIA

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 NETWORK MEDIA
 Cable Types

• Many cable types are available to meet the

varying needs and sizes of networks.
• Generally, there are three major groups of
cabling connect the majority of networks:-

1. Twisted-pair cable

2. Coaxial cable

3. Fiber-optic cable

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 Twisted-Pair Cable
 Twisted-pair cable

 consists of insulated strands of copper wire

twisted around each other.
 There are two type of twisted pair cable:-

• Unshielded twisted-pair cables (UTP cables)

• Shielded twisted-pair cables (STP cables)

 The total number of pairs in a cable varies.

 Twisting of the cables cancels out electrical

noise from adjacent pairs.
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 Unshielded Twisted-Pair (UTP) Cable

• UTP is the most popular type of twisted-pair cable.

• It is the most popular LAN cabling.

• The maximum cable length segment is 100 meters.

• UTP specifications govern how many twists are

permitted per foot of cable.
• the number of twists allowed depends on the
purpose to which the cable will be put.

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 There are 7 standards categories of UTP:-

• Category 1 - refers to traditional UTP telephone cable that carry voice but not
data transmissions.
• Category 2 - certifies UTP cable for data transmissions up to 4 megabits per
second (Mbps). It consists of four twisted pairs of copper wire.
• Category 3 - certifies UTP cable for data transmissions up to 16 Mbps. It consists
of four twisted pairs of copper wire with three twists per foot.
• Category 4 - certifies UTP cable for data transmissions up to 20 Mbps. It consists
of four twisted pairs of copper wire.
• Category 5 - certifies UTP cable for data transmissions up to 100 Mbps. It consists
of four twisted pairs of copper wire.
• Category 5e - Improved version of cat 5 category. The bandwidth is 1000MBPS.

• Category 6 Similar to CAT5 wire, but contains a physical separator between the 4
pairs to further reduce electromagnetic interference.
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• UTP is particularly susceptible to crosstalk.
 Greater number of twists per foot of cable, the more
effective the protection against crosstalk.

• Crosstalk occurs when signals from one line

bleed into another line
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 UTP advantages

– It is familiar technology.

– It is relatively inexpensive and easy to install.

– Most LAN systems are readily capable of

running over UTP.
 UTP disadvantages

– UTP is potentially more sensitive to external

electromagnetic interference, crosstalk, and
attenuation than other media.

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 Shielded Twisted-Pair (STP) Cable
• STP cable uses a wounded copper-braid jacket that is more
protective and of a higher quality.

STP advantage
• Provides better performance than UTP in environments with:-
- high noise levels
- high levels of unwanted electrical signals.
STP disadvantage
• It is more labor-intensive than UTP to install.
• Not all LAN systems work readily over STP.
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 Twisted-Pair Cabling Components
• Connection hardware -Twisted-pair cabling uses RJ-
45 telephone connectors to connect to a computer.

• Distribution racks and rack shelves –

•Using it is a good way to organize a network that
has a lot of connections.
•Expandable patch panels -transmission speeds of
up to 100 Mbps. 32
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 Coaxial Cable
• It consists of a core of copper wire surrounded by
insulation, a braided metal shielding, and an outer cover.

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• The core of a coaxial cable carries the electronic
signals that make up the data.
• Surrounding the core is a dielectric insulating layer
that separates it from the wire mesh.
• The wire mesh acts as a ground and protects the
core from electrical noise and crosstalk.
• A non-conducting outer shield—usually made of
rubber, Teflon, or plastic—surrounds the entire
cable.
• Coaxial cable is more resistant to interference and
attenuation than twisted-pair cabling.
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 Types of Coaxial Cable
 There are two types of coaxial cable:

• Thin (thinnet) cable

• Thick (thicknet) cable

 Thinnet Cable: is a flexible coaxial cable about 0.64
centimeters thick.
• Thinnet coaxial cable can carry a signal for a distance of
up to approximately 185 meters before the signal starts to
suffer from attenuation.
 Thicknet Cable: is a relatively rigid coaxial cable about
1.27 centimeters in diameter.
• Thicknet cable can carry a signal for 500 meters.
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 Coaxial-Cable Connection Hardware

• The BNC cable connector: The BNC cable connector is

either soldered or crimped to the end of a cable.

