Chapter 1: Introduction to Computer Networks

Objectives

• Describe basic computer components and • Explain the fundamentals of network

operation communication
• Define common networking terms • Compare different network models
• Identify the functions of various network server
• Describe specialized networks
types

An Overview of Computer Concepts

• Most of the devices you encounter when working with a network involve a computer

• Most obvious devices are workstations and network servers – These run operating systems such as Windows, Linux,
UNIX, and Mac OS

• Also includes routers and switches – These are specialized computers used to move data from computer to computer
and network to network – You will learn more about them in later chapters

Basic Functions of a Computer

• Computer’s functions can be broken down into three basic tasks:

Input: A user running a word-

Processing: The computer’s central Output: The CPU sends instructions
processing program types the letter
processing unit (CPU) determines to the graphics cards to display the
‘A’ on the keyboard, which results in
what letter was typed by looking up letter ‘A’, which is then sent to the
sending a code representing the
the keyboard code in a table. computer monitor.
letter ‘A’ to the computer
Processing Components
• A computer’s main processing
component is the CPU – Executes
instructions from computer
Input Components
programs, such as word processors
• Common user controlled devices Output Components
and from the computer’s operating
such as keyboards, mice, • Most obvious are monitors and
system – Current CPUs are composed
microphones, Web cameras, and printers • Also includes storage
of two or more processors called
scanners devices, network cards, and speakers
cores.
• External interfaces, such as serial, • External interfaces – For example, a
• A graphics processing unit (GPU)
FireWire, and USB ports can also be disk drive connected to a USB port
takes a high-level graphics instruction
used to get input from peripheral allows reading files from the disk
and performs the calculation needed
devices. (input) and writing files to the disk
for the instruction to be displayed on
• Storage devices such as hard disks (output).
the monitor
and CDs/DVDs
• Other devices, such as network
interface cards and disk controller
cards, might also include onboard
processors
Storage Components

• The more storage a computer has, the better.

• Most storage components are both input and output devices

• Most people think of storage as disk drives, CD/DVD drives, and USB flash drives.

• However, there are two main categories of storage

RAM: Short-Term Storage Long-Term Storage

• Random Access Memory (RAM) – when power to the
computer is turned off, RAM’s contents are gone • Maintains its data even when there’s no power
• The amount of RAM in a computer is crucial to the • Examples: – Hard disks – CDs/DVDs – USB flash drives
computer’s capability to operate efficiently • Used to store document and multimedia files
• RAM is also referred to as working storage • Amount of storage the computer may need depends on
• If there’s not enough RAM to run a program, the the type and quantity of files to be stored
computer will use the disk drive to supplement

Data is Stored in Bits

• Data on a computer is stored as binary digits (“bits” for short)

• A bit holds a 1 or 0 value

• A pulse of 5 volts of electricity can represent a 1 bit and a pulse of 0 volts can represent a 0 bit

• With fiber-optic cable, a 1 bit is represented by the presence of light and a 0 bit by the absence of light

• A “byte” is a collection of 8 bits

Personal Computer Hardware

• Four major PC components: 1. Motherboard 2. Hard drive 3. RAM 4. BIOS/CMOS

Motherboard
Computer Bus Fundamentals

• Bus: a collection of wires carrying data from one place to another on the computer

• All data that goes into or comes out of a computer goes through the motherboard

• There are buses between:

CPU and expansion

CPU and RAM CPU and disk drives
slots

Hard Drive Fundamentals

• Hard drive: primary long-term storage component on your computer

• Consist of magnetic disks called platters that store data in the form of magnetic pulses

• Stores the OS your computer loads when it boots

• Stores the documents you use as well as the applications that open those documents

RAM Fundamentals

• RAM is the main short-term storage component on your computer

• RAM has no moving parts so accessing data in RAM is much faster than accessing data on a hard drive

