CHAPTER 5

Network
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Network
◦ A network is created when two or more computers are connected together.
◦ Using a network, a computer can communicate with others and share resources such
as hardware, software and data.

◦ A computer connected to a network is known as a 'work-station’

◦ A computer which isn't connected to a network is known as a 'stand-alone’.

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Why network computers?
Sharing hardware peripherals
◦ In a school or an office, it would cost a lot of money for every computer to have its own
printer and for the majority of the time, like your printer at home, it wouldn't be used.
◦ By joining computers together to form a network, they are able to share one printer.
◦ It can be spent buying a better quality printer and that the printer is being used much more
of the time.

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Why network computers?
Sharing files
◦ Networks allow you to share files with other users. You might have a folder at school
called the 'shared area' or something similar. This is often where teachers might put
documents or resources that they want you to use during the lesson. All students can
open these resources and save them to their own area, but they usually can't alter
the original copies in the shared area.
◦ In many organisations, some workers might have permission to alter the documents
in the shared area. This means that they can work collaboratively on a project or
document and each person can update it as required.

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Why network computers?
Log onto any workstation
◦ At home, when you save your work, it usually gets saved onto the hard disk of the
computer that you are actually working on. When you want to access this document
again, you can only open it by using the same computer. If you try to use your
brother's computer in the next room, you usually won't be able to see the document.
◦ With a network, have you ever thought about how you can log onto any computer,
anywhere in the school and still get all of your files and folders?
◦ That is because they aren't saved on the computer that you are working on. Instead,
everyone's work is saved on a file server. When you log onto the network, you type in
your user name and password. Your user name tells the network who you are and
the file server finds your files and makes them available to you.

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Why network computers?
Central backups
◦ You know how important it is to backup your files regularly. Imagine how much work it would
be for the network manager if they had to backup every students' work individually each day.
◦ Computer networks make this an easy task. All of the files and folders can be backed up
centrally from the file server each evening after the school closes.
Installation of software
◦ Most schools have hundreds of computers. It would be a very time consuming task if the
network manager had to install a new piece of software onto every computer on the network.
Instead, a lot of software can be installed centrally just once and then made available to each
workstation.
◦ This also means that software licences can be checked to ensure that all of the software
installed on the network is a legal copy.

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Why network computers?
Virus checks
◦ Anti-virus software can also be run centrally and can check every workstation on the
network at the same time.
Security
◦ If you had to save your documents onto one of the computer's hard drives in the
school, not only would you be tied to always having to log onto that computer, it
would mean that anyone else going onto that computer could also see all of your
work and perhaps alter, delete or copy it. With a network, each person can only see
their own files and folders, so this helps to keep your work safe.

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Disadvantages of networking
Viruses
◦ If a virus is introduced to the network, either intentionally or unintentionally, it will rapidly spread
around all of the workstations and could start to cause destruction to peoples' files or to the
efficient working of the network.
Network failure
◦ If the file server fails then no-one on the network can access any files or folders and nobody can
do any work. For an organisation, this would be extremely costly and disruptive.
◦ If a cable, hub or switch on the network fails, this would mean that any computers connected to
that part of the network couldn't be used to access network resources. They could still be used as
individual, stand-alone machines.
◦ Slow service
◦ As more users log onto the network and request files, send things to be printed and open more
software applications, the network can start to slow down. There is only a limited amount of
bandwidth and the more data that is travelling around the network, the slower things become.
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Disadvantages of networking
Cost
◦ Building a network isn't cheap. Every machine has to be connected to the network
either by physical cables or perhaps by wireless technology. Every workstation needs
a network interface card to enable it to be connected to the network. Other
hardware such as hubs, switches and routers are often needed.
Expert support required
◦ Networks need constant monitoring to ensure that the performance is maintained
and that all of the components are working properly. This requires specialist staff
such as network managers and technicians who will spend all of their time ensuring
that the network works efficiently whenever you need to use it. These staff add a
large cost to running a network, but without them, things would start to fail.

