Computer Networks & Distributed

Computing

Topic #1 - Introduction to Data Communications

Objectives

• Explain what a network is

• Understand basic networking concepts and terms
• Explain the advantages of using a network in the home
• Discuss the advantages of using a network in an office
• Determine boundaries between networks
• Describe network topologies
• Understand general network design concepts
• Design a simple LAN

What Is a Network?

• Three types of networks

– Word-of-mouth communication
– Telephone
– Computer
• Computer networks
– Transmit information to person or group like word-of-mouth
– Use telephone network communication infrastructure
• Communication cables and radio waves
• Specialized equipment to connect networks
– Carry data, voice, and video communications
• Computer network components
– Computer hardware and software
– Print devices
– Network Devices
• System components linked using various media
– Copper wire
– Fiber-optic cables
– Radio waves
– Infrared waves
– Microwaves
• Benefit of computer networks: information sharing
Removing the Mystery from Network Concepts

• Master basic networking concepts

– Different network types
– Different terms for various network elements
– Processes about how networks should work

Understanding the Types of Networks

• Three types of networks

– Local area networks (LANs)
– Metropolitan area networks (MANs)
– Wide area networks (WANs)
• LAN (Local Area Network)
 – Interconnects computers, printers, other equipment
– Consists of shared hardware and software resources in close physical
proximity
– Example: University Chemistry Department
• MAN (metropolitan area network)
– Spans a greater distance than a LAN
• Up to 48 kilometers (about 30 miles)
– Links multiple LANs within city or metropolitan region
• Typically uses fiber-optic/wireless connections
– LANs may be separately owned
– Example: Links to Chemistry building LAN
• Research hospital LAN
• Pharmaceutical company LAN
• WAN (wide area network)
– Composed of two or more LANs or MANs
– Connected across distance greater than 48 km
– May have constituent LANs on different continents
• Enterprise network
– Links different users across one or more organizations
– Provides variety of resources
– Used to fulfill business, research, educational tasks
– Typically consists of several LANs
– Example: Campus enterprise network
Using Basic Networking Terms

• Node (or station): network component

– Personal computer, server, mainframe, minicomputer, printer, fax, CD-
ROM array, disk array
• Nodes linked through communications media
– Wire cabling, fiber-optic cables, radio or infrared waves
– Provides transmission of signals to and from nodes
• Three network nodes important to users:
– Workstations
– Hosts
– Servers
• Workstation computer
– Has CPU (central processing unit) and operating system
– Home to local applications such as Microsoft Office
– Runs network applications to access data on server or mainframe
– May fulfill roles as client and host
• Client: workstation accessing data or software on another computer
 – Example: personal computer using Intel chip
• Host: computer accessed for data or software
• Servers
– Single computers offering multiuser access
– Repository for software applications and data files
– Host from two to as many as several thousand users
– Network operating system is key to capability
• Example: Microsoft Windows Server operating system
• Network nodes attached to media through NIC
• NIC (network interface card)
– Board installed in computer or network device
– Attached to communication media by connector or antenna

Understanding Network Concepts in Historical Context

• Two reasons for studying network history

– Shows how practices and concepts have evolved
– Provides social, political, technical context
• LANs/WANs rooted in telegraph and telephone systems
• Driving forces in networking technology
– Interpersonal communication
– Business transactions
– Entertainment products

Using a Network in a Home

• Networks enrich use of computers and digital services

• Three prominent uses of home networks
– Sharing files and printers
– Accessing the Internet and entertainment resources
– Connecting home resources
• Computers, entertainment devices, appliances

Connecting Computers for Sharing Files and Printers

• Share files in home by connecting computers

– Example 1: Transfer files from laptop to desktop
– Example 2: Cross-computer file back-up
• Three common ways to share printers
– Share workstation printer using operating system
• Caveat: no one can use printer if workstation off
– Attach printer directly to network using built-in NIC
– Utilize print server with multiple connections and NIC
• Plug one or more printers into print server
• Connect print server to network
Using Internet and Entertainment Resources

