CHAPTER

Network Hardware
 Chapter Objectives

• Describe the important basic network

hardware and the internetworking
hardware
• Discuss the desired characteristics of a
server and a workstation
• Present different switching technologies
• Examine the routing process with the
help of an example
 Classification of Basic Network
Hardware Components
• Network Interface Cards (NICs)
• Cables
• Connectors
• Servers
• Workstations
Classification of Internetworking
Hardware Components
• Line drivers or repeaters
• Transceivers
• Intelligent hubs
• Bridges
• Switches
• Routers
• Gateways
 Chapter Modules

• Network interface cards

• Network connectors and hubs
• Server and workstation hardware
• Repeater
• Bridge
• Switch
Continued..
 Continuation of Chapter
Modules

• Switching technology
• Router
• Gateway
END OF CHAPTER
INTRODUCTION
 MODULE

Network Interface Cards (NICs)

 Network Interface Card Types
• 10BaseT cards
– Physical star networks
– 10 Mbps speed
– Ethernet standard
– Twisted pair wiring
• 10base2 cards
– Physical bus networks
– 10 Mbps speed
– Ethernet standard
– Thin coaxial wiring
 Continuation of NIC Types
• 10Base5
– 10 Mbps speed
– Ethernet standard
– Thick coaxial wiring
• 100BaseTX
– 100 Mbps speed
– Fast Ethernet standard
– Twisted pair
• Higher quality Category 5 wires are
recommended
 Token Ring Cards

• Token ring network cards

• Earlier token ring cards
– 4 Mbps
• Newer token ring cards
– 16 Mbps
 Bus Types for NICs

• Card connector types

– Newer PCI bus
– Older ISA, VESA and EISA bus types
• ISA bus width
– 16-bit
• PCI bus width
– Usually 32-bit
– Supports 64-bit as well
• Used in high-powered network servers
 Cable Connections for NICs

• BNC barrel connector

– Thin coaxial
• RJ 45
– Twisted pair
 AUI and Combo Cable
Connections for NICs
• AUI Possibilities
– Designed for a thick coaxial cable
– Designed for a token ring network
– Provided for connecting a transceiver
• Combo Cards
– Consisting of different ports
– BNC, RJ-45, AUI
 Possible Combo Card
Connections

• Thin coaxial cables (BNC)

• Twisted pair wires (RJ-45)
• Thick coaxial cables (AUI)
 Description of an Actual NIC

• 10BaseT, PCI card

– 10 = speed in Mbps
– Base =Ethernet
– T = Twisted pair
– 32-bit = bus width
– PCI = bus technology
END OF MODULE
 MODULE

Sample Network Interface Cards

 Example of a 10Base2 Card

BNC

Source: Black Box

 Example of a 10BaseT Card

ISA

RJ 45

Source: Black Box

Example of a Combo Card

RJ 45

Combo

Source: Black Box BNC

END OF MODULE
 MODULE

Network Connectors and Hubs

 Simple Connectors
• T connectors
– An interface between the NIC and the
cables
• Terminators
– Used at both ends of a bus network
T Connector
Terminator
 Example of T-Connector and
Terminator

T Connector

Terminator
Source: Black Box
 Connectors : Hubs
• Types
– Active hub
– Passive hub
• Passive hubs
– Simply provides the physical and the
electrical connection for the network
• Active hubs
– Has built-in intelligence
– Some are manageable hubs
 Connectors : Passive Hub

MAU

WS WS WS

Hub Connecting A Token-ring Network

 An Active Hub

WS

Backbone
WS Remote
Workstation

WS
Remote Monitor

Active Hub
 Hub Management Software

• Sophisticated
• Monitor the network traffic through
each of the ports
• Becoming popular
• Standardized protocol for remote
management exists
– SNMP (Simple Network Management
Protocol)
Example of a Hub Used in Ring
Network

Source: Black Box

 Example of Hubs Used in the
Star Network

Stackable
Hubs

Source: Black Box

END OF MODULE
 MODULE

Server and Workstation

Hardware
 Module Objectives

• Give an overview of the different types

of the server hardware
• Discuss the desired characteristics of a
server
• Provide a specification for a
workstation
 Servers
• Backbone of a network
• Types
– Powerful micros
– Servers
– Super-servers
– Sometimes mini-computers are used as
servers
• In a client-server, the server also acts as
an engine of database execution
• In general, it is used for the sharing of
Desired Characteristics of Server:
Processor and Storage
Requirement
• Powerful processor
– Latest Pentium Processor
– Multiple processors, if appropriate
• Large storage space
– Several gigabytes at a minimum
– Actual requirement will vary LAN size
• Fast disk access speed
– Less than 10 ms
 Desired Characteristics of a
Server: CD-ROM

