11/20/2019

Objectives
• Define a computer network
• Router and its functions
• Network devices:
– Network interface cards (NIC)
– Hubs
– Bridges
– Switches
– Modems
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Computer Network
 A network is two or more
computers, or other electronic
devices, connected together for
sharing resources.

Computer Network
 The most common resource shared
today is connection to the Internet.
 Other shared resources can include a
printer or a file server.
 Network can range from a few
computers to large network such as
internet
 Devices such as hubs, switches etc. are
needed to distribute data within a
network
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Network Devices -
 Connect a group of devices to form
a LAN
 It has cables plugged into it from
each computer.

Network Devices -
 It receives a data packet at one of its ports
and broadcast it to every computer in the
network
 It is not secure and very efficient method
of data distribution

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Network Devices -
 Connect a group of devices to form
a LAN
 It has cables plugged into it from
each computer.

Network Devices -
 Each device on a network has a unique MAC
(Media Access Control) address.
 A Switch can identify the MAC address of data
packets of sender and receiver systems
 It sends the data to the appropriate
computer(s) only.
 Using switch is a secure way of distributing
data over a network.

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Network Devices -
 Used to connect two LANs (or parts of
LAN) that uses same protocols
(communication rules)

Network Devices -
 A router is a device that forwards data
packets along networks.
 A router is connected to at least two
networks, commonly two LANs or WANs or
a LAN and its ISP's network.

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Data Packets
 Message carried via network
 Consists of:
• Header for identification
• Sender’s IP address
• Receiver’s IP address
• No. of data packets that make up whole message
• Identity number of each packet

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Who Am I?
? Convert Analog to Digital and Vice Versa
? Has MAC address and connects the device
to the network
? Broadcast the data packets to all the
devices in the network
? Efficient and secured central device
? Delivers data packets to the final
destination over the internet

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Network Devices -
 Modulator-DEModulator
 It enables a computer to transmit data over, for
example, telephone or cable lines.
 Computer information is stored digitally, whereas
information transmitted over telephone lines is
transmitted in the form of analog waves.
 A modem converts between these two forms.

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Network Devices -
 Network Interface Card
 Allows a device to connect to a
network
 Usually part of the device hardware
and frequently contains MAC
address generated at the
manufacturing stage.

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Other hardware -
 Used for wired networks
 Faster Data transfer rates
 Secured than wireless networks
 Cables can be either copper or fibre
optics.
 Fibre optics offer higher data transfer
rate and better security.

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Objectives
 Use of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in networks
 Setting up and configuring a small network
 The Internet

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• Enables computers and other devices to

communicate wirelessly with each other
• Wireless transmitter receives information from
a network via its connection, converts it into
radio waves and then transmits them
• Areas where internet can be accessed wirelessly
using Wi-Fi are called Access Points or Hotspots
• Signal range depends on the type of wireless
router and also obstacles in the way of the
signal
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• Advantages
 You are not confined to a fixed place to
access the network
 Fewer/no trailing wires to trip over
 Less wires – less installation costs
• Disadvantages
 Danger of hackers reading messages
 Wireless signals may be weak in certain
areas
 Recent research shows evidences of health
risks 18

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• Wireless technology used to exchange data

over short distances using radio waves
• Paired devices using Bluetooth pick up one of
the 79 channels at random for data transfer
• Used for short distances, where data transfer
speed is not crucial and low bandwidth
applications (smaller files)
• Applications – input/output devices, mobile
phones, game controllers

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Feature Bluetooth Wi-Fi

250 Mbps
Maximum Data
25 Mbps
Transfer Rate

Maximum effective
30 mts 100 mts
range

Maximum no. of Depends on router

Upto 7
devices connected used
WEP – Wireless
Type of data Key matching Equivalent Privacy
transmission security encryption WPA – Wi-fi protected
access
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Setting up a Small Network

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Setting up and configuring a Small Network