• In general, the more RAM your system has the faster it will run

BIOS/CMOS Fundamentals

• BIOS: basic input/output system – Set of instructions located in a chip on the motherboard. They tell the CPU to
perform certain tasks when power is first applied to the computer. One of those instructions is to perform a power-on
self-test (POST)

• When a computer boots, the BIOS program offers a chance to run the Setup program in order to configure hardware
components. This configuration is stored in a type of memory called complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)

Computer Boot Procedure

STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3 STEP 4 STEP 5 STEP 6

Boot devices, as
The CPU carries
specified in the
Power is applied out the BIOS
BIOS The OS is loaded OS services are
to the The CPU starts. startup routines,
configuration, into RAM. started.
motherboard including the
are searched for
POST.
an OS.

How the Operating System and Hardware Work Together

• A computer’s OS provides many critical services:

1. A user interface 2. Memory management 3. A file system 4. Multitasking 5. The interface to a computer’s
hardware devices

• Without an OS, each application would have to provide the above services
 1. User Interface

• Enables people to interact with computers • Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) allow users to point and click to run
applications and access services • Without a user interface computer could process only information that has been
programmed into memory

2. Memory Management

• When the OS loads an application, memory must be allocated for the application to run in • When the application exits
the memory it was using must be marked as available • This memory management is performed by the OS

3. File System

• File system is used to organize space on storage devices • Objectives of contemporary file systems: – Provide a
convenient interface for users and applications to open and save files – Provide an efficient method to organize space on
a drive – Provide a hierarchical filing method to store files – Provide an indexing system for fast retrieval of files –
Provide secure access to files by authorized users

4. Multitasking

• Multitasking is an OS’s capability to run more than one application or process at the same time • The OS is designed to
look for applications that have work to do and then schedule CPU time so that the work gets done

5. Interface to Hardware Devices

• When an application needs to communicate with computer hardware, it calls on the OS, which then calls on a device
driver. • A device driver is software that provides the interface between the OS and computer hardware • Every device
performing an input or output function requires a device driver

Fundamentals of Network Communication

• A computer network consists of two or more computers connected by some kind of transmission medium, such as a
cable or air waves. • In order to access the Internet, a computer has to be able to connect to a network • The next few
slides will cover what is required to turn a standalone computer into a networked computer

Network Components

• Hardware components

1. Network interface card - A NIC is an add-on card that's plugged into a motherboard expansion slot and provides a
connection between the computer and the network

2. Network medium - A cable that plugs into the NIC and makes the connection between a computer and the rest of the
network. Network media can also be the air waves, as in wireless networks

3. Interconnecting - Interconnecting devices allow two or more computers to communicate on the network without
having to be connected directly to one another.
• Software Components

1. Network clients and servers - Network client software requests information that's stored on another network
computer or device. Network server software allows a computer to share its resources by fielding resource
requests generated by network clients.
2. Protocols - Network protocols define the rules and formats a computer must use when sending information
across the network. Think of it as a language that all devices on a network understands.
3. NIC driver—NIC drivers receive data from protocols and then forward this data to the physical NIC, which
transmits data onto the medium.

Layers of the Network Communication Process

• Each step required for a client to access network resources is referred to as a “layer” • Each layer has a task and all
layers work together
How Two Computers Communicate

• TCP/IP is the most common protocol (language) used on networks

• TCP/IP uses 3 addresses to identify devices on a network – Logical address (called IP address) – Physical address (called
MAC address) Port Number

• Just as a mail person needs an address to deliver mail, TCP/IP needs an address in order to deliver data to the correct
device on a network

• Think of the Logical address as a zip code and the Physical address as a street address

Communication Between Two Computers

1. A user at Comp A types ping 10.1.1.2 at a command prompt

2. The network software creates a ping message

3. The network protocol packages the message by adding IP address of

sending and destination computers and acquires the destination
computer’s MAC address

