CHAPTER 1 Data Communication: Past to FutureThird Edition hs chapter focuses first on defining data network design and identifying the need for a data communications network. We first turn our attention to a discussion of the historical directions of computing and networking. After describing modern lay legacy communications, we explore the computing and networking direstions thot will carry us through the first few decades of the twenty-first century. A short review of recent late twentieth century history shows a major shift of resources (people, systems, infrastructure, and funding) away from voice and towards data communications, as data traffic volumes far outpace those of legacy voice, This Acceleration is precipitated by the information revolution and an increased dependence, fom consumers to the largest corporations, upon data communications In this process, we explore the world from the perspective of the information technology executive net, work manager, and engineer focusing on legacy, mature, and future technologies with a view toward emerging technologies of the early twenty-first century, WHAT IS NETWORK DESIGN? Network design, specifically data network design, isa broad field of study. It encom- passes and interacts with almost every aspect ofthe business and relies heavily on it in. ‘tsration with technology( Data is defined as information from which conclusions are drawn. Data is often used in the plural to refer to multiple collections of information, Data Gan reside in microcomputers, minicomputers, mainfeames, couters,swildheslorege devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cell phones, and cven the human brain, Data units are generally grouped into bits and bytes (8bits to a byte), and these units, in multiples, form data streams, Sending data streams over a medium from one point to another is called deta transport. The medium that delivers data from point A to paint B or point Ciscalled a network Devices attached to and within this network can perform func- tions on the data such as Bridging, routing, switching, and multiplexing, to name # few Bigure 1 depicts a sample data communications network of three sites, where point A Serves as the headquarters and points B and C as remote access sites. This exarapl is S(ersimplified to demonstrate that the network exit’ from the output port on a user Gevice to the input port on a remote destination user B or C device. Transport is acrons ¢ Wide Area Network (WAN)Jand two of the most popular and well-known networks in the World are the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and the Internet Data network design does not just focus on the transport of data. It isa broad field of study encompassing the creation of a communications infrastructure that.camprehends all of the following: ~ Y User applications Network architectures, infrastructures, and topologies A Public standards, services, protocols, data transport techniques The field of study also includes network analysis, planning, and implementation goes beyond simply understanding the technical details of protocols connecting one Slahent of hardware or software to another to facilitate data transfer and the knowledge of standardsata Point HO) and basic telecommunications, Data communications networks are designed with the primary purpose of enabling consumers or businesses to communicate in some form or fashion. In other words, f data network is designed and exists to enable the business. At the highest level, itis one tool fSaccomplish the mission and vision of a business; at the lowest level, itis acom- ite of hardware and software designed to pass bits of data from one point to anothér} ~The role of the people who build and manage these networks has changed overtime. Specialization by network engineers and managers in a single networking discipline, operating system, or application isno longer enough. Focus cannot be splitbetween voice and data traffic, or the local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN), or the server and router worlds, but instead must be directed at all components as a single sys- tem. The lines of demarcation from the desktop to the WAN transport have greatly blurred, while overriding issues such as security and disaster recovery integrate and span all these worlds.