• Fast CD-ROM drives

• CD-ROM towers are often preferred
Desired Characteristics of Server:
Storage Technology
• Better hard disk technology
– SCSI
• Fast access
• Daisy chaining of devices
– Latest SCSI technology is required
• Possible consideration given to fiber-
channel in the future
Desired Characteristics of Server:
Bus and Memory Technologies

• Better bus technology

– PCI
• Memory
– In excess of 128 Mbytes
– SDRAM or similar memory technology
functioning at 10 nanoseconds or less
– The 128-pin SDRAM is also known as the
DIMM chips as opposed to the 72-pin
SIMM chips
Desired Characteristics of Server:
Reliability
• Good back-up facilities
– Back-up tape
• Uniterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
 Fault Tolerant Feature for
Servers
• RAID storage technology
– A system based on multiple disk
– Hot-swappable disks
• Redundant power supply
– Hot-swappable power supply
 Workstation

• Most applications are executed at the

workstation
• Therefore, it must be powerful in terms
of the processor and the memory
• As a rule of thumb, the workstation
must be as powerful as it were to be
used as a standalone unit to run the
applications
 Workstation Processor and
Memory
• Powerful processor
– Pentium class processor
• Adequate memory
– 32 Mbytes or more
– DIMM preferred although fast EDO SIMM
may also be used
 Workstation Storage and
Compatibility
• Sufficient storage
– Storage in gigabytes
– Important in a client-server environment
– Front-end tools are stored on the
workstation
• Speed of storage
– Ultra DMA or SCSI preferred
– EIDE may also be used
• Hardware components with
 Reliability

• Power surge protector

• Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS),
for critical applications
END OF MODULE
 MODULE

Repeater
 An Overview of Repeaters

• Used for extending the physical span of

a network
– An example is the extension of the distance
between a hub and a node
• Span is often limited by design
considerations
• 10base5
– The span is limited to 500 meters
 A Repeater Connection

Expanding the Span of the Network

Source: Black Box
 Another Example of Repeater
Connection

Extending the distance between the backbone and the nodes.

Source: Black Box

 Operations of a Repeater Within
the ISO OSI Model
• Operates at the lower level of the ISO
OSI model
– Physical layer

Physical Physical
Repeater
Layer Layer

Medium Medium
 Other Devices Used for
Extending the Span of a Network

• Line Drivers
• Short-Haul Modems
END OF MODULE
 MODULE

Bridge
 An Overview of a Bridge

• A device used for connecting two LANs

operating under the same protocol
• Currently, the term bridge is loosely
being used to describe different
interconnecting devices
– Used now for connecting LANs operating
under different protocols as well
 Purpose of a Bridge

• Facilitate the movement of data packet

from one network segment to another
• Not a sophisticated internetworking
device
• Bridge does not perform the routing of
information to different segments of a
network
• Connects two network segments and
not multiple network segments
 Bridge : ISO-OSI Layer of
Operation

Data Data
Link Bridge Link
Layer Layer

Physical Physical
Layer Layer

X Medium X Medium
A simple bridge operates at the
second layer of the ISO model.
Practical Bridge Implementations

• Local Bridge
• Remote Bridge
 Local and Remote Bridges

• Local bridge
– Connects two different LANs located
locally
• Remote bridge
– Connects LAN segments that are
geographically apart
– An example is a device that provide dial-
up access to a LAN
 A Practical Bridge Example

Source: Black Box

END OF MODULE
 MODULE

Switch
 Switch Definition and Purpose

• A switch is defined as a device that

allows a LAN to be segmented
– The segments will operate under the same
protocol
Difference Between a Switch and
a Bridge

• A switch focuses on segmenting a LAN

• A bridge is concerned with linking two
network segments that operate under
different protocols
 Purpose of a Switch

• Improve the network performance and

reliability
• Better manage the network in general
 Performance Improvement in
Segmented Networks

• Performance is improved especially in the

case of a bus network
• Multiple bus paths are now available for
communication
• Each segment can engage in simultaneous
communication within itself
• Easier to isolate a problem to a segment
– Thus, better manage the entire network
 Network Reliability

• When one segment does not function,

the other segments can continue to
function
– Offers better reliability to at least part of
the function
 Switches in Ethernet and Token
Ring LANs
• Switches were originally designed for
segmenting Ethernet LANs
– Used extensively in configuring large
Ethernet bus LANs
• Physically the network configured would still
largely remain based on the star topology
• Switches are now available for token
ring networks as well
 Use of Switches in Linking LAN
Segments
Crossover Traffic

Switch

Segment 1 Segment 2

Hub Hub

WS Server WS Server
 Using A Switch to
Link Bus LAN Segments

Switch

Segment 1 Segment 2
 Use of Switches in
Internetworking

• Because the typical inter-networking

connection involves multiple segments,
the use of a switch is more common
than the use of a bridge
 Use of Switches for Higher
Bandwidth

100 MBps Switch

WS WS WS WS

Each port in theory has a bandwidth of 100 Mbps.

