The Basics of Computer Networking

David Phenix
Computing in the Modern World
1st Period

The Computer Network

Arguably, the greatest advancement in technology and

communication over the past 20 years has been the development
and advancement of the computer network. From emailing a
friend to on-line bill paying to downloading data off the Internet to
e-commerce, networking has made our world much smaller and
changed the way we communicate forever.

The Computer Network

What is a Computer Network
network: [net-wurk] noun, a system containing any
combination of computers, computer terminals, printers,
audio or visual display devices, or telephones
interconnected by telecommunication equipment or
cables: used to transmit or receive information.

Navigation Links
Network Diagram Basic Layout and map of a traditional computer network.
Network Types Computer networks vary in shape and size depending on usage.
- WAN
- LAN
- Peer to Peer
Fiber Optic Cable One of the Latest innovations in network cabling.
Switches and Hubs The central device within a network that transmit data.
Servers The central storage device for the names and locations of various data.
- IP Addresses
Topologies The layouts of various network designs.
- Star
- Bus
- Ring
Firewalls The network software that keeps destructive forces from a network.
Routers The device that let messages flow between networks.
Wireless Networks - Allows computers to be moved without wires or cables.
The Internet The worlds largest network.
References

The Network Diagram

(Click on the Words Below and Learn More About Each Component)

Wired Network

PC

Firewall

The Internet

Fiber Optic Network Cable

Router
Switch

Server

Other LANS

Wireless Network

The Three Types of Networks

Navigation
Network Diagram
Network Types
- WAN
- LAN
- Peer to Peer
Fiber Optic Cable
Switches and Hubs
Servers
- IP Addresses
Topologies
- Star
- Bus
- Ring
Firewalls
Routers
Wireless Networks
The Internet
References

WIDE AREA

LOCAL AREA

PEER TO PEER

Wide Area Network

Navigation
Network Diagram
Network Types
- WAN
- LAN
- Peer to Peer
Fiber Optic Cable
Switches and Hubs
Servers
- IP Addresses
Topologies
- Star
- Bus
- Ring
Firewalls
Routers
Wireless Networks
The Internet
References

A Wide Area Network exist over a large area

Data travels through telephone or cable lines
Usually requires a Modem
The worlds largest Wide Area Network in the
Internet

Local Area Network

Navigation
Network Diagram
Network Types
- WAN
- LAN
- Peer to Peer
Fiber Optic Cable
Switches and Hubs
Servers
- IP Addresses
Topologies
- Star
- Bus
- Ring
Firewalls
Routers
Wireless Networks
The Internet
References

A Local Area Network spans a relatively small

area
LAN are usually confined to one building or a
group of buildings
Data travel between network devices via
network cables.
The most common type of Local Area Network
is called Ethernet

Peer to Peer Network

Navigation
Network Diagram
Network Types
- WAN
- LAN
- Peer to Peer
Fiber Optic Cable
Switches and Hubs
Servers
- IP Addresses
Topologies
- Star
- Bus
- Ring
Firewalls
Routers
Wireless Networks
The Internet
References

Usually very small networks

Each workstation has equivalent capabilities
and responsibilities
Does not require a switch or a hub.
These types of networks do not perform well
under heavy data loads.

Fiber Optic Cable

Navigation
Network Diagram
Network Types
- WAN
- LAN
- Peer to Peer
Fiber Optic Cable
Switches and Hubs
Servers
- IP Addresses
Topologies
- Star
- Bus
- Ring
Firewalls
Routers
Wireless Networks
The Internet
References

Standard
Network
Copper Cable

Reduces interference in the network

Transmit data faster than copper network cable
Allows for more bandwidth
Smaller and more fragile than copper cable

Switches and Hubs

Navigation
Network Diagram
Network Types
- WAN
- LAN
- Peer to Peer
Fiber Optic Cable
Switches and Hubs
Servers
- IP Addresses
Topologies
- Star
- Bus
- Ring
Firewalls
Routers
Wireless Networks
The Internet
References

Network Switches

Network Hubs

Data travels faster through switches because data is not

sequenced as it is in a hub

The information is more secure when it passes through

a switch as opposed to a hub.

Information travels more efficiently through a switch

because travels directly to its destination as opposed to
being broadcast to all PCs on the network hub.

Servers
Users are connected to
certain servers which
will fulfill the required
request.

Navigation
Network Diagram
Network Types
- WAN
- LAN
- Peer to Peer
Fiber Optic Cable
Switches and Hubs
Servers
- IP Addresses
Topologies
- Star
- Bus
- Ring
Firewalls
Routers
Wireless Networks
The Internet
References

There are 3 Principle

Types of Servers
Print Servers
Contains the name and
location of all printers
that are on the
Network

Rack of Servers

File Servers
Contain the location and
names of the various
drives, files, and
folders on a Network
Web Servers
Contain the Programs,
Files, and Internet
Web Sites

Web Servers
Navigation
Network Diagram
Network Types
- WAN
- LAN
- Peer to Peer
Fiber Optic Cable
Switches and Hubs
Servers
- IP Addresses
Topologies
- Star
- Bus
- Ring
Firewalls
Routers
Wireless Networks
The Internet
References

IP Addresses
IP stands for Internet Protocol. IP Addresses serve as
the location of websites on the Internet as well as the
workstations that are connected to the web. IP addresses
are made up of four sets of numbers called Octets.
There are two types of IP Addresses: Static and
Temporary. Below is a description of both.
Static IP Addresses
Static IP addresses are
found only on servers and
remain the same.
A Domain Name Server
assigns a human
readable web address to
each static IP address to
make it more user friendly.

Temporary IP Addresses
Temporary IP addresses
are found only on PCs are
constantly changing each
time it is logged on.
Temporary IP addresses
are assigned by an ISP
(Internet Service Provider)
each time it is logged on to
the Internet.

