Introduction to

Networks
Networking Concepts
IST-200
VWCC

What is Networking?
Connecting computers
to form a
Local Area Network
( LAN )

Device Sharing
Sharing of:
Hardware
Software
Information

A Simple Network

Local & Wide Area

Networks

Early networks were custom built

Connecting a dozen computers
Only 1 or 2 peripherals
Early Ethernet
30 users
total span of 601 feet

Local Area Network

(LAN)
A single collection of machines &
peripherals
Generally less than 1000 computers
Spanned generally less than 250
meters feet
Basic building block for larger
networks-Internetworks

InterNetworks
IntraNetworks
A network of networks
A networked collection of LANs
More than one floor in a
business (intranetwork)
Multiple buildings
Campus environment

Wide Area Networks

(WAN)
Spans miles of distance
Two or more separate locations
Down the road or across the
world
Microsoft, Federal Express

The Internet

A WAN internetwork
Millions of machines worldwide
The World Wide Web (WWW)

Networking
Terminology
Client/Server relationship
Client requests shared
resources
Server responds & shares
resources

Networking
Terminology

Client Server
Networks
Concentrate CPU power & storage
capacity
Windows NT Server / Server 2000
Peer to Peer
Client/Server

role interchanges
Windows 95/98/2000/XP

Simple Network Needs

Medium to carry data
Adapter (NIC)
Protocol
Client / Server Software

Local Network
Medium (media)
Carries network messages
Connects machines together on
network
Four types:
Metallic

cable coaxial - dated

Twisted
Fiber

pair

optic cable

Wireless

Network Interface
Card
(NIC)
Physical link between machine
& network
Connection between machine &
medium
Also known as network adapter

Network Protocols
Common set of communication rules
Identify oneself & others on network
Interpret signals
Begin & end network communication
Manage network information exchange

Protocol Examples
TCP/IP
for

the Internet

IPX/SPX & NWLINK

for

Novell

NetBEUI
for

Microsoft

Windows Client Setup

Control Panel
Networking
Protocols
Clients
Adapters

Network Software
Programs that access the network
Network Operating System (NOS)
Windows NT
Novell NetWare (IntranetWare)
Consist of client & server
components

Network Layers
Network Applications ( NOS &
client)
Instruct network medium
Using machines interface (NIC)
Address & exchange information
To other machines on LAN or WAN

Layers of the
Network

Network Types
Peer to Peer
Windows 98/2000
Windows for Workgroups
Client Server (server-based)
Windows NT
Novell
Unix / Linux

Peer to Peer

No centralized control
Act as both client & server
User controls access to machine
Institutionalized chaos & security
concerns
Adding machines slows network
down

Peer to Peer
Advantages
Easy to install & configure
Users control individual shared
resources
Inexpensive to purchase & operate
No Network Administrator
Best for 10 or fewer users

Peer to Peer
Disadvantages
Security for only a single resource at a
time
Users may need to know many
passwords
Individual machine backups
Speed decreases while sharing
No central location/access of data

Server Based
Networks
Server is the key to this type
Centralized control of resources
Utilize faster processors
More memory
Extra peripherals

Server Security
Physical access to the server
Specialized sentry servers
Domain model
Account names
Passwords
Firewalls

Server Based
Advantages
Central security/ accounts/ access
Simplify network administration
Powerful/ efficient access to
resources
Single password for each user
Best for high use, user, networks

Server Based
Disadvantages

Server failure results in unusable network

Server failure results in loss of resources
Expert staff to manage increases cost
Dedicated hardware increases cost
Dedicated software increases cost
All disadvantages may be overcome
with $$$

Hybrid Networks
Combination networks
Windows 95/98/2000
Windows NT Server/Server
2000
Windows NT Workstation

Server Hardware
Requirements
High Speed Drives Mirrored or
RAID
512 MB Memory Minimum
High Quality NIC(s)
High-end Processor(s)

Specialized Servers
Individual services supplied
Application Servers
Communication Servers
Domain Controllers/Directory
Servers
Fax Servers

Specialized Servers
(cont.)
Mail

Servers
Web Servers
File & Print Servers

Application Servers
Server side of Client/Server
applications
Supply application services and
data
Provide processing services
Microsoft SQL Server runs on
Windows NT Server

Communication
Servers
Access beyond networks local scope
Inbound & outbound resource access
Dial in via modem
Windows NT server Remote Access
Server
(RAS) manages dial in network
connections

Domain Controllers/
Directory Servers
Locate, store, & secure information
about network
Allows computers, users, groups, &
resources to be combined into
domains
Domain access allows single login
to all allowed resources

Fax Servers
Manage network fax traffic
Receive incoming telephone
faxes
Distribute to network users
Collect outgoing network faxes
Send outgoing telephone faxes

File and Print Servers

File storage & File retrieval
Access to network printers
Applications run locally
Store data on server
Window NT server is capable

Mail Servers
E-mail for network users
Allow local exchange of messages
Permit server based storage of
messages
Forward user messages to
destination
Microsoft Exchange Server

Web Servers
World Wide Web (WWW)
File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
Gopher services
Intranets
NT Server Internet Information
Server (IIS)

Selecting the Right

Network

Budget considerations, number of

users?
Physical span of the network?
Specialized servers, services desired?
Internetwork or WAN access?
Future growth?

Summary
Basic elements to build a network
Medium,

physical interface, protocol

Networking software-client & server

Basic network types

Peer

to Peer
Server based