Chapter 4:

Networks and the effects of using them

Section 4.1
Computer Networks
Year 10
Starter: What did you understand from
the picture?
Learning Objective
• To describe computer network, advantages & disadvantages
• To identify types of networks, advantages & disadvantages
• To identify uses of network devices

Success Criteria
• I can describe computer network, advantages & disadvantages
• I can identify types of networks, advantages & disadvantages
• I can describe and identify uses of network devices
What is a network?
• A network is two or more computers, or other electronic
devices, connected together so that they can exchange data.

• A network allows computers to share files, users to message each other, a

whole room of computers to share resources like a single printer, etc.

• Network connections between computers are typically created

using cables (wires). However, connections can be created using radio
signals (wireless / wi-fi), telephone lines (and modems) or even, for very long
distances, via satellite links.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY5OfBrBg1M
 Advantages of networking
• Easily share files and data
• Share resources such as printers and Internet connections
• Communicate with other network users (e-mail, instant
messaging, video-conferencing, etc.)
• Store data centrally (using a file server) for ease of access and
back-up
• Keep all of our settings centrally so we can use any workstation
Disadvantages of networking
• The computer is vulnerable to hackers.
• If the network breaks, many tasks become very difficult.
• Your computer can more easily be attacked by a virus.
Computers in a network
Computers connected together to create a network fall into two
categories: servers and clients (workstations).

Clients
• Client computers, or workstations, are the normal computers that people sit at to get
their work done.
Servers
• Servers are special, powerful computers that provide ‘services’ to the client computers
on the network. Eg: File server, Print server etc

These services might include:

• Providing a central, common file storage area
• Sharing hardware such as printers
• Controlling who can or can’t have access the network
• Sharing Internet connections
Mini-Plenary
 Must Task
List 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of a
computer network.
 Types of Networks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_zSIXb7tLQ
 MAIN ACTIVITY
Task-1 Task-2 Task-3

Describe LAN & PAN, Describe WAN, with an Describe WLAN, with an example.
with examples. example. List its advantages and
List its advantages and List its advantages and disadvantages.
disadvantages. disadvantages.
 Local Area Network (LAN)
• A Local Area Network is a network confined to one building or
site.
• LAN is a private network belonging to an organisation or
business.
• A typical LAN will consist of a number of computers and devices
(for example, printers) that are connected to hubs or switches.
Advantages
• The sharing of resources
• Ease of communication between users.
• A network administrator to control and monitor all aspects of the
network
Local Area Network (LAN)

Disadvantages
• Easier spread of viruses throughout the whole network.
• Printer queues developing, which can be frustrating.
• Slower access to internet.
• Increased security risk when compared to stand-alone
computers.
• If the main server breaks down, in most cases the
network will no longer function.
Wide Area Network (WAN)
• A Wide Area Network is a network that extends over a large
area.
• A WAN is often created by joining several LANs together using
router or modem.
• connections technologies: optical fibre (glass) cables, satellite
radio links, microwave radio links, etc are used for WAN.
Wide Area Network (WAN)
Advantages
• Computers can be connected over wide areas across
countries/continents.
• Files and data can be shared over large area.
• Communication with other users like sending mails, video
conferencing etc. can be done very quickly over large areas.
Wide Area Network (WAN)
Disadvantage
• Security can be an issue.
• Data transfer rate is slow compared with LAN.
• It is easy to accidentally download virus from a WAN on to your
computer.
 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
• Wireless LANs (WLANs) are similar to LANs but
there are no wires or cables.
• They provide wireless network communications
over fairly short distances (a few metres) using
radio or infrared signals instead of cables.
• Devices, known as access points (APs) or
wireless nodes, are connected into the wired
network at fixed locations.
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
Advantages
• All computers can access the same services and resources
(such as printers, scanners, internet access) from anywhere
within range of the APs.
• As there is no cabling there is a safety improvement and
increased flexibility.
• Adding new computers and devices is very easy
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
Disadvantages
• Security can be a big issue since anyone with a WLAN-enabled
laptop can access a network.
• There may be problems of interference, which can affect the
signal.
• The data transfer rate is slower than in a wired LAN.
Personal Area Network (PAN)
• Eg: Bluetooth
• Bluetooth is a wireless networking technology designed for very
short-range connections .
• The idea of Bluetooth is to get rid of the need for all of those
cables that connect our computer to other devices.
• When devices are in range of other Bluetooth devices, they
detect each other and can be 'paired' (connected).
AFL: Identify the type of network

(a)

(c)
(b)
NETWORK DEVICES
Learning Objective
• To identify different types of network devices used in computer
networks
• To describe and differentiate IP Address and MAC Address

