SCHOOL OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATICS

Department of Information technology

DIT 1309: NETWORKING ESSENTIALS

Additional Instructional materials for Networking

Essentials.

@SEP - DEC 2020

BY: MR. KEVIN NJAGI (LECTURER - MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY) @ SEP - DEC 2020 1
 CHAPTER ONE;

WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER NETWORKING

1.1 What is a computer network ?.

 A computer network is a group of computer systems and other computing hardware devices that
are linked together through communication channels to facilitate communication and resource-
sharing among a wide range of users.
 A computer network is a group of computers or computer like devices connected together to share
the network resources like files, printers, network services etc. A set of devices often mentioned as
nodes connected by media link is called a Network.

1.2 Why is computer Networking important ?

Resource Sharing:
The goal is to make all programs, equipments(like printers etc), and especially data, available to
anyone on the network without regard to the physical location of the resource and the user.

It enables File sharing: Networking of computers helps the network users to share data files.
It enables Hardware sharing: Users can share devices such as printers, scanners, CD-ROM
drives, hard drives etc. Without computer networks, device sharing is not possible.

BY: MR. KEVIN NJAGI (LECTURER - MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY) @ SEP - DEC 2020 2
It enables Application sharing: Applications can be shared over the network, and this allows to
implement client/server applications

It enables User communication: Networks allow users to communicate using e-mail,

newsgroups, and video conferencing etc.

A computer network can provide a powerful communication medium among employees.

Virtually every company that has two or more computers now has e-mail (electronic mail), which
employees generally use for a great deal of daily communication

It enables Network gaming: A lot of network games are available, which allow multi-users to
play from different locations.

Voice over IP (VoIP): Voice over Internet Protocol (IP) is a revolutionary change in
telecommunication which allows to send telephone calls (voice data) using standard Internet
Protocol (IP) rather than by traditional PSTN.

NB:
A network must be able to meet certain criterias, these are mentioned below:

1. Performance
2. Reliability
3. Scalability

Properties of a Good Network

1. Interpersonal Communication: We can communicate with each other efficiently and easily.
Example: emails, chat rooms, video conferencing etc, all of these are possible because of
computer networks.
2. Resources can be shared: We can share physical resources by making them available on a
network such as printers, scanners etc.
3. Sharing files, data: Authorised users are allowed to share the files on the network.

1.3 Basic Hardware components of a network:

Network Cables
Network cables are the transmission media to transfer data from one device to another. A
commonly used network cable is category 5 cable with RJ – 45 connector, as shown in the image
below:

Servers - Servers are computers that hold shared files, programs, and the network operating
system. Servers provide access to network resources to all the users of the network. There are
many different kinds of servers, and one server can provide several functions. For example, there
are file servers, print servers, mail servers, communication servers, database servers, fax servers
and web servers, to name a few.

BY: MR. KEVIN NJAGI (LECTURER - MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY) @ SEP - DEC 2020 3
Clients - Clients are computers that access and use the network and shared network resources.
Client computers are basically the customers(users) of the network, as they request and receive
services from the servers.

Routers
A router is a connecting device that transfers data packets between different computer networks.
Typically, they are used to connect a PC or an organization’s LAN to a broadband internet
connection. They contain RJ-45 ports so that computers and other devices can connect with them
using network cables.

Repeaters, Hubs, and Switches

Repeaters, hubs and switches connect network devices together so that they can function as a
single segment.

A repeater receives a signal and regenerates it before re-transmitting so that it can travel longer
distances.

A hub is a multiport repeater having several input/output ports, so that input at any port is
available at every other port.

Hub - Hub is a device that splits a network connection into multiple computers. It is like a
distribution center. When a computer requests information from a network or a specific computer,
it sends the request to the hub through a cable. The hub will receive the request and transmit it to
the entire network. Each computer in the network should then figure out whether the broadcast
data is for them or not.

Switch - Switch is a telecommunication device grouped as one of computer network components.

Switch is like a Hub but built in with advanced features. It uses physical device addresses in each
incoming messages so that it can deliver the message to the right destination or port.

A switch receives data from a port, uses packet switching to resolve the destination device and
then forwards the data to the particular destination, rather than broadcasting it as a hub.

Unlike a hub, switch doesn't broadcast the received message to entire network, rather before
sending it checks to which system or port should the message be sent. In other words, switch
connects the source and destination directly which increases the speed of the network. Both
switch and hub have common features: Multiple RJ-45 ports, power supply and connection lights.

Bridges
A bridge connects two separate Ethernet network segments. It forwards packets from the source
network to the destined network.

