Table of Contents

Network Processors.................................................................................................... 1
Network Interface Card (NIC)..................................................................................1
Modem.................................................................................................................... 1
Hub.......................................................................................................................... 1
Switch...................................................................................................................... 1
Router...................................................................................................................... 1
Multiplexer............................................................................................................... 2
De-multiplexer......................................................................................................... 2
Networks.................................................................................................................... 3
Internet................................................................................................................... 3
Intranet................................................................................................................... 3
Extranet.................................................................................................................. 3
Peer-to-Peer Network............................................................................................... 4
Client Server Network............................................................................................. 4
Virtual Private Network (VPN).................................................................................. 5
Local Area Network (LAN)........................................................................................ 5
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)...........................................................................5
Wide Area Network (WAN)....................................................................................... 6
Wireless LAN........................................................................................................... 7
Wireless WAN.......................................................................................................... 7
Network Topology....................................................................................................... 8
Mesh Topology......................................................................................................... 9
Advantages.......................................................................................................... 9

Disadvantages..................................................................................................... 9
Star Topology......................................................................................................... 10
Advantages........................................................................................................ 10
Disadvantages................................................................................................... 10
Ring Topology........................................................................................................ 12
Advantages........................................................................................................ 12
Disadvantages................................................................................................... 12
Bus Topology......................................................................................................... 13
Advantages........................................................................................................ 13
Disadvantages................................................................................................... 13
Hybrid Topology..................................................................................................... 14
Advantages........................................................................................................ 14
Disadvantage..................................................................................................... 14
Wired Media.............................................................................................................. 15
Twisted Pair........................................................................................................... 15
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)............................................................................15
Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)................................................................................ 15
Coaxial Cable........................................................................................................ 16
Fiber Optic Cable / Optical Fiber Cable..................................................................16
Submarine Communications Cable........................................................................19
Wireless Media......................................................................................................... 20
Microwave Transmission........................................................................................ 20
Properties........................................................................................................... 20
Uses................................................................................................................... 20
Satellite Communication....................................................................................... 21
Geostationary Satellites..................................................................................... 21

Cellular Networks.................................................................................................. 23
Network Software..................................................................................................... 25
Network Operating Systems.................................................................................. 25
Network Management........................................................................................... 25

Network Processors
Network Interface Card (NIC)
A network card, network adapter or NIC (network interface controller) is a piece of
computer hardware designed to allow computers to communicate over a computer
network. It is both an OSI layer 1 (physical layer) and layer 2 (data link layer)
device. It allows users to connect to each other either by using cables or wirelessly.
It is also incorrectly and commonly called LAN Card.

Modem
A modem (modulator-demodulator) is a device that modulates an analog carrier
signal to encode digital information, and also demodulates such a carrier signal to
decode the transmitted information. The goal is to produce a signal that can be
transmitted easily and decoded to reproduce the original digital data. Modems can
be used over any means of transmitting analog signals, from light emitting diodes
to radio.

Hub
A common connection point for devices in a network. Hubs are commonly used to
connect computers in a LAN. A hub contains multiple ports. When a packet arrives
at one port, it is sent to all the other ports so that all connected computers on the
LAN receive all packets. In simpler words hubs always broadcast all data.

Switch
A network switch is a computer networking device that connects network
segments. Switches may operate at one or more layers of the OSI model, including
data link, network, or transport (i.e., end-to-end). A switch contains multiple ports.
Network switches are intelligent devices and when data packets arrive at it they
send them only to the computer that they are meant for. Switches are capable of
unicast, multicast and even broadcast.

Router
A router is a device that forwards data packets across computer networks. Routers
perform the data "traffic directing" functions on the Internet. A router is a
microprocessor-controlled device that is connected to two or more data lines from
different networks. When a data packet comes in on one of the lines, the router
reads the address information in the packet to determine its ultimate destination.
Then, using information in its routing table, it directs the packet to the next network
on its journey. A data packet is typically passed from router to router through the
networks of the Internet until it gets to its destination computer. Routers also
perform other tasks such as translating the data transmission protocol of the packet
1

to the appropriate protocol of the next network, and preventing unauthorized

access to a network by the use of a firewall.

Multiplexer

Multiplexing (also known as muxing) is a method by which multiple analog message

signals or digital data streams are combined into one signal over a shared medium.
The aim is to share an expensive resource. For example, in telecommunications,
several telephone calls may be carried using one wire. Multiplexing originated in
telegraphy, and is now widely applied in communications. The device that performs
the multiplexing is called a multiplexer (MUX). Frequently a multiplexer and
demultiplexer are combined into a single device capable of processing both
outgoing and incoming signals.