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Requirements for Connecting to Networks

◦ In order to connect to a network, computers need to fulfil certain requirements so that they all
operate using standard protocols.
◦ protocols are rules that allow the exchange and transmission of data between devices

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Standalone Operating System
◦ Stand-alone operating systems run on individual computers for single
users.
◦ A stand-alone operating system is a complete operating system that works on a
desktop computer, notebook computer, or mobile computing device.

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Server Operating System
◦ A server operating system is an operating system that is designed specifically to
support a network.
◦ A server operating system typically resides on a server.
◦ The client computers on the network rely on the server(s) for resources.

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Network Operating System
◦ A network operating system allows a computer to communicate on a network.
◦ It provides additional functionality to a stand-alone operating system, including:
◦ passing usernames and passwords to a server for checking when a user logs in
◦ separating user accounts and ensuring that users cannot access each other's files
◦ providing access to network storage and shared resources such as networked
printers.

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Network Interface card -NIC
◦ A network interface card (NIC) allows a device to connect to a network, such as the
internet.
◦ It is usually part of the internal motherboard, but they can also be wireless (WNICs)
and use an antenna to communicate with a network using microwaves.
◦ Each NIC is given a unique hard-wired media access control address.

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How Devices are Identified on a Network
◦ There are three methods used to identify devices on a network:
◦ Internet Protocol (IP)
◦ MAC address
◦ Device name.

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Internet Protocol (IP)
◦ An IP address is a unique address that networked devices use to send data to each
other.
◦ Each piece of data that is sent across a network carries the IP address of the
destination, so that each device in the network knows where to send it.
◦ IP addresses are made up groups of numbers.
◦ There are two main versions of IP in use.
◦ 1Pv4 uses four groups of up to three numbers separated by full stops (for example,
192.168.1.1 ).
◦ 1Pv6 uses eight groups of four hexadecimal numbers separated by colons (for
example, 2001 :Odb8:0000:0042:0000:8a2e:0370:7334).
◦ IP addresses can either be assigned by a network administrator or allocated
dynamically by a server running Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).

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MAC Address
◦ Unlike IP addresses, which can be dynamically allocated by users or servers, media access control
(MAC) addresses are universally unique identifiers given to the network interface card (NIC).

◦ MAC addresses are used in devices connected to local area networks (LANs) using Ethernet,
Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

◦ MAC addresses are assigned by the NIC manufacturer and are generally considered to be fixed
addresses.

◦ A MAC address is usually made up of six pairs of characters.

◦ The first three pairs identify the manufacturer and the remaining pairs are assigned by the
manufacturer to uniquely identify the device.

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Use of MAC Address
USE EXAMPLE

Restricting or allowing access to a MAC address filtering checks the MAC address of devices attempting to
network gain access to a network and only grants access to devices with specified
MAC addresses

Identifying a device on a network Some Wi-Fi hotspots only provide free access for a certain length of time,
and they identify a device using its MAC address in order to work out
whether it is trying to access the hotspot for longer than the permitted time

Tracking a device Some companies and organisations track devices (and therefore their
users) by checking which wireless access points have been accessed by
specific MAC address

Assigning 'static' or 'fixed' IP Each time a device connects to a network, it is identified by a DHCP server
addresses (usually using its MAC) and given the same IP address as before

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 Device Name
◦ A device name is a descriptive name that helps users to identify computers on a
network.
◦ Device names are not used by computers to communicate with each others as
they are not always unique.
◦ This means that they could cause conflicts if data was sent to more than one
device with the same name for processing.
◦ You can change a device name using tools in the device's operating system.

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Hotspot
Hotspot is a place in a public building where there is a computer system with an
access point, which allows people in the building with a wireless computer or
Bluetooth mobile phone to connect to a service such as the internet.