4. The network interface software adds MAC addresses of sending and

destination computers and send the message

5. Comp B receives message, verifies that the addresses are correct

and then sends a reply to Comp A using Steps 2 – 4

Network Terms Explained

• Every profession has its own language and acronyms • Need to know the language of networks to be able to study
them
LANs, Internetworks, WANs, and MANs

• Local area network (LAN) – small network, limited to a single

collection of machines and connected by one or more
interconnecting devices in a small geographic area

LANs, Internetworks, WANs, and MANs

• An internetwork is a networked collection of LANs tied together by

devices such as routers

• Reasons for creation:

1. Two or more groups of users and their computers need to be

logically separated but still need to communicate

2. Number of computers in a single LAN has grown and is no longer

efficient

3.The distance between two groups of computers exceeds the

capabilities of most LAN devices

• Wide area networks (WANs) use the services of third-party communication providers to carry network traffic from one
location to another

• Metropolitan area networks (MANs) use WAN technologies to interconnect LANs in a specific geographic region, such
as a county of city
Packets and Frames

• Computers transfer information across networks in shorts bursts of about 1500 bytes of data

• Data is transferred in this way for many reasons:

1. The pause between bursts might be necessary to allow other computers to transfer data during pauses
2. The pause allows the receiving computer to process received data, such as writing it to disk
3. The pause allows the receiving computer receive data from other computers at the same time
4. The pause gives the sending computer an opportunity to receive data from other computers and perform other
processing tasks
5. If an error occurs during transmission of a large file, only the chunks of data involved in the error have to be sent
again, not the entire file

Packets

• Using the U.S. mail analogy, you

• Chunks of data sent across the
• Packet is a chunk of data with can look at a packet as an envelope
network are usually called packets or
source and destination IP address that has had the zip code added to
frames, with packets being the more
added to it. the address but not the street
well-known term.
address
Frames

• Information added
• The packet is
• A frame is like a • The process of to the front of the
• A frame is a packet “framed” by the MAC
letter that has been adding IP addresses data is called a
with the source and addresses on one
addressed and and MAC addresses header and
destination MAC end and an error-
stamped and is ready to chunks of data is information added to
addresses added to it checking code on the
to go called encapsulation the end is called a
other
trailer.

Clients and Servers

• A client can be a workstation running a client OS or it can also refer to the network software on a computer that
requests network resources from a server.

• The word “client” is usually used in these three contexts:

1. Client operating system - the OS installed on a computer

2. Client computer - primary role is to run user applications and access network resources
3. Client software - the software that requests network resources from server software running on another
computer

• A computer becomes a server when software is installed on it that provides a network service to client computers

• The term “server” is also used in three contexts:

1. Server operating system - when the OS installed on a computer is designed mainly to share network resources
and provide other network services
2. Server computer - when a computer’s primary role in the network is to give client computers access to network
resources and services
3. Server software - responds to requests for network resources from client software running on another computer
Network Models

• A network model defines how and where resources are shared and how access to these resources is regulated

• Fall into two major types:

1. Peer-to-peer network - most computers function as clients or servers (no centralized control over who has
access to network resources)
2. Server-based network - certain computers take on specialized roles and function mainly as servers, and ordinary
users’ machines tend to function mainly as clients

Peer-to-Peer/Workgroup Model

Every user must act as the

administrator of his/her computer
*Can give everyone else unlimited
Computers on a peer-to-peer Any user can share resources on
access to their resources or grant
network can take both a client and a his/her computer with any other
restricted access to other users
server role user’s computer
*Usernames and passwords
(credentials) are used to control that
access
• Problems with Peer-to-peer networks:

1. Must remember multiple sets of credentials to access resources spread out over several computers
2. Desktop PCs and the OS installed on them aren’t made to provide network services as efficiently as dedicated
network servers
3. Data organization – If every machine can be a server, how can users keep track of what information is stored on
which machine?

