Computer networking

This is where two or more computers that are linked in order to share resources, exchange files or
allow electronic communications. The computers on a network may be linked through cables,
telephone lines , radio waves ,satellites and others.

Why study networking?

Work in a variety of industries.
Visual learning.
Learn technical skills to become part of an evolving field.
Learn how to problem solve.
Make a difference.
Expected job growth

Benefits of networking
Development of new markets and information based products.
To attract new customers for example through advertising
Flexible access , networks enable users to use any computer that is connected regardless of their
location.
Speed, they provide a very rapid method of sharing and transferring files.

Limitations of using computer networks

Unreliability of networks
Cables may break
File server failure
Requires administrative time
It is expensive to install

Network design parameters

Availability , it always there when it needed
Reliability
Security,networks should be secure enough not to be accessed by un authorised users or hackers for
example putting a fire wall
Response time,
Through put
Robustness
Cost

Types of networks

There are mainly two types of networks namely:

Local Area Network

This is a network that connects computers in a small geographic area such as a building like a
computer laboratory or an office.

The nodes are connected to the LAN via cables.

A wireless LAN(WLAN) is a LAN that doesn’t use physical wires but uses wirless media such as radio waves.

Categories of local area network

Peer to peer
This is a type of network where each computer can share the hardware , data or software located on any other
computer on the network.
In peer to peer network, all computers are considered equal , they all have the same abilities to use the
resources available on the network.
Advantages of peer to peer
It is simple to setup i.e doesn’t require too much configuring
It is not expensive to set up
It doesnot require a dedicated server to control the network
It is perfect for home and small business users.

Disadvantages of peer to peer network

The system is not centralized , making administration difficult.
Lack of security i.e files can be accessed by any one on the network

Client/server network
It has one or more computers acting as a server while the other computers i.e clients on the network can
request services from the server.
A client computer is a computer that can access the resources on a network
A server provides a centralized storage area for programs , data and information

Advantages of client /server network

All resources are centralized and easier to access
Easy management and administration of the network
It is to backup all data stored centrally on the server.
Client server network can support many computers as compared to P2P
The network is flexible i.e new technology can easily be included into the system

Disadvantages
It is expensive to set up compared to peer to peer
Requires an extra computer to serve as a dedicated server
Maintenance, large networks will require an administration staff to ensure efficient operation
Dependence, when the server goes down, operations will cease across the network.

Personal Area network

It is the interconnection of computer devices within the range of a person,typically within a range of 10
meters.
The network could also be interconnected without wires to the internet or other networks.
Examples;
A person travelling with alaptop
Personal digital assistant
Portable printer

Wide area network

It is a network that covers a large geographic area
Example: A network that connects the district office computers of a company across the country or across
several countries in the world.

Metropolitan area networks

It is a large computer network that usually spans a city or a large campus .
It covers a smaller geographic area than a wide area network.

Network topology
It is a description of possible physical connections with in a network
A topology is the physical arrangement of the devices in a communication network.
In a network topology,any network hardware component is also called a node.

Factors considered when choosing a topology

Cost
Reasons for network setup
Future growth
Length of cable needed
Number of computers to be connected
Level of security required
Changing technology
Trouble shooting issues.

Types network topologies

Bus /linear topology
It consists of a single central cable that connects all computers and devices together.
The physical cable that connects the computer and other devices is known as the bus or the backbone

Merites of bus topology

Easy to implement and extend or setup
Cheaper than other topologies
Cable faults are easily identified
Easy to troubleshoot
Weight reduction due to less wires

Demerits of bus topology

It is slower than the other topologies
Limited cable length and number of stations
Only one device can transfer items at a time
There is no central host computer to control the network.
If there is a problem with the cable , the entire network goes down.

Star topology
On the star network, all of the computers and device/ nodes on the network connect to a central hub or
switch. Data that is transferred from one computer to another passes through the hub.

Merits of star topology

Easy to install and maintain.
Better performance, it prevents the passing of data packets through an excessive number of nodes.
Reliable because each device connects directly to the hub , if one device fails only that device is affected

Demerits
If the hub fails, the entire network fails
Set up of the system can be very complex
Performance for the entire network depends on the capabilities of the hub
It is expensive since a lot cables are required for installation

Ring topology
Consists of a cable forming a closed ring, or loop with all the computers and devices in a network.
It links all the nodes together in circular chain

Advantages
High level of security
Covers a large distance compared to bus network
No collisions occur because data takes one direction only
The speed of data transmission is faster than in a bus topology

Demerits
It is more difficult to establish
There is no central host computer to control the network
Moves, adds and changes of devices can affect the network.

Mesh topology
This is the type of network topology in which each of the nodes of the network is connected to each
of the other nodes in the network.
Merits
Data will always be delivered
All of the data that is transmitted between nodes in the network takes the shortest path between
nodes

Demerits
Installation is expensive since it requires a lot of cables to be installed
It is very hard to setup
Network size is limited by the number of interconnections that can be made between the computers

Hybrid topology
It combines more than one type of topology
When a bus line joins two hubs of different topologies, the configuration is called a star bus
The bus line is used to transfer the data between the star topology.

Components of a network