Introduction To Computer Information Systems Chapter 6 Networks Internet and Communication Devices

CHAPTER
NETWORKS,
6 INTERNET, AND
COMMUNICATION
DEVICES
KEYWORDS LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Switches In this chapter, you will learn about:
• Hubs • The definition of computer networks;
• Modems • The definition of communication devices in
computers;
• Wireless access points
• Different types of networking devices;
• Bridges
• Different kinds of communication devices;
• Router
• Various technologies that are already in use
• Cable modems
in the computer world.
Copyright © 2019. Arcler Press. All rights reserved.
• Dial-up modems
• Network card
• Firewall
• Transceivers
Panwar, Suraj Singh. Introduction to Computer Information Systems, Arcler Press, 2019. ProQuest Ebook Central,
http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/UNICAF/detail.action?docID=5989591.
Created from UNICAF on 2020-11-20 06:58:45.
106 Introduction to Computer Information Systems
6.1. DEFINING COMPUTER NETWORK AND COM-

MUNICATION DEVICES
A computer network can be described as a group of computers that are
connected together to form a link between them. The computers that
are attached to this network are referred to as the nodes of the system.
The link between these nodes or computers can be formed by joining
them with cables.
These cables are commonly known as Ethernet cables. The
computers can also be connected without the help of wires or cables,
by using the radio waves. The computers that are connected to each
other have the benefit of sharing different resources among them.
These resources may be anything among internet, printers, and
servers for sharing files or any other suited resource. The network can
be referred to as a connection that can serve more than one purpose
and hence, enable a single computer to do more tasks than it alone can
(Figure 6.1).
Figure 6.1: A computer network diagram.

Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/12/Sample-net-
work-diagram.png
A communication device can be described as any kind of

hardware device that has the ability to transmit a required amount
of data or information or any set of commands between the device
Networks, Internet, and Communication Devices 107
that is sending the communication and the

one receiving it. There are several kinds of
communication devices that are present in
Communication
the computer world. The act of sending and channel is a type of
receiving the information or set of commands is media that is used to
done by a kind of connecting device that forms transfer a message
as a medium for communications and is known from one person to
another.
by modem.
Computers read and interpret data in the
form of digital signals. The data and information
along with the chain of commands traces its
path in the communication channel in one of the
ways from analogous and digital forms which
relies on the kind of communication channel
that the data is traveling in.
The analogous form of signal is made of
an electrical wave that is continuous in nature.
Whereas, a digital kind of signal is made up of
singular pulses that are further made up of a
number of bits that come together to form bytes.
The modem works for those communication
channels that exchange data and information
through digital signals, for example, the
cable lines for television, and transmits the
signals in digital form between the channel for
communication and computer.

However, if the signals are in the form
of analog form, for example, the lines for
telephone, the modem converts the signals from
analog form to digital form and then transmits
it further.
6.2. HUBS
The hubs are the basic blocks in the networking
pyramid that lie right at the bottom of it. The
hubs are utilized in those networks that make

use of cables that are twisted and paired together
to form connection between the devices.
These hubs can be combined with each other
to form networks that are larger in size. They are
quite simple in nature and are used to transmit
data packets to the devices that are connected
to them. Though, they do not judge on the fact
that whether the packets of data are meant to be
delivered to the device or not.
This lack of judgment on their part renders
them inefficient. This efficiency may lead
them to form a blockage that brings down the
performances in a business or a network that is
involved in too much of work (Figure 6.2).
Figure 6.2: A depiction of hub.

Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe-
dia/commons/7/77/Hub-ports.jpeg
The basic function of the hub involves

making way for the transmission of the electrical
signals to travel and reach their destinations. The
device that performs such functions is known as
passive hub. The other kinds of hubs that are
more common and in greater use currently are
active hubs.
These hubs regenerate the signals before

the signals are transmitted to the devices
connected to the hubs for communication and
data reception, and then provides the path for
transmission.
Validation is
The function of the hub does not involve any the process of
kind of interpretation or action on the data that establishing
it transmits or any sort of validation or scrutiny documentary
evidence
of data or instruction. The hubs may be found in demonstrating that a
a wide range of sizes and shapes. procedure, process,
The hubs that are small in size and serve or activity carried out
in testing and then
device between five and eight in number
production maintains
through the ports for connection they have are the desired level of
generally known as workgroup hubs. However, compliance at all
there are bigger hubs that can have up to thirty- stages.
two connection in them. These bigger hubs are
generally known as high-density devices.
Due to the fact that hubs do not involve them-

