ICT Support Service

Level II
Administrating Network and Hardware Peripherals

LO3:Connect hardware peripherals

LO4:Install peripherals to a network
Install peripherals to a network
What is a computer network?
A computer network is a group of computers linked to
each other that enables the computer to communicate
with another computer and share their resources, data,
and applications.
Computers are linked in order to share resources (such as
printers and CDs), 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.
Advantage of computer network
Sharing data file
Sharing programs/software
E.g. word-processors, spreadsheets
Sending messages
Sharing information/data
Email, documents, audio/video
Sharing peripherals
E.g. printers, modems,
Centralising administration/support
Easier to maintain computers if they are all set up in a
uniform manner with the same operating system, etc.
Disadvantage of computer network:

Costly, in terms of extra equipments and technical skills

Data security problems.

 Data could be at risk to unauthorized access or hackers.

Spread of computer viruses due to sharing of some files or

programs
Types of network
Networks can be classified into 3 groups, depending on
their size and function
LAN (Local Area Network)
Basic building block of any computer network
Confined to a local geographic area, low cost
Examples:
 2 computers connected by a cable in an office
MAN
A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is a computer
network that usually spans a city or a large campus.
It is larger than local area network as much as the size of a
town or city
WAN
No geographical limit, higher cost
Can connect computers and other devices in different
parts of the world
Examples:
 A corporation with offices in Ethiopian & New York
The Internet
 Network Components
Hardware components
Server

Clients

 Cables

Network adapter

Connective devices NIC, Modem, hub, switch, bridge,

router, brouter, gateway

Network configuration
All networks have a number of types of components
Servers
Computers that provide shared resources for network users
Clients
Computers that access shared resources provided by servers
Media
The wires that make the physical connections
Shared data
Files provided to clients by servers across the network
Shared peripherals
Additional hardware resources provided by servers
Components of network
 Software components
Network operating Systems
Server operating Systems
Client software’s
Types of Network
 There are two types of network configurations
Peer-to-peer
Server-based network

1. Peer to Peer Network

No dedicated servers
No hierarchy among computers
(all are equal, and known as peers)
Each computer functions as both a client and a server
No overall network administrator
Each user determines what data/resources he/she will share
Typically used for 10 users or less
Simple, cheap to construct
Usually no additional software required
When to use a peer-to-peer network:
10 users or less
Users share resources (e.g. files, printers) but no specialised servers exist
Security is not an issue
 Cont’d
2. Server-based networks
Server (s) dedicated to providing particular resources, e.g. File server,
print server, mail server, etc.
Single administrator to provide security privileges to you
More complex to install & maintain
Specialised server software required
The most common type of network
When to use a server-based network:
More than 10 users, or rapid growth expected
Security is important
Users share resources, and specialised servers exist, or money to buy
them
Other advantages:
 Easier to backup important data
 Can have less powerful client computers, since a client is only a client and not a
server too
 Network topologies
As well as the distinction between peer-to-peer and server-
based networks, we can categorise networks by how they
are connected together
The proper word for this is topology
The term topology refers to the physical layout of the
components of the network (i.e. computers, cables, etc.)
There are four basic types of network topology:
Bus
Star
Ring
Mesh
Network Topology and Design

Bus Topology
 A bus topology connects all stations in a linear fashion

Figure-1: Bus topology

 Bus topology advantages:

• It is inexpensive

• It is easy to design and implement because the stations are

simply daisy-chained together

 Bus topology disadvantages:

• It is difficult to troubleshoot

• It requires termination
 Star Topology

 The star network configuration is

the most popular physical topology

 In a star configuration, all

computers or stations are wired

directly to a central location:
• Concentrator (a.k.a. hub)

• Multistation Access Unit (MAU)

 A data signal from any station goes

directly to this central device, which

transmits the signal according to the
established network access method
for the type of network Figure-2: Star topology
 Star topology advantages:

• A break in one cable does not affect all other stations as it does in bus
technologies
• Problems are easier to locate because symptoms often point to one station

• The second-easiest topology to design and install

• Does not require manual termination

 Instead the media is terminated in the station at the transceiver on the

NIC and in the hub or MAU

 Star topology disadvantages:

• Hubs, which are required for a star topology, are more expensive than bus
connectors
• A failure at the hub can affect the entire configuration and all connected
stations
• Uses more cable than bus topologies
• Bus and star topologies can be combined to form a star/bus or bus/star
physical topology
• Hubs that have connectors for coaxial cable as well as for twisted-pair
wiring are used to form these types of networks
• When different physical topologies are applied to a network, the result is
often called a mixed media network
Ring Topology

 Physical rings

 Most often seen in Fiber

Distributed Data Interface

(FDDI) networks
• FDDI is a WAN technology

• Stations on a ring are wired

to one another in a circle
around the entire network

Fig 3. Ring Topology

 Ring topology advantages:

• It prevents network collisions because of the media access method

or architecture required
• Each station functions as a repeater, so the topology does not
require additional network hardware, such as hubs
 Ring topology disadvantages:

• As in a bus network, a failure at one point can bring down the network

• Because all stations are wired together, to add a station the network
must be shut down temporarily
• Maintenance on a ring is more difficult than on a star topology
because an adjustment or reconfiguration affects the entire ring
Mesh topology
Mesh networks are fully-interconnected, i.e. every
node has a link to every other node
Number of links L = (N(N-1))/2
Expensive to build, not feasible for large networks
Fast communication between nodes
Robust (i.e. if a link fails, the network will still
operate)
Passive topology
Mesh topology

Figure 4: Mesh Topology

Advantage
Faults tolerant in the network.
More secured
Disadvantage
Most expensive
More complex
Hybrid Topologies
 A hybrid topology combines 2 or more of the basic topologies, e.g.
 Star Bus topology
 If 1 computer goes down, does not affect rest of network
 If 1 hub goes down, all computers on that hub are disconnected. Also if the hub
communicates with other hubs they are also disconnected
 Passive topology
 Star Ring topology
 Similar to star bus, but hubs linked by another hub instead of a bus
 If 1 computer goes down, does not affect rest of network
 If 1 hub goes down, all computers on that hub are disconnected, but other hubs are
unaffected
 Passive topology