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

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 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

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

Figure F-1: A network connects computers and peripherals

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 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

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

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 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

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 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 …
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 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
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 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

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

Figure F-6: Ethernet ports and connector

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 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
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 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

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

Figure F-8: Cables and wireless router

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 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

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 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

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 How to Set Up a Network
Ethernet/wired
network

Figure F-15: Set up an Ethernet network

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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

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

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

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 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

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 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

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 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

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 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

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 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
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 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

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 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

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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

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Wireless Internet Connection Options
WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for
Microwave Access)
 Can be used in rural areas

Figure F-29: A WiMAX Tower

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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

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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

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 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?
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 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

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 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
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 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

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