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FC Topic 4 - Networks

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FC Topic 4 - Networks

Uploaded by

Nour's Adventure
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Topic 4 - Networks

SLR4 - Computer Networks, Layers, Protocols


SLR5 - Network and Cyber Security
Benefits of connecting computers (Networks)

• Users can share files.


• Users can share peripherals such as printers and connections to other networks
– e.g., the internet.
• Users can access their files from any computer on the network.
• Servers can control security, software updates and backup of data.
• Communication with other people – e.g., email and social networking.
Exam Questions
1) Identify 3 benefits of a computer network
Drawbacks of connecting computers (Networks)

• Increased security risk to data.


• Malware and viruses spread very easily between computers.
• If a server fails, all the computers may not work.
• The computer may run more slowly if there is a lot of data travelling
on the network.
Exam Questions
1) Identify 3 drawbacks of a computer network
Local Area Network - LAN

• Covers a small geographic area located on a single site.


• All the hardware is owned by the organisation using it.
• Wired with UTP or fibre optic cables or wireless using Wi-Fi.
Exam Questions
1) Identify 3 characteristics of a Local Area Network
Wide Area Network - WAN

• Covers a large geographic area that connects LANs together.


• Infrastructure between the LANs is hired from telecommunication
companies who own and manage it.
• Connected with telephone lines, fibre optic cables or satellite links.
• The internet is the biggest example of a WAN.
Exam Questions
1) Identify 3 characteristics of a Wide Area Network

2) Identify 3 characteristics of a Local Area Network


The Internet

A worldwide collection of interconnected computer networks.

Connected via super fast fibre optic cables and satellites


To function the internet requires
1) IP Addresses
2) Routers
3) Packets
IP Addresses

25.34.122.12
An IP address is a unique address that identifies a device on the internet or a
local network.

So that it can send and receive data

IPV4 - using 32 bits (With 32 bits you can make 4 billion unique IP address)
IPV6 - uses 128 bits (With 128 bits you can make 340 trillion trillion unique IP address)
Router

Routers form a physical connection between networks

They forward data (packets) from one network to another.

Routers receive packets and find the packets destination address


They uses routing tables to select the most efficient route for the packet.
Packets

Data sent across network is split into packets


A Checksum
Header IP Address of Destination 1) A formulae is applied to the
IP Address of Source packet
Sequence Number 2) The number generated is added
Total number of packets to the packet
Checksum 3) The device that receives the
packet applies the same
Payload The data being sent, email, formula to the packet
webpage, video etc 4) The 2 checksum numbers are
compared
Footer End of packet flag 5) If they are different, a resend
request is sent
Exam Questions
1) A checksum works at the transport layer of TCP / IP. (4 marks)
Describe how a checksum is used to identify packets that have been corrupted during
transmission.

2) Identify 3 items in a packet header (3 marks)


Wired and Wireless Networks
Exam Questions
1) Explain two disadvantage of a wireless network

2) Explain two advantages of a wired network


Factors affecting network performance
Exam Questions
1) Define the term 'latency'.

2) Define the term bandwidth.


Network speed and transfer times

Network speeds

● 1 Kbps = 1 thousand bits per second


● 1 Mbps = 1 million bits per second
● 1 Gbps = 1 billion bits per second
Exam Questions
1) How long will it take to transmit a 8.7 GiB file, given a network
speed of 33 Mbps?”

8.7 x 1024 x 1024 x 1024 x 8


33 x 1 000000
Common network protocols
A network protocol is a set of rules governing the communication between devices on a network. Some protocols include:

HTTP Hypertext Transfer Protocol A client-server method of requesting and delivering HTM/Web files.

HTTPS Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure Encryption and authentication for client-server data.

Sending files between computers. Used for uploading web pages and associated files to a
FTP File Transfer Protocol
web server for hosting.

IMAP Internet Message Access Protocol Used by email clients to retrieve email from a mail server and manage remote mailboxes.

SMTP Simple Mail Transfer Protocol Sends mail to a mail server.

POP3 Post Office Protocol Used by email clients to retrieve email from a mail server.

TCP Transmission Control Protocol Provides an error-free transmission between two routers (TCP).

IP Internet Protocol Provides routing of packets on a wide area network (IP).

POP Post Office Protocol Used by email clients to retrieve email from a mail server.
Exam Questions
1) Describe one difference between the POP3 and IMAP email protocols.

2) What protocol is used for send and receiving web pages


Four Layer TCP/IP Model

The advantages of layering


FTP, HTTP,
Application SMTP, Application Browser include:
layer IMAP, POP3 layer
• Reducing the complexity of the problem.
• Devices can be manufactured to operate at a particular layer.
Transport TCP, error • Products from different vendors will work together.
TCP Transport handling
layer layer

Internet Internet
layer IP layer IP routing

Link Ethernet, Wi-Fi Link Ethernet over


layer layer twisted pair
Exam Questions
Advantages Disadvantages

An easy and cheap topology to set up because there is less cabling than Lower security than star topology, as every computer can see all the data
a star topology. being transmitted.

Not dependent on a central switch. If the main backbone bus cable fails, the whole network goes down.

Performance slows down quickly if there is a lot of traffic being


No additional devices such as a switch are required.
transmitted across the network due to the shared bus cable.
Switch

Advantages Disadvantages

Even when traffic load is heavy on the network, the performance


If the central switch fails, the entire network goes down.
remains consistent.

If one cable fails, it will not have an affect on any of the other computers Can be a more costly topology to implement due to all the extra
connected to the network. hardware such as additional cabling and switches.

Good level of security, as transmitted data is only received by the


Network connectivity issues are more difficult to trace through a switch.
computer for which it is intended.
The advantage of connecting computers together in a full The disadvantages of connecting computers together in a
mesh topology is: full mesh topology are that:

if the switch fails, the network will still function because there is a lot more cabling and switches needed, which can
there is another route between the source and destination. be expensive and impractical for large networks.

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