Gateways
A gateway connects entirely different networks that work upon different protocols. It is the entry
and the exit point of a network and controls access to other networks.
BY: MR. KEVIN NJAGI (LECTURER - MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY) @ SEP - DEC 2020 4
Network Interface Cards
NIC is a component of the computer to connect it to a network. Network cards are of two types:
Internal network cards and external network cards.

1.4 NETWORK CLASSIFICATION

a) LOCAL AREA NETWORK (LAN)
It is also called LAN and designed for small physical areas such as an office, group of buildings
or a factory. LANs are used widely as it is easy to design and to troubleshoot. Personal computers
and workstations are connected to each other through LANs. We can use different types of
topologies through LAN, these are Star, Ring, Bus, Tree etc.

LAN can be a simple network like connecting two computers, to share files and network among
each other while it can also be as complex as interconnecting an entire building.

LAN networks are also widely used to share resources like printers, shared hard-drive etc.

Characteristics of LAN

 LAN's are private networks, not subject to tariffs or other regulatory controls.
 LAN's operate at relatively high speed when compared to the typical WAN.
 There are different types of Media Access Control methods in a LAN, the prominent ones
are Ethernet, Token ring.
 It connects computers in a single building, block or campus, i.e. they work in a restricted
geographical area.

BY: MR. KEVIN NJAGI (LECTURER - MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY) @ SEP - DEC 2020 5
Applications of LAN

 One of the computer in a network can become a server serving all the remaining
computers called clients. Software can be stored on the server and it can be used by the
remaining clients.
 Connecting Locally all the workstations in a building to let them communicate with each
other locally without any internet access.
 Sharing common resources like printers etc are some common applications of LAN.

Advantages of LAN

 Resource Sharing: Computer resources like printers, modems, DVD-ROM drives and hard
disks can be shared with the help of local area networks. This reduces cost and hardware
purchases.
 Software Applications Sharing: It is cheaper to use same software over network instead
of purchasing separate licensed software for each client a network.
 Easy and Cheap Communication: Data and messages can easily be transferred over
networked computers.
 Centralized Data: The data of all network users can be saved on hard disk of the server
computer. This will help users to use any workstation in a network to access their data.
Because data is not stored on workstations locally.
 Data Security: Since, data is stored on server computer centrally, it will be easy to
manage data at only one place and the data will be more secure too.
 Internet Sharing: Local Area Network provides the facility to share a single internet
connection among all the LAN users. In Net Cafes, single internet connection sharing
system keeps the internet expenses cheaper.

Disadvantages of LAN

 High Setup Cost: Although the LAN will save cost over time due to shared computer
resources, but the initial setup costs of installing Local Area Networks is high.
 Privacy Violations: The LAN administrator has the rights to check personal data files of
each and every LAN user. Moreover he can check the internet history and computer use
history of the LAN user.
 Data Security Threat: Unauthorised users can access important data of an organization if
centralized data repository is not secured properly by the LAN administrator.
 LAN Maintenance Job: Local Area Network requires a LAN Administrator because, there
are problems of software installations or hardware failures or cable disturbances in Local
Area Network. A LAN Administrator is needed at this full time job.
 Covers Limited Area: Local Area Network covers a small area like one office, one building
or a group of nearby buildings.

BY: MR. KEVIN NJAGI (LECTURER - MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY) @ SEP - DEC 2020 6
b) METROPOLITAN AREA NETWORK (MAN)
It was developed in 1980s.It is basically a bigger version of LAN. It is also called MAN and uses
the similar technology as LAN. It is designed to extend over the entire city. It can be means to
connecting a number of LANs into a larger network or it can be a single cable. It is mainly hold
and operated by single private company or a public company.

Characteristics of MAN

 It generally covers towns and cities (50 km)

 Communication medium used for MAN are optical fibers, cables etc.
 Data rates adequate for distributed computing applications.

Advantages of MAN

 Extremely efficient and provide fast communication via high-speed carriers, such as fibre
optic cables.
 It provides a good back bone for large network and provides greater access to WANs.
 The dual bus used in MAN helps the transmission of data in both directions
simultaneously.
 A MAN usually encompasses several blocks of a city or an entire city.

Disadvantages of MAN

 More cable required for a MAN connection from one place to another.
 It is difficult to make the system secure from hackers and industrial espionage(spying)
graphical regions.

