Chapter

Communications and
Networks

Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

Learning Objectives
1. Discuss connectivity, the wireless revolution, and communication
2.
3.

Computing Essentials 2015

4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

systems.
Describe physical and wireless communications channels.
Discuss connection devices and services, including dial-up, DSL, cable,
satellite, and cellular.
Describe data transmission factors, including bandwidth and protocols.
Discuss networks and key network terminology including network
interface cards and network operating systems.
Describe different types of networks, including local, home, wireless,
personal, metropolitan, and wide area networks.
Describe network architectures, including topologies and strategies.
Discuss the organization issues related to Internet technologies and
network security.

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Introduction

Computing Essentials 2015

We live in a truly connected society.

Increased connectivity potentially
means increased productivity,
especially in business.
You will learn more about the
concept of connectivity and the
impact of the wireless revolution in
this chapter.

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Communications

Computer communications is the process of sharing data,

Computing Essentials 2015

programs, and information between two or more computers

Numerous applications depend on communication systems,
including

E-mail
Texting
Video Conferencing
Electronic commerce

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Connectivity
Connectivity uses computer
networks to link people and
resources
The Wireless Revolution

Computing Essentials 2015

Single most dramatic change in

connectivity and communications has
been widespread use of mobile devices
like smartphones and tablet PCs with
wireless Internet connectivity

The Revolution is just beginning

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Communication Systems

Four basic elements

Computing Essentials 2015

Sending and receiving devices

Connection devices
Data transmission specifications
Communication channel

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Connection Device Signals

Types of signals
Analog
Digital

Computing Essentials 2015

Transfer rate

Return

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Connection Devices
Modem modulatordemodulator
Modulation
Demodulation

Transfer rate
Mbps
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Types of Modems

Telephone modem
DSL
Cable
Wireless

Return
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Connection Services

Leased lines
T1 combined to form T3 and DS3

Digital subscriber line (DSL)

Uses phone lines
ADSL is most widely used type of DSL

Computing Essentials 2015

Cable
Uses existing TV cable
Faster than DSL

Satellite connection services

Use almost anywhere
Slower than DSL and cable modem

Cellular Services
3G and 4G cellular network connectivity

Fiber Optic Service (FiOS)

Return

New technology
Google and Verizon
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Data Transmission

Computing Essentials 2015

Bandwidth
Measurement of the width or capacity of the
communication channel
Categories
Voiceband (or low bandwidth)
Medium band
Broadband
Baseband
Return

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Communication Channels

Communication channels carry the data from one

computer to another
Two categories of communication channels

Computing Essentials 2015

Physical Connections
Wireless Connections

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Physical Connections
Physical connection between sending
and receiving device
Twisted pair cable

Computing Essentials 2015

Telephone lines
Ethernet cables

Coaxial cable
Fiber-optic cable

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Wireless Connections
Primary Technologies
Bluetooth (short-range)
Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity)
Microwave
WiMax (extends Wi-Fi)
Computing Essentials 2015

Already being decommissioned in

US

Long Term Evolution (LTE)

Current standard

Satellite
Infrared

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Making IT Work for You ~ Mobile Internet

Have an always-on connection to access e-mail,

Computing Essentials 2015

websites, cloud services, and apps.

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Computing Essentials 2015

Protocols

Communication rules for exchanging data

between computers
HTTP - Hypertext Transfer Protocol
HTTPS Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure
TCP/IP (Transmission control protocol/Internet
protocol)
Identification unique IP address
www.whatismyipaddress.com

Packetization information broken down into small

parts (packets) and then reassembled

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Networks

Computing Essentials 2015

A communication
system that connects
two or more
computers
Allows exchange of
information and
resources
Various items in the
network to identify

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Network Types

Computing Essentials 2015

Local area network

(LAN)
Home network
Wireless LAN (WLAN)
Personal area
network (PAN)
Metropolitan area
network (MAN)
Wide area network
(WAN)
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Network Architecture
How the network is arranged and resources are shared
Network Topology
Physical arrangement of the network

Computing Essentials 2015

Bus Network
Ring Network
Star Network
Tree Network
Mesh Network

Network Strategies
How information and resources are shared
Client Server Network
Peer-to-Peer Network

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Ring Network
Each device connected directly to a central network switch (sometimes)
Most of the time, they are all connected to each other in a ring type of
configuration.

Computing Essentials 2015

1 PC goes down, the whole network does

Return
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Star Network
Each device connected directly to a central network

Computing Essentials 2015

switch

Return
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Tree Network
Each device connected to a central node either directly or through

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subordinate nodes
Also called hierarchical

Return
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Mesh Network
Does not use a specific physical layout, but requires

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that each node have more than one connection to

other nodes
Wireless technologies are frequently used

Return
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Strategies

Client/Server Network
Central computers coordinate and

Computing Essentials 2015

supply services to other nodes on

the network
Server provides access

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Network

All nodes have equal authority
Can act as both client and server

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Organizational Networks

Intranet
Private network within an organization
Works like the Internet

Computing Essentials 2015

Extranet
Private network that connects organizations
Works like the Internet, but provides suppliers and other
trusted partners with limited access to the organizations
networks

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Network Security

Commonly used technologies

Firewall
Hardware and software controls access to network
Proxy server provides pass-through access
Protects against external threats

Computing Essentials 2015

Intrusion detection system (IDS)

Works with firewall to protect organization's network
Analyzes all incoming and outgoing network traffic

Virtual private network (VPN)

Creates a secure private network connection between your computer and
the organization

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Computing Essentials 2015

Intranet, Extranet, Firewall, Proxy

Server

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Careers In IT

Network Administrator

Computing Essentials 2015

Manages a companys LAN and WAN networks

Maintains networking hardware and software, diagnosing
and repairing problems that arise
Candidates usually have
a bachelors degree in
computer science and
practical experience
Annual salary is typically
between $46,000 and
$84,000
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A Look to the Future ~

Telepresence Lets You Be There Without
Actually Being There

Computing Essentials 2015

Seeks to create the

illusion that you are
actually at a remote
location
Early
implementations
mainly focus on an
extension of videoconferencing

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Open-Ended Questions (1 of 3)

1. Define communications including connectivity, the wireless

revolution, and communication systems.

Computing Essentials 2015

2. Discuss communication channels including physical connections

(twisted-pair, coaxial, and fiber-optic cable) and wireless
communications (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, microwave, WiMax, LTE,
satellite, and infrared).

3. Discuss connection devices including modems (telephone, DSL,

cable, and wireless modems) and connection services (DSL,
ADSL, cable, satellite and cellular connection services).

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Open-Ended Questions (2 of 3)
4. Discuss data transmission including bandwidths (voiceband,
medium band, broadband, and baseband) as well as protocols (IP
addresses, domain name servers, and packetization).

5. Discuss networks by identifying and defining specialized terms

Computing Essentials 2015

that describe computer networks.

6. Discuss network types including local area, home, wireless,

personal, metropolitan, and wide area networks.

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Open-Ended Questions (3 of 3)

7. Define network architecture including topologies (bus, ring, star,

tree, and mesh) and strategies (client/server and peer-to-peer).

Computing Essentials 2015

8. Discuss organization networks including Internet technologies

(intranets and extranets) and network security (firewalls, proxy
servers, intrusion detection systems, and virtual private
networks).

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