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NETWORK-CONCEPTS

The document provides an overview of network concepts, defining key terms such as networks, client-server models, and peer-to-peer networks. It explains various types of networks (LAN, WAN, and intranets) and discusses network hardware, protocols, and operating systems. Additionally, it addresses issues related to networking, including speed, security, and privacy.

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shivam.murawala2810
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3 views

NETWORK-CONCEPTS

The document provides an overview of network concepts, defining key terms such as networks, client-server models, and peer-to-peer networks. It explains various types of networks (LAN, WAN, and intranets) and discusses network hardware, protocols, and operating systems. Additionally, it addresses issues related to networking, including speed, security, and privacy.

Uploaded by

shivam.murawala2810
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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TEJ2O-Open

Computer Technology

Network
Concepts
NETWORK THEORY AND TERMS

Definitions:
NETWORK: Two or more computers that are linked together to share data, programs and
peripherals (like printers).

The CLIENT-SERVER Model: A network model where that are two types of computers (1)
clients and (2) servers.
The servers are dedicated machines that share and control resources on the network, while the

clients are the users of those resources. A client-server structure (architecture) allows for much
more security on a network than can be offered by peer-to-peer networks.
Peer to Peer Networks: This is a type of network where all computers on the network have the
potential to share resources that they have control over (usually files and devices located to that
machine). This type of setup is NOT a client-server structure in the strict sense because the
servers are NOT dedicated machines. All computers on the network can potentially act as both a
client and a server. Because of this fact, there is NO CENTRAL CONTROL of the network and
therefore this type of network structure is considered to be less secure and harder to manage than
the client-server architecture.

WORKSTATION: A computer connected on a network (this is a client computer) which


network clients (like yourself) use to do similar tasks (like homework, or working on the same
project in a business).

STAND ALONE: A computer NOT CONNECTED on a network.

SERVER: A special computer on a network that provides & controls services (resources) for
other computers (clients) on the network to use. Simply stated, a server provides service. Most
servers provide some system of security and management so that only selected users can access
(or modify) the services/resources that are controlled by that server.
There are may types of SERVERS available...
• FILE SERVER: A computer (one of the main computers) on a network that stores
programs and data. It contains large capacity/high speed hard disk drives and CD ROMS
that allows several workstations to share access to files stored on it.
• PRINT SERVER: A computer on a network that it connected to a printer and allows
other selected users on the network to use that printer. The print server manages and
controls the use of the printer services.
• WEB SERVER: A computer on a network that it runs specific software that allows other
selected users on the network to access information and resources that are stored on the
web server. The information and resources stored on the web server are formatted in a
way according to the HTTP protocol (HyperText Transfer Protocol) .
The web server manages and controls the use of WWW services on that computer.
• And many more (FTP server, Streaming audio server, Streaming video server, ...)

NETWORK Clients: These are the general users and user computers of the network. Clients
have limited access (controlled by the network administrator) to the pool of resources found on
the network .

NETWORK Administrator: This is the USER (or group of users) who has control over how the
others users (network clients) access the network. The Administrator manages and controls the
use of resources and services that can be used on the network.

BACKBONE NETWORK: A network that that connects and links several other Networks. The
backbone network is designed to be very quick (should be at least 100 Megabit or faster) so that it
can efficiently merge the flow of information from a collection of user networks. You can think
of a backbone network like a super highway (like the 401 or the autobond in Germany) that has a
faster speed limit (and more lanes) than the roads (user networks) that connect to it.

Types of Networks

LAN (Local Area Network)


• Covers a short distance (usually less than 1 kilometer [< 1 km] )
• Usually confined to one location
• Usually has a smaller number of users (5 to a 500)
• Implemented as a client-server model
WAN (Wide Area Network)
• Covers a long distance [more than 1 kilometer ( > 1 km)]
• Usually spans several locations (even world wide)
• Usually has a larger number of users (100's or even 1000's)
• Implemented as a client-server model
Peer to Peek Networks
• All computers on the network have the potential to share resources that they have control
over
• NOT a client-server model (in the strict sense of that concept)
• usually confined to a small area (an office or a lab)
• Usually has a small number of users (around 2 to 25 users)
• considered to be less secure than a LAN or a WAN
• see above for more details
NOTE: you may have hybrids (combinations) of LANs, WANs and Peer-to-Peer networks
Intranets vs The Internet
The Internet is a collection thousands of Wide-Area and Local-Area networks with servers (http,
ftp, chat, ...) on them. The Internet uses TCP/IP as the primary networking protocol to
communicate with all these machines.
Intranets are local networks that do not have access to the outside world (they are self-
contained). They are like the Internet but they are private.
Network Hardware, Protocols & Medium Architectures

Network Protocol: a common set of rules (usually defined by the International Standards body
the IEEE) and signals (usually electrical, but may be laser light, infra red, radio waves ...) that
computers connected to a network use in order to communicate on that network medium.
Network Medium: this is the combination of network cards (NICs), the cables and the inter-
connecting hardware (like hubs and switches) used to transmit the signals (usually electric, but
may be laser light, infra red, radio waves ...) that computers use in order to communicate. The
signals are formatted according to the network protocol used on that specific network.

Ethernet (IEEE 802) - a protocol and hardware combination


• IEEE 802 Protocol (this is the most popular protocol used)
• 10baseT or 100baseT (using wiring that looks like telephone cables and uses HUBS)
• 10base2 or 100base2 (using coaxial wiring that looks like a thin cable)
• 10base5 or 100base5 (using coaxial wiring that looks like a TV cable)
• Comes in 3 speeds,
• 10 Megabits per second
• 100 Megabits per second
• 1000 Megabits per second (a Gigabit) - this new standard is being developed
Token Ring (IEEE 803) - a protocol and hardware combination

• IEEE 803 Protocol (this protocol was developed and used by IBM)
• Comes in 2 speeds, 4 Megabits per second and 25 Megabits per second
• This is old and obsolete technology

Fiber Optic - a medium


• A very fast system that uses LASER light technology to carry information
• The laser travels over glass rods
• Much more secure than wire based mediums
• Can span far greater distances than wire based technologies
• Used mainly for backbone networking
ATM (Asynchronus Transfer Mode) - a protocol
• A very fast networking technology that is used mainly for backbone networking (used
mainly with fiber optics).
InfraRed - a medium
• A WIRELESS Technology using non-visible light in the red spectrum to carry
information. Many portable devices communicate using an infra red port (like laptops
communicationg with a printer).
ISDN - a protocol and hardware combination
• Integrated Services Digital Network
• Implemented over telephone wiring
• typical speeds of 64K, 128K and 256K
ADSL - a protocol and hardware combination
• Digital Services Link
• Implemented over telephone wiring (you can surf the web and use telephone at the same
time)
• speeds are suuposed to be as fast as cable modems (512K) but are expected to increase
others
• Cable Modem
• Radio
• Cellular Techniques
• Satellite
• more ...

Network Operating Systems Software


Novell Netware Network (we use version 4.1)
• For more information see www.novell.com
Windows NT Server (now Called Windows 2000 server)
• For more information see www.microsoft.com/ntserver/
UNIX (TCP/IP)
• For more information see Sun Computers www.sun.com
LINUX
• For more information do a search on LINUX
others (LAN manager, ...)

Issues related to Networking


• Speed
• A network is model is not very useful if resources and information can not be
distributed fast enough
• Security
• Since you are sharing valuable information, you need to control access
• Privacy
• are you being monitored by your administrator ?
• Vulnerability
• What happens if the server goes down ?
• When to Use a Network
• Need to share resources ?
• Cost Considerations
• Security Considerations

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