Understanding Local Area Networking

Module 1
Objectives
Skills/Concepts Objective Domain Objective Domain
Description Number
Examining Local Area Understand local area 1.2
Networks, Devices and networks (LANS)
Data Transfers
Identifying Network Understand network 1.5
Topologies and topologies and access
Standards methods
Network components and Terminology
• Data • Switch
• Node • Router
• Client • Media
• Server • Transport Protocol
• Peer • Bandwidth
• Network adapter
• Hub
Local Area Network

A Local Area Network (LAN) A LAN is a group of

is group of computers computers or devices that
confined to a small share a common
geographic area, such as a communication medium,
single building such as cabled or wireless
connections
Networks
• Networks are used to exchange data
• Reasons for networks include
• Sharing information
• Communication
• Organizing data
Network Documentation
• Network documentation helps describe, define, and
explain the physical and logical method for
connecting devices
• The documentation phase occurs before a network
is built, or when changes are made to the network
• Microsoft Visio is a tool that can be used to
document networks
Hub
• A Hub is the most basic
central connecting
device •
• Hubs enable computers
on a network to •
communicate
• A host sends data to the
hub. The hub sends the
data to all devices
connected to the hub
Switch
• Switches work the same
was as a hub, but they
can identify the •
intended recipient of
the data •
• Switches can send and
receive data at the same
time
Router
Internet
• Routers enable
computers to 24.136.72.11
communicate and allow 0
communication between
two networks – such as
your home network and
the Internet
192.168.1.1
• This communications link
between the one
network and the other is
where the LAN ends
Network Adapter and RJ45 Patch Cable
A network adapter, also known RJ45 is the most common type
as a network interface card of network adapter connection
(NIC), is the hardware device
that enables you to send and
receive from your computer

• A network adapter can connect to the network by

using cable (wired) or by air (wireless)
Wireless Access Point
• The wireless access point (WAP) acts as the central
connecting device for the network
• Wireless networks can consist of many types of
devices other than traditional PCs:
• Smart phones
• PDAs
• Tablet computers
• Micro computers
• PCs and laptops equipped with wireless network adapters can connect to these
networks as well
Demo
• Device Manager Showing Network Adapters
• Network Adapter Properties
• IP Address
Serial Data Transfer
• Serial data transfer is the transfer of one bit at a
time—in other words, transfer in a single-bit stream,
like a one lane highway
• On the network cable, data travels in a single bit
stream
Data Transfer Rate
• Data transfer rate defines the maximum bits per
second (bps) that can be transmitted over a network
• Rated in bits, and signified with a lowercase b (for
example, 10 Mbps)
• The lowercase b differentiates this unit from data that
is stored on a hard drive, which uses an upper case B
that stands for bytes (for example 10 MB)
• Types of Transfers
• Broadcast sends data to every other host on the
network
• Unicast sends data to a specific host
IP Address
• Most every computer and many other devices have
an Internet Protocol (IP) address
• An IP address uniquely identifies your device and
the associated network and allows each device to
send and receive information
• A typical example of an IPv4 address would be
192.168.1.1
• Every IP address is broken down into two parts by a
subnet address
• Network ID 192.168.1
• Host ID 1
LAN
• Computers and other devices are connected using
copper-based twisted-pair cables or wireless
equipment
Virtual LAN
• A virtual LAN (VLAN) is a group of hosts with a common set of
requirements that communicate as if they were connected together in
a normal fashion on one switch, regardless of their physical location.
Port 1: VLAN1 Port 6: VLAN1
Port 2: VLAN1 Port 7: VLAN2
Port 3: VLAN2 Port 8: VLAN1
Port 4: Port 9:
Port 5: VLAN1 Port 10:
Network Topology
• A network topology defines the physical connections of hosts in a
computer network.
• There are several types of physical topologies including:
• Bus
• Ring
• Star
• Mesh
• Tree
Star Topology
• Most Common
topology
• Each computer is
individually wired
to a central
connecting device
(hub, switch or
SOHO router)
with twisted-pair
cabling
Mesh Topology
• Every computer
connects to every
other computer; no
central connecting
device is needed.
Ring Topology
• In a LAN environment,
each computer is
connected to the
network using a closed
loop
• Used by Token Ring
and Fiber Distributed
Data Interface (FDDI)
Token Ring
• A Token Ring network sends data logically in a ring fashion, meaning
that a token goes to each computer, one at a time, and continues on
in cycles
• Physically Token Ring computers are connected in a star fashion
• Namely, all computers in a Token Ring network are connected to a
central connecting device known as a Multistation Access Unit (MAU or
MSAU)
Ethernet
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard (802.3)
that defines how information is sent and received between network
adapters, hubs, switches, and other devices
• Ethernet is the de facto standard and is the most widely-installed local
area network technology
• Common types of Ethernet include:
• 802.3u or Fast Ethernet that runs at 100 Mbps
• 802.3ab or Gigabit Ethernet
Frames
• Computers on Ethernet networks communicate via frames
• A frame is a sequence of bits containing a detectable beginning and
end of a packet in the stream of bits
• A frame is a data packet residing on Layer 2 of the OSI model