BY: MR. KEVIN NJAGI (LECTURER - MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY) @ SEP - DEC 2020 7
c) WIDE AREA NETWORK (WAN)
It is also called WAN. WAN can be private or it can be public leased network. It is used for the
network that covers large distance such as cover states of a country. It is not easy to design and
maintain. Communication medium used by WAN are PSTN or Satellite links. WAN operates on
low data rates.

Characteristics of WAN

 It generally covers large distances(states, countries, continents).

 Communication medium used are satellite, public telephone networks which are
connected by routers.

Advantages of WAN

 Covers a large geographical area so long distance business can connect on the one
network.
 Shares software and resources with connecting workstations.
 Messages can be sent very quickly to anyone else on the network. These messages can
have picture, sounds or data included with them(called attachments).
 Expensive things(such as printers or phone lines to the internet) can be shared by all the
computers on the network without having to buy a different peripheral for each
computer.
 Everyone on the network can use the same data. This avoids problems where some users
may have older information than others.

Disadvantages of WAN

 Need a good firewall to restrict outsiders from entering and disrupting the network.
BY: MR. KEVIN NJAGI (LECTURER - MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY) @ SEP - DEC 2020 8
  Setting up a network can be an expensive, slow and complicated. The bigger the network
the more expensive it is.
 Once set up, maintaining a network is a full-time job which requires network supervisors
and technicians to be employed.
 Security is a real issue when many different people have the ability to use information
from other computers. Protection against hackers and viruses adds more complexity and
expense.

1.5 TYPES OF COMPUTER NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

Computer Network Architecture is defined as the physical and logical design of the software,
hardware, protocols, and media of the transmission of data. Simply we can say that how
computers are organized and how tasks are allocated to the computer.

The two types of network architectures are used:

 Peer-To-Peer network
 Client/Server network

Peer-To-Peer network

 Peer-To-Peer network is a network in which all the computers are linked together with equal
privilege and responsibilities for processing the data.
 Peer-To-Peer network is useful for small environments, usually up to 10 computers.
 Peer-To-Peer network has no dedicated server.
 Special permissions are assigned to each computer for sharing the resources, but this can lead to
a problem if the computer with the resource is down.

BY: MR. KEVIN NJAGI (LECTURER - MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY) @ SEP - DEC 2020 9
Advantages Of Peer-To-Peer Network:

 It is less costly as it does not contain any dedicated server.

 If one computer stops working but, other computers will not stop working.
 It is easy to set up and maintain as each computer manages itself.

Disadvantages Of Peer-To-Peer Network:

 In the case of Peer-To-Peer network, it does not contain the centralized system . Therefore, it
cannot back up the data as the data is different in different locations.
 It has a security issue as the device is managed itself.

Client/Server Network

 Client/Server network is a network model designed for the end users called clients, to access the
resources such as songs, video, etc. from a central computer known as Server.
 The central controller is known as a server while all other computers in the network are called
clients.
 A server performs all the major operations such as security and network management.
 A server is responsible for managing all the resources such as files, directories, printer, etc.
 All the clients communicate with each other through a server. For example, if client1 wants to
send some data to client 2, then it first sends the request to the server for the permission. The
server sends the response to the client 1 to initiate its communication with the client 2.

Advantages Of Client/Server network:

 A Client/Server network contains the centralized system. Therefore we can back up the data
easily.

BY: MR. KEVIN NJAGI (LECTURER - MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY) @ SEP - DEC 2020 10
  A Client/Server network has a dedicated server that improves the overall performance of the
whole system.
 Security is better in Client/Server network as a single server administers the shared resources.
 It also increases the speed of the sharing resources.

Disadvantages Of Client/Server network:

 Client/Server network is expensive as it requires the server with large memory.

 A server has a Network Operating System(NOS) to provide the resources to the clients, but the
cost of NOS is very high.
 It requires a dedicated network administrator to manage all the resources.

1.6 BASIC COMPUTER NETWORK COMMUNICATION MODEL

A Communication model is used to exchange data between two parties. For example:
communication between a computer, server and telephone (through modem).

Communication Model: Source

Data to be transmitted is generated by this device, example: telephones, personal computers etc.

Communication Model: Transmitter

The data generated by the source system is not directly transmitted in the form its generated. The
transmitter transforms and encodes the data in such a form to produce electromagnetic waves or
signals.

Communication Model: Transmission System

A transmission system can be a single transmission line or a complex network connecting source
and destination.

Communication Model: Receiver

Receiver accepts the signal from the transmission system and converts it into a form which is
easily managed by the destination device.

Communication Model: Destination

Destination receives the incoming data from the receiver.