De-multiplexer

Multiplexing (also known as muxing) is a method by which multiple analog message

signals or digital data streams are combined into one signal over a shared medium.
The aim is to share an expensive resource. For example, in telecommunications,
several telephone calls may be carried using one wire. The reverse process, known
as demultiplexing, can extract the original channels on the receiver side. The device
that performs the reverse process is called a demultiplexer (DEMUX). Frequently a
multiplexer and demultiplexer are combined into a single device capable of
processing both outgoing and incoming signals.

Networks
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the
standard Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP) to serve billions of users worldwide. It is a
network of networks that consists of millions of private, public, academic, business,
and government networks, of local to global scope, that are linked by a broad array
of electronic, wireless and optical networking technologies. The Internet carries a
vast range of information resources and services, such as the inter-linked hypertext
documents of the World Wide Web (WWW) and the infrastructure to support
electronic mail.

Intranet
An intranet is a private computer network that uses Internet Protocol technology to
securely share any part of an organization's information or network operating
system within that organization. The term is used in contrast to internet, a network
between organizations, and instead refers to a network within an organization.
Sometimes the term refers only to the organization's internal website, but may be a
more extensive part of the organization's information technology infrastructure. It
may host multiple private websites and constitute an important component and
focal point of internal communication and collaboration.

Extranet
An extranet is a computer network that allows controlled access from the outside,
for specific business or educational purposes. An extranet can be viewed as an
extension of a company's intranet that is extended to users outside the company,
usually partners, vendors, and suppliers. It has also been described as a "state of
mind" in which the Internet is perceived as a way to do business with a selected set
of other companies (business-to-business, B2B), in isolation from all other Internet
users. In contrast, business-to-consumer (B2C) models involve known servers of one
or more companies, communicating with previously unknown consumer users. An
extranet provides access to needed services for channel partners, without granting
access to an organization's entire network.

Peer-to-Peer Network

When several computers are interconnected, but no computer occupies a privileged

position, the network is usually referred to as a peer-to-peer network. In this type of
network, every computer can communicate with all the other machines on the
network, but in general each one stores its own files and runs its own applications.

Client Server Network

With a client-server network, one or more servers will perform critical functions on
behalf of the other machines (the clients) on the network. These functions might
include user authentication, data storage, and the running of large, shared,
resource-intensive applications such as databases and client relationship
management (CRM) software. Typically, both peer-to-peer and client-server
networks rely on a shared Internet connection for access to external resources of
these basic network structures.

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

A virtual private network (VPN) is a secure way of connecting to a private Local Area
Network at a remote location, using the Internet or any insecure public network to
transport the network data packets privately, using encryption. The VPN uses
authentication to deny access to unauthorized users, and encryption to prevent
unauthorized users from reading the private network packets. The VPN can be used
to send any kind of network traffic securely, including voice, video or data.
VPNs are frequently used by remote workers or companies with remote offices to
share private data and network resources. VPNs may also allow users to bypass
regional internet restrictions such as firewalls, and web filtering, by "tunneling" the
network connection to a different region.

Local Area Network (LAN)

A local area network (LAN) is a computer network covering a local area, like a home,
office, or group of buildings. The defining characteristics of LANs in contrast to
WANs (wide area networks) are: their much higher data rates; smaller geographic
range; and that they do not require leased telecommunication lines.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

Metropolitan Area Networks or MANs are large computer networks usually spanning
a campus or a city. They typically use wireless infrastructure or optical fiber
connections to link their sites.
For instance a university or college may have a MAN that joins together many of
their local area networks (LANs) situated around site of a fraction of a square
kilometer. Then from their MAN they could have several wide area network (WAN)
6

links to other universities or the Internet. Specifically, this type of MAN is known as
a campus area network.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A wide area network or WAN is a computer network covering a broad geographical
area. Contrast with metropolitan area networks (MANs) or local area networks
(LANs) that are usually limited to a room, building or campus. The largest and most
well-known example of a WAN is the Internet.
WANs are used to connect local area networks (LANs) together, so that users and
computers in one location can communicate with users and computers in other
locations. Many WANs are built for one particular organization and are private.
Others, built by Internet service providers, provide connections from an
organization's LAN to the Internet. WANs are most often built using leased lines. At
each end of the leased line, a router connects to the LAN on one side and a hub
within the WAN on the other. Leased lines can be very expensive. Instead of using
leased lines, WANs can also be built using less costly circuit switching or packet
switching methods.