• Peer-to-peer networks are well suited for small organizations that have small networks and small operating budgets

Server/Domain-Based Model

Users log on to the network with a In most cases, servers are dedicated
Server-based networks provide
single set of credentials maintained to running network services and
centralized control over network
by one or more servers running a should not be used to run user
resources
server OS applications

Server/Domain-Based Model

• A domain is a collection of users and computers whose accounts are managed by Windows servers called domain
controllers.

• Users and computers in a domain are subject to network access and security policies defined by a network
administrator.

 The software that manages this security is referred to as a directory service.

 On Windows servers, the directory service software is Active Directory

• Other network services usually found on network servers:

1. Naming services - translate computer names to their address

2. E-mail services - manage incoming and outgoing email
3. Application services – grant client computers access to complex applications that run on the server
4. Communication services – give remote users access to a network
5. Web services – provide comprehensive Web-based application services

• Server-based networks are easier to expand than peer-to-peer

  Peer-to-peer should be limited to 10 or fewer users, but server based networks can handle up to
thousands of users

• Multiple servers can be configured to work together which can be used to run a more efficient network or can provide
fault tolerance

• Peer-to-peer and server-based networks both have advantages so using a combination of the two models isn’t
uncommon

Network Servers

• A server is at the heart of any network that is too large for a peer-to-peer configuration.

• A single server can be configured to fill a single role or several roles at once.

• Most common server roles found on networks:

1. Domain controller/directory servers

 Directory services make it possible for users to locate, store, and secure information about a network
and its resources
 Windows servers permit combining computers, users, groups, and resources into domains - the server
handling the computers and users in a domain is called a domain controller

2. File and print servers

 Provide secure centralized file storage and sharing and access to networked printers
 Any Windows or Linux computer can act as a file and print server, however the Server version of
Windows provides advance sharing features
 3. Application servers
 Supply the server side of client/server applications to network clients
 Differ from basic file and print servers by providing processing services as well as handling requests
for file or print services

4. Communication servers
 Enable users who are traveling or working at home to dial in to the network via a modem or their
existing Internet connection
5. E-mail/fax servers
6. Web servers
 Windows Server includes a complete Web server called Internet Information Services (IIS) as well as
File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
 Apache Web Server is available as a part of most Linux distributions and remains the most widely
used Web server in the world

• Other Network Services:

o Most networks require additional support services to function efficiently. The most common are Domain Name
System (DNS) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
o DNS allows users to access both local and Internet servers by name rather than by address
o DHCP provides automatic addressing for network clients so that network administrators do not have to assign
addresses manually

Specialized Networks
• Storage area network (SAN) – uses high-speed networking technologies to provide servers with fast access to large
amounts of disk storage

• Wireless personal area network (WPAN) – shortrange networking technology designed to connect personal devices to
exchange information – These devices include cell phones, pagers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), global positioning
system (GPS) devices, MP3 players, and even watches
Chapter Summary

• All computers perform three basic tasks: input, processing, and output
• Storage is a major part of a computer’s configuration
• Personal computer hardware consists of four major components: motherboard, hard drive,
RAM, and BIOS/CMOS
• The operating system and device drivers control access to computer hardware and provide a
user interface, memory management and multitasking
• The layers of the network communication process can be summarized as user application,
network software, network protocol, and network interface
• The four terms used to describe networks of different scope are LAN, Internetwork, WAN,
and MAN
Packets and frames are the units of data handled by different network components. Packets
have the source and destination IP address added and are processed by the network protocol.
Frames have the MAC addresses and an error code added and are processed by the network
interface.
• A client is the computer or network software that requests network data and a server is the
computer or network software that makes the network data available to requesting clients
• A peer-to-peer network model has no centralized authority over resources while a server-
based network usually uses as directory service to provide centralized resource management
• Network servers can perform a number of specialized roles
• Specialized networks can include storage area networks (SANs) and wireless personal area
networks (WPANs)