Success Criteria
• I can identify different types of network devices used in
computer networks
• I can describe and differentiate IP Address and MAC Address
Network Interface Card (NIC)
• A network interface card (NIC) is needed to allow a device to
connect to a network (for example, the internet). It is usually
part of the device hardware.
• Converts binary data into an electrical signal that allows access
to a network.
• The NIC is usually integrated into the motherboard on most
modern computers
• It contains the MAC address generated at the manufacturing
stage.
Wireless network interface cards
(WNICs)
• Same as NICs but wireless
• used to connect devices to the internet or other networks
• wireless connectivity, utilising an antenna to communicate with
networks via microwaves.
Media access control (MAC) address
• uniquely identifies a device when it is connected to a
network.
• made up of 48 bits which are shown as six groups of
hexadecimal digits

• first six hex digits identify a device made by Apple

• second set of six hex digits are the unique serial number of
the device itself
Media access control (MAC) address
• If the NIC card is replaced, the MAC address will also
change.
• Also referred as the physical address because it uniquely
identifies a device.
• MAC addresses are useful when trying to identify network
faults because they never change, which makes it a more
reliable method of identifying data senders and data
receivers on a network.
Internet protocol (IP) addresses
• Whenever a computer connects to the internet it is given an internet
protocol (IP) address.
• assigned to the computer by the internet service provider (ISP).
• Internet protocols define the rules that must be agreed by senders
and receivers of data communicating through the internet.
• Identifies the location of a device on a network.
• This means that if you are using your laptop at home, it will have
been given an IP address when it connected to the internet. If you
now take your laptop to a coffee shop, and log into the internet
again, it will be assigned a new IP address.
• the IP address changes each time you log in at different locations.
• There are two versions of IP: IPv4 and IPv6.
Internet protocol (IP) addresses
• IPv4 is based on 32 bits and the address is written as four
groups of eight bits (shown in denary format); for

• IPv6 is now being used. This uses a 128-bit address, which

take the form of eight groups of hex digits; for example:
Mini Plenary

1) MAC Address is ……………… bits

2) Two versions of IP Address are ………………and ………….

Mini Plenary
1) Give two differences between IP address and MAC address.

2) ……………… is used to connect devices to the internet or

other networks
 Data Packets
• Data packets The data is carried in the packet according to
which protocol (set of rules) is used.
• Packets of data usually contain the following information:
 some form of header to identify the data packets.
 the sender’s IP address.
 the receiver’s IP address .
 how many data packets make up the whole ‘message’
 the identity number of each packet.
MAC Address and IP Address
MAC Address IP Address
uniquely identifies a device when Identifies the location of a device on
connected to a network. a network.

Made of 48 bits Made of 32 bits and 128 bits

Permanent address IP address changes each time you

log in at different locations
2 versions: IPV4 and IPV6
Hubs
• Hubs are hardware devices that can have a number
of other devices connected to them.
• They are used to connect devices together to form a local area
network (LAN) often in the same building.
• A hub will take a data packet received at one of its ports and
broadcast it to every device connected to it.
Hubs
Because data packets are delivered to every device on the
network:
• hubs are not very secure because every device will receive
every data packet
• there will be unnecessary traffic on the network, which results in
reduced bandwidth.
Switches

• Switches are ‘intelligent’ versions of hubs.

• As with hubs, they connect a number of devices together
to form a LAN.
• However, unlike a hub, a switch stores the MAC
addresses of all devices on the network.
• Each port on the switch connected to a device will have a
matching MAC address (called a look-up table)
 Switches

• Data packet arrives at port 2,

• MAC address in the data packet
is a4-00-22-b2-24-11

To which switch will deliver the data packet???

 Switches
• Using the look-up table, a switch matches the MAC address
of an incoming data packet arriving at one of its ports, and
directs it to the correct device.

• None of the other devices will see this data packet.

• Thus, if a data packet arrives at port 2, and the MAC address

in the data packet is a4-00-22-b2-24-11, then the switch will
connect the data packet to port 4 only.
Bridges

• Bridges are devices that connect one LAN to another LAN that
uses the same protocol (communication rules)

• They are often used to connect together different parts of a LAN

so that they can function as a single LAN.
 Mini Plenary
• 1) ………… broadcasts data packets to all devices connected to it

• 2) …………. sends data packet only to intended recipient

• 3) Hub is more secure than switch (True/False)

Compare Hub & Switch
• Hubs and switches are used to exchange data within their own
local area networks
• Both a hub and a switch are used to connect devices in a LAN
• Both hubs and switches use data packets
• Hubs send data packets to every device on the network
• Switches send data packets to a specific device only
• security is lower with hubs than with switches
• a switch uses a look-up table to determine the destination device
• switches use MAC addresses to locate the destination device.
Plenary

• Give any two types of information that the data packets contain.

• Identify 2 types of IP Address