selves in the operations conducted on the data or
instructions, their work is limited to making the
pathway for the communication to flow between
the devices. In the current world, the limitations
render the device useless. Hence, the hubs need
to be coupled with some device that is more in-
telligent and has more functions. In such a sce-

nario, the functions of hubs come into play.
6.2.1. Switches
In a manner similar to hubs, the switches form
as points of connection for the Ethernet net-
work. The devices into which the data is to be
transmitted and the ones acting as the source
connect to the switches with the help of twisted
cables paired up together, so that they can serve
each device.
The main point of difference between the hubs

and switches is based on the way they deal with
the data that is provided to them by the source to
be taken to the receiver. The hub does not judge
the data and its receiver and transmits data re-
gardless of the supposed destination.
On the other hand, the switch transmits the
data to the destination after gauging what kind
of data is to be transmitted to which kind of
destination device. The switch performs this
task by getting the knowledge on the MAC
address of the devices that are connected to it
and then comparing that MAC address with the
address of destination device, in the data that it
is transmitting.
6.3. MODEM
The modem is an abbreviation for the combination
of words modulation and demodulation. It is
the work of a modem to modulate the signals
received and change them from either digital to
analog or from analog to digital.
The modem makes use of the telephone lines
to transmit the data by receiving and directing it
from one device to another. For such an action

to take place, it is important that both the device
that is sending the signals and the one receiving
them, are equipped with a modem each.
The process of modulation involves changing
the signals that are in digital form to the analog
forms. All the data is saved by the computer in
digital forms. Hence, when the computer needs
to transmit the data to some other device, and
it is to be done through the telephone lines, the
signals are first converted to analog form, as that
is the form that telephone lines can transmit the

signals in. Demodulation is
The process of demodulation involves extracting the original
information-bearing
converting the signals from their analog form
signal from a carrier
to the digital form. After the signals have been wave.
received by the computer through telephone
lines in analog form, it needs to be converted to
its digital form to be read by the computer. Here
is where demodulation comes into play.
6.3.1. Features of Modem

Some important features of modem are as fol-
lows:
• Speed: The time at which the modem
can send data in bps. The speed of
modem is normally from 300 bps to
56 kbps.
• Self-Testing: Modem also examines
the digital connection with the
computer. It also checks analog
connection with the remote modem.
• Voice Over Data: When data is being
transmitted modem also offers the
service of a voice conversation. This
attribute must exist in both the source

and destination modems.
• Error Control: For the purpose to
control errors for transmitted data,
modems use various techniques.
• Synchronous or Asynchronous
Transmission: Modems can
transmit data in synchronous and
asynchronous modes. But normally
data is transmitted in asynchronous
mode.
6.3.2. Dial-Up Modems

A computer’s digital signals must be changed
over to analog signals before they are transmitted
over standard phone lines. The communication
device that plays out this transformation is a
modem, which is some of the time known as a
dial-up modem.
A modem generally is as a connector card
that one embeds in an extension space on a
computer’s motherboard. One end of a standard
phone string appends to a port on the modem
card, and the opposite end connects to a phone
outlet.
6.3.3. ISDN and DSL Modems

On the off chance that one gets to the
Internet utilizing ISDN or DSL, one needs a
communication device to send and get the digital
ISDN or DSL signals. An ISDN modem sends
digital information and data from a computer to
Digital informa- an ISDN line and gets digital information and
tion is stored using
a series of ones and data from an ISDN line.
zeros. Computers A DSL modem sends digital information
are digital machines and data from a computer to a DSL line and gets
because they can
digital information and data from a DSL line.
only read informa-
tion as on or off -- 1 ISDN and DSL modems generally are outer
or 0. gadgets, in which one end associated with the
phone line and the opposite end interfaces with
a port on the system unit.
6.3.4. Cable Modems

