02/07/2015

Chapter 1
Different Size Networks
- Small home network
- Small office network
- Medium to large network
- World wide networks
Intranet for internal employees only
Internet Public
2 kinds of networks
Peer-to-peer
The advantages of peer-to-peer networking:
- Easy to set up
- Less complexity
- Lower cost since network devices and dedicated servers may not be
required
- Can be used for simple tasks such as transferring files and sharing
printers
The disadvantages of peer-to-peer networking:
- No centralized administration
- Not as secure
- Not scalable
- All devices may act as both clients and servers which can slow their
performance.
Client/server

Client - Any device that when disconnected from network it can still function locally.
-Computers can be both client and servers.
The simplest peer-to-peer network is computer to computer, however it is less
secure.

Network Infrastructure It is what makes up a network.

- Devices
Intermediary network devices used to interconnect end
devices.
Eg Network access (switches and wireless access points),
Internetworking (routers), Security (Firewalls).Routers
intermediate device that connect networks. Switches
intermediate devices that connect end devices.
*Serial connections are not considered intermediary devices.
End devices (hosts) - These devices form the interface between users
and the underlying communication network. Eg. Computers, Network Printers,
VoIP phones, Mobile handheld devices.

*Each host has a specific, unique address.

- Media Provide the pathway over which data can be transmitted.
Eg. Metallic wires within cables, Glass or plastic fibers (fiber
optic), Wireless transmission, air (wifi).
- Services Software

Network Interface Card - A NIC, or LAN adapter, provides the physical connection to the network at
the PC or other host device. The media connecting the PC to the networking device plugs directly
into the NIC. Provides a method for the computer to get information out of the computer and into the
network. Data is converted through a process called end coding. When it reaches it end receive
device it is decoded.

Physical Port - A connector or outlet on a networking device where the media is connected to a host
or other networking device.

Interface - Specialized ports on an internetworking device that connect to individual networks.

Because routers are used to interconnect networks, the ports on a router are referred to network
interfaces.

Network Topology

Physical topology diagrams - Identify the physical location of intermediary devices, configured
ports, and cable installation.
Logical topology diagrams - Identify devices, ports, and IP addressing scheme.

LAN Local Area Network- small geographical area provide high speed bandwidth (Faster)
WLAN wireless network
SAN Storage area network
WAN Wide area network - Large geographical area Lower Bandwidth (Slower)
MAN Metropolitan Area network
THE INTERNET
The Internet is a conglomerate of networks and is not owned by any individual or group.
*Note: The term internet (with a lower case i") is used to describe multiple networks interconnected.
When referring to the global system of interconnected computer networks or the World Wide Web, the
term Internet (with a capital I) is used.
There are organizations that have been developed for the purpose of helping to maintain structure and
standardization of Internet protocols and processes. These organizations include the Internet
Engineering Task Force (IETF), Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN),
and the Internet Architecture Board (IAB), plus many others. IEEE 802.1 Standards for Ethernet.

Intranet - private connection of LANs and WANs that belongs to an organization, and is designed to be
accessible only by the organization's members, employees, or others with authorization

Extranet Specific wide area connection leased by a particular organization but is only accessible by
that organization.

Convergence the process of combining voice, video, and data communications over

a common network infrastructure.

Options for connecting to the internet

Small office or home users: Cable, DSL, Cellular, Satellite, Dial-up
Businesses : Dedicated leased lines, Metro Ethernet, Satellite