Computer Networking

Fundamental EC301
Introduction to Networking
Introduction to Networking
Basic concepts and components of
computer networks
Basic concepts and components of
computer networks
Networking Standards Networking Standards
Principles of communication in
networking
Principles of communication in
networking
Functions of Networking ardware Functions of Networking ardware
!"at is a
network#
!"$ we use
network#
Network de%nition
& com'ination of computer "ardware(
ca'ling( network de)ices( and
computer software used toget"er to
allow computers to communicate
wit" eac" ot"er*
+roup of computers and ot"er
de)ices t"at are connected '$ some
t$pe of transmission media*
Why Use Networks?

,sing networks o-ers

ad)antages relati)e to
using a stand.alone
computer
Stand.alone
computer
Computer network
/"e ad)antages of networked computing
relati)e to standalone computing*

Fewer Perip"erals Needed

0an$ de)ices can 'e connected on a

network*

Increased Communication Capa'ilities

Networks pro)ide se)eral di-erent

colla'oration tools t"at can 'e used to
communicate 'etween network users*

&)oid File 1uplication and Corruption

& ser)er manages network resources*

Ser)ers store data and s"are it wit" users on
a network*
/"e ad)antages of networked computing
relati)e to standalone computing*

2ower Cost 2icensing

&pplication licensing can 'e e3pensi)e for

indi)idual computers*

Centrali4ed &dministration

Centrali4ed administration reduces t"e

num'er of people needed to manage t"e
de)ices and data on t"e network(
reducing time and cost to t"e compan$*

Conser)e 5esources

1ata processing can 'e distri'uted across

man$ computers to pre)ent one
computer from 'ecoming o)erloaded wit"
processing tasks*
Fundamental t$pes of networks

Peer.to.peer n
etworks

Client6ser)er
networks
Peer.to.peer networks

E)er$ computer can communicate

directl$ wit" e)er$ ot"er computer

B$ default( no computer "as more

aut"orit$ t"an anot"er

E)er$ computer is capa'le of sending

and recei)ing information to and
from e)er$ ot"er computer
Peer.to.peer networks

&d)antages of a peer.to.peer
network7

2ess initial e3pense . No need for a

dedicated ser)er*

Setup . &n operating s$stem 8suc" as

!indows 9P: alread$ in place ma$ onl$
need to 'e recon%gured for peer.to.peer
operations*

1isad)antages of a peer.to.peer
network7

1ecentrali4ed . No central repositor$ for

%les and applications*

Securit$ . 1oes not pro)ide t"e securit$

a)aila'le on a client6ser)er network*
Client6ser)er networks

Ser)er

central computer used to facilitate

communication and resource s"aring
'etween ot"er computers on t"e network
8called clients:

Client6ser)er network

uses a ser)er to ena'le clients to s"are data(

data storage space( and de)ices

/o function as a ser)er( a computer must

'e running a network operating s$stem
8N;S:

0ost of t"e concepts on t"e Network<

e3am pertain to client6ser)er networks
Client6ser)er networks

&d)antages of a client6ser)er
network7

Centrali4ed . 5esources and data securit$

are controlled t"roug" t"e ser)er*

Scala'ilit$ . &n$ or all elements can 'e

replaced indi)iduall$ as needs increase*

Fle3i'ilit$ . New tec"nolog$ can 'e easil$

integrated into s$stem*

Interopera'ilit$ . &ll components

8client6network6ser)er: work toget"er*

&ccessi'ilit$ . Ser)er can 'e accessed

remotel$ and across multiple platforms*
Client6ser)er networks

1isad)antages of a client6ser)er
network7

E3pense . 5e=uires initial in)estment in

dedicated ser)er*

0aintenance . 2arge networks will re=uire

a sta- to ensure e>cient operation*

1ependence . !"en ser)er goes down(

operations will cease across t"e network*
/"e ad)antages Client6ser)er
networks o)er peer.to.peer networks