A cable modem is a digital modem that sends
and gets digital information over the cable TV
(CATV) arrange. With homes in excess of 110
million, wired for cable TV, cable modems

give a quicker Internet usage as compared to
dial-up for the home user and have speeds like
DSL. Cable modems at present can transmit
information at paces that are a lot quicker than
either a dial-up modem or ISDN.
6.3.5. Wireless Modems

Some users of portable or mobile devices have a
wireless modem that utilizes the PDA system to
interface with the Internet wirelessly from a note
pad computer, a digital mobile phone, or other
cell phone. Wireless modems, which have an
outside or worked in radio wire, are accessible
as computer Cards, ExpressCard modules, and
flashcards.
6.4. NETWORK CARDS

A network card is a connector card, computer
Card, ExpressCard module, USB network
connector, or flash card that empowers a
computer or gadget that does not have networking
capabilities to get to a network and work on it.
The network card organizes the transmission

and receipt of information, guidelines, and data
to and from the computer or gadget that holds
the network card. Flash card is a card
bearing information
Network cards are accessible in a wide on both sides, which
range of styles. A network card for a computer is intended to be
on work station is a connector card that has a used as an aid in
memorization.
port to which a cable is inserted. A network
card for versatile computers and gadgets is as
a computer Card, ExpressCard module, USB
organize connector, or a flash card (Figure 6.3).
Figure 6.3: Network card.

dia/commons/9/9e/Network_card.jpg
Network cards that give wireless information

transmission additionally are accessible. This
kind of card sometimes referred to as a wireless
network card, frequently has an antenna for
reception of signals.
A network card pursues the rules of a specific
system communications standard, for example,
Ethernet or token ring. An Ethernet card is the
most widely recognized kind of network card.
When determining or introducing a NIC,

one should think about some issues such as:
• System Bus Similarity: If the system
interface, that one is going to install,
is an internal gadget, similarity or
compatibility with the bus must be
checked. The most widely recognized
bus system being used is the
Peripheral Component Interconnect
(PCI) bus; however, some more
outdated systems may even now be
using Industry Standard Architecture

(ISA) development cards.
• Framework Assets: Network cards,
similar to other gadgets, need IRQ,
and memory input/output addresses.
In the event that the network card
does not work effectively after being
installed, there may be device strife.
• Media Similarity: Today, the
supposition will be that systems
utilize twisted pair cabling. So in the
event that one needs a card for coaxial
or fiber-optic associations, one should
indicate this. Wireless network cards
are likewise accessible.
Considerably more than the presumption
that one is utilizing bent pair cabling is that the
systems administration system being utilized is
Ethernet. In the event that one requires a card
for another systems administration system, for
example, Token Ring, this must be indicated
when one order.
To install or arrange a system interface, one
will require drivers of the gadget, and might
need to design it, albeit numerous gadgets
are currently fitting and play. Most network

cards are currently programming arranged. A
considerable lot of these product setup utilities
additionally incorporate testing abilities.
The drivers and programming arrangement
utilities provided with the cards are frequently
not the most recent accessible, so it is best
practice to sign on to the Internet and download
the most recent drivers and related programming.
6.4.1. Wireless Access Points

A wireless access point is a focal communication
device that permits computers and gadgets to
exchange information wirelessly among them
or to exchange information wirelessly to a
wired system. Wireless access points have great
reception antennas for ideal signals.
6.5. ROUTERS
A router is a communication device that
Router is a associates different computers or different
networking device router together and transmits information to its
that forwards data right destination on the system. A router can be
packets between utilized on any size of system. On the biggest
computer networks.
scale, routers along the Internet backbone
forward information parcels to their destination
utilizing the quickest accessible way.
For smaller business and home systems, a
switch enables different computers to share a
solitary rapid Internet association, for example,
a cable modem or DSL modem. These routers
interface from 2 to 250 computers (Figure 6.4).
Figure 6.4: Router.
dia/commons/5/5c/Router_1.jpg
To keep unapproved users from getting to

records and computers, numerous switches
are secured by an implicit firewall, called an
equipment firewall. Some additionally have
worked in antivirus security. The present routers
or combination wireless access points/routers
are anything but difficult to arrange and verify
against unapproved access.
6.6. TRANSCEIVERS (MEDIA CON-

