Routing technology & Network Security

Session 2
Devices & Cabling
Objectives

Review topics discussed in previous class

Identify network devices and their uses

Identify network cables

Advantages of Network
Sharing of files/data

Sharing of Programs/Software

Sharing of Devices such as printers and scanners

Sharing of single high speed internet connection

Centralized repository to store and access information

Flexible access between multiple computers and devices

What is a Computer Network ?

• A network can be defined as the communication between two hosts

using intermediate network devices and some form of connectivity.

• The main purpose of this communication is to share available

information and resources.

• Data originates from one sending End device, flows through the
network and arrives at the receiving End device.
Hosts (End devices)
Components of a network

NIC Cables Operating System

Protocols
Topologies
How communication takes place
• All connected devices require a method of communication which
are called network protocols

• Without protocols, devices would lack the ability to understand

the electronic signals they send to each other over network
connections

• Network protocols serve these basic functions:

• address data to the correct recipient(s)
• physically transmit data from source to destination, with security protection if
needed
• receive messages and send responses appropriately
BROADCAST
UNICAST
MULTICAST
Intermediate Devices
Intermediate Devices
These are the network devices which help to interconnect End hosts together

Bridge
Hub

Switch

Router

Wireless Access
Repeater Point
What is a Repeater ?
Repeater connects two segments of your network cable.

It regenerates the signals to proper amplitudes and sends them to the

other segments, this allows higher distance.

Repeaters require a small amount of time to regenerate the signal. This can
cause a propagation delay which can affect network communication when
there are several repeaters in a row.

Many network architectures limit the number of

repeaters that can be used in a row.
What is a Hub?
• A hub is a small, simple, inexpensive electronic device that joins
multiple computers together to form a single network segment.
• hubs vary in the speed (network data rate or bandwidth) they
support. (10/100/1000mbps)
• The number of ports an Ethernet hub supports also varies (4 to upto
1024 ports)
• Hubs can be connected to each other to expand the total number of
devices a network can support.
Types of Hub
• Two basic types of hubs exist:
• passive
• active

• Passive hubs do not amplify the electrical signal of incoming packets

before broadcasting them out to the network. It provides only 50m
distance from Computer to Hub.

• Active hubs, on the other hand, do perform this amplification

allowing us to increase the length of cable to upto 100m.
What is a Bridge?

A bridge connects two or more network segments together

It is mainly used to reduce the amount of broadcast packets being
sent within our network
A bridge used to have upto 8 ports
Bridge setup within a LAN
What is a Switch?
• A network switch (also called switching hub, bridging hub,
officially MAC bridge) is a device that interconnects computers
together.
• Switches manage the flow of data across a network by transmitting a
received network packet only to the device for which the packet is
intended.
• Switch is able to perform this function by remembering the Physical
addresses of devices connected to it
Switch setup within a LAN
What is a Router?
• A router is a networking device that forwards data
packets between computer networks. 
• A data packet is typically forwarded from one router to another router
through the networks that constitute an internetwork until it reaches
its destination
• It is also referred as a Gateway device allowing us to reach devices
outside our own network
Router setup within a LAN

192.168.10.0/24 192.168.200.0/24
Transmission Media & Classifications
Transmission Media
• In a data transmission system, the transmission medium is the
physical path between transmitter and receiver
SENDER RECEIVER

Physical Layer Physical Layer

Transmission Medium

Cable or Air
 Transmission
Media

Guided Media Unguided Media

(Wired) (Wireless)

Twisted Fiber
Coaxial
Pair Optic Radio Microwave Satellite
Cable
Cable Cable
Transmission Media
Design factors related to any transmission media

1. Bandwidth:
 Greater the bandwidth of signal higher data rate can be achieved

2. Transmission impairment:
 limit of the distance a signal can travel, degradation

3. Interference:
 Interference from competing signals in overlapping frequency bands can distort or wipe out a signal

4. Number of receivers:
 Point to point link or shared link with multiple attachments
Network Cables
Network cables
Coaxial Cable
 This was mainly used in Bus & Ring networks
 There are two types:
RG-8 (Thicknet)
 Max distance of upto 500 meters
 It uses the AUI connector
RG-58 (Thick Net)
 Max distance 185 meters
 It uses BNC connector

Both cables provide max transmission speed of 10 mbps

 Network Adapter

AUI Connector

BNC Connector
Thinnet & Thicknet
Network cables
Twisted Pair Cables
These are used in Star Networks
there are two types
a. UTP – unshielded twisted pair
b. STP – shielded twisted pair
Both uses the RJ- 45 connector
RJ 45 Connector
Network cables
Summary
1. What is a Computer Network ?

2. Why do we need Protocols for communication ?

3. What is Switching ?

4. What is Routing ?

5. In what form do computers send messages ?