Chapter 6

Switching Technologies
and Network Devices
 Switched Networks
 A network is a set of connected devices
 Switching is the act of connecting multiple
devices to make communication possible.
 Switched network consists of series of switch
 Long distance transmission between stations
(called “end devices”) is typically done over a
network of switching nodes.
 A collection of nodes and connections forms a
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communications network.
 Switched Networks
 Switching nodes do not concern with content of data.
 Their purpose is to provide a switching facility that will
move the data from node to node until they reach their
destination (the end device).
 In a switched communications network, data entering
the network from a station are routed to the destination
by being switched from node to node.
 Switching methods are used to connect the multiple
communicating devices with one another.

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 Switching Technology
 Switching is the technique by which nodes control or
switch data to transmit it between specific points on a
network
 Two types of Switching Technologies
 Circuit Switching
 Packet Switching

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 Circuit Switching
 A circuit switched network is one that establishes a
dedicated circuit or channel between nodes and
terminals (end to end) before the users may
communicate
 Circuit switching dynamically establishes a dedicated
virtual connection for voice or data between a sender
and a receiver
 Before communication can start, it is necessary to
establish the connection through the network of the
service provider
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 Circuit Switching Networks
 The most common types of circuit switched networks
 The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
 Plain Old Telephone System (POTS)
 The Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN)
 The actual communication in circuit switched
network requires three phases
 Connection Setup
 Data Transfer
 Circuit disconnect
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 Circuit Switching Properties
 Inefficiency
 Channel capacity is dedicated for the whole duration of
a connection. If no data, capacity is wasted
 Delay
 Long initial delay: circuit establishment takes time
 Developed for voice
 Resources dedicated to a particular call
 Data rate is fixed
 Both ends must operate at the same rate during
the entire period of connection
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 Circuit Switching

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 Packet Switching
 Packet switching splits traffic data in to packets
that are routed over a shared network
 Packet-switched networks move data in separate, small
blocks (packets) based on the destination address in
each packet.
 Packet switched network do not require a circuit
to be established
 The switches in packet switched network (PSN)
determine the links that packets must be sent over
based on the addressing information in each packet
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 Packet Switching
 When the path is established temporarily while a
packet is travelling through it, and then breaks down
again, it is called a virtual circuit (VC)
 Because the internal links between the switches are
shared between many users, the cost of packet
switching network is lower than that of circuit-
switching network
 Packet switching is designed to address the problems
of circuit switching.
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 Packet Switching
 Packet switching is a WAN technology in which
users share common carrier resources.

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 Networking Devices
 NIC
 Hub
 Switch
 Repeater
 Bridge
 Router
 Brouter
 Others? -Explore!
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 Network Interface Card (NIC)

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 Network Interface Card (NIC)
At source:
 Receives the data packet from the Network Layer
 Attaches the source and destination MAC address
to the data packet.
 Provides the physical connection to the media
As a destination device
➢Provides the physical connection to the media
➢Translates the signal in to data
➢Reads the MAC address to see if it matches its
own address, if it does match, passes the data to
the Network Layer
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 Network Hub
 A central point of a star topology
 Allows the multiple connection of devices
 Can be (Managed Hubs, Switched Hubs,
Intelligent Hubs)
 Hub is a Repeater with multiple ports
 Functions in a similar manner to a Repeater
 Works at the Physical Layer of the OSI model
 Passes data no matter which device it’s addressed
to; and this feature adds to congestion

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 Hub
Advantages
 Cheap,
 can connect different media types

Disadvantages
 Extends the collision domain
 can not filter information,
 passes packets to all connected segments

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 Switch
 A multiport Bridge, functioning at the Data
Link Layer
 Each port of the bridge decides whether to
forward data packets to the attached network
 Keeps track of the Mac addresses of all attached
devices (just like a bridge)
 Switch is active hub
 Acts like a Hub, but filters like a Bridge
 Each port on a Switch is a collision domain
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 Switch
Advantages
 Limits the collision domain,
 can provide bridging,
 can be configured to limit broadcast domain

Disadvantages
 More expensive than a hub or bridge,
 configuration of additional functions can be very
complex

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 Repeater
 Allows the connection of network segments
 Extends the network beyond the maximum length of a
single segment
 Functions at the Physical Layer of the OSI model
 A multi-port repeater is known as a Hub
 Connects segments of the same network, even if they use
different media
 Has three basic functions
 Receives a signal which it cleans up
 Re-times the signal to avoid collisions
 Transmits the signal on to the next segment
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 Repeater
Advantages
 Can connect different types of media
 can extend a network in terms of distance
 does not increase network traffic
Disadvantages
 Extends the collision domain,
 can not connect different network architectures