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Components Of Wired And Wireless Systems
◦ In order for a computer to operate on a network, there are a range of different
hardware components that are required.
◦ Wired and wireless systems can be made up of a variety of components.
◦ Cable
◦ Wireless Access point
◦ Switch
◦ Gateway
◦ Router
◦ Booster
◦ Server

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Cable

◦ Cables are used to connect devices in a wired network.

◦ In homes and small businesses, Cat5e cables are used for Ethernet
connections.
◦ These cables are able to transfer data at 10 Mbit/s, 100 Mbit/s or 1 Gbit/s.
◦ Cat5e cable connects devices through their NICs.
◦ The device's NIC allows the computer to exchange data with other networked
computers and contains LEOs that signal network activity.
◦ Cat6 cables can be used to transfer data at 10 Gbit/s.
◦ These are more expensive than Cat5e cables and are usually only used by
businesses.

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 Fibre Optic Cable

◦ Fibre optic cables are flexible fibres.

◦ Each fibre optic cable contains a glass thread that bounces light signals between
two devices faster and further than is possible with wire cables.
◦ Fibre optic cables can now carry data at 40 Gbit/s over many kilometres without
affecting signal quality.
◦ Fibre optic cables are expensive.
◦ This means that they are used by telecommunications companies and by
organisations that need very fast data transfer speeds, such as science and
engineering laboratories, hospitals, banks, schools and universities.

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Wireless access point
◦ A wireless access point allows devices with Wi-Fi connectivity to connect to a wired network.
◦ They are often built into other hardware, such as routers, but they are also available as stand-
alone devices that connect to a wired network using Ethernet cables.

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Switch
◦ A switch connects devices on a network.
◦ It has ports, each of which can be connected to a device using a cable.
◦ Connecting a wireless access point to a switch via a cable gives wireless devices access to the
wired network.
◦ The switch makes sure that data sent from any device gets to the correct device on the network.
◦ For example, when printing a document, a laptop will send data that includes the printer's IP
address to the switch and the switch then sends the data to the connected printer.

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Gateway
◦ A gateway connects two different ty pes of network.
◦ For example, a LAN is connected to a WAN using a gateway.

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Router
◦ A router stores the addresses of all devices that are connected to it so that it can forward
network traffic to its destination using the quickest route.
◦ Most routers used in homes include a switch and a wireless access point.
◦ They also act as gateways, connecting the LAN to the internet, which is a type of WAN.
◦ Home routers are dynamically allocated an IP address by the internet service provider (ISP) .

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Booster
◦ A booster is used to amplify the signal in a network so that its range can be extended.
◦ For homes and offices, wired Ethernet connections often have a maximum range of 100 m.
Wireless signals have limited range, too.
◦ Boosters can be used for both wired and wireless connections.
◦ Wireless access points can be set to repeater mode in order to act as boosters for Wi-Fi
signals,

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Server
◦ A server is a computer that shares its resources 'with connected devices.
◦ Computers connected to a server are known as clients.
◦ Resources that can be shared by one or more servers include printers, storage and
applications.

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Authentication server
◦ An authentication server checks usernames and passwords.
◦ When a user successfully logs in, the client receives an electronic certificate that it can then use
to access various resources, including applications and storage.

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Print Server
◦ A print server manages multiple printers at a time, dealing with print requests from client
computers and adding jobs to a queue so that individual printers are not overloaded with
requests.
◦ Print servers can also monitor and process print requests, making sure that users or
departments can be invoiced for the jobs that they send to the printers.

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File Server
◦ File servers allow users to access shared and private storage.

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Application server
◦ Application servers provide clients with access to applications that can be run directly from the server.

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Web Server
◦ Web servers process requests for data made via Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).
◦ Together, all of the content stored on all web servers is known as the World Wide Web. Client computers
often access web servers from outside the LAN to which the server is connected.

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Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
◦ Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) a set of standards that control how computer documents that are
written in HTML connect to each other.