• Several methods for sharing Internet connection

• Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
– Configure Internet sharing in home with Windows XP
• Create Internet connection with Windows XP computer
• Link connected computer to network
• Configure ICS in Windows XP
– Can also be set up in Windows Server 2003
• Entertainment opportunities with home networks
– Connects digital devices with NIC to network
– Uses media hubs to connect home entertainment center
Connecting Home Resources

• Home appliances can be network devices

– Example: refrigerators with digital message boards
• Message boards linked to Internet
• Other control features enhanced in home networks
– Temperature settings
– Turning music on/off
– Managing lighting systems

Using a Network in an Office

• Offices greatly enhanced through networks

• Networks increase productivity and lower costs

Using a Network to Save Time and Money

• Two ways networks save time and money

– Share information without leaving office
 – Telecommute to office via home network
• Example: accountant's meeting with client
– Compute taxes on networked computer
– Send tax documents to shared printer
– Editing and compiling done by associate
– Tax document returned to accountant
• Meeting continues uninterrupted
– Bill generated after meeting concludes

Using a Network as a Business Strategy

• Business strategy served by well-planned network

– Illustrate using two companies selling specialty food
• Scenario involving company one
– Customer places order over the Web
– Order manually transcribed to piece of paper
– Data-entry clerk enters order so bill is generated
– Data-entry clerk hand delivers order to inventory clerk
– Inventory clerk prepares item for delivery
– Turnaround time: three to five business days
• Scenario involving company two
– Customer places order over the Web
– Order automatically entered into processing server
– Order-processing server generates bill
– Order-processing server sends data to processing area
– Inventory automatically adjusted for order
– Item sent out to customer
– Turnaround time: one business day
• Company one handles more volume
– Efficiency most likely rewarded with more orders

Connecting Office Resources

• Advantages to networking office equipment

– Same as for networking home devices, but multiplied
• Example of printer sharing in office of 28 people
– Only three or four printers needed (centrally located)
– Benefits
• Save space for other activities
• Reduce cost of providing print capability to office workers
• Reduce cost of maintenance, e.g., cartridge replacement
• Networking capabilities enhance business of any size
• Resources shared when connected to a network
– Files
– Printers
– CD-ROM arrays
– Network storage through disk arrays
– Centralized tape or CD backups of critical files
– Fax machines
– Specialty printers, such as plotters
 – Network conferencing devices
– Internet connectivity
– Internet telephony

Identifying Network Boundaries

• Distinguish network types using four properties

– Communications medium
– Protocol
– Topology
– Network type (private versus public)
• Examining communications medium
– LAN boundaries based on communication medium changes
• Boundary 1: fiber-optic cables linking wire-cable LANs
• Boundary 2: medium change from fiber-optics to microwaves
• Examining protocols
– Formatting and transmission of data
• Discrete units of data called packets or frames
– Change/addition to protocol often signals LAN boundary
– Example: Ethernet and token ring protocols
• Devices at boundary line convert frames or packets
• Examining topology
– Two components
• Physical layout of network cables and devices
• Logical path followed by network packets or frames
– Example: Logical path of frames follows star pattern
• Examining network types
– Often change at network boundary
– Example: beginning/end points of public and private networks
• Private networks owned and operated by organization
• Public networks offer services to public
• Virtual private network (VPN)
– Private network tunnels through larger network
– Restricted to designated member clients

Network Topologies

• Topology: physical layout combined with logical path

• Cable plant: pattern of physical layout
– Wired networks: cabling laid in office, building, campus
– Wireless networks: types of antennas, devices, direction of
transmission
• Decentralized network layout
– Cable between each station on network
– Analogy: mountain climbers connected by a rope
• Centralized network layout
– Each station physically connected to central device
– Analogy: star with workstation as its points
• Main topologies: bus, ring, star, and mesh
• Hybrid topologies: star-bus, star-ring
 • Selecting topology for network
– Consider intended purpose
• Demand for network services
• Number and kinds of applications used
• Network traffic (number of frames to transmit)
• Connection to other networks
• Security needs
• Network topology influences network growth potential

