ICT 9: Computer Hardware Servicing

Module 3, Lesson 1: Plan and Prepare for Installation

NETWORK

What is a network?
A network consists of two or more computers that are linked in order to share resources (such as printers
and CD-ROMs), exchange files, or allow electronic communications. The computers on a network may
be linked through cables, telephone lines, radio waves, satellites, or infrared light beams.

There are two basic types of networks whichincludes the following:

 Local Area Network (LAN)
 Wide Area Network (WAN)

Local Area Network

 A Local Area Network (LAN) is a network that is confined to a relatively small area.
 It is generally limited to a geographic area such as a writing lab, school, or building.
 Rarely are LAN computers more than a mile apart.
 In a typical LAN configuration, one computer is designated as the file server.
 It stores all of the software that controls the network, as well as the software that can be shared by
the computers attached to the network.
 Computers connected to the file server are called workstations.
 The workstations can be less powerful than the file server, and they may have additional software
on their hard drives.
 On most LANs, cables are used to connect the network interface cards in each computer.

Wide Area Network

 Wide Area Networks (WANs) connect larger geographic areas, such as Florida, the United States,
or the world.
 Dedicated transoceanic cabling or satellite uplinks may be used to connect this type of network.

Networking Devices
Consist of, but are not limited to non-local printers, workstations, servers, webcams, data loggers,
instruments, dial-in devices, and, in general anything that requires an Ethernet connection.
These devices are supported on a best- effort basis limited by the staffing and equipment level available.
 Hub is a small, simple, inexpensive device that joins multiple computers together. Many network
hubs available today support the Ethernet standard. Other types includingUSB hubs also exist, but
Ethernet is the type traditionally used in home networking.
 Ethernet switch is a device that gathers the signals from devices that are connected to it, and then
regenerates a new copy of each signal.
 Bridge is a device filters data traffic at a network boundary. Bridges reduce the amount of traffic
on a LAN by dividing it into two segments.
 Routers are small physical devices that join multiple networks together.
 Network gateway is an internetworking system capable of joining together two networks that use
different base protocols. A network gateway can be implemented completely in software,
completely in hardware, or as a combination of both.

ICT 9: Computer Hardware Servicing

Module 3, Lesson 1: Plan and Prepare for Installation
NETWORK
Networking Devices (2)
Consist of, but are not limited to non-local printers, workstations, servers, webcams, data loggers,
instruments, dial-in devices, and, in general anything that requires an Ethernet connection.
These devices are supported on a best- effort basis limited by the staffing and equipment level available.
 Modem is a contraction of the terms modulator and demodulator. Modems perform a
simple function: They translate digital signals from a computer into analog signals that
can travel across conventional phone lines. The modem modulates the signal at the
sending end and
demodulates at the receiving end.
 Network interface is a device that connects a client computer, server, printer or other
component to your network. Most often, a network interface consists of a small electronic
circuit board that is inserted into a slot inside a computer or printer. Alternatively, some
computers, printers, or other services include network interfaces as part of their main
circuit boards (motherboards).
 Network firewall protects a computer network from unauthorized access. Network
firewalls may be hardware devices, software programs, or a combination of the two.
Network firewalls guard aninternal computer network (home, school, business intranet)
against malicious access from the outside.
Network firewalls may also be configured to limit access to the outside from internal
users.