VERTERS)
The term transceiver describes a different system
gadget, yet it can likewise be innovatively
fabricated and inserted in devices, for example,
network cards and modems. In a system domain,
a transceiver gets its name from being both a
transmitter and a recipient of signals—in this
manner the name transceivers.
In fact, on a LAN, the transceiver is in
charge of setting signals onto the system media
and furthermore distinguishing approaching
signals going through a similar wire. Given

the portrayal of the capacity of a transceiver, it
bodes well that that innovation would be found
with network cards.
In spite of the fact that transceivers are found
in network cards, they can be external devices
also. To the extent networking is concerned,
transceivers can dispatch as a module or
chip type. Chip transceivers are little and are
embedded into a system board or wired directly
on a circuit board.
Module transceivers are outside of the

system and are installed and also work to other
computer peripherals, or they can work as
independent gadgets. There are numerous kinds
of transceivers—RF transceivers, fiber optic
transceivers, Ethernet transceivers, wireless
(WAP) transceivers, and then much more.
In spite of the fact that every one of these
media types is unique, the capacity of the
transceiver continues as before. Each kind of
transceiver utilized has diverse attributes; for
example, the quantity of ports accessible to
associate with the system and whether full-
duplex communication is upheld.
Recorded with transceivers in the CompTIA
destinations are media converters. Media
converters are an innovation that enables
heads to interconnect diverse media types—for
instance, contorted pair, fiber, and Thin or thick
cajole—inside a current system.
Utilizing a media converter, it is conceivable
to interface fresher 100Mbps, Gigabit Ethernet,
or ATM gear to existing systems, for example,
10BASE-T or 100BASE-T. They can likewise
be utilized in sets to embed a fiber fragment into
copper systems to increment cabling separations

and improve invulnerability to electromagnetic
obstruction (EMI).
6.7. FIREWALL
A firewall is a systems administration gadget,
either equipment or programming based, that
controls access to your association’s system.
This controlled access is intended to shield
information and assets from an outside risk.
To do this, firewalls are normally put

at section/leave purposes of a system—for
instance, setting a firewall between an interior
system and the Internet. Once there, it can
control access all through that point.
In spite of the fact that firewalls regularly
shield interior systems from open systems, they
are additionally used to control access between
explicit system portions inside a system—for
instance, setting a firewall between the Accounts
and the Sales divisions.
As referenced, firewalls can be actualized
through programming or through a committed
equipment gadget. Associations execute
programming firewalls through system working
systems (NOS, for example, Linux/UNIX,
Windows servers, and Mac OS servers.
The firewall is arranged on the server to
permit or allow specific kinds of system traffic.
In little workplaces and for standard home use,
a firewall is regularly installed on the nearby
system and arranged to control traffic. Some
outsider firewalls are accessible.
Equipment firewalls are utilized in systems
of all sizes today. Equipment firewalls are Firewall is a network
frequently committed system gadgets that can security system

be executed with almost no design and shield that monitors and
controls incoming
all systems behind the firewall from outside and outgoing
sources. network traffic based
Equipment firewalls are promptly accessible on predetermined
security rules.
and frequently joined with different gadgets
today. For instance, numerous broadband
switches and wireless passages have firewall
usefulness inherent. In such case, the switch
or WAP may have various ports accessible to
connect systems to.
6.8. BRIDGES
Bridges are utilized to partition bigger systems
into little areas. They do this by sitting between
two physical system portions and dealing with
the progression of information between the two.
By taking a look at the MAC address of the
gadgets associated with each fragment, brides
can choose to advance the information (in the
event that they trust that the goal address is on
another interface), or block it from intersection
(on the off chance that they can check that it is
on the interface from which it came).
At the point when spans were presented, the
MAC locations of the gadgets on the associated
systems must be entered physically, a tedious
procedure that had a lot of chance for blunder.
Today, practically all bridges can assemble a
rundown of the MAC addresses on an interface
by watching the traffic on the system. Such
gadgets are called learning bridges as a result of
this usefulness.
6.8.1. Bridge Placement and Bridging

Loops
There are two issues that one should think about

when utilizing spans. The first is the bridge
arrangement, and the other is the disposal of
crossing over circles:
• Arrangement: Bridges ought to
be situated in the system utilizing
the 80/20 rule. This standard directs
that 80% of the information ought
to be nearby and that the other 20%
ought to be bound for gadgets on the
opposite side of the bridge.