Wireless LAN

A wireless local area network (WLAN) links two or more devices using some wireless
distribution method and usually providing a connection through an access point to
the wider Internet. This gives users the mobility to move around within a local
coverage area and still be connected to the network.
Wireless LANs have become popular in the home due to ease of installation, and the
increasing to offer wireless access to their customers; often for free. Large wireless
network projects are being put up in many major cities: New York City, for instance,
has begun a pilot program to provide city workers in all five boroughs of the city
with wireless Internet access. Wireless LAN is more commonly called Wi-Fi (Wireless
Fidelity) which is not a technical term.

Wireless WAN
A wireless wide area network (WWAN), is a form of wireless network. A wide area
network differs from a local area network by the technology used to transmit the
signal and their size. Wireless networks of all sizes deliver data in the form of
telephone calls, web pages, and streaming video.
8

A WWAN differs from WLAN (wireless local area network) in that it uses mobile
telecommunication cellular network technologies such as WiMAX (Worldwide
Interoperability for Microwave Access).
Comparisons and confusion between WiMAX and Wi-Fi are frequent because both
are related to wireless connectivity and Internet access
WiMAX is a long range system, covering many kilometers, allowing access to a
network, in most cases the Internet while Wi-Fi is more popular in end user devices.
Although Wi-Fi and WiMAX are designed for different situations, they are
complementary. WiMAX network operators typically provide a WiMAX Subscriber
Unit which connects to the metropolitan WiMAX network and provides Wi-Fi within
the home or business for local devices (e.g., Laptops, Wi-Fi Handsets, smartphones)
for connectivity. This enables the user to place the WiMAX Subscriber Unit in the
best reception area (such as a window), and still be able to use the WiMAX network
from any place within their residence.

Network Topology

Network topology is the layout pattern of interconnections of the various elements

(links, nodes, etc.) of a computer network. Topology can be considered as a virtual
shape or structure of a network. This shape does not correspond to the actual
physical design of the devices on the computer network. The computers on a home
network can be arranged in a circle but it does not necessarily mean that it
represents a ring topology.
Following are some of the most common network topologies

Mesh Topology

Star Topology

Ring Topology

Bus Topology
9

Mesh Topology

A network topology where each of the computers and network devices are
interconnected with one another, allowing for most transmissions to be distributed,
even if one of the connections go down. This topology is not commonly used for
most computer networks as it is difficult and expensive to have redundant
connection to every computer. However, this topology is commonly used for
wireless networks.

Advantages

The use of dedicated link guarantees that each connection can carry its own
data load. It eliminates traffic problem.

If one link becomes unusable, it does not harm the entire system.

It is easy to troubleshoot.

Disadvantages

A full mesh network can be very expensive.

It is difficult to install and reconfigure.

10

Star Topology

Star networks are one of the most common computer network topologies. In its
simplest form, a star network consists of one central switch, hub or computer, which
acts as a conduit to transmit messages. This consists of a central node, to which all
other nodes are connected; this central node provides a common connection point
for all nodes through a hub. Thus, the hub and leaf nodes, and the transmission
lines between them, form a graph with the topology of a star.
The star topology reduces the chance of network failure by connecting all of the
systems to a central node. All peripheral nodes may thus communicate with all
others by transmitting to, and receiving from, the central node only. The failure of a
transmission line linking any peripheral node to the central node will result in the
isolation of that peripheral node from all others, but the rest of the systems will be
unaffected. Data on a star network passes through the hub, switch, or concentrator
before continuing to its destination. The hub, switch, or concentrator manages and
controls all functions of the network. It is also acts as a repeater for the data flow.
This configuration is common with twisted pair cable. However, it can also be used
with coaxial cable or optical fiber cable.

Advantages

It is easy to maintain and modify network.

Adding or removing computers can be done without disturbing the network.

Finding faults becomes very simple.

Single computer failure does not bring down the whole network.

It is more flexible than other topologies.

Disadvantages

If central hub fails, the entire network breaks down.

11

It requires a large length of cable to connect computers.

It is more expensive.