BY: MR. KEVIN NJAGI (LECTURER - MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY) @ SEP - DEC 2020 11
1.7 Components of Data Communication

1. Message: It is the information to be delivered.

2. Sender: Sender is the person who is sending the message.
3. Receiver: Receiver is the person to whom the message is being sent to.
4. Medium: It is the medium through which the message is sent. For example: A Modem.
5. Protocol: These are some set of rules which govern data communication.

1.8 Advantages and Disadvantages of a computer network

ADVANTAGES:
a) It enhances communication and availability of information.
Networking, especially with full access to the web, allows ways of communication that
would simply be impossible before it was developed. Instant messaging can now allow
users to talk in real time and send files to other people wherever they are in the world,
which is a huge boon for businesses. Also, it allows access to a vast amount of useful
information, including traditional reference materials and timely facts, such as news and
current events.
b) It allows for more convenient resource sharing.
This benefit is very important, particularly for larger companies that really need to
produce huge numbers of resources to be shared to all the people. Since the technology
involves computer-based work, it is assured that the resources they wanted to get across
would be completely shared by connecting to a computer network which their audience is
also using.
c) It makes file sharing easier.
Computer networking allows easier accessibility for people to share their files, which
greatly helps them with saving more time and effort, since they could do file sharing more
accordingly and effectively.
d) It is highly flexible.
This technology is known to be very flexible, as it gives users the opportunity to explore
everything about essential things, such as software without affecting their functionality.
Plus, people will have the accessibility to all information they need to get and share.
e) It is an inexpensive system.
Installing networking software on your device would not cost too much, as you are
assured that it lasts and can effectively share information to your peers. Also, there is no
need to change the software regularly, as mostly it is not required to do so.
f) It increases cost efficiency.
With computer networking, you can use a lot of software products available on the market
which can just be stored or installed in your system or server, and can then be used by
various workstations.

BY: MR. KEVIN NJAGI (LECTURER - MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY) @ SEP - DEC 2020 12
 g) It boosts storage capacity.
Since you are going to share information, files and resources to other people, you have to
ensure all data and content are properly stored in the system. With this networking
technology, you can do all of this without any hassle, while having all the space you need
for storage.

DISADVANTAGES:
a) It lacks independence.
Computer networking involves a process that is operated using computers, so people will be
relying more of computer work, instead of exerting an effort for their tasks at hand. Aside
from this, they will be dependent on the main file server, which means that, if it breaks down,
the system would become useless, making users idle.
b) It poses security difficulties.
Because there would be a huge number of people who would be using a computer network to
get and share some of their files and resources, a certain user’s security would be always at
risk. There might even be illegal activities that would occur, which you need to be careful
about and aware of.
c) It lacks robustness.
As previously stated, if a computer network’s main server breaks down, the entire system
would become useless. Also, if it has a bridging device or a central linking server that fails,
the entire network would also come to a standstill. To deal with these problems, huge
networks should have a powerful computer to serve as file server to make setting up and
maintaining the network easier.
d) It allows for more presence of computer viruses and malware.
There would be instances that stored files are corrupt due to computer viruses. Thus, network
administrators should conduct regular check-ups on the system, and the stored files at the
same time.
e) Its light policing usage promotes negative acts.
It has been observed that providing users with internet connectivity has fostered undesirable
behavior among them. Considering that the web is a minefield of distractions—online games,
humor sites and even porn sites—workers could be tempted during their work hours. The
huge network of machines could also encourage them to engage in illicit practices, such as
instant messaging and file sharing, instead of working on work-related matters. While many
organizations draw up certain policies on this, they have proven difficult to enforce and even
engendered resentment from employees.
f) It requires an efficient handler.
For a computer network to work efficiently and optimally, it requires high technical skills
and know-how of its operations and administration. A person just having basic skills cannot
do this job. Take note that the responsibility to handle such a system is high, as allotting
permissions and passwords can be daunting. Similarly, network configuration and connection
BY: MR. KEVIN NJAGI (LECTURER - MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY) @ SEP - DEC 2020 13
 is very tedious and cannot be done by an average technician who does not have advanced
knowledge.
g) It requires an expensive set-up.
Though computer networks are said to be an inexpensive system when it is already running,
its initial set up cost can still be high depending on the number of computers to be connected.
Expensive devices, such as routers, switches, hubs, etc., can add up to the cost. Aside from
these, it would also need network interface cards (NICs) for workstations in case they are not
built in.

BY: MR. KEVIN NJAGI (LECTURER - MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY) @ SEP - DEC 2020 14