ECEG-4211 Data Communication and Computer

Networks
Tutorial 1: Introduction
Bethelhem Seifu (bethelhem.seifu@aait.edu.et)
March 20, 2024

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this tutorial, you will be able to:
• Review fundamental concepts of data communication and networking discussed in
lecture class.

• To become familiar with the cables, switches and routers used in the lab.

• To become familiar with the network simulator: Cisco Packet tracer.

• To use Packet tracer to simulate a simple network.

– Cable a physical network topology.

– Enter static IP address information on the LAN interface of the hosts.
– Verify that PCs can communicate using the ping utility.

Part I: Review
The following key points were discussed during your lecture class. You should be able to
answer and explain them in details.
• What is networking and what are its benefits?

• What is Internet?

• Concept of connection-oriented and and connection-less networks.

• Definition of throughput,latency and channel bandwidth in a network.

• Concept and examples of packet-switching systems and circuit-switching systems.

• Clear understanding of a protocol, service and an interface.

1
 • Different types of network typologies.

• The comparison of OSI and TCP/IP reference models.

You can refer to the figure below to summarize the network models.

Question 1: Besides bandwidth and latency, what other parameter is needed to give a
good characterization of the quality of service offered by a network used for (i) digitized
voice traffic? (ii) video traffic? (iii) financial transaction traffic?
.
.

Part II: Networking Components and cabling

AIM: To study about different physical equipment used for networking.

2
1. Networking Components

3
Routers
Routers are computers and include many of the same hardware and software components
found in a typical PC, such as CPU, RAM, ROM, and an operating system. The main
purpose of a router is to connect multiple networks and forward packets from one network
to the next. This means that a router typically has multiple interfaces. Each interface is a
member or host on a different IP network.

Router Interfaces

Management ports

Routers have physical connectors that are used to manage the router. These connec-
tors are known as management ports.

• The most common management port is the console port. The console port is used
to connect a terminal, or most often a PC running terminal emulator software, to
configure the router without the need for network access to that router. The console
port must be used during initial configuration of the router.

• Another management port is the auxiliary port. Not all routers have auxiliary ports.
At times the auxiliary port can be used in ways similar to a console port. It can also
be used to attach a modem.

Network Interfaces

The term interface refers to a physical connector on the router whose main purpose
is to receive and forward packets. Routers have multiple interfaces that are used to connect
to multiple networks.

4
Switches
The network switch plays an integral part in most Ethernet LANs. Mid-to-large sized LANs
contain a number of linked managed switches. A switch operates at the data-link layer of
the OSI model to create a different collision domain per switch port.

A switch has a console port for management and a set of Ethernet interfaces for LANs
connections.

2. Cabling
This part summarizes the cabling requirements for console and auxiliary (AUX) ports. Most
routers have three types of console and AUX connectors. The types are

• RJ-45

• DB-25 DCE

• DB-25 DTE

5
Types of commonly used RJ-45 cabling
1. Straight-through Cable

In a straight-through cable, the colored wires are in the same sequence at both ends
of the cable. Straight-through cables are primarily used for connecting unlike devices. Use
a straight-through cable when:
• Connecting a router to a hub.

• Connecting a computer to a switch.

• Connecting a LAN port to a switch, hub or computer.

2. Crossover Cable

In a crossover cable, the first (far left) colored wire at one end of the cable is the third
colored wire at the other end of the cable.Unlike straight-through cables, we use crossover
cables to connect like devices. Use a cross over cable when:
• Connecting a computer to a router.

6
 • Connecting a computer to a computer.

• Connecting a router to a router.

• Connecting a switch to a switch.

• Connecting a hub to a hub.

3. Rolled Cable

In rolled cable, the colored wires at one end of the cable are in reverse sequence of
the colored wires at the other end of the cable. Rollover cables, also called Yost cables,
usually connect a device to a router or switch’s console port. This allows a programmer to
make a connection to the router or switch, and program it as needed.

Part III: Experiments

Introduction to Packet Tracer Packet Tracer using a simple Hub
Topology
Cisco Packet Tracer is a powerful network simulation, visualization, collaboration, and as-
sessment tool that allows students to experiment with network designs and behavior.
Packet Tracer supplements physical networking equipment by allowing you to create vir-
tual networks with an almost unlimited number of devices; encouraging practice, discovery,
and troubleshooting. The simulation-based learning environment will help you build, config-
ure, explore, and troubleshoot networks using virtual equipment and simulated connections.