,ser logon accounts and passwords

can 'e assigned in one place

&ccess to multiple s"ared resources

can 'e centrall$ granted to a single
user or groups of users

Pro'lems can 'e tracked( diagnosed(

and often %3ed from one location
/"e ad)antages Client6ser)er
networks o)er peer.to.peer networks

Ser)ers are optimi4ed to "andle

"ea)$ processing loads and
dedicated to "andling re=uests from
clients( ena'ling faster response time

Because of t"eir e>cient processing

and larger disk storage( ser)ers can
connect more t"an a "andful of
computers on a network
/"e
classi%cations
of networks
/"e
classi%cations
of networks
2&N
2&N
0&N
0&N
!&N
!&N
2ocal area network 82&N:

Con%ned to a relati)el$ small space( suc" as

a 'uilding or an o>ce*

,suall$ spans a'out 0.?kms and is generall$

a pri)ate network owned '$ an organi4ation*

Eac" computer "as t"e potential to

communicate wit" an$ ot"er computer of
t"e network*

ig" degree of interconnection 'etween

computers

Eas$ p"$sical connection of computers in a

network*

Ine3pensi)e medium of data transmission*

ig" data transmission rate*

2ocal area network 82&N:
0etropolitan &rea Network

2arger t"an a 2&N@ connects clients

and ser)ers from multiple 'uildings

Is used to descri'e a network of

computers spanning a metropolitan
cit$ usuall$ ?.?0 kms of range*

& compan$ "a)ing multiple o>ces in

)arious parts of a cit$ generall$ uses
t"is t$pe of network*

E3ample is t"e cellular or mo'ile

p"one network*
0etropolitan &rea Network
!ide area network 8!&N:

Connects two or more geograp"icall$

distinct 2&Ns or 0&Ns

Communication facilit$

5emote data entr$

Centralised information

/"e transmission medium used is

normall$ telep"one lines( microwa)es
and satellite links*

Internet is an e3ample of a wan

!ide area network 8!&N:
The diferences between LAN
and WAN
LAN

5estricted to limited
geograp"ical area of
few kilometres

1e)ices are connected

wit" wires and coa3ial
ca'les

Cost of data
transmission in 2&N is
less

/"e speed of data

transmission is muc"
"ig"er in 2&N t"an in
!&N* /"e speed )aries
from 0*1 to 100 m'ps

Few data transmission

errors occur in 2&N
compared to !&N*
WAN

Co)ers long distance

and operates
nationwide or e)en
worldwide

Communication is done
t"roug" telep"one lines
and satellite links

Cost of data
transmission is )er$
"ig"

!&N t"e speed ranges

from 1A00 to BC00 'ps*

0ore data transmission

errors occur in !&N
compared to 2&N*
Elements
Common to
Client/Serv
er
Networks
Elements
Common to
Client/Serv
er
Networks
!orkstation !orkstation
Network Interface
Card 8NIC:
Network Interface
Card 8NIC:
Network
;perating
S$stem 8N;S:
Network
;perating
S$stem 8N;S:
Connecti)it$
de)ice
Connecti)it$
de)ice
/ransmission
0edia
/ransmission
0edia
/opolog$ /opolog$
Segment Segment
ost ost
Node Node
Ser)er Ser)er
Client Client
Ser)er

& computer on t"e network t"at

manages s"ared resources@ ser)ers
usuall$ "a)e more processing power(
memor$( and "ard disk space t"an
clients*

/"e$ run network operating software

t"at can manage not onl$ data( 'ut
also users( groups( securit$( and
applications on t"e network*
Client

& computer on t"e network t"at

re=uests resources or ser)ices from
anot"er computer on a network@ in
some cases( a client could also act as
a ser)er*

/"e term client ma$ also refer to t"e

"uman user of a client workstation or
to client software installed on t"e
workstation*
!orkstation

& personal computer 8suc" as a

desktop or laptop:( w"ic" ma$ or
ma$ not 'e connected to a network@
most clients are workstation
computers*
ost