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• The BNC T connector: This connector joins the
network interface card (NIC) in the computer to the
network cable.

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• The BNC barrel connector: This connector is used to join
two lengths of thinnet cable to make one longer length.

•The BNC terminator: it closes each end of the

bus cable to absorb stray signals. Otherwise, the
signal will bounce and all network activity will
stop.

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 Coaxial Cable Advantages

• It is less susceptible to interference than twisted-pair

cable.
• It can transmit data for greater distances .

• It can transmit voice, video, and data.

• Offer a familiar technology with reasonable data security.

 Coaxial Cable Disadvantages

• There are many types of coaxial cables, each suited for

one, or at most, a small number of LAN systems.
• Due to its high metallic content, coaxial cable is usually
more expensive than other cable types.
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 Fiber-Optic Cable
• It contains glass (or in some cases, plastic) fibers rather
than copper wire.
• Signals are transmitted across these fibers in the form of
light pulses rather than electrical pulses.
• Optical fiber strands are thin filaments of glass consisting
of an inner core and an outer cladding.
• The diameter of the core varies with the type of optical
fiber.
• Single-mode optical fiber has a core diameter of
approximately 8.5 µm.
• Multimode optical fiber has a core diameter of 62.5 µm.
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Fibber optic (outdoor)
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Fibber optic indoor
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 Optical fiber advantages

• The bandwidth of optical fiber is greater than that of

twisted-pair or coaxial cable.
• Optical signals through glass encounter less loss than
electrical signals through copper.
• It has lower attenuation and higher bandwidth than
copper.
• Resist to electromagnetic interference since signal is sent as
light and not as electricity.
 Optical fiber disadvantage

• Conversions of light to electricity, more expensive electronics

are required .
• Requires specialized installation procedures. 44
 WIRELESS
NETWORKING

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Wireless Networking
• What is a wireless network?

• wireless network:

– a technology that enables two or more entities to

communicate without network cabling

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 Wireless Networking
• Most wireless networks consist of wireless components which
communicating with a network that uses the cabling. Such like network
types which used a mixed- network component called a hybrid network.
 Wireless Network Capabilities
 Wireless networks is one of a network which attracting attention because of
wireless components can be:-
• Provide temporary connections to an existing network i.e. cabled
network.
• provide backup to an existing network.
• Provide some degree of portability.
• Extend networks beyond the limits of physical connectivity.

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 Wireless connectivity can be useful specially for :-
• Network users who are constantly on the move.
• Isolated areas and buildings.
• Departments in which the physical setting changes frequently and
unpredictably.
• Structures, such as historic buildings, to installing cabling become
challenges.
 Types of Wireless Networks
• Wireless networks can be divided into three categories based on their
technology it used:
- LANs
- Extended LANs
- Mobile computing

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 Wireless LANs and extended LANs

• use transmitters and receivers transmit signals .

• Mobile computing

• uses public carriers, such as long distance telephone companies, along with
local telephone companies and their public services, to transmit and receive
signals.
 Wireless LANs

• Except for the it media used, a typical wireless network operates almost like
a cabled network.
• For instance, since Wireless network interface card with a transceiver is
installed in each computer, users communicate with the network just as they
were using cabled computers.
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 Access Points

• Is the transceiver, which sometimes called an access point.

• broadcasts and receives signals to and from the surrounding computers.

• wireless LANs use small wall-mounted transceivers/access point to

connect to the wired network.

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 Transmission Techniques

• Wireless LANs use four techniques for transmitting data:-

I. Infrared transmission

II. Laser transmission

III. Narrowband (single-frequency) radio transmission

IV. Spread-spectrum radio transmission

Infrared Transmission - All infrared wireless networks operate

by using an infrared light beam to carry the data between
devices.
• The following figure shows a laptop computer using an
infrared light beam to send data to a printer. 51
• An infrared network can normally broadcast 10 Mbps.