Step 1: Download Packet Tracer and install it!

To download the tool, you will need to do the following:

1. Go to the Cisco Networking Academy website (https://www.netacad.com/courses/

packet-tracer)

2. Click on Sign Up. Complete the Sign Up information by selecting a language and
entering your name and email address.

7
 3. Once you sign up, an email will be sent for you to confirm your registration.

4. After clicking the link in your email, you will be directed back to the www.netacad.
comsite. You will need to answer a few questions about your account.

5. You will be enrolled in a Introduction to Packet Tracer course. Select the course to
begin.

6. From the Home Page, click on Student Resources. Click on Download and install
the latest version of Packet Tracer.

Step 2: Start Packet Tracer by clicking the icon on the top menu bar.

8
Step 3: Building a Simple Network.
Topology

Addressing Table

9
 Device Interface IP Address Subnet Mask
PC-A NIC 192.168.1.10 255.255.255.0
PC-B NIC 192.168.1.11 255.255.255.0

Background / Scenario:

Networks are constructed of three major components: hosts, switches, and routers. In
this lab, you will build a simple network with two hosts and a switch. You will apply IP
addressing for this lab to the PCs to enable communication between these two devices. Use
the ping utility to verify connectivity.

1: Choosing Devices and Connections

Single click on each group of devices and connections to display the various choices.
The devices you see may differ slightly.

1. Single click on the End Devices. Add two generic hosts (PCS) by dragging them to
the work area.

2. Single click on the Intermediate Devices and add a switch by dragging it to the work
area.

3. Click Connections to select the correct cable.

4. Click PC-A >FastEthernet0 and the click S1 >FastEthernet0/6.

5. Select another correct cable.

6. Click PC-B >FastEthernet0 and the click S1 >FastEthernet0/1.

Question 1: What type of media is used between the different devices?

.
.
After cabling the two PCs to the switch, you should see that a green dot is flashing for each
connected port, which indicates that the connection is active and some network traffic is
flowing between connecting hosts.

2: Configure static IP address information on the PCs.

1. Click PC-A >Config >FastEthernet0.

2. In the IP Configuration, type in the IP address 192.168.1.10 and the subnet mask
255.255.255.0.
Note: when you click the Subnet Mask after you entered the IP address, Packet Tracer
should enter the value 255.255.255.0 automatically. You can manually enter or change
it if needed.

10
 3. After all the IP information has been entered, click the X at the top right corner. The
Config window will be closed and the information entered is saved.
Note: there are multiple ways to configure IP address and related information in Packet
Tracer. This window not only allows you to enter necessary information, it also shows
the status of the NIC, at the top right corner. As indicated, the NIC is active (On);
the bandwidth is configured as Auto, with default value of 100 Mbps; and the NIC is
in full duplex mode.

4. Repeat the previous steps to enter the IP address information on PC-B. You will need
to change the IP address. Type in the IP address 192.168.1.11 and the subnet mask
255.255.255.0.

3 : Testing your network

Networking Commands: The following commands are essentially used for network man-
agement.

• ifconfig:The ifconfig utility displays the assigned IP address of ETHERNET adapter.

• ping: The ping utility tests end-to-end connectivity between the IP address of the
source of the message and the IP address of its destination by sending Internet Control
Message Protocol (ICMP) Echo Request messages. It measures the time that it takes
test messages to make a round trip from the source to the destination and whether
or not the transmission is successful. However, if the message does not reach the
destination, or if delays are encountered along the way, there is no way to determine
where the problem is located.

• traceroute: the traceroute utility traces the route a message takes from its source to
the destination. Each individual network through which the message travels is referred
to as a hop. Traceroute displays each hop along the way and the time it takes for
the message to get to that network and back. The traceroute utility is called tracert
in the Windows environment. It can be accessed through the command prompt in a
Windows environment.

Use the Command Prompt to verify the PC settings and connectivity.

1. Click PC-A >Desktop >Command Prompt.

2. Type in the ipconfig command. This command displays the IPv4 address information
configured.

3. Type ping 192.168.1.11 and press Enter.

Question 3: What outputs you get from ipconfig command?

.
.
Question 4: Were the ping results successful?
.

11
.
Question 5: How many successful packets were received by PC-A?
.
.

12