Wide Area Network

 Allows computers in different organizations to be networked

o Covers thousands of kilometers
 Benefits include executing tasks on a distant computer, retrieving data from a remote
computer, and electronically sending information to a remote computer
o Characteristics:
 Leased from a public switch telephone network company
 Uses fiber optic cable for rapid data transmission
 Communication happens between switches
 No end system directly connected to the WAN
Local Area Network (LAN)
 Benefits include minimizing the cost of installing application server software,
facilitating file sharing, and utilizing electronic mail for communication within an
organization
o Characteristics:
 Owned by the organization
 Utilizes twisted pair cables or Wi-Fi as the transmission medium
 Each LAN has a device to link to another network
Internet
 Formed by connecting LANs and WANs
 Allows people around the world to communicate with one another
Client-Server Model
 Architecture where a client runs an application provided by a server on a network
o Thin Client: Does not perform processing before letting the server do it
o Thick Client: Performs processing tasks before and after sending the request to
the server
 Suitable for managing file downloading and utilization, and safeguarding files against
malware
Peer-to-Peer Model
 Each peer serves as a client and a server, helping each other
 Prevents network congestion and allows file segments to be downloaded individually
and accessible for multiple hosts
Network Topologies
 Point to Point connection
 Bus topology
 Mesh topology
 Star topology
 Data transmission modes:
o Simplex: Data flows in one direction
o Half Duplex: Data can flow in two ways but not at the same time
o Full Duplex: Data flows in two ways at the same time
Transmission Methods
 Data can be sent using broadcast, multicast, or point-to-point transmission modes
o Topologies differ based on their arrangement and data transmission methods
 Point-to-point topology involves two computers connecting with each other
o Transmission mode can be Simplex or Duplex
o Method can only be unicast, not broadcast
Bus Topology
 Connects multiple devices using a single cable
o Utilizes broadcast communication method
o Network redundancy is evident, as a malfunction in one device or connecting
link doesn't affect the network usability for other devices
Mesh Topology
 Uses multiple cables to connect devices
o Each device is connected to every other device
o Transmission modes are duplex, allowing unicast, multicast, or broadcast
methods
Star Topology
 All computers are connected to a central device
o Duplex transmission modes with three methods
o If the central device fails, communication will not work
Hybrid Network
 Combines different network topologies to achieve specific performance, scalability,
or redundancy goals
Transmission Media
 Categorized into cable and wireless communication media
o Cable communication uses copper wire or fiber optic
o Wireless communication utilizes electromagnetic spectrum with choices such
as infrared, microwave, and radio wave
Cable Communication
 Uses twisted pair for telephone handset connection and high-speed LAN
o Coaxial cable used extensively by cable television companies and in
metropolitan area networks
o Fiber optic technology suitable for long-distance cabling with higher data rates
and lower interference
Wireless Communication
 Utilizes electromagnetic waves such as infrared, microwave, and radio wave
o Each type of wave has its own advantages and disadvantages related to
frequency, data rate, and penetration
Satellite Communication
 Satellites function as components within the network, establishing direct connections
with components on the ground
o Types of satellites include low earth orbit, medium earth orbit, and
geostationary earth orbit
Local Area Network (LAN) Hardware
 Terminator ensures data continuity by preventing signal reflection
 Repeater accepts an input signal and generates a new signal at full strength
 Bridge connects segments of LANs together
o Bridge is used to connect two LANs together
Network Components
 Each device in a network needs a network interface card.
o This card provides a unique address for the device.
Bridge
 Connects two segments of a local area network.
o Directs messages to the appropriate segment based on MAC address.
Switch
 Sometimes used as a central device, especially in the star topology.
o Enables devices to connect and communicate within a network.
Wireless LAN Hardware
 Central device is usually a wireless access point.
o Capable of establishing communication with equipped end systems.
Internet
 Not a physical thing, but rather a combination of protocols, ports, cables, and
computer chips.
o Also known as "I," with a data speed capability of gbits.
Collision Handling
 Internet has a protocol to handle collisions.
o Uses a Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) to
detect and resolve collisions.
Internet Infrastructure
 Internet Service Provider (ISP) offers access to the internet for individuals and
organizations.
o ISPs are connected through regional ISPs and backbone ISPs.
Router
 Responsible for determining the optimal transmission path.
o Uses mesh connections to ensure rapid data transmission.
Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
 Initially designed for voice communication but now supports internet connectivity.
o Uses fiber optic cables and digital technologies to enhance data transmission.
Cell Phone Network
 Mobile companies can serve as ISPs for internet access.
o Cell phones can access the internet through regular cell towers.
Internet Applications
 Worldwide web is an application that stores web pages accessible on the internet.
o Cloud computing provides on-demand access to a shared pool of computing
resources.
 Includes private and public cloud computing environments.
Cloud Computing
 Public Cloud services like Amazon EC2 provide infrastructure provision, platform
provision, and software provision.
o Users can access computing power and storage resources provided by
companies like Amazon by paying for usage.
 Advantages of public Cloud include improved software performance, expanded
storage capacity, and cost savings for companies.
o Users do not need technical expertise for using Cloud services.
 Disadvantages include potential data privacy issues due to shared usage of apps.
Media Streaming
 Bitstream is a sequential series of binary bits representing digital data, including
video, transmitted over the internet.
o Media storage allows access to the same videos across the world through the
internet.
 Three ways to stream media: on-demand (download and watch later), real-time
(simultaneous transmission), and buffered streaming.
o Buffer size determines the amount of data transmitted and plays a crucial role
in streaming quality.
o Bit rate, determined by the Internet Service Provider (ISP), is crucial for a
good viewing experience.
IP Addressing
 IP addressing is essential for transmitting data between computers over the internet.
o IPv4 addresses use 32 bits and allow for around 4.3 billion addresses.
 Class-based IP addressing (Class A, B, C) allocated bits for network and host IDs,
leading to address shortage issues.
 Classless Interdomain Routing (CIDR) and subnetting are solutions to address
shortage issues and improve IP address utilization.
o CIDR allows for flexible allocation of addresses to different networks,
preventing address exhaustion.
o Subnetting is the process of dividing a large network into smaller, more
manageable subnetworks.
o Both CIDR and subnetting improve overall IP address utilization.
Addressing Method for Schools (40:08 - 48:16)
 The school has 8 departments, each needing its own Classful Net ID.
o Using 8 individual Classful Net IDs for each department would lead to a lot of
wasted addresses.
o Subnetting allows all departments to share a single Net ID, reducing wasted
addresses.
 Subnetting method: using 3 bits to represent each department and 5 bits for devices
within each department.
o This results in a much lower number of addresses needed for each department.
Network Address Translation (NAT)
 NAT allows multiple devices in a private network to access the internet using a single
public IP address.
o NAT enables multiple devices to share a private IP address, enhancing the
availability of IP addresses.
Static and Dynamic IP Addresses
 Dynamic IP address: changes periodically as devices connect and disconnect,
allowing more IP addresses to be used.
o Static IP address: a fixed address used for consistent hosting and management
purposes.
Future of IP Addressing
 Use of more bits to represent one address, allowing for more possible addresses.
Domain Name System (DNS)
 DNS is a decentralized naming system that translates human-readable domain names
into IP addresses.
o Domain name servers are structured hierarchically, resembling an upside-
down tree.
o Name resolution is the process DNS servers use to look up a domain name to
find an IP address.