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 Bridge
 It connects segments of a network
 Works at Data Layer
 Uses Mac address to make decisions
 Acts as a ’filter’, by determining whether or not to
forward a packet on to another segment
 Builds a Bridging Table, keeps track of devices on
each segment
 Forwards packets whose destination address is on a
different segment from its own
 It divides a network in to multiple collision domains
– so reducing the number of collisions
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 Bridge
Advantages –
 Limits the collision domain,
 can extend network distances,
 uses MAC address to filter traffic, eases
congestion,
 can connect different types of media, some
can connect differing architectures
Disadvantages –
 more expensive than a repeater,
 slower than a repeater – due to additional
processing of packets
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 Bridge
➢ Uses the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) – to decide whether to
pass a packet on to a different network segment

G Transmits to B,
bridge will pass it to
Segment A
A Transmits to C,
bridge will not pass it
to Segment B

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 Router
 Works at Network Layer in an intelligent manner
 Can connect different network segments, if they are
in the same building or even on the opposite side of
the globe
 Works in LAN, MAN and WAN environments
 Allows access to resources by selecting the best path
 Can interconnect different networks – Ethernet with
wireless
 Changes packet size and format to match the
requirements of the destination network
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 Router
 Two primary functions – to determine the ‘best path’ and
to share details of routes with other Routers
 Routing Table – a database which keeps track of the routes
to networks and the associated costs
 Static Routing – routes are manually configured by a
network administrator
 Dynamic Routing – adjust automatically to changes in
network topology, and information it receives from other
routers
 Routing Protocol – uses a special algorithm to route data
across a network eg RIP
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 Router
Advantages
 Limits the collision domain,
 can function in LAN or WAN,
 connects differing media and architectures,
 can determine best path/route,
 can filter broadcasts
Disadvantages
 Expensive,
 must use routable protocols
 can be difficult to configure (static routing),
 slower than a bridge
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 Router

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 Brouter
 Functions both as Bridge and a Router
 Can work on networks using different protocols
 Can be programmed only to pass data packets
using a specific protocol, forward to a segment –
in this case it is functioning in a similar manner to
a Bridge
 If a Brouter is set to route data packets to the
appropriate network with a routed protocol such
as IP, it is functioning as a Router
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 Gateways
 A gateway is a hardware device that acts as a
"gate" between two networks.
 It may be a router, firewall, server, or other
device that enables traffic to flow in and flow out
of the network.
 Allow different networks to communicate by
offering a translation service from one protocol
stack to another
 They work at all levels of the OSI model – due to
the type of translation service they are providing
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 Gateways

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 Gateways
 Address Gateway – connects networks using the same
protocol, but using different directory spaces such as
Message Handling Service
 Protocol Gateway – connects network using different
protocols. Translates source protocol so destination can
understand it
 Application Gateway – translates between applications
such as from an Internet email server to a messaging
server

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 Firewall
 A firewall is a network security system that monitors
and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic
based on predetermined security rules.
 A firewall typically establishes a barrier between a
trusted internal network and untrusted external
network, such as the Internet.
 Firewalls can be implemented on both hardware and
software.
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 Firewall
 Firewalls are commonly used to prevent unauthorized
users from accessing private networks connected to
internet.
 All message entering and leaving through intranet pass
through the firewall.
 Firewall examines each message and blocks those that
do not meet the specified security criteria

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 MODEM
• Modem stands for Modulator and Demodulator .
• A modem is used to send digital data over phone line.
• The sending modem modulates the data into analog signal compatible
to phone line.
• The receiving modem demodulates the signal back into digital data.
• Wireless modems convert digital data into wave signals.

Modem

Computer

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 Ethernet Networks

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 Ethernet Networks
 Ethernet is a family of computer networking
technologies commonly used in LAN, MAN and WAN.
 The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
(IEEE) specifies in the family of standards called
IEEE 802.3.
 Ethernet describes how network devices can format and
transmit data packets so other devices on the same local
or campus area network segment can recognize, receive
and process them.

