COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER NETWORKING

Introduction
Collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information. Sometimes considered a sub-discipline of electrical engineering, telecommunications, computer science, information technology or computer engineering, since it relies upon the theoretical and practical application of these disciplines. Networks may be classified according to a wide variety of characteristics such as the medium used to transport the data, communications protocol used, scale, topology, and organizational scope.

Properties of computer networking

Facilitate communications Permit sharing of files, data, and other types of information Share network and computing resources May be insecure May interfere with other technologies May be difficult to set up

Conputer networking devices

Computer networking devices are units that mediate data in a computer network. Computer networking devices are also called network equipment, Intermediate Systems (IS) or InterWorking Unit (IWU). Units which are the last receiver or generate data are called hosts or data terminal equipment.

Different networking devices

Routers: Transfers data from one network to another in an intelligent way. Forwards data packets to their destination by the most efficient route. WHOLE PROCESS:

Firewalls: A firewall is an important aspect of a network with respect to security. It typically rejects access requests from unsafe sources while allowing actions from recognized ones. The vital role firewalls play in network security grows in parallel with the constant increase in 'cyber' attacks for the purpose of stealing/corrupting data, planting viruses, etc.

Repeaters: As all signals fade as they travel from one place to another, the network cable is split up into segments. Each segment is less than the maximum length allowed. Joining the segments together is a device known as a 'Repeater. A Repeater boosts the signal back to its correct level. Here are some typical maximum cable lengths: o Copper cable - 100 m o Thick Ethernet -500m o Thin Ethernet - 185m

Bridges: A Bridge does just what you would expect it to do - it joins two networks together so as far as data packets are concerned it looks like one large network A bridge is not as capable as a Router - but it is less expensive. Both networks have to be using the same protocol (see protocol page).

Hub: There are many network topologies available: o Star - uses a hub o Tree - uses a hub o Bus - does not use a hub o Ring - does not use a hub To allow the Star and Tree network topologies to work properly, each computer must be able to send data packets to any other computer on the network. The network 'Hub' allows computers to share data packets within a network. Types: o Passive Hub o Active Hub o Intelligent Hub

Switches: As a network cable can only have one data packet in it at any instant, if two or more computers want to place a data packet on to the network at exactly the same time, then a 'data collision' will take place. This network protocol is set up to deal with this. Basically it declares the collided data as unusable and forces the two computers to re-send their data packets at a slightly different time.

Protocols:
A 'NETWORK PROTOCOL' is the agreed method of communication to be used within the network.Each device / computer will use this protocol. Some the things that need to be considered:Speed of the network - for example 10Mbit /s Error checks of the data packets when they arrive- how is it done Error correction of the data packets - method to be use Data packets received correctly - what method/signal will be used to tell the other machine that the data has arrived correctly How does the receiving machine know that the sending machine has finished sending all of the data? - what is the code to indicate this Data compression - does the protocol allow this to take place and if so, what method does it use? Familiar names of protocols: TCP - the protocol that the internet uses Kermit - popular for use with modems X.25 - a packet switched protocol

o o o o

o o o o

Gateways: A gateway converts the data passing between dissimilar networks so that each side can communicate with each other. i.e converts data into the correct network protocol. The gateway is a mixture of hardware components and software. This is unlike a standard 'Bridge' which simply joins two networks together that share the same protocol.

Filters: If your network is to be kept secure it is often essential that some filtering takes place. For example, some staff wish to work from home with their laptops and they need to access files from within the company network. In this case a filter would be set up that accepts data packets coming from that particular laptop. Other filtering rules would block unwanted packets trying to come in. Just like Gateways , a Filter can be a mix of hardware and software components. Note that a filter can also prevent data packets from leaving the company network. A filter is an essential component of a 'Firewall'.

Servers: Servers are used in small networks, where every machine is equally likely to have a resource that another machine needs to use. One machine is linked to the scanner, whilst another is linked to a printer. The game machine is linked to the internet, which all three machines can use. This is fine for small networks as the number of requests to use a resource is not going to be too high. Types: printer server, database server, file server, email server, etc.

Modems: A modem converts the digital data from the computer into a continuous analogue wave form that the telephone system is designed to deal with (MODulation). The modem also converts the analogue signal from the telephone network back into digital data that the computer can understand. (DEModulation).

Workstation: A workstation is a high-end microcomputer designed for technical or scientific applications. They are commonly connected to a local area network and run multi-user operating systems. They are optimized for the visualization and manipulation of different types of complex data such as 3D mechanical design, engineering simulation (e.g. computational fluid dynamics), animation and rendering of images, and mathematical plots.

Cables: Cables transfers data from one point to another on a network. There are three main methods of transferring data: o Electrical o Radio or Microwave o Infrared