& computer t"at ena'les resource

s"aring '$ ot"er computers on t"e
same network
Node

& client( ser)er( or ot"er de)ice t"at

can communicate o)er a network and
t"at is identi%ed '$ a uni=ue num'er(
known as its network address*
Segment

& part of a network*

,suall$( a segment is composed of a

group of nodes t"at use t"e same
communications c"annel for all t"eir
tra>c*
Connecti)it$ 1e)ice

& speciali4ed de)ice t"at allows

multiple networks or multiple parts of
one network to connect and
e3c"ange data*

& client6ser)er network can operate

wit"out connecti)it$ de)ices*

owe)er( medium. and large.si4ed

2&Ns use t"em to e3tend t"e network
and to connect wit" !&Ns*
/opolog$

/"e p"$sical la$out of a computer

network*

/opologies )ar$ according to t"e

needs of t"e organi4ation and
a)aila'le "ardware and e3pertise*

Networks can 'e arranged in a ring(

'us( or star formation( and t"e star
formation is t"e most common*

$'rid com'inations of t"ese

patterns are also possi'le*
/ransmission 0edia

/"e means t"roug" w"ic" data is

transmitted and recei)ed*

/ransmission media ma$ 'e p"$sical(

suc" as wire or ca'le( or atmosp"eric
8wireless:( suc" as radio wa)es*
Network Interface Card

/"e de)ice inside a computer t"at

connects a computer to t"e network
media( t"us allowing it to
communicate wit" ot"er computers@

Some connect to t"e mot"er'oard(

w"ic" is t"e main circuit t"at controls
t"e computer( some are integrated
as part of t"e mot"er'oard( and
ot"ers connect )ia an e3ternal port*

NICs are also known as network

adapters*
Network ;perating S$stem

/"e software t"at runs on a ser)er

and ena'les t"e ser)er to manage
data( users( groups( securit$(
applications( and ot"er networking
functions*

E3amples include )arious t$pes of

,NI9 and 2inu3 operating s$stems(
0icrosoft !indows Ser)er D003 or
!indows Ser)er D00A( and 0ac ;S 9
Ser)er*
Network /opolog$

Bus

5ing

Star

$'rid

Star !ired Bus

Star !ired 5ing

Bus

In 'us topolog$ all workstations are

connected to a single communication
line called 'us*

In t"is t$pe of network topolog$ t"ere

is no central ser)er and all t"e
computers can talk or communicate
to all ot"er s$stems connected to t"e
ca'le*

/ransmission from an$ station tra)els

t"e lengt" of t"e 'us in 'ot"
directions and can 'e recei)ed '$ all
workstations*
5ing

In ring topolog$ eac" station is

attac"ed to near'$ stations on a
point.to.point 'asis so t"at t"e entire
s$stem is in t"e form of a ring*

In t"is topolog$ data is transmitted

in one direction onl$*

/"us t"e data packets circulate along

t"e ring in eit"er clockwise or
anticlockwise direction*
Star

In star topolog$ a num'er of

workstations 8or nodes: are directl$
linked to a central ser)er*

&n$ communication 'etween

stations in a star 2&N must pass
t"roug" t"e central ser)er*

/"ere is 'i.directional communication

'etween )arious nodes*

/"e central ser)er controls all t"e

acti)ities of t"e nodes*
$'rid

& comple3 com'ination of t"e 'asic

topologies is known as a "$'rid
topolog$*

& "$'rid is a com'ination of two or

more 'asic network topologies( suc"
as a star.'us( star.ring( or tiered
topolog$*

In a "$'rid topolog$( central and

distri'uted topologies are com'ined
to meet t"e needs of an organi4ation*
$'rid
Star Wired !s

In a star.wired
'us topolog$(
groups of
workstations are
star.connected
to connecti)it$
de)ices and t"en
networked )ia a
single 'us(
Star Wired "in#

/"e star.wired
ring topolog$
uses t"e
p"$sical la$out
of a star in
conEunction wit"
t"e ring logical
topolog$*
$'rid