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Internet Service Provider
◦ To connect to the internet, users need to subscribe to an ISP.
◦ ISPs provide connections to the telecommunications infrastructure that forms the framework
for the internet.
◦ ISPs provide access via mobile telephone networks and landline telephone networks.
◦ Commercial ISPs charge subscription fees for access to the internet.
◦ Some ISPs provide free access as part of community schemes, which aim to provide internet
access to groups of residents who either do not have or do not want access to commercial
ISPs.

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Web browser
◦ A web browser is a type of software application used to request and display information stored
on web servers.
◦ Examples of web browsers are Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer® or Microsoft
Edge, Opera8, and Safari®9•

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Search engine
◦ A search engine provides users with a way to find information in web pages stored on web
servers.
◦ Users enter keywords that describe the information they want to find.
◦ The search engine then compares the keywords with those in its database of web pages and
returns the results that are the closest match to the given keywords.

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Local Area Network (LAN)

◦ When the computers are fairly close to one another say, in a single office or two buildings
that are separated by a road, they can be joined together either by cables or wireless means.
◦ These computers then form a Local Area Network (LAN).
◦ Once the computers are connected together into a LAN, many people (users) can share and
use the same resources at the same time. They can share files, software, hard disks and
peripherals such as a printer or CD-ROM. Users can also use the LAN to communicate with
each other by e-mail. Data can be transmitted very quickly between networked computers.
◦ To log onto a LAN, you usually need a user name and password. The user name identifies you
to the file server so that it can 'serve' you the correct files. The password ensures that the
user name really does belong to you.

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Wide Area Network (WAN)

◦ Many modern companies have offices, shops or factories in various locations around the
country, and for large corporations, across the world. Even though staff work in different
places, they often need to be able to access the same information no matter where they are.
◦ It would not be possible to connect computers in different buildings together using the LAN
cables. Imagine how many roads would need to be dug up to lay cables between a building in
London and one in Birmingham.
◦ Computers on LANs in one building can be connected to computers on LANs in another
building usually through the telephone system, often using a modem. They can also be
connected via fibre optic cables, microwave links or satellite.
◦ By linking LANs together, the network is no longer local to one building, it is now spread over
a wide area. It is known as a Wide Area Network (WAN)

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Network topology
◦ When computers are connected together to form a network they are not connected in any
old random pattern. Instead, they are usually connected into one of a number of recognised
layouts (topologies).
◦ There are quite a few different layouts as follow:
• Bus network topology
• Ring network topology
• Star network topology

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Bus Networks

◦ This is one one of the simplest networks to connect.

◦ A single cable joins all of the workstations, printer, file server and other components
together. At each end of the bus is a 'terminator'. This is a piece of hardware which
prevents signals bouncing back and forth (echoes)

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Ring Networks

◦ In a ring network layout, all of the computers are connected to one another in a
circle. The data passes from one computer to the next one and then all the way
around the ring layout until it reaches the destination computer

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Star Networks

◦ In a star network layout, each workstation is connected by its own cable directly to
the server. Star networks are usually the layout of choice in schools and offices
because they tend to be the most reliable of the topologies.

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Client-Server Network
◦ With a client server network the files will not be stored on the hard drive of each workstation. Instead
they will be stored on a specialised computer called a server. A server is designed to efficiently provide
data to a remote client.
◦ If you are using a client server network then you will have a user account and you will have to log on
with a user name and password
◦ On a large network there may be more than just the file server. There might also be an email server
which deals with the internal email system. There may be a web server that controls access to the
internet and blocks access to any unsuitable sites and a print server which deals with all of the printing
requests.
◦ So that is the 'server' part of the client server network. - file, email and web servers
◦ The 'client' part is the workstation that is connected to the network.
◦ The 'clients' rely on servers to do their job and fetch the files that the users require and manage the
tasks and peripherals that the user wants to access.

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Client-Server Network:
advantages and disadvantages

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