12

Ring Topology

A ring network is a network topology in which each node connects to exactly two
other nodes, forming a single continuous pathway for signals through each node - a
ring. Data travels from node to node, with each node along the way handling every
packet.
Because a ring topology provides only one pathway between any two nodes, ring
networks may be disrupted by the failure of a single link. A node failure or cable
break might isolate every node attached to the ring.
Every computer is connected to next computer in a ring. Each computer receives
message from the previous computer and transmits it to the next computer. The
message flows in one direction. The message is passed around the ring until it
reaches the correct destination computer.

Advantages

It is less expensive than star topology.

Every computer has equal access to the network.

Disadvantages

Failure of one computer in the ring can affect the whole network.

It is difficult to troubleshoot.

Adding or removing computers affect the whole network.

13

Bus Topology

A bus network topology is a network architecture in which a set of clients are

connected via a shared communications line, called a bus.
Bus topology is the cheapest way of connecting computers to form a workgroup or
departmental LAN, but it has the disadvantage that a single loose connection or
cable break can bring down the entire LAN

Advantages

Bus is easy to use and understand and inexpensive simple network

It is easy to extend a network by adding cable with a repeater that boosts the
signal and allows it to travel a longer distance.

Disadvantages

A bus topology becomes slow by heavy network traffic with a lot of computer
because networks do not coordinate with each other to reserve times to
transmit.

It is difficult to troubleshoot a bus because a cable break or loose connector

will cause reflections and bring down the whole network.

14

Hybrid Topology
A hybrid topology connects network components by combining the features of two
or more other topologies (such as star, bus, ring and token-ring). The resulting
hybrid topology exhibits features (and limitations) of its comprising network
components. Examples of hybrid networks include the star bus network (that
combines a star network topology and a bus network topology) and a star ring
network, which combines the features of a star network topology and a ring network
topology.

Advantages

It is reliable and the failure of one node (or connected system) does not affect
the performance of the network. There are multiple pathways between the
nodes.

A hybrid network combines different networks and is therefore able to

provide features and exhibit characteristics of both.

It can be employed in a variety of environments and is typically used to wire

a corporate network or a large LAN (local area network.)

Disadvantage

Expensive & Complex

It is typically more expensive than other topologies

It requires more cabling between its hardware devices than other types of
network topologies.

It is difficult to set up and troubleshoot. Problems in connected nodes are

often hard to pinpoint and isolate.

Addition of other nodes or devices to the network is cumbersome.

15

Wired Media
Twisted Pair
Twisted pair cabling is a type of wiring in which two conductors (the forward and
return conductors of a single circuit) are twisted together for the purposes of
canceling out electromagnetic interference (EMI) from external sources; for
instance, electromagnetic radiation and crosstalk between neighboring pairs. There
are two basic types of twisted pair cables: Unshielded Twisted Pair and Shielded
Twisted Pair.

Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)

Unshielded Twisted Pair, a popular type of cable that consists of two unshielded
wires twisted around each other. Due to its low cost, UTP cabling is used extensively
for local-area networks (LANs) and telephone connections. UTP cabling does not
offer as high bandwidth or as good protection from interference as coaxial or fiber
optic cables, but it is less expensive and easier to work with.

Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)

Shielded Twisted Pair is a type of copper telephone wiring in which each of the two
copper wires that are twisted together are coated with an insulating coating that
functions as a ground for the wires. The extra covering in shielded twisted pair
wiring protects the transmission line from electromagnetic interference leaking into
or out of the cable. STP cabling often is used in computer networks.
16

Coaxial Cable

Coaxial cable is an electrical cable with an inner conductor surrounded by a flexible,

tubular insulating layer, surrounded by a tubular conducting shield. The shield
minimizes electrical and radio frequency interference. The term coaxial comes from
the inner conductor and the outer shield sharing the same geometric axis.
Coaxial cabling is the primary type of cabling used by the cable television industry
and is also widely used for computer networks. Although more expensive than
standard telephone wire, it is much less susceptible to interference and can carry
much more data.

Fiber Optic Cable / Optical Fiber Cable

An optical fiber is a flexible, transparent fiber made of very pure glass (silica) not
much bigger than a human hair that acts as a waveguide, or "light pipe", to
transmit light between the two ends of the fiber. Optical fibers are widely used in
fiber-optic communications, which permits transmission over longer distances and
at higher bandwidths (data rates) than other forms of communication. Fibers are
17

used instead of metal wires because signals travel along them with less loss and are
also immune to electromagnetic interference. Fibers are also used for illumination,
and are wrapped in bundles so they can be used to carry images, thus allowing
viewing in tight spaces.

