NCE Lecture 1

The Networked
Environment

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Fundamental Concepts Network Technologies
Application Layer
LAN
Transport Layer WLAN

Network Layer Backbone

WAN
Data Link Layer
Physical Layer Internet

Networked Environment

Network Management
Network Design
Network Security

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 Types Of Network Environments
Terminal-Host System
host computer

dumb terminal

Dumb terminals far less powerful than PC and

basically just a keyboard and a display

Host computer does all processing and stores all data

Host can be a mainframe, minicomputer or

supercomputer

Host can serve many terminals using time sharing

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 Types Of Network Environments
Local Area Network (LAN)

Server

Printer

Usually up to 200 to 300 PCs or workstations connected

Various topologies possible for broadcast LANs

Traditional LANs run at speeds 100 to 1000 Mbps and have

low delay

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 Types Of Network Environments

Site Networks

LAN
LAN

LAN

LAN

Links various LANs that exist within a single site

Typically a High Speed Backbone LAN is used to

connect the various smaller LANs together

example university campuses

example industrial park

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 Types Of Network Environments

Enterprise Networks

LAN LAN
LAN LAN
LAN LAN
LAN LAN

Site Network Site Network

Wide Area
Network (WAN)

LAN
LAN
LAN
LAN

Site Network

Used by organisation with multiple sites

Enterprise uses services of transmission carriers to connect sites

Usually private or virtual private WAN used

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Common Network Components

Router

Switch

Bridge

Hub

Repeater

Printer

PC or Workstation

Server

Cloud or Internet

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Typical Network Diagram

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 The Internet Today
High Speed Medium Speed Low Speed

Large ISPs connect

IXPs, POPs or
Collocation facilities

ISP A
ISP B
Peer ISP A
Customer
Customer ISP B
Customer
Regional
ISP Regional
Regional ISP
ISP
Customer
Customer
Local
ISP Local
Local ISP
ISP
Customer Customer
Customer Customer
 The Internet Today

packet
network network
modem
(subnet) (subnet)

modem

network
(subnet)

Some Internet Terminology

messages on the internet are sent as packets

any computer connected to internet is called a host

every host has an internet address (IP address) like 128.110.20.13

host have human readable names like lsbu.ac.uk

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 Some Possible Definitions
Computer Networks
 
A computer network can be defined as an interconnected collection
of autonomous computers. These computers then communicate by
sending messages along the cables or other transmission media that
provide communication channels to carry information between them.
This allows them to share hardware and software resources, use
e-mail, exchange files, access remote information, divide up or
distribute the processing tasks, etc.

Local Area Networks (LANs)

 
These privately owned networks usually span distances up
to a few kilometers and are typically used to connect a
number of PCs, Workstations and peripheral equipment
together such as printers.

Wide Area Networks (WANs)

 
These networks span large geographical areas and often rely
at least in part on circuits provided by a common carrier.
Typically a WAN consists of a number of specialised computers
or switching nodes which are used to connect a number of hosts
or end systems together.

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 Network Topologies
Broadly speaking, computers in a network either share a single
channel of communication or they are connected together
either directly or indirectly by separate channels.

The former type of network is referred to as a broadcast network

and the latter is referred to as a point-to-point network. In
general, LANs tend to use broadcast networks whilst WANs use
point-to-point networking.

Broadcast Networks

Server

Printer

Bus

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 Network Topologies

Broadcast Networks

Server

Printer

Ring

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 Network Topologies
Point-to-Point Networks

Switch

Star topology

Advantages of a Star Topology

Easy to install and wire.

No disruptions to the network when connecting or
removing devices.
Easy to detect faults and to remove parts.

Disadvantages of a Star Topology

Requires more cable length than a linear topology.
If the switch fails, nodes attached are disabled.
More expensive than linear bus topologies because of the cost of
the switches.

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 Network Topologies
Point-to-Point Networks

Fully Connected

Computers  Links
1   0
2   1
3   3
4   6
5   10
6   15
7   21
8   28
9   36
10   45
11   55
12   66
13   78
14   91
15   105
16   120
17   136
18   153
19   171
20   190

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 Network Topologies

Tree

LAN 1

LAN 2

LAN 3
Backbone LAN

Advantages of a Tree Topology

Point-to-point wiring for individual segments.
Supported by several hardware and software vendors.

Disadvantages of a Tree Topology

Overall length of each segment is limited by the type of cabling
used.
If the backbone line breaks, the entire segment goes down.
More difficult to configure and wire than other topologies. 16
 Network Topologies
Some Considerations When Choosing a Topology

Money. A linear bus network may be the least expensive