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 There are three types of infrared networks:-

 Line-of-sight networks:
– transmits only if the transmitter and receiver have a clear line of sight b/n
them.

 Scatter infrared networks:

– broadcast transmissions are bounced off walls and ceilings and hit the
receiver.
– They are effective within an area limited to about 30.5 meters (100 feet).

 Reflective networks:

– Optical transceivers are placed near the computers to redirects the

transmissions to the appropriate computer.

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 Laser Transmission –

• is similar to infrared technology

 It requires a direct line of sight.

• Any person or thing that breaks the laser beam will block the
transmission.
 Narrowband (Single-Frequency) Radio Transmission

• is similar to broadcasting from a radio station.

 the user tunes both the transmitter and the receiver to a certain
frequency.
• it broadcast at 3000 meters range.

• Transmission data is in the 4.8 Mbps range.

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Spread-Spectrum Radio Transmission
– broadcasts signals over a range of frequencies.

– Is used to avoid narrowband communication problems.

• IN Spread-Spectrum Radio Transmission

– the available frequencies are divided into channels,
known as hops.

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• Extended Wireless LANs
– uses wireless LAN bridge to connect networks up to 4.8 kilometers apart.

• A wireless bridge

• is a wireless network component that offers an easy way to link

buildings without using cable. For more illustration look the following:

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 Wireless mobile networks
 Wireless mobile networks

– use telephone carriers and public services such as:

 Packet-radio communication.

 Cellular networks. to transmit and receive

signals

 Satellite stations.

– Its transmission rates range from 8 Kbps to 19.2 Kbps.

– It uses wireless adapters that use cellular-telephone technology to

connect portable computers with the cabled network.

• Portable computers use small antennas to communicate with radio towers in

the surrounding area.
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• Satellites in the earth orbit pick up low-powered signals
from portable and mobile networked devices.
• This system breaks a transmission into packets .

• A packet is a unit of information transmitted as a whole

from one device to another on a network.
• The packets are similar to other network packets. They
include:-

- source address.

- destination address.

- Error-correction information
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• Microwave systems
• are a good choice for interconnecting buildings in small,
short-distance systems like a campus or in an industrial park.
Satellite Stations

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 A microwave system consists :

– Two radio transceivers:

• one to generate (transmitting station) and one to

receive (receiving station) the broadcast.
– Two directional antennas:

• pointed at each other to implement communication of

the signals broadcast by the transceivers.
• These antennas are often installed on towers to give
them more range and to raise them above anything
that might block their signals.
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• Physical appearance of Satellite and Satellite Dish

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 advantage of Wireless network

• It can be used in situations where it is difficult or impossible

to install cable.
 Disadvantages of Wireless network

• Is typically systems which are not able to meet the

performance demands of large or busy networks.
 Transmission can only occur over limited distances and at
limited bit rates.

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UNDERSTANDING NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

 Access Methods

• How a computer puts data onto the network cable and takes
data from the cable is called an access method.
• Once data is moving on the network, access methods help to
regulate the flow of network traffic.
• Multiple computers must share access to the cable that
connects them.
• If two computers put data in the cable at the same time,
collision will be occurred.
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 •Collision occurs if two computers put data on
the cable at the same time
• By making sure that only one computer at a time
can put data on the network cable, access
methods ensure that the sending and receiving
of network data is an orderly process.

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 Major Access Methods

 There is three methods designed to prevent

simultaneous use of the network media. Such as:-

1. Carrier-sense multiple access methods with

collision detection.

2. Carrier-sense multiple access methods with

collision avoidance.

3. Token-passing methods that allow only a single

opportunity to send data.
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1 - Carrier-Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD).
• Using the method known as (CSMA/CD), each computer on the network,
checks the cable for network traffic.
• The following fig. illustrates when a computer can and cannot transmit
data.