18

Optical fiber cable typically consists of a transparent core surrounded by a

transparent cladding material with a lower index of refraction. Light is kept in the
core by total internal reflection.
Fiber optics has several advantages over traditional metal communications lines:

Fiber optic cables have a much greater bandwidth than metal cables. This
means that they can carry more data.

Fiber optic cables are less susceptible than metal cables to interference.

Fiber optic cables are much thinner and lighter than metal wires.

Data can be transmitted digitally (the natural form for computer data) rather
than analogically.

The main disadvantage of fiber optics are

The cables are expensive to install.

They are more fragile than wire and are difficult to splice.

Fiber optics is a particularly popular technology for local-area networks. In addition,

telephone companies are steadily replacing traditional telephone lines with fiber
optic cables. In the future, almost all communications will employ fiber optics.

19

Submarine Communications Cable

A submarine communications cable is a cable laid beneath the sea to carry
telecommunications under stretches of water. As of 2010, submarine cables link all
the world's continents except Antarctica.
The first submarine communications cables carried telegraphy traffic. Subsequent
generations of cables carried first telephony traffic, then data communications
traffic. All modern cables use optical fiber technology to carry digital payloads,
which are then used to carry telephone traffic as well as Internet and private data
traffic. They are typically 69 millimetres (2.7 in) in diameter and weigh around 10
kilograms per metre (7 lb/ft), although thinner and lighter cables are used for deepwater sections.

20

Wireless Media
Microwave Transmission
Microwave transmission refers to the technology of transmitting information or
power by the use of radio waves whose wavelengths are conveniently measured in
small numbers of centimeters; these are called microwaves. Microwaves are widely
used for point-to-point communications because their small wavelength allows
conveniently-sized antennas to direct them in narrow beams, which can be pointed
directly at the receiving antenna. This allows nearby microwave equipment to use
the same frequencies without interfering with each other, as lower frequency radio
waves do. Another advantage is that the high frequency of microwaves gives the
microwave band a very large information-carrying capacity.

Properties

Suitable over line-of-sight transmission links without obstacles

Provides large useful bandwidth when compared to lower frequencies (HF,

VHF, UHF)

Affected by temperature, pressure and humidity of the atmosphere, rain,

snow and hail, sand storms, clouds, mist and fog, strongly depending on the
frequency.

Uses

One-way (eg. TV broadcasting) and two-way telecommunication using

satellites

Terrestrial
microwave
radio
relay
links
in
broadcasting
and
telecommunications networks including eg. backbone or backhaul carriers in
cellular networks linking BTS-BSC and BSC-MSC.

Wireless transmission of power

Proposed systems eg. for connecting solar power collecting satellites to

terrestrial power grids

21

Satellite Communication

A communications satellite (sometimes abbreviated to COMSAT) is an artificial

satellite stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications. Modern
communications satellites use a variety of orbits including geostationary orbits.
For fixed (point-to-point) services, communications satellites provide a microwave
radio relay technology complementary to that of submarine communication cables.
They are also used for mobile applications such as communications to ships,
vehicles, planes and hand-held terminals, and for TV and radio broadcasting, for
which application of other technologies, such as cable, is impractical or impossible.

Geostationary Satellites

Geostationary satellites are located exactly above the earths equator and revolve
around the earth in a circular orbit. Its revolving speed and direction (west to east)
is exactly same as that of the earth, which makes it look stationary from the earths
surface. The exact altitude of these satellites above the equator is approximately
22

36,000 Kilometers (22369 Miles). The orbital path of a geostationary satellite is

called the Clarke Belt, in honor of science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke.
A geostationary satellite can be contacted via a directional antenna, typically a little
antenna dish, targeted at the location in the sky where the satellite seems to float.
One geostationary satellite can cover approximately 40 percent of the earths
surface area. Three such geostationary satellites, each separated by 120 degrees of
longitude, can offer coverage of the complete earth surface area, with the omission
of little circular areas situated at the north and south geographic poles. The typical
service life expectancy of a geostationary satellite is ten to fifteen years. There are
approximately 300 operational geosynchronous satellites. These satellites have
revolutionized global communications, television broadcasting and weather
forecasting, and have a number of important defense and intelligence applications.
They are extremely useful for the following

Meteorology: real time operational surveys of the troposphere, cloud systems,

sea and land surface temperatures; data acquisition and dissemination.

Telecommunications: worldwide operational telecommunication systems for

telephones, TV and digitized transmission lines.