Bus Topology

• Bus topology
– Consists of cables connecting PCs or file servers
– Visualizes connections as chain links
– Terminator attached to each end of bus cable segment
• Transmitting packet across bus
– Detected by all nodes on segment
– Given time limit to reach destination
• IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
– Develops standards for network cabling, transmission
– Specifies length of bus segment
• Terminator signals end of physical segment
– Functions as resistor that absorbs signal
• Terminator critical on bus networks
– Prevents signal reflection back on to covered path
• Advantages of bus design
– Requires less cable than other topologies
– Easy to extend bus with a workstation
• Disadvantages of bus topology
– High management costs
• Single defective node can take down entire network
– Can become quickly congested with network traffic
Ring Topology

• Ring topology: continuous data path

– Workstations attached to cable at points around ring
• Transmitting data across ring topology
– Goes around ring to reach destination
– Continues until ends at source node
• Advantages to ring topology
– Easier to manage than bus
– Handles high volume network better than bus
– Suited to transmitting signals over long distances
• Disadvantages to ring topology
– More expensive to implement than bus
– Fewer equipment options than bus
Star Topology

• Star topology: multiple nodes attached to central device (hub, switch, router)
– Cable segments radiate from center like a star
– Example: workstations connected to switch
• Advantages of star topology
– Start-up costs comparable to ring topology
– Easier to manage, defective nodes quickly isolated
– Easier to expand by connecting nodes or networks
– Offers better equipment and high-speed options
• Disadvantages of star topology
– Failure of central device may cause network failure
– Requires more cable than bus
Star-Bus Hybrid Topology

• Star-bus (star-wired) topology

– Each radiating finger is separate logical bus segment
– Each segment terminated at both ends
• Advantages of star-bus topology
– No exposed terminators
– Connect multiple central devices to expand network
– Connection between central devices is a backbone
• Backbone enables high-speed communication
– Central devices have built-in intelligence
– Many equipment and high-speed options available

Star-Ring Hybrid Topology

• Star-ring (star-wired) topology

– Hub or access unit acts as linking device
– Transmission using logical communication of ring
– No need for built-in terminators

Mesh Topology

• Mesh topology
– Every node connected to every other node in network
– Provides network with fault tolerance
• Fault tolerance: built-in protection against failure
 • If link breaks, nodes can still communicate
– Alternate communication paths increase as number of nodes increase
• Mesh topology used less on LANs
– Expensive to implement
• Mesh topology often used in MANs and WANs

Network Design Introduction

• Step 1: Understand protocols, access methods, topologies

– Example: Telecommunications-based WAN vs. satellite-based WAN
• Step 2: Understand physical equipment used
– Example: Different media for backbone and internal network
• Step 3: Understand basic network design principles
– Structured wiring and networking
– Designing for multimedia and client/server applications
– Taking advantage of LAN and WAN characteristics
• Step 4: Assess nature of home, office, organization
– Types of computers used as well as location
– Software applications used and resources required
– Patterns in organization relative to network use
– High and low network use periods
– How to simplify troubleshooting and maintenance
– Determine security need for the network
– Anticipate how growth affects network resources
Designing a Simple LAN

• Scenario: Office with four lawyers, one secretary

• Four components of solid design
– Star-bus hybrid topology
– Switch connecting computes in middle of star layout
– Share certain information on network
– Share printers on network
• Rationale for design
– Star-bus economical to implement and maintain
– Use of switch satisfies need for fast communication
– Resource sharing using peer-to-peer network
– Internet access easily added

Summary

• Computer network links computers, printers, network devices, software

• Connections may be wired or wireless
• Three main network types: LANs, MANs, WANs
• LAN (local are network) is short range
• MAN (metropolitan area network) links LANs
• WANs connect LANs and MANs
• WAN (wide area network) range greater than MAN
• Enterprise networks connect users in organization
• Networks consist of nodes (stations) and communication media
 • Nodes attached to network with NIC (network interface card)
• Resource sharing: chief advantage of network
• Network boundaries defined by communications media, protocols, topologies,
network types
• Four basic network topologies: bus, ring, star, mesh
• Two hybrid topologies: star-bus and star-ring
• Essential design knowledge: protocols, topologies, equipment, principles,
organization needs