• Connecting Circles: Bridging loops
can happen when more than one
bridge is executed on the system.
In this situation, the bridges can
befuddle each other by driving each
other to trust that a gadget is situated
on a specific portion when it is not.
To battle the connecting circle issue, the IEEE
802.1d Spanning Tree convention empowers
connect interfaces to be allotted a value that is
then used to control the bridge learning process.
REVIEW QUESTIONS:
1. Define computer networks.
2. Define communication devices in computers.
3. What are the hubs? Explain.
4. How are switches different from hubs?
5. What is a modem?
6. Enlist various features of a modem.
7. Enlist the different types of modems.
8. What do you mean by transceivers?
9. Explain network cards.
10. Explain the use of bridges in computers and networking.
REFERENCES
1. Bakardjieva, T., (n.d.). Introduction to Computer Networking.
[eBook] Available at: https://www.vfu.bg/en/e-Learning/Computer-
Networks--Introduction_Computer_Networking.pdf (Accessed on
16 May 2019).
2. Computerhope.com. (2017). What is a Communication Device?
[online] Available at: https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/c/
communication-devices.htm (Accessed on 16 May 2019).
3. Dordal, P., (2019). An Introduction to Computer Networks.
[eBook] Available at: http://intronetworks.cs.luc.edu/current/
ComputerNetworks.pdf (Accessed on 16 May 2019).
4. Introducing Basic Network Concepts (n.d.). [eBook] Available
at: https://www3.nd.edu/~cpoellab/teaching/cse40814_fall14/
networks.pdf (Accessed on 16 May 2019).
5. Networking Devices (n.d.). [eBook] Available at: https://www.
pearsonhighered.com/assets/samplechapter/0/7/8/9/0789732548.
pdf (Accessed on 16 May 2019).
6. Sciencerack (2018). 4 Types of Communication Devices with Their
Features, Functions, and Examples. [online] Available at: http://
sciencerack.com/4-types-of-communication-devices/ (Accessed on
16 May 2019).
7. Sites.google.com., (n.d.). Lesson 6 – Communication Devices –
Teaching Computer Networking. [online] Available at: https://sites.
google.com/site/pnutpck11/lesson-6---communication-devices
(Accessed on 16 May 2019).
8. Study.com., (n.d.). What is a Computer Network? – Types & Definition

– Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com. [online] Available at:
https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-a-computer-network-
types-definition-quiz.html (Accessed on 16 May 2019).

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CHAPTER

KEYWORDS LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

6.1. DEFINING COMPUTER NETWORK AND COM-

Figure 6.1: A computer network diagram.

A communication device can be described as any kind of

that is sending the communication and the

communication and computer.

hubs are utilized in those networks that make

Figure 6.2: A depiction of hub.

The basic function of the hub involves

These hubs regenerate the signals before

Due to the fact that hubs do not involve them-

telligent and has more functions. In such a sce-

The main point of difference between the hubs

from one device to another. For such an action

is the form that telephone lines can transmit the

6.3.1. Features of Modem

attribute must exist in both the source

6.3.2. Dial-Up Modems

6.3.3. ISDN and DSL Modems

6.3.4. Cable Modems

million, wired for cable TV, cable modems

6.3.5. Wireless Modems

6.4. NETWORK CARDS

The network card organizes the transmission

Figure 6.3: Network card.

Network cards that give wireless information

When determining or introducing a NIC,

using Industry Standard Architecture

are currently fitting and play. Most network

6.4.1. Wireless Access Points

Figure 6.4: Router.

To keep unapproved users from getting to

6.6. TRANSCEIVERS (MEDIA CON-

signals going through a similar wire. Given

Module transceivers are outside of the

copper systems to increment cabling separations

To do this, firewalls are normally put

frequently committed system gadgets that can security system

6.8.1. Bridge Placement and Bridging

There are two issues that one should think about

opposite side of the bridge.

8. Study.com., (n.d.). What is a Computer Network? – Types & Definition

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