Star !ired Bus

Star !ired 5ing

Network /opologies
Bus &ll de)ices are connected to a central ca'le( called t"e
'us or 'ack'one* Bus networks are relati)el$ ine3pensi)e
and eas$ to install for small networks*
Star &ll de)ices are connected to a central de)ice( called a
"u'* Star networks are relati)el$ eas$ to install and
manage( 'ut 'ottlenecks can occur 'ecause all data must
pass t"roug" t"e "u'*
5ing &ll de)ices are connected to one anot"er in t"e s"ape of
a closed loop( so t"at eac" de)ice is connected directl$ to
two ot"er de)ices( one on eit"er side of it* 5ing
topologies are relati)el$ e3pensi)e and di>cult to install(
'ut t"e$ o-er "ig" 'andwidt" and can span large
distances*
$'rid +roups of star.con%gured workstations are connected to
a linear 'us 'ack'one ca'le( com'ining t"e
c"aracteristics of t"e 'us and star topologies*
/"e
Networking
Standards
/"e
Networking
Standards
C* IS;C
C* IS;C
?* I/,
?* I/,
F* IS;
F* IS;
G* IC&NN
G* IC&NN
1* &NSI
1* &NSI
D* EI&6/I&
D* EI&6/I&
3* IEEE
3* IEEE
&NSI

&merican National Standards Institute 8&NSI:

Composed of more t"an a t"ousand representati)es

from industr$ and go)ernment

5epresents ,nited States in setting international

standards

&NSI standards documents a)aila'le7

&NSIHs !e' site 8www*ansi*org:

&t uni)ersit$ or pu'lic li'raries

EI& and /I&

Electronic Industries &lliance 8EI&:7 /rade

organi4ation composed of representati)es from
electronics manufacturing %rms across ,S

Sets standards for its mem'ers

elps write &NSI standards

2o''ies for legislation fa)ora'le to growt" of computer

and electronics industries

/elecommunications Industr$ &ssociation 8/I&:7

Focuses on standards for information tec"nolog$
8I/:( wireless( satellite( %'er optics( and
telep"one e=uipment
IEEE

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

International societ$ composed of engineering

professionals

+oals are to promote de)elopment and

education in electrical engineering and computer
science

IEEE tec"nical papers and standards are "ig"l$

respected in t"e networking profession

Can purc"ase IEEE documents online from IEEEHs !e'

site 8www*ieee*org:
IS;

International ;rgani4ation for Standardi4ation

Collection of organi4ation standards representing

1FC countries

+oal is to esta'lis" international tec"nological

standards to facilitate glo'al e3c"ange of
information and 'arrier.free trade

Fewer t"an 300 of IS;Hs more t"an 1F(D?0

standards appl$ to computer.related products
and functions
I/,

International /elecommunication ,nion

5egulates international telecommunications7

5adio and /I fre=uencies

Satellite and telep"on$ speci%cations

Networking infrastructure

/ari-s applied to glo'al communications

/$picall$( documents pertain more to glo'al

telecommunications issues t"an to industr$
tec"nical speci%cations
IS;C

Internet Societ$

Professional mem'ers"ip societ$ t"at "elps to

esta'lis" tec"nical standards for t"e Internet

;)ersees groups wit" speci%c missions7

Internet &rc"itecture Board 8I&B:7 /ec"nical ad)isor$

group of researc"ers and professionals

Interested in o)erseeing InternetHs design

and management

Internet Engineering /ask Force 8IE/F:7 Sets standards

for "ow s$stems communicate o)er t"e Internet

ow protocols operate and interact

I&N& and IC&NN

Internet Protocol 8IP: addresses7 &ddresses used

to identif$ computers on t"e Internet and ot"er
/CP6IP.'ased networks

Internet &ssigned Num'ers &ut"orit$ 8I&N&:7

,sed to keep records of a)aila'le and reser)ed
IP addresses and determines "ow addresses
were doled out

In 1BBG( coordinated e-orts wit" t"ree 5egional

Internet 5egistries 85I5s:

Not.for.pro%t agenc$ t"at manages

distri'ution of IP addresses to pri)ate and
pu'lic entities
I&N& and IC&NN 8continued:

In late 1BB0s ,*S* 1epartment of Commerce

81;C: o)er"auled IP addressing and domain
name management

Internet Corporation for &ssigned Names and

Num'ers 8IC&NN:7 ,ltimatel$ responsi'le for IP
addressing and domain name management

I&N& still performs s$stem administration

Indi)iduals and 'usinesses lease addresses from

Internet Ser)ice Pro)ider 8ISP:

Business pro)iding access to Internet and ot"er

ser)ices
Principles of
communication
in networking
Principles of
communication
in networking
F* Communication
pro'lem
F* Communication
pro'lem
1* Basic
Elements
1* Basic
Elements
D* /"e
rules
D* /"e
rules
3* /erminologies
3* /erminologies
asic Elements o$ a
Comm!nication System
Source
Channel Destination
asic Elements o$ a
Comm!nication System

Source

/"is de)ice generates t"e data to 'e

transmitted@ e3amples are telep"ones
and personal computers*

C"annel

& medium t"at carries t"e message*

1estination

/"e recei)er 8sink: w"o recei)es t"e

message
5ules of communications 'etween
two points

/"ere are a num'er of p"ases t"at 'ot"

de)ices must pass t"roug" in order to
perform t"e common communications
function of %le transfer

/"ese p"ases ensure t"at t"e software

on eac" de)ice is structured to correct
for errors or inconsistencies from t"e
corresponding( remote de)ice*
Computer
Based 1e)ice
1
Computer
Based 1e)ice
D
Transmission
Medium
5ules of communications 'etween
two points

/"e rules for eac" of t"ese p"ases

are clearl$ de%ned '$ a protocol and
t$pical p"ases are as follows7

Esta'lis" a link

Issue a command and command =uali%er

&cknowledgment of command

1issection messages

Error detection and correction

/ermination of transmission
Esta'lis" a link

1e)ice 1 c"ecks to see if 1e)ice D is

present on t"e link '$ sending a speci%c
Jen=uir$J message*

If t"e link is acti)e and de)ice D is acti)e

t"en it s"ould respond '$ sending 'ack an
JacknowledgementJ message*

1e)ice 1 must track t"e time t"at de)ice D

takes to respond*

If de)ice D does not respond wit"in a time

inter)al 8de%ned '$ t"e protocol: t"en
de)ice 1 assumes t"at t"e link is not acti)e*

/"is is called a transmission Jtime.outJ

error
Issue a command and command
=uali%er

1e)ice 1 sends de)ice D a message(

in a prede%ned format( w"ic" tells
de)ice D t"at a %le is to 'e
transferred*

&s a =uali%er wit"in t"e message(

de)ice 1 tells de)ice D w"at to do
wit" t"e %le* For e3ample( de)ice 1
ma$ tell de)ice D to place t"e
incoming %le onto disk storage( wit"
t"e %le.name JF5E1J*
&cknowledgment of command

If de)ice D "as correctl$ recei)ed t"e

command and =uali%er from de)ice 1(
and is capa'le of carr$ing out t"e
command( t"en it sends de)ice 1 an
acknowledgement message*

/"e acknowledgement message tells

de)ice 1 t"at it can now proceed wit"
furt"er action needed to ful%l t"e
command*

If de)ice D is una'le to act upon t"e

command from de)ice 1( t"en it must
respond wit" an error message*
&cknowledgment of command

&n error could occur on t"e recei)er if(

for e3ample( t"e disk on w"ic" t"e
incoming %le is to 'e stored( is alread$
full*

/"e error response message would tell

de)ice 1 t"at it s"ould not proceed
wit" its proposed course of action*
1issection messages

&ll messages( command and

ot"erwise( must 'e 'roken down into
packets of managea'le si4e for
transmission*

/"us if an error s"ould occur in a

packet( t"en onl$ t"at packet needs
to 'e re.transmitted 8and not t"e
entire message:*