Army: alarm systems - detection of missile launches.

23

Cellular Networks

A cellular network is a radio network distributed over land areas called cells, each
served by at least one fixed-location transceiver known as a cell site or base station.
When joined together these cells provide radio coverage over a wide geographic
area. This enables a large number of portable transceivers (e.g., mobile phones,
pagers, etc.) to communicate with each other and with fixed transceivers and
telephones anywhere in the network, via base stations, even if some of the
transceivers are moving through more than one cell during transmission.
Cellular networks offer a number of advantages over alternative solutions:

increased capacity

reduced power use

larger coverage area

reduced interference from other signals

In a cellular radio system, a land area to be supplied with radio service is divided
into regular shaped cells, which can be hexagonal, square, circular or some other
irregular shapes, although hexagonal cells are conventional. Each of these cells is
assigned multiple frequencies (f1 - f6) which have corresponding radio base
stations.
The increased capacity in a cellular network, compared with a network with a single
transmitter, comes from the fact that the same radio frequency can be reused in a
different area for a completely different transmission.
24

The most common example of a cellular network is a mobile phone (cell phone)
network. A mobile phone is a portable telephone which receives or makes calls
through a cell site (base station), or transmitting tower. Radio waves are used to
transfer signals to and from the cell phone.
Modern mobile phone networks use cells because radio frequencies are a limited,
shared resource. Cell-sites and handsets change frequency under computer control
and use low power transmitters so that a limited number of radio frequencies can
be simultaneously used by many callers with less interference.
A cellular network is used by the mobile phone operator to achieve both coverage
and capacity for their subscribers. Large geographic areas are split into smaller cells
to avoid line-of-sight signal loss and to support a large number of active phones in
that area. All of the cell sites are connected to telephone exchanges (or switches),
which in turn connect to the public telephone network.
In cities, each cell site may have a range of up to approximately mile, while in
rural areas, the range could be as much as 5 miles. It is possible that in clear open
areas, a user may receive signals from a cell site 25 miles away.
Since almost all mobile phones use cellular technology, including GSM, CDMA, and
AMPS (analog), the term "cell phone" is in some regions, notably the US, used
interchangeably with "mobile phone". However, satellite phones are mobile phones
that do not communicate directly with a ground-based cellular tower, but may do so
indirectly by way of a satellite.

25

Network Software
Network Operating Systems
A networking operating system (NOS) is the software that runs on a server and
enables the server to manage data, users, groups, security, applications, and other
networking functions. The network operating system is designed to allow shared file
and printer access among multiple computers in a network, typically a local area
network (LAN), private network or to other networks. The most popular network
operating systems are Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows Server
2008, UNIX, Linux, Mac OS X, and Novell NetWare.
Network Operating Systems are based on a client/server architecture in which a
server enables multiple clients to share resources. The Network Operating System
can also do the following:

Centrally manage network resources, such as programs, data and devices.

Secure access to a network.

Allow remote users to connect to a network.

Allow users to connect to other networks like the Internet.

Back up data and make sure it's always available.

Allow for simple additions of clients and resources.

Monitor the status and functionality of network elements.

Distribute programs and software updates to clients.

Ensure efficient use if a server's capabilities.

Network Management
Network management refers to the activities, methods, procedures, and tools that
pertain to the operation, administration, maintenance, and provisioning of
networked systems.

Operation deals with keeping the network (and the services that the network
provides) up and running smoothly. It includes monitoring the network to spot
problems as soon as possible, ideally before users are affected.

26

Administration deals with keeping track of resources in the network and how
they are assigned. It includes all the "housekeeping" that is necessary to
keep the network under control.

Maintenance is concerned with performing repairs and upgradesfor

example, when equipment must be replaced, when a router needs a patch for
an operating system image, when a new switch is added to a network.
Maintenance also involves corrective and preventive measures to make the
managed network run "better", such as adjusting device configuration
parameters.

Provisioning is concerned with configuring resources in the network to

support a given service. For example, this might include setting up the
network so that a new customer can receive voice service.

A common way of characterizing network management functions is FCAPSFault,

Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security.
Functions that are performed as part of network management accordingly include
controlling, planning, allocating, deploying, coordinating, and monitoring the
resources of a network, network planning, frequency allocation, predetermined
traffic routing to support load balancing, cryptographic key distribution
authorization,
configuration
management,
fault
management,
security
management, performance management, bandwidth management, Route analytics
and accounting management.

27