 Purchase appropriate hardware, software
 Choose an Internet Service Provider (ISP), pay them
subscription charges, get a router (often provided
by ISP that includes wireless access point).
 Connect the router to the telephone line or cable
point or satellite link
 Connect any cabled device (desktops, printers etc.)
to the router using wires between the router ports
and the Network Interface Card (NIC) on the device.
 Connect wireless devices (laptops, phones etc.) and
configure them using their OS network settings
 Browser is required on each device to access the
internet. 22

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Some essential parts of a network

 Web Browser Software
 Program that allows to view web pages stored on
the internet
 Web browsers interpret the HTML codes in the
web page
 Web browsers allow the user to find information
on web pages and websites via:
• Entering s web address (URL)
• Keyword searches
• Hyperlinks
• Menus
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Some essential parts of a network

 Email Software
 Software for creating, sending, receiving and
organizing electronic mail, or email.
 Features include
• WYSIWYG editors for composing email
messages
• Anti-spam and anti-phishing security
protection
• Advanced search capabilities
• Rules and filters for more efficiently handling
and organizing messages
• Email folders. 24

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Some essential parts of a network

 Access to an Internet Service Provider (ISP)
 Supplies the connection to the internet
 Provides following hardware/services:
• Router/Wireless access point
• Storage on their server, where you can store
your website
• Email facilities
• Instant messaging
• Access to online Shopping
• Access to news, sport, weather, financial
pages etc. 25

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• Huge group of worldwide networks joined

together
• Each of these networks consists of lots of
smaller networks
• When you connect to the internet, your
computer becomes part of the largest network
in the world

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• Huge amount of information can be accessed

almost anywhere
• Improved communication systems – text
messages, emails, instant messaging etc.
• Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) – enables
cheap international phone calls using internet
rather than expensive phone service
• Online shopping (E-commerce)
• Online banking, bill payments etc.

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• Misinformation: presence of many bogus or

fake websites. You need to be careful while
choosing information and look for only reliable
sites.
• Cyber crime: Hacking, Phishing etc. You need to
be careful about revealing personal information
such as bank and credit card details.
• Addiction to games, gambling
• Paedophiles look for children using the internet

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Objectives
 Define – Internet, WWW, intranet
 Internet vs Intranet
 Advantages & Disadvantages of using
Internet and Intranets
 LAN, WAN, WLAN
 Advantages, Disadvantages of using Smart
phones, Tablet, Laptops & Desktops to
access the internet

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• Internet is a world wide collection of networks

that uses TCP/IP protocol suite to link devices.
• When you connect to the internet, your
computer becomes part of the largest network
in the world

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• Huge amount of information can be accessed

almost anywhere
• Improved communication systems – text
messages, emails, instant messaging etc.
• Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) – enables
cheap international phone calls using internet
rather than expensive phone service
• Online shopping (E-commerce)
• Online banking, bill payments etc.

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• Misinformation: presence of many bogus or

fake websites. You need to be careful while
choosing information and look for only reliable
sites.
• Cyber crime: Hacking, Phishing etc. You need to
be careful about revealing personal information
such as bank and credit card details.
• Addiction to games, gambling
• Paedophiles look for children using the internet

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• WWW is the way of storing and accessing the

information over the internet
• Internet is the infrastructure consisting of all
the computers, devices

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• A private network that is used inside an

organisation makes use of web pages, browsers
and other internet technologies.
• Intranet provides restricted access to the
information compared to the Internet
• Parts of an intranet can be made available to
anyone in the organization while some part of it
consisting sensitive information can be made
available to certain people only.
• The restriction is achieved usually by means of
username and passwords
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• Ideal for schools and some organisations as it

prevents the students and employees from
accessing unwanted information
• Internal email system is more secure compared
to sending emails using the internet
• Only relevant information can be made
available to employees thus contributing to
more productivity for the organization

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INTERNET INTRANET
INTERnational NETwork INTernal Restricted Access NETwork
Information concerning a particular organisation that
Information about everything
has set it up
Can be used by anyone Used by employees, stake holders of the organization
Certain websites outside the internal network can be
Difficult to restrict the access
blocked/restricted
Secure from hackers as they are usually behind the
Less secured
firewall
No authentication necessary Authentication required for access
Can be accessed from anywhere Can be accessed from agreed points

