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Unit F: Networks and Connecting To The Internet

This document discusses computer networks and internet connectivity. It covers networking basics like advantages/disadvantages of networks and network hardware. It also explains how to set up both wired and wireless networks. Additionally, it describes different options for wired and wireless internet connections, including DSL, cable, satellite, WiFi, and mobile broadband. Finally, it provides an overview of how IP addresses and domain names are used to identify devices and resources on the internet.

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Chan Charlotte
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
89 views

Unit F: Networks and Connecting To The Internet

This document discusses computer networks and internet connectivity. It covers networking basics like advantages/disadvantages of networks and network hardware. It also explains how to set up both wired and wireless networks. Additionally, it describes different options for wired and wireless internet connections, including DSL, cable, satellite, WiFi, and mobile broadband. Finally, it provides an overview of how IP addresses and domain names are used to identify devices and resources on the internet.

Uploaded by

Chan Charlotte
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 34

Unit F: Networks and

Connecting to the
Internet
Learning Objectives
Explain the advantages and disadvantages
of a computer network
Identify and define basic network hardware
Explain the differences between wired and
wireless networks
Explain the steps to set up a basic network

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 2


Learning Objectives (continued)
Describe how to access resources on a
network
Identify different types of wired Internet
connection options
Describe how to connect to the Internet
without wires
Explain how IP addresses and domain
names work

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 3


Network Basics
Computer networks combine hardware,
software, cables, and signals to allow
communication and sharing

Figure F-1: A network connects computers and peripherals

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 4


Network Basics (continued)
Advantages
Sharing networked hardware reduces cost
and expands access
Sharing networked
software reduces
costs, facilitates
share and enables
collaboration

Figure F-2: Networks help people collaborate

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 5


Network Basics (continued)
Disadvantages
Risk of unauthorized access
Risk of virus attacks
Security and privacy issues
Data traffic bottleneck?

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 6


Network Basics (continued)
Geographical Structure
Area in which network devices are located
LAN: Local Area Network
 e.g. within an office or a campus
MAN: Metropolitan Area Network
 e.g. within a city
WAN: Wide Area Network
 e.g. within a country

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 7


Network Basics (continued)
Physical Topology
Layout and relationship between network
devices
Star: all devices are connected to a central
device
Ring: devices are connected to form a
circular chain
Bus: all devices are connected by a
common link
and more …
Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 8
Network Hardware
Client/server network
 Server computer provides services and
resources to client computers (also called
workstations)
Different servers
• File server
• Print server
• Email server
• …

Figure F-4: Structure of a client/server network


Reference: YouTube - Client Server and Peer-to-Peer Networking
Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 9
Network Hardware (continued)
Peer-to-peer (P2P) networks
 Each computer is a client and a server

Figure F-5: Structure of a peer-to-peer (P2P) network

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 10


Network Hardware (continued)
Network devices include:
 Modem
 Network hub
 Network switch
 Network router
 Gateway

Figure F-6: Ethernet ports and connector

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 11


Network Hardware (continued)
Network devices include:
 Modem : converts analog signal to digital
signal
 Network hub : broadcast data to all the
other network nodes
 Network switch : sends data only to a
destinated network node
 Network router : passes data from one
network to another network
 Gateway : connects internal network to the
“outside” network
Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 12
Network Hardware (continued)
Network interface card (NIC)
Ethernet card
 Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) is a popular/standard
network using a bus topology
 NIC that supports Ethernet protocols

Figure F-7: Ethernet adapters

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 13


Wired and Wireless Networks-
A Comparison
Wired network
 Data travels over cables
 More secure
 Offers faster speeds

Figure F-8: Cables and wireless router

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 14


Wired and Wireless Networks-
A Comparison (continued)
Wireless network
 Data travels through the air
 Offers mobility
 Common wireless signals:
• RF : Radio Frequency
• Microwave
• Infrared (light)