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• Only when a computer "senses“ the cable is free i.e. there is
no traffic on the cable can it send data.
• Once the computer has transmitted data on the cable, no
other computer can transmit data until the original data has
reached its destination and the cable is free again.
• If two or more computers happen to send data at exactly the
same time, there will be a data collision.
• When that happens, the two computers stop transmitting for
a random period of time and then attempt to retransmit.
• Each computer determines its own waiting period.
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 (CSMA/CD) means:-

• Computers listen to or "sense" the cable (carrier-sense).

• Commonly, many computers on the network attempt to

transmit data (multiple access).
• Each one first listens to detect any possible collisions.

• If a computer detects a possible collision, it waits for a

random period of time before retransmitting (collision
detection).
• The collision-detection capability is the parameter that
imposes a distance limitation on CSMA/CD.
• Due to attenuation, the collision detection mechanism is
not effective beyond 2500 meters.

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 CSMA/CD Considerations

• The more computers there are on the network, the

more network traffic there will be.
• With more traffic, collision avoidance and collisions
tend to increase, which slows the network down, so
CSMA/CD can be a slow-access method.
 The occurrence of this problem depends on:-

• The number of users attempting to use the network.

• applications they are using.

Example: Database applications tend to put more

traffic on the network than word-processing
applications do. 69
2 - Carrier-Sense Multiple Access with Collision
Avoidance (CSMA/CA).
• In CSMA/CA, each computer signals its intent to transmit
before it actually transmits data.
• In this way, computers sense when a collision might occur;
this allows them to avoid transmission collisions.
• Unfortunately, broadcasting the intent to transmit data
increases the amount of traffic on the cable and slows down
network performance.
3 - Token-Passing Access Method
• A special type of packet, called a token, circulates around a
cable ring from computer to computer.
• In the following figure, the server is shown transmitting
data. 70
• Here the server takes control of the free
token on the ring and sends data to the
computer with the address 400080865402.

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 How Networks Send Data
• Data is broken down into small, manageable packets.

• Each wrapped with the essential information needed to

get it from its source to the correct destination.
• As you see below, a computer sending large amounts
of data causes other computers to wait while the data
is being moved.

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 There are two reasons why putting large chunks of data on
the cable at one time slows down the network:-
• It monopolizes the network and make timely interaction and
communications impossible because one computer is flooding
the cable with data.
• The impact of retransmitting large units of data further
multiplies network traffic.

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 When the sending computer breaks the data
into packets, it adds special control
information to each frame. This makes it
possible to:-
• Send the original, disassembled data in small
chunks.
• Reassemble the data in the proper order when
it reaches its destination.
• Check the data for errors after it has been
reassembled.
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 Packet Structure
 Packets can contain several types of data including:

• Data to be sent.

• A source address that identifies the sending computer.

• A destination address that identifies the recipient.

• Flow, congestion control information.

• Error-checking information to ensure that the data

arrives correctly.

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 Packet components grouped into three sections:
header, data, and trailer.
 The header includes:-

• An alert signal to indicate that the packet is being

transmitted.
• The source address.

• The destination address.

• Clock information to synchronize transmission.

 The actual data being sent.

• It varies in size (from 0.5 kilobytes (KB)—to 4 KB).

 The Trailer includes cyclical redundancy check (CRC).
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 Example: Packets in Printing

• The following example illustrates, step-by-step,

how packets are used in network communications.
• A large print job must be sent from a computer to
a print server.

1 - In Figure-a, the sending computer establishes a

connection with the print server.

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2 - In Figure-b, the computer next breaks the large
print job into packets.
• Each packet contains the destination address, the
source address, the data, and control information.

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3- In Figure-c, the network interface card (NIC) in each
computer examines the receiver's address on all packets
sent on its segment of the network.

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4 - In Figure-d, the destination computer is the print server.
• The packets enter through the cable into the NIC.

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5 - The network software processes the frame stored in the
NIC's receive buffer.

6- In Figure-e, the network operating system in the receiving

computer reassembles the packets back into the original
text file and moves the file into the computer's memory.
• From there the file is sent to the printer.

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