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LAN WAN
Local Area Network Wide Area Network
Covers a wide geographical area (Eg:
Confined to small area
between cities, countries or continents)
Uses more expensive
Uses cable, wireless, infra-red
telecommunication, satellite links that
and microwave links which are
are supplied by telecommunication
owned by organization
companies.
Less expensive to build as More expensive to build as
equipments are owned by the sophisticated communication systems
organisation which are cheaper are used involving rental of
than rented lines and equipments communication lines
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• Wireless Local Area Network

• Computers/Devices are able to communicate
wirelessly
• Uses are able to move around but can still be
connected to the network/Internet

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• Cheaper than wired LAN and less cabling is

needed
• Expansion of the network is easier – more
devices such as printers scanners can be linked
easily.
• Users can work anywhere in the building where
the wireless signal is available

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• Not suitable in areas where the wireless signal

is too weak
• Security issues as the radio signals may be
intercepted by hackers
• Wireless signals are not reliable as wired cables
• Data transfer speed is lower than cabled
network
• Interference from other electrical and
electronic equipment used in the same building
may disrupt the wireless signal
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ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Parents may find difficult to police

Internet can be accessed anywhere
and prevent children from accessing
provided there is Wi-Fi or a mobile
unsuitable contents or arrange to
signal
meet up strangers
Websites are often a trimmed down
Encourages users to socialise via version for smart phones that may
social networking applications not have full capabilities like laptop
or desktop versions
Small keyboard, screen can be
Stay in touch with friends, family
frustrating to use compared to
while moving around
tablets, laptops, desktops
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ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Smaller and lighter than most laptops Smaller screen compared to laptops,
and desktops desktops

Larger screen compared to smart

Virtual keyboard not as easy to use
phones which makes the use of
as real keyboards
internet services easier

Awkward position in which tablets

Can be used while standing up are used may lead to future health
problems

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ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Portable – smaller and lighter than Not as portable as smartphones or

desktops tablets
The screen and keyboard are attached,
Fairly large screen compared to which may lead to incorrect posture
smartphones and tablets being used causing health issues like
backache etc.
Has almost full-sized keyboard
which makes type search criteria
easy and fast
Can be used when a flat surface is
not available to use a mouse.
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ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

A full-sized keyboard and mouse

Not portable as laptops, tablets or
makes it easier to type search
smartphones
criteria, make selections
Majority websites are designed to
Hard to use while standing up
be viewed using a desktop
Ergonomically better as the
monitor can be adjusted to
suitable height, correct use of
keyboard, mouse thus reduces
health risks

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Recap…
 Definition of Internet, WWW, intranet
 Internet vs Intranet
 Advantages & Disadvantages of using
Internet and Intranets
 LAN, WAN, WLAN
 Advantages, Disadvantages of using Smart
phones, Tablet, Laptops & Desktops to
access the internet

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Exam style questions

 Give the name of the device that is used so that several
computers in a home can all share a single internet connection [1]
 Explain one similarity and two main differences between network
devices hub and switch. [3]
 Bluetooth is a method that allows devices to communicate with
each other and pass data.
a. Give the names of two pairs of devices that communicate
using bluetooth. [2]
b. Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of using
communicating using bluetooth. [2]
 Explain how to set up a small home network. [2]

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Exam style questions

 Give two benefits of using local area network. [2]
 Describe one difference between LAN and WAN. [1]
 Describe two advantages and two disadvantages for the
company using a computer network. [4]
 Explain the difference between the terms Internet and
Intranet. [2]
 Describe what is meant by a browser software. [2]
 A school is currently thinking of replacing their wired LAN with
a WLAN.
Explain the differences between a wired LAN and a WLAN. [2]
 Describe two differences between a smart phone and a laptop
in terms of accessing internet services. [2]
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