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 Ethernet Networks
 An Ethernet cable is the physical, covered wiring over
which the data travels.
 Compared to wireless LAN technology, Ethernet is
typically less vulnerable to disruptions -- whether from
radio wave interference, physical barriers or bandwidth
hogs.
 It can also offer a greater degree of network security
and control than wireless technology, as devices must
connect using physical cabling
 Ethernet works at Layer 1 and Layer 2 of the OSI
network protocol model
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 Ethernet Networks

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 Ethernet Networks
 The first versions of Ethernet used coaxial cable to
connect computers in a bus topology. Each computer
was directly connected to the backbone. These early
versions of Ethernet were known as Thicknet,
(10BASE5) and Thinnet (10BASE2).
 10BASE5, or Thicknet, used a thick coaxial that allowed for
cabling distances of up to 500 meters before the signal required
a repeater.
 10BASE2, or Thinnet, used a thin coaxial cable that was smaller
in diameter and more flexible than Thicknet and allowed for
cabling distances of 185 meters.
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 four most common kinds of 10Mbps Ethernet cabling

• 10 - 10Mbps
• Base - Baseband (against broadband with more bandwidth than standard
telephone service)
• 5 or 2 - maximum segment length; rounded to units of 100 meters (for
coax)
• T - twisted pair, F - Fiber
• a hub is used in 10Base-T and 10Base-F to which each station is
connected by a dedicated cable
• 10Base5 is also called Thick Ethernet and 10Base2 Thin Ethernet
• 10Base5 and 10Base2 use bus topology; 10Base-T and 10Base-F use star
topology
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 Ethernet Networks
Standard Ethernet (10Base-T)
 An Ethernet standard that transmits at 10 Mbps over
twisted wire pairs (telephone wire).
 10Base-T is a shared media LAN when used with a hub
(all nodes share the 10 Mbps)
 The physical topology was changed to a star topology
using hubs.
 10Base-T was the first vendor-independent standard
implementation of Ethernet on twisted pair wiring.
 The “10BASE-T“, 10 refers to 10 Mbps, Base refers to
baseband signaling, T refers to twisted pair cable
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 Ethernet Networks
Fast Ethernet (100BASE-T)
 A significant development that enhanced LAN
performance was the introduction of switches to
replace hubs in Ethernet-based networks
 Fast Ethernet is a LAN transmission standard that
provides a data rate of 100 megabits per second
(referred to as "100BASE-T").
 Workstations with existing 10 megabit per second
(10BASE-T) Ethernet card can be connected to a
Fast Ethernet network.
 IEEE 802.3u standard
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 Ethernet Networks
Gigabit Ethernet (1 Gbps)
 The increasing use of Voice over IP (VoIP) and
multimedia services requires connections that are
faster than 100 Mbps Ethernet.
 Gigabit Ethernet is used to describe Ethernet
implementations that provide bandwidth of 1000 Mbps
(1 Gbps) or greater.
 Gigabit Ethernet is defined in the IEEE 802.3ab
standard and is currently being used as the backbone in
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many enterprise networks
 Ethernet Networks
10 Gigabit Ethernet:
 An Ethernet standard that transmits at 10 gigabits
per second (10 Gbps).
 Introduced in 2002 and abbreviated "10 GbE,"
"10GE" or "10G Ethernet," it extended Gigabit
Ethernet by 10-fold for high-speed storage networks
(SANs), enterprise backbones, as well as wide area
and metropolitan area networks
 IEEE 802.3ae standard

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Table 1.3: Common Ethernet Cable Types
Ethernet Name Cable Type Maximum Speed Maximum Transmission Distance Notes

10Base5 Coax 10Mbps 500 meters per segment Also called Thicknet, this cable type uses vampire taps
to connect devices to cable.

10Base2 Coax 10Mbps 185 meters per segment Also called Thinnet, a very popular implementation of
Ethernet over coax.

10BaseT UTP 10Mbps 100 meters per segment One of the most popular network cabling schemes.

100BaseT UTP 100Mbps 100 meters per segment One of the most popular network cabling schemes.

100BaseVG UTP 100Mbps 213 meters (Cat 5); 100 meters (Cat 3)

100BaseT4 UTP 100Mbps 100 meters per segment Requires four pairs of Cat 3, 4, or 5 UTP cable.

100BaseTX UTP, STP 100Mbps 100 meters per segment Two pairs of Category 5 UTP or Type 1 STP.

10BaseF Fiber 10Mbps Varies (ranges from 500 meters to 2000 meters) Ethernet over fiber-optic implementation.

100BaseFX Fiber 100Mbps 2000 meters 100Mbps Ethernet over fiber-optic implementation.

1000BaseT Copper 1000Mbps 100 meters

1000BaseTX (Gigabit Ethernet) Category 5 UTP 1000Mbps 100 meters Uses same connectors as 10BaseT.

1000BaseLX Multimode Fiber 1000Mbps 550 meters Uses longer wavelength laser than 1000BaseSX.

FDDI Multimode Fiber 100Mbps 10 kilometers Uses MIC connector.

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 Other IEEE Standards

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