/"erefore( w"en de)ice 1 wis"es to

transfer a large %le to de)ice D( t"e
%le is 'roken up into packets and
transmitted packet '$ packet*
Error detection and correction

!"en de)ice 1 sends a message

packet to de)ice D( it performs a
mat"ematical calculation
8manipulation: on e)er$ unit of data
transmitted*

/"is calculation is transmitted to

de)ice D immediatel$ after t"e
message*

1e)ice D performs e3actl$ t"e same

mat"ematical calculation on its
incoming data as de)ice 1*
Error detection and correction

1e)ice D also reads in t"e calculation sent '$

de)ice 1 and compares it wit" t"e local
calculation* If t"e two calculations pro)ide an
identical result( t"en it is assumed t"at t"e
incoming message was not corrupted on t"e
link*

1e)ice D can t"en issue a positi)e

acknowledgement to de)ice 1 to indicate
t"at it is read$ for t"e ne3t message* If t"e
two calculations are inconsistent( t"en it is
assumed t"at incoming data "as 'een
corrupted( and de)ice D issues a Jnegati)e
acknowledgementJ message to de)ice 1(
w"ic" indicates t"at t"e pre)ious data
message must 'e re.transmitted*
/ermination of transmission

1e)ice 1 transmits a %le( piece.wise(

ensuring t"at eac" packet is correctl$
recei)ed '$ de)ice D( using t"e tec"ni=ue
descri'ed in (Error Detection and
Correction).

&fter t"e last piece of t"e %le is

transmitted to de)ice D and positi)el$
acknowledged( t"en de)ice 1 must
terminate t"e transmission* 1e)ice 1
sends an Jend of transmissionJ message
to de)ice D* /"is allows de)ice D to close
t"e stored %le and return to ot"er duties*
/erminologies in relation to
communication in networking

0essage Encoding

/"e e-ect of t"e skills( attitudes( and

knowledge of t"e sender on t"e process
of encoding t"e message*

0essage Formatting

& matter of agreement 'etween two

parties as to t"e form of t"e data to 'e
e3c"anged or transmitted* For e3ample(
'ot" sides must use t"e same 'inar$
code for c"aracters*
/erminologies in relation to
communication in networking

0essage Si4e

t"e p"$sical dimensions and proportions

of message*

0essage /iming

Includes speed matc"ing and se=uencing

of message

0essage Patterns

Patterns of messages occur in two distinct

forms7 messages 'etween o'Eects( called
a Protocol( and messages understood '$
a particular kind of o'Eect( called an
Interface*
Comm!nication %roblem

Contract Pattern

Pro'lem7 ow can 'e"a)iours 'e de%ned

independent of implementations#

Correlation Identi%er

Pro'lem7 In an$ messaging s$stem( a consumer

mig"t send se)eral message re=uests to di-erent
ser)ice pro)iders*

0essage Se=uence

Pro'lem7 Because of t"e in"erent distri'uted nature

of messaging( communication generall$ occurs o)er
a network*

0essage E3piration

Pro'lem7 0essages are stored on disk or persistent

media* !it" t"e growing num'er of messages( disk
space is consumed*
Networking ardware
/$pes of network interface card
Install and con%gure NIC "ardware and soft
ware*
Functions of 2&N connecti)it$ "ardware*
Build simple peer.to.peer network using /I&6
EI&.?CA.a or /I&6EI&.?CA.' wiring standard*
/$pes ;f Network Interface Card

Cards on an e3pansion 'oard inside a

computer 8PCI NIC( PCI E3press NIC:*

It is used to connect Fast Et"ernet Networks

toget"er and it is connected to a PCI Slot located
on $our computerKs 0ot"er'oard

Cards installed to t"e computerHs 'us

e3ternall$ 8PC0CI& adapter( ,SB port(
Fire!ire( Compact Flas" NIC:

PC0CI& 8Personal Computer 0emor$ Card

International &ssociation:( ,SB 8uni)ersal serial
'us:( CompactFlas"( or Fire!ire 8IEEE 13BF: slots
can all 'e used to connect perip"erals suc" as
NICs* ;ne ad)antage to e3ternall$ attac"ed NICs is
t"eir simple installation*
/$pes ;f Network Interface Card

;n.'oard NIC

& NIC t"at is integrated into a computerHs

mot"er'oard( rat"er t"an connected )ia
an e3pansion slot or perip"eral 'us*

Not all perip"eral de)ices are connected

to a computerHs mot"er'oard )ia an
e3pansion slot or perip"eral 'us*

Some are connected directl$ to t"e

mot"er'oard using on.'oard ports*

For e3ample( t"e electrical connection

t"at controls a computerHs mouse
operates t"roug" an on.'oard port( as
does t"e connection for its ke$'oard and
monitor*
/$pes ;f Network Interface Card

!ireless NIC

NICs are designed for use wit" eit"er

wired or wireless networks* !ireless NICs(
w"ic" contain antennas to send and
recei)e signals*

;ne disad)antage to using wireless NICs

is t"at currentl$ t"e$ are somew"at more
e3pensi)e t"an wire.'ound NICs using t"e
same 'us t$pe
Functions of 2&N connecti)it$
"ardware

5epeater

u' 6 Switc"

Bridges

5outers

+atewa$s
5epeater

Since a signal loses strengt" as it

passes along a ca'le( it is often
necessar$ to 'oost t"e signal wit" a
de)ice called a repeater*

/"e repeater electricall$ ampli%es

t"e signal it recei)es and
re'roadcasts it*

5epeaters can 'e separate de)ices or

t"e$ can 'e incorporated into a
concentrator*
u' 6 Switc"

& concentrator is a de)ice t"at

pro)ides a central connection point for
ca'les from workstations( ser)ers( and
perip"erals*

In a star topolog$( twisted.pair wire is

run from eac" workstation to a central
switc"6"u'*

0ost switc"es are acti)e( t"at is t"e$

electricall$ amplif$ t"e signal as it
mo)es from one de)ice to anot"er*
u' 6 Switc"

Switc"es no longer 'roadcast network

packets as "u's did in t"e past( t"e$
memori4e addressing of computers
and send t"e information to t"e
correct location directl$*
Bridges

& 'ridge is a de)ice t"at allows $ou

to segment a large network into two
smaller( more e>cient networks*

If $ou are adding to an older wiring

sc"eme and want t"e new network to
'e up.to.date( a 'ridge can connect
t"e two*

& 'ridge monitors t"e information

tra>c on 'ot" sides of t"e network
so t"at it can pass packets of
information to t"e correct location*
Bridges

0ost 'ridges can JlistenJ to t"e

network and automaticall$ %gure out
t"e address of eac" computer on
'ot" sides of t"e 'ridge*

/"e 'ridge can inspect eac" message

and( if necessar$( 'roadcast it on t"e
ot"er side of t"e network*

/"e 'ridge manages t"e tra>c to

maintain optimum performance on
'ot" sides of t"e network
5outers

5outer is intelligent de)ice w"ic" routes

data to destination computers*

It "elps in connecting two di-erent logical

and p"$sical networks toget"er*

In small network ser)er is connected to

router along wit" clients for
communication*

!it" routers network communication is not

possi'le@ it is soul of network wit"out
w"ic" distri'ution if internet and ot"er
network data to entire network are
impossi'le*
5outers
+atewa$s

&s name suggests it some kind of

passing t"roug" to somet"ing*
Interestingl$ gatewa$s can 'e
software or it can also 'e de)ice*

+atewa$ de)ice connects 2&N wit"

internet* Its 'asic functionalit$ is to
pro)ide securit$ to t"e network*

B$ using gatewa$s incoming6out

going tra>c can 'e monitored for
an$ malicious acti)it$ wit"in t"e
network w"ic" can 'e "armful to
network integrit$*