Computer Communications and Networks

Lab # 01:
Introduction to Networking, Network cables and Network
devices
Objective:
To familiarize the students with the network transmission media and different network
devices.

Scope:
The student should be able to perform the following at the end of this lab:
1. Shielded twisted pair cable
2. Unshielded twisted pair cable
3. Co-axial cable
4. Network devices (Switches and Routers)
5. To make straight cables and cross over cables.

Useful Concept:

1.1) Network Cable

There are many types of network cables used in the real-world applications. Some of them are
given below:

1. Unshielded twisted pair: As the name indicates, the wires are twisted with one
another and there is no shield.

Figure 1.3: Unshielded twisted pair cable.

2. Shielded twisted pair: Shield with twisted pair.

Lab Manual: CSC 339 (Computer Communication and Networks)

Figure 1.4: Shielded twisted pair cable.

3. Coaxial cable: Similar to our cable TV cables.

Figure 1.5: Coaxial Cable.

1.2

Introduction to network device:

1.2.1 Network Switch:
A network Switch connects existing 10/100 Mbps devices like NICs etc. We can
combine it with any other standard switch as our network grows. A network switch can
have 4,8,16,24 or 32 connection ports.
A network switch has the following hardware features:
1) There are 24 Fast Ethernet auto-negotiating 10Base-T/100Base-TX ports.
2) Connect two units back-to-back using a single Cable
3) Port status LEDs that show status of each port on the switch.
The front view of a switch along with various LED information is provided below:

Lab Manual: CSC 339 (Computer Communication and Networks)

10BASE-T / 100BASE-TX Ports

Port Status LEDs

Packet: Yellow Packets are being transmitted/
received on the port
Packet: Off No packets are being transmitted/
received on the port
Status: Green Enabled, link OK
Status: Flashing Green Disabled, link OK
Status: Off No link

Expansion Module Port Status LEDs

Packet: Yellow Packet is on expansion
module port(s)
Off: No packet
Status: Yellow

Valid expansion module is

installed
Yellow flashing: Unrecognized expansion
module installed
Off: No expansion module

Power/Self Test LED

Green: Powered up
Green flashing: Either downloading or initializing
Yellow: Failed its POST
Off: Without Power

Unit LEDs
Green: Position of the
switch in the stack
Off: Stand-alone

Figure 1.6: Front view of 3COM switch.

1.2.2 Cisco 2600 routers

The routers used in our lab are Cisco 2600. The front view of router has LEDs, that
indicates the following:
1.

Power: Indicates the router's operating status. Comes on when power is supplied
to the router and the router is operational.

2. RPS [Redundant Power System]: OffNo RPS is attached; OnRPS is attached

and operational; BlinkingRPS is attached, but has a failure.
3. Activity: OffIn the Cisco IOS software, but no network activity; Blink (500 ms
ON, 500 ms OFF)In ROMMON, no errors; Blink (500 ms ON, 500 ms OFF, 2 seconds
between codes)In ROMMON, error detected; Blink (less than 500 ms)In the Cisco
IOS software, the blink rate reflects the level of activity.
The back view of our router: The router has serial and fast Ethernet ports. These ports are
mostly used for data transfer. It has console and auxiliary ports, which are used for
management purposes.

Lab Manual: CSC 339 (Computer Communication and Networks)

1.3

Cable connection for network devices

Students will be given a demonstration on various network devices like: Network
Interface Cards [NIC], BNC-Connectors, RJ45, etc. Students will be provided a
tutorial about various connectivity issues.

1.3.1 Straight through cable

Here, the connections are same on both the ends the cable. This type of cable is used
when we connect dissimilar devices [switch and router, router and hub, switch and PC,
etc]. The colours of the wires and their respective pin numbers are mentioned below:
Orange White
Orange
White Green
Blue
White blue
Green
White Brown

1.3.2 Cross-over cable

Brown

Here, the connections are different with a specific pattern. This type of cable is used
when we connect similar devices [router and router, switch and switch, PC and PC, etc]
and with some exceptions [switch and hub, Router and PC]. The colours of the wires
and their respective pin n*umbers are mentioned below:

Green [Pin 1] White Orange [Pin 1]

White Green [Pin 2] Orange [Pin 2]
Lab Manual: CSC 339 (Computer Communication and Networks)

White Orange [Pin 3] Green [Pin 3]

Blue [Pin 4] White Brown [Pin 4]
White Blue [Pin 5] Brown [Pin 5]
Orange [Pin 6] White Green [Pin 6]
White Brown [Pin 7] Blue [Pin 7]
Brown [Pin 8] White Blue [Pin 8]
Exercises for lab
Students are required to make straight through and cross over cables using twisted pair
cables.

Home Work
1) Students are required to submit a document describing the functionality of twisted
pair cables, their types/variations and characteristics of each type of twisted pair
cable.
2) What is a network switch? How a network switch transmits data between different
devices?

Lab Manual: CSC 339 (Computer Communication and Networks)