Key Terms
 Backbone: A high-capacity communications medium that joins networks on the same
floor in a building, on different floors, and across long distances.
 Bus topology: A network design built by running cable from one PC or file server to the
next, like links in a chain.
 Cable plant: The total amount of communications cable that makes up a network.
 Client: A computer that accesses another computer, such as a workstation that accesses
a shared file on another workstation, server, or mainframe. The client may use the
accessed computer (host) to process data, or may process accessed data using its own
CPU.
 Communications media: The cabling or radio waves used to connect one network
computer to another, or one network to another, and transport data between them.
 Computer network: A system of computers, print devices, network devices, and
computer software linked by communications cabling or radio waves.
 Enterprise network: A combination of LANs, MANs, or WANs that provides computer
users with an array of computer and network resources to complete different tasks.
 Fault tolerance: Techniques that employ hardware and software to provide assurance
against equipment failures, computer service interruptions, and data loss.
 Host: (1) A computer (mainframe, minicomputer, server, or workstation) that has an
operating system enabling multiple computers to access it at the same time for files, data,
and services. Programs and information may be processed at the host, or they may be
downloaded to the accessing computer (client) for processing. (2) A computer that is
connected to a network.
 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE): An international
organization of scientists, engineers, technicians, and educators that plays a leading role
in developing standards for network cabling and data transmissions.
 Internet: A worldwide network of interconnected LANs and MANs that uses the
TCP/IP protocol to enable people to shares e-mail messages and computer files and to
access a vast array of information.
 Local area network (LAN): A series of interconnected computers, printing devices, and
other computer equipment that shares hardware and software resources. The service area
usually is limited to a given office area, floor, or building.
 Mesh topology: A network design in which every node is connected to every other node,
achieving fault tolerance.
 Metropolitan area network (MAN): A network that links multiple LANs in a large city
or metropolitan region.
 Network interface card (NIC): An adapter board designed to connect a workstation,
server, or other network device to a network medium.
 Node: Any device connected to a network, such as a microcomputer, mainframe,
midrange computer, network equipment, or printer. Also called a station.
 Peer-to-peer network: A network on which any computer can communicate with other
networked computers on an equal (peer) basis without going through an intermediary,
such as a server. Peer-to-peer networking enables each computer to offer and access
shared resources, such as files and printers.
 Private network: A network owned and maintained by an organization, such as a
campus network operated by a college.
 Protocol: An established guideline that specifies how networked data is formatted into a
packet or frame, how it is transmitted, and how it is interpreted at the receiving end.
 Public network: A network that offers services to members of the public, such as
network services offered by a telecommunications company or a cable TV company.
 Ring topology: A network design consisting of a continuous path for data with no logical
beginning or ending point, and thus no terminators.
 Server: A single computer that provides extensive multiuser access to network resources,
such as shared files, shared disks, and shared printers.
 Station: See node.
 Star topology: The oldest type of network design, this topology consists of multiple
nodes attached to a central hub, switch, or router.
 Star-bus hybrid topology: Also called the star-wired bus topology, a network design
that combines the logical communications of a bus with the physical layout of a star.
 Star-ring hybrid topology: Also called the star-wired ring topology, a network design
in which the logical communications are in a ring, but the physical layout of the network
is a star.
 Star-wired bus topology: See star-bus hybrid topology.
 Star-wired ring topology: See star-ring hybrid topology.
 Terminator: A resistor that is connected to the end of a segment on a bus network, so
that data-carrying signals are absorbed at the point where the segment stops. Absorbing
the signals ensures they are not reflected back onto the cable after they reach the end—
thus preventing communication errors.
 Topology: The physical layout of cable and wireless network devices and the logical
path followed by network frames or packets sent on the cable or by wireless
transmissions.
 Virtual private network (VPN): A private network that functions like a tunnel through
a larger network—such as the Internet or an enterprise network—that is restricted to
designated member clients only.
 Wide area network (WAN): A far-reaching system of networks that usually extends
over approximately 48 kilometers (about 30 miles) and often reaches across states and
continents.
 Workstation: A computer that has its own CPU and may be used as a stand-alone
computer for word processing, spreadsheet creation, or other software applications. It
also may be used to access another computer such as another workstation or server via a
network.