END OF MODULE
 MODULE

Switching Technology
 Module Objectives

• Explain the basic operation of a switch

• List the switching technologies and
describe their operation
– Cut-through and store-and-forward
technologies
 The Basic Operation of Switches

Receiver’s Address Sender’s Address Data

• A data packet is analyzed

• Receiver’s addresses is checked
• If it indicates the receiver to be in the
same segment, the packet is dropped
• If it indicates the receiver to be in a
different segment, the packet is
 Switching Technologies

• There are two major types of switching

technologies
– Cut-through
– Store-and-forward
 Cut-Through Technology

• Reads only part of the packet

– The addresses header
– Packet is forwarded accordingly
• Bad packets are not filtered
 Store-and-Forward Technology

• Entire packet is processed

• Packets are filtered
– Bad packets are filtered
 Switching Technology
Comparison

Header Sender’s Add Receivers Add Data

Cut-through

Store-and-forward
Switching Technology Operation
at the ISO Layer
• In each of the two cases of switching
technologies no protocol conversion
takes place
• Forwarding and filtering are done at the
MAC layer
END OF MODULE
 MODULE

Routers
 The Purpose of a Router

• Connect LANs operating under

different protocols
• The LANs connected are better known
as sub-networks instead of network
segments
– The term segments is nevertheless used in
practice
 Router Characteristics

• A router true internetworking device

– Connects different sub-networks together
• Establishes a logical path of
communication between the sub-
networks
• Contributes to the modular
construction of a network
– Network itself is better managed
– Network resources are better utilized
 Internetworking with a Router

IEEE 802.3 Router

Sub-network IEEE 802.5
Sub-network

PC-NFS
Sub-network
 Routers, Switches and Hubs in
Perspective
Backbone

Router

Switch Switch

Hub Hub Hub Hub

S WS S WS WS
S WS WS
S WS

Sub-network 1 Sub-network 2
 Difference Between Routers,
Switches and Hubs
• Hubs
– Simply provides the mechanical and
electrical connections between the nodes
• Switches
– Examine the data packet for the destination
address
– Do not alter the data packets
• Routers
– Examine and alter the data packets
– Perform protocol conversion
 Router Requirements

• Requires more processing power

compared to switches and bridges
• Operations fall within the network
layer of the ISO-OSI communication
model
Router : Network Layer Interface

NETWORK NETWORK
ROUTER
LAYER LAYER
DATA LINK DATA LINK
LAYER LAYER
PHYSICAL PHYSICAL
LAYER LAYER

X MEDIUM X MEDIUM
 Devices and Layers

NETWORK Routers
Layer 3
LAYER
Switches

DATA LINK
Layer 2 Switches
LAYER

PHYSICAL
Layer 1 LAYER
Repeaters
 A Practical Router Example

Router Router Router

Router Router

Source: Black Box

END OF MODULE
 MODULE

Gateway
 An Introduction to Gateways

• Gateways are comprehensive

internetworking devices
• They can be computers themselves
 Gateways in the Past

• Very popular
• They were the only devices that could
be used for internetworking
• Computers of the past were not
designed with network connections in
mind
– Interconnection of different computer
systems has to be managed and driven by
an advanced device such as a gateway
 The Present Scenario
• Computers are now designed with due
consideration given to network
connections
• Larger networks could today be
configured using internetworking
devices
– Routers, switches, hubs etc.
 Use of Gateways at Present

• Used in the rare occasion when neither

of the internetworking devices could be
used for connecting the sub-networks
together
• Example
– Connection of a legacy mainframe system
to a bus LAN
 Rule of Thump

• Gateways are used for interconnecting

vastly differing computing
environments together
 SNA Gateway
Gateway
software
Gateway
Interface
Card SNA

Mainframe
Gateway FEP
NIC Card

WS WS IBM - SNA

LAN - Ethernet
Gateway’s Functional Relationship
to the ISO-OSI Model
Application Application

Presentation Presentation

Session Session

Transport Transport

Network Network

Data Link Data Link

Physical Physical
END OF MODULE
END OF MODULE

END OF CHAPTER