Topic 2 : Networks

A computer network is a set of computers connected together for the

purpose of sharing resources. The most common resource shared today
is connection to the Internet. Other shared resources can include a
printer or a file server.

Visit the following video clip for summaries overall networking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QhU9jd03a0

Computers on a network are called nodes. The connection between

computers can be done via cabling, most commonly the Ethernet cable,
or fiber optic cable. Connections can also be wireless.

Computer networks can be broken down historically into topologies,

which is a technique of connecting computers. The most common
topology today is a star topology.

Network Models and Protocols

https://www.minigranth.com/computer-networks-tutorial/computer-network-
models/#:~:text=Computer%20network%20models%20are%20responsible,whole%20d
ata%20communication%20process%20relies.

For data communication to take place and two or more users can
transmit data from one to other, a systematic approach is required.

Client/Server Network

A computer network in which centralized, It has a powerful computer

(called the server) It uses a hub to which many less powerful personal
computers or workstations (called clients) are connected.

Client–server model is a distributed application structure that partitions

tasks or workloads between the providers of a resource or service,
called servers, and service requesters, called clients.

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Basic video introduction about client server network:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5BlpPU_muY

Peer-to-peer

In a P2P network, the "peers" are computer systems which are

connected to each other via the Internet. Files can be shared directly
between systems on the network without the need of a central server. In
other words, each computer on a P2P network becomes a file server as
well as a client.

Simple explanation video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Fs_Ucy_EU

Ad hoc networks

Ad hoc networks are created between two or more wireless PCs together,
without the use of a wireless router or an access point. The computers
communicate directly with each other.

Tethering

Tethering, or phone-as-modem, is the sharing of a mobile device's Internet

connection with other connected computers. It broadcasts your phone’s mobile
signal as a Wi-Fi network.
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Features and Purpose of Network Communication Protocols

Communication protocol is a system of rules that allow two or more entities of

a communications system to transmit information.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is the name of a wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to
provide wireless high-speed Internet and network connections.

ZigBee

ZigBee is a low data rate, two-way standard for home automation and data
networks. It is used to create a Personal Area Network (PAN).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXV_HgGO--g

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a similar radio-wave technology, but it's mainly designed for

communicating over short distances less than about 10m or 30ft.

Explains basics on following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1p4c7Gf8d8

Smart Home: See the following video clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u9kqhHC6Ok

Global System for Mobile (GSM)

GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communication. It is a digital cellular
technology used for transmitting mobile voice and data services. The concept
of GSM emerged from a cell-based mobile radio system at Bell Laboratories in the
early 1970s.

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Mobile Communi video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JZG9x_VOwA

Infrared (IR)

Infrared, sometimes called infrared light, is electromagnetic radiation with

wavelengths longer than those of visible light. It is therefore generally invisible to
the human eye but that we can feel as heat. All objects in the universe emit some
level of IR radiation, but two of the most obvious sources are the sun and fire.

Ethernet

Ethernet is the traditional technology for connecting devices in a wired local area
network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN), enabling them to communicate with
each other via a protocol -- a set of rules or common network language.

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Use of Network Standards and Protocols
1. TCP/IP

TCP / IP is the standard Internet communications protocols.

The Internet is a packet-switched network, in which information is broken down

into small packets, sent individually over many different routes at the same time,
and then reassembled at the receiving end.

TCP is the component that collects and reassembles the packets of data, while IP
is responsible for making sure the packets are sent to the right destination.

TCP IP video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpsEaqJV_A0

How does your mobile phone work? See the following video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JZG9x_VOwA

2. Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP)

VoIP services convert your voice into a digital signal that travels over the Internet.
If you are calling a regular phone number, the signal is converted to a regular
telephone signal before it reaches the destination.

VoIP can allow you to make a call directly from a computer, a special VoIP phone,
or a traditional phone connected to a special adapter.

3. Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a signaling protocol used for initiating,

maintaining, modifying and terminating real-time sessions that involve video,
voice, messaging and other communications applications.

4. 7 Layer Open System Interconnection (OSI) Model

The OSI Model is a conceptual framework used to describe the functions of a

networking system. The communications between a computing system are split
into seven different layers: Physical, Data Link, Network, Transport, Session,

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Presentation, and Application.

OSI Model Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv4y_uOneC0

Network Design and Implementation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C1dDaftt0c

Network design is the planning phase a company’s IT infrastructure must go

through before it is implemented. It involves evaluating and understanding how
all the elements of the network link together (from routers, switches, and servers
to desktops, laptops, and printers). A well-designed network can bring increased
operational efficiency. Network design is a task that is usually performed by
network designers, IT administrators, etc…

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There are number of details your network infrastructure design should show,
these include:

 A clear map of the network

 The structure and layout of the cabling required
 The quantity, type and location of all devices on the network
 Your IP addressing structure

Understanding computer specs video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqrJmstbzu4

Wireless networks are configurations that operate on radio frequency or

microwave signals. The radio signals allow wireless enabled devices to
communicate with one another and the Internet without having to be connected
to the network via an Ethernet cable.

Microwave transmission is the transmission of information by microwave radio

waves.

Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation best-known for their use in
communication technologies, such as television, mobile phones and radios. These
devices receive radio waves and convert them to mechanical vibrations in the
speaker to create sound waves.

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Satellite

A satellite is an object that has been intentionally placed into orbit.

Satellite is a microwave station. It is used to link two or more ground-based

microwave transmitter/receivers, known as ground stations.

A wired network connection is described as a configuration that involves cables

which establish a connection to the Internet and other devices on the network.
Data is transferred from one device to another or over the Internet using Ethernet
cables.

To see real time satellite infor: https://www.n2yo.com/

Li-Fi

Li-Fi (short for light fidelity) is wireless communication technology which utilizes
light to transmit data and position between devices.

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A good tutorial:

http://www.datacom2u.com/ENWirelessMedia.php

Wired Communication

Signals being transmitted are directed and confined in a narrow pathway by using
physical links.

Features:

 High Speed
 Secure
 Used for comparatively shorter distances

Twisted Pair Cable

It consists of 2 separately insulated conductor wires wound about each other.
There are two sub types called STP and UTP. (STP=Shielded Twisted Pair,
UTP=Unshielded Twisted Pair)

Coaxial Cable

It has an outer plastic covering containing 2 parallel conductors each having a

separate insulated protection cover.

Cable TVs and analog television networks widely use Coaxial cables.

Optical Fiber Cable – (Fiber Optic Cable)

It uses the concept of reflection of light through a core made up of glass or plastic.

What are the advantages & disadvantages of Optical fiber cable?

Advantages:

 Increased capacity and bandwidth

 Light weight
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  Less signal attenuation
 Immunity to electromagnetic interference
 Resistance to corrosive materials

Disadvantages:

 Difficult to install and maintain

 High cost
 Fragile

Power Line Communication

Power Line Communication (PLC) is a communication technology that enables

sending data over existing power cables. This means that, with just power cables
running to an electronic device (for example) one can both power it up and at the
same time control/retrieve data from it in a half-duplex manner.

Video clip power line communication:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSBjt0teiiw

Network Matrices

 Speed
 Bandwidth
 Throughput
 Scalability
 Latency
Network latency is the time it takes for data or a request to go from the
source to the destination. Latency in networks is measured in milliseconds.
 Error rate
 Packet Loss
Packet loss occurs when one or more packets of data travelling across a
computer network fail to reach their destination.
 Availability
 Jitter
Packets transmitted continuously on the network will have differing delays,
even if they choose the same path. This delay inconsistency between each
packet is known as jitter. It can be a considerable issue for real-time
communications, including IP telephony, video conferencing.

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 Network Devices (Components)

HUB
Networks using a Star topology require a central point for the devices to
connect. Originally this device was called a concentrator since it collect the
cable runs from all network devices. The basic form of concentrator is the
hub.

The hub is considered the least common denominator in device

concentrators. Hubs offer an inexpensive option for transporting data
between devices, but hubs don't offer any form of intelligence. Hubs can be
active or passive.

An active hub strengthens and regenerates the incoming signals before

sending the data on to its destination.

Passive hubs do nothing with the signal.

Switches

Switches are a special type of hub that offers an additional layer of

intelligence to basic. These are speeder than hubs.

Switches operate at both the physical layer and the data link layer of the OSI Model.

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Bridges

A bridge is used to join two network segments together, it allows computers

on either segment to access resources on the other.

Apart from building up larger networks, bridges are also used to segment
larger networks into smaller portions. The bridge does so by placing itself
between the two portions of two physical networks and controlling the flow of
the data between them.

Bridges can also connect networks that run at different speeds, different
topologies, or different protocols.

Routers

Routers are networking devices used to extend or segment networks by

forwarding packets from one logical network to another.

When a router receives the data, it determines the destination address by

reading the header of the packet. Routers are not in LANs.

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Routing Tables

Routers contain internal tables of information called routing tables that keep
track of all known network addresses and possible paths throughout the
internetwork.

Brouters
Brouters are a combination of router and bridge. This is a special type of
equipment.

Gateways
Gateway is a node on a network that serves as an entrance to another
network.
In enterprises, the gateway is the computer that routes the traffic from a

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workstation to the outside network that is serving the Web pages. In homes,
the gateway is the ISP that connects the user to the internet.
Example:
E-mail gateways

In enterprises, the gateway node often acts as a proxy server and a firewall.
The gateway is also associated with a router.

Default gateways
Default gateways serve an important role in TCP/IP networking. They provide
a default route for TCP/IP hosts to use when communicating with other hosts
on remote networks.

Hotspot
A hotspot is any location where Wi-Fi network access (usually Internet
access) is made publicly available. You can often find hotspots in airports,
hotels, coffee shops, and other places where business people tend to
congregate. Technically speaking, hotspots consist of one or several wireless
access points installed inside buildings and/or adjoining outdoor areas. These
APs are typically networked to printers and/or a shared high-speed Internet
connection.

Modems
A modem is a device that makes it possible for computers to communicate
over telephone lines. The word modem comes from
Modulate and Demodulate.

Because standard telephone lines use analog signals,

and computers digital signals, a sending modem must
modulate its digital signals into analog signals.
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