Network Topologies
Navigation
Network Diagram
Network Types
- WAN
- LAN
- Peer to Peer
Fiber Optic Cable
Switches and Hubs
Servers
- IP Addresses
Topologies
- Star
- Bus
- Ring
Firewalls
Routers
Wireless Networks
The Internet
References

Network Topology refers to the shape of a

network, or the network's layout. How different
nodes in a network are connected to each other
and how they communicate are determined by
the network's topology.
There are three basic topologies:

Star

Ring

Bus

Star Topology
Navigation
Network Diagram
Network Types
- WAN
- LAN
- Peer to Peer
Fiber Optic Cable
Switches and Hubs
Servers
- IP Addresses
Topologies
- Star
- Bus
- Ring
Firewalls
Routers
Wireless Networks
The Internet
References

All devices are connected to a central hub.

Nodes communicate across the network by
passing data through the hub or switch.

Ring Topology
Navigation
Network Diagram
Network Types
- WAN
- LAN
- Peer to Peer
Fiber Optic Cable
Switches and Hubs
Servers
- IP Addresses
Topologies
- Star
- Bus
- Ring
Firewalls
Routers
Wireless Networks
The Internet
References

All devices are connected to one another in

the shape of a closed loop.
Each device is connected directly to two
other devices, one on either side of it.

Bus Topology
Navigation
Network Diagram
Network Types
- WAN
- LAN
- Peer to Peer
Fiber Optic Cable
Switches and Hubs
Servers
- IP Addresses
Topologies
- Star
- Bus
- Ring
Firewalls
Routers
Wireless Networks
The Internet
References

All devices are connected to a central

cable, called the bus or backbone.
There are terminators at each end of the bus
that stops the signal and keeps it from
traveling backwards.

Firewalls
Navigation
Network Diagram
Network Types
- WAN
- LAN
- Peer to Peer
Fiber Optic Cable
Switches and Hubs
Servers
- IP Addresses
Topologies
- Star
- Bus
- Ring
Firewalls
Routers
Wireless Networks
The Internet
References

A firewall is a software that can be loaded on to

a network that can serve as a barrier that keeps
destructive forces away from a network of
computers.
Packets of data are analyzed against a set of
criteria or standards called filters.
Filters block certain designated IP addresses.

Routers
Navigation
Network Diagram
Network Types
- WAN
- LAN
- Peer to Peer
Fiber Optic Cable
Switches and Hubs
Servers
- IP Addresses
Topologies
- Star
- Bus
- Ring
Firewalls
Routers
Wireless Networks
The Internet
References

Standard Router

Wireless Router

Whether a Router is traditional or wireless, its

purposes remain the same.
Routers are specialized computers that send
your messages and those of every other
Internet user speeding to their destinations
along thousands of pathways.
Routers are crucial devices that let messages
flow between networks, rather than within
networks.

Wireless Networks
Navigation
Network Diagram
Network Types
- WAN
- LAN
- Peer to Peer
Fiber Optic Cable
Switches and Hubs
Servers
- IP Addresses
Topologies
- Star
- Bus
- Ring
Firewalls
Routers
Wireless Networks
The Internet

Allows for
computers to be
moved easily
without having to
worry about wires
or cables
Walkie-Talkie Network
You would equip each computer with basically,
a walkie-talkie.
You would give each computer a way to set
whether it wants to transmit or receive.
A wireless network converts binary signal (0s
and 1s) into a radio signal (series of beeps).

The Internet
Navigation
Network Diagram
Network Types
- WAN
- LAN
- Peer to Peer
Fiber Optic Cable
Switches and Hubs
Servers
- IP Addresses
Topologies
- Star
- Bus
- Ring
Firewalls
Routers
Wireless Networks
The Internet
References

The simplest definition of the Internet

is that it's a network of computer
networks

The Internet
Navigation
Network Diagram
Network Types
- WAN
- LAN
- Peer to Peer
Fiber Optic Cable
Switches and Hubs
Servers
- IP Addresses
Topologies
- Star
- Bus
- Ring
Firewalls
Routers
Wireless Networks
The Internet
References

How Information Travel Through the Internet

A page on the Internetwhether it's full of words, images
or bothdoesn't come to you in one shipment. It's
translated into digital information, chopped into 1500
byte pieces called PACKETS, and sent to you like a
puzzle that needs to be reassembled. Each part of the
packet has a specific function:
Header
Provides the
complete
destination
address for the
packet

Sequence ID
IDs where the information
belongs in relation to the
rest of the information

End of Message
IDs the end of the
packet
Data Block
The portion of the overall
information carried by the packet

The Internet
Navigation
Network Diagram
Network Types
- WAN
- LAN
- Peer to Peer
Fiber Optic Cable
Switches and Hubs
Servers
- IP Addresses
Topologies
- Star
- Bus
- Ring
Firewalls
Routers
Wireless Networks
The Internet
References

How Information Travel Through the Internet

When you connect to a Web site through an ISP and start
exchanging information, there isn't a fixed connection
between your computer and the Web server computer
hosting the Web site. Instead, information is exchanged
using the best possible path at that particular time.
Special computers called routers determine these paths,
avoiding slow links and favoring fast ones.

Your
Computer

ISP
Routers

Web
Servers

References
Intel Corporation, (2004). www.intel.com. Retrieved May 11, 2007,
from .The Journey Inside: The Internet. website:
http://www97.intel.com/discover/JourneyInside/TJI_Internet/default.asp
x
Webdopedia (2007). http://www.webopedia.com/. Retrieved May 11,
2007, online dictionary and search engine you need for computer and
Internet technology definitions. http://www.webopedia.com/.