frame

preamble crc
data
(8 bytes) (4 bytes)
Centralized Computing
• Computing is done at a central location using terminals that are
attached to this main system
• Mainframes are a powerful computer and the rest of the devices
connected to the computer are known as terminals (or dumb
terminals)
• Each terminal consisted solely of a keyboard and display with no
processing power
Client/Server Model
• The client/server model is an architecture that distributes applications
between servers and client computers
• Server: System that provides services such as Windows Server 2008 R2
• Client: Device that requests services such as Windows 7
Peer-to-Peer Networking
• Peer-to-peer networking distributes applications or workloads between
computers
• Peers are both service providers and service requestors
Distributed Computing
• Distributive computing includes both client-server and peer-to-peer
networks
• Every device or workstation has its own processing power
Remote Desktop Services and Remote Sessions
• Centralized computing has made a comeback of sorts. Remote
Desktop Services and remote sessions to computers are based off of
the centralized computing model
• Thin-client computers do not have a hard drive and store an operating
system in RAM, to be loaded up every time the device is turned on
• All other applications and data are stored centrally, this system is a
blend of centralized and distributive computing
Servers
• More powerful computers that provide centralized services:
• File
• Print
• Database
• Network controller
• Messaging/Email
• Web
Client and Server Operating Systems
Client Operating Systems Server Operating Systems
Windows 8 Windows Server 2012
Windows 7 Windows Server 2008 R2
Windows Server 2008
Windows Vista Windows Server 2003
Windows XP
Windows 2000 Professional Windows 2000 Server
Windows NT 4.0 Workstation Windows NT 4.0 Server
Windows ME/98/95
P2P
• Peer-to-peer or P2P has recently taking on an additional meaning
• P2P can also refer to file sharing networks
• Examples of file sharing networks
• Napster
• Gnutella
• G2

• Other technologies also take advantage of P2P file sharing:

• Skype
• VoIP
• Cloud computing
Summary
• Understand local area networks (LANs), including but not limited to
LAN elements, design, perimeter networks, IP addressing, and LAN
types
• Understand network topologies and access methods, including
topologies such as star, mesh, and ring; Ethernet architecture; and the
client-server and peer-to-peer networking models
Additional Resources & Next Steps
Instructor-Led Courses
• 40033A: Windows Operating System and Windows
Server Fundamentals: Training 2-Pack for MTA
Exams 98-349 and 98-365 (5 Days)
• 40349A: Windows Operating System Fundamentals:
MTA Exam 98-349 (3 Days)
• 40032A: Networking and Security Fundamentals:
Training 2-Pack for MTA Exams 98-366 and 98-367
(5 Days)
• 40366A: Networking Fundamentals: MTA Exam 98-
Books 366

• Exam 98-366: MTA

Exams &
Networking Certifications
Fundamentals (Microsoft • Exam 98-366:
Official Academic Networking
Course) Fundamentals