Figure F-9: Accessing a wireless connection outdoors

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 15


Wired and Wireless Networks-
A Comparison (continued)
Wi-Fi : Wireless Fidelity (IEEE 802.11)
Wi-Fi card - a wireless NIC
Wireless access point - device that
transmits and receives wireless signals (e.g.
the wireless router)

Figure F-11 Wi-Fi equipment

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 16


How to Set Up a Network
Ethernet/wired
network

Figure F-15: Set up an Ethernet network

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 17


How to Set Up a Network (continued)
Wireless network
 Set up the router
 Connect to the router with a computer
 Configure the router
 e.g. set the SSID (Service Set Identifier) to
represent the router

Figure F-16: Wireless router

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 18


How to Set Up a Network (continued)
Wired and wireless network

Figure F-17: Basic configuration for a combined wired and wireless network

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 19


How to Use a Network
Windows automatically detects networks
Click the workgroup (network) name to
access (when more than one network is
connected)

Figure F-20: Shared resources on a network computer

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 20


How to Use a Network (continued)
Drive mapping assigns a drive letter to a
network location
Once mapped, treat it as a disk drive

Figure F-21: Drive mapping to share resources


Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 21
How to Use a Network (continued)
File Sharing allows network users to access
files or folders on a networked computer

Figure F-22: File sharing

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 22


How to Use a Network (continued)
Networked printer sharing
print server with built-in network card

Figure F-23: Ways of connecting a printer to a network

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 23


Wired Internet Connection Options
Internet Service Provider (ISP)
National/Network Service Provider (NSP)

Figure F-24: Connecting your computer to the Internet


Reference: Website – Example of ISP in Hong Kong
Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 24
Wired Internet Connection Options
(continued)
Digital subscriber line (DSL) provides high-
speed Internet access of phone lines
The filter is to filter out voice band signals
so as not to interfere with DSL signals

Figure E-26: DSL equipment

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 25


Wired Internet Connection Options
(continued)
Cable Internet connection provides always-
on broadband Internet access using cable
television infrastructure

Figure F-27: Connect to the Internet via cable service

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 26


Wired Internet Connection Options (continued)
Satellite Internet service provides always-
on, high-speed, asymmetric Internet access
(asymmetric: upload bandwidth is smaller
than download bandwidth)

Figure F-28: Connecting to the Internet via satellite service


Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 27
Wireless Internet Connection Options
WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for
Microwave Access)
 Can be used in rural areas

Figure F-29: A WiMAX Tower

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 28


Wireless Internet Connection Options
(continued)
Public Wi-Fi network
provides open Internet
access to the public
A hotspot is a physical
location that offers
Internet access over a
wireless local area
network (WLAN)

Figure F-30: A public Wi-Fi hotspot

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 29


Wireless Internet Connection Options
(continued)
Mobile broadband provides Internet access
via cell phone

Figure F-31: Using a phone for Figure F-32: Using a phone as


Internet access a modem

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 30


IP Addresses and Domain Names
IP address identify computers connected to
the Internet. Example: 204.127.129.001
Computers in the same network usually
have the same prefix in their IP address
Currently version IPv4 with
32-bit address length is
commonly used
New IPv6 has 128-bit
address length

Figure F-34: Network Connection


Details dialog box
Reference: Ever heard about IPv6?
Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 31
IP Addresses and Domain Names (continued)
Domain names correspond to unique IP
address and end with an extension
indicating top-level domain (e.g. .com .edu
.gov .info .org)

Figure F-35: How domain names work


Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 32
Talking Points: Why Pay for Internet
Access?
Is free Internet access always legal?
Data security
 Hackers can use unprotected wireless
systems to steal financial information,
download child pornography, etc.
Unregulated network availability raises
ethical, security, and privacy issues
Free WLAN controversy
 Telecommunications giants vs. free WLAN
advocates
Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 33
Summary
This chapter introduced:
 Network Basics
 Network Hardware
 Wired and Wireless Networks-A Comparison
 How to Set Up a Network
 How to Use a Network
 Wired Internet Connection Options
 Wireless Internet Connection Options
 IP Addresses and Domain Names

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 9th Edition 34

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