Basic Networking for CS Dummies

Computer Network – Composed of 2 or more Computers connected together using a system for the purpose of data sharing and communication. It is determined by a Hardware and Implemented by a protocol.

Basic Networking Devices

Router – Networking Device that forwards data/data packets (in a process called routing) into different destinations in a Network.

Repeater – Device that receives a low-level signal and retransmits it at a higher-level to cover a longer distance.

An Ethernet Hub (concentrator) – Device for connecting multiple fiber optic Ethernet or twisted pair devices together as a single segment. The device is a form of a multiport repeater.

Switch – It can connect Ethernet, Fibre Channel and other types of packet switched network segments to form an internetwork. Unlike a hub, a switch splits the network traffic and sends it to different destinations rather than to all systems on the network.

Gateway (protocol converters) – converts one protocol stack into another. The task of a gateway is much more complex than that of a router or switch.

Bridges – are similar to repeaters or network hubs, devices that connect network segments, however a bridge works by using “bridging”(like “routing”) where traffic from one network is managed rather than simply rebroadcast to adjacent network segments.

Network Topologies

Network Topologies – arrangement and or “Mapping” of the physical and logical interconnections between nodes of a network.

Classifications of Network Topology

• Physical topologies
  • Basic Types of Topologies
    • Bus
      • Linear
      • Distributed
    • Star
      • Extended
      • Distributed
    • Ring
      • Dual Ring
    • Mesh
      • Full
      • Partial
    • Tree
    • Hybrid
      • Star-Bus
      • Hierarchical Star
      • Star-of-Stars
      • Star-wired Ring
      • Hybrid Mesh

• Signal topologies
• Logical topologies

LAN vs. WAN

A Local Area Network(LAN) is a computer network covering a small geographic area. Each Computer in the LAN has its own computing power but it can also access other devices, data, processing power, and the ability to communicate with other users on the LAN subject to the permissions it has been allowed. LAN has higher data transfer rates, smaller geographic range, and lack of a need for telecommunication lines. LAN can be secure but expensive.

A Wide Area Network(WAN) is used to connect LANs and other types of networks together, so that users and computers in one location can communicate with users and computers in other locations. Many WANs are privately built for one particular organization, others built by Internet Service Providers(ISP). The largest and most well-known example of a WAN is the Internet.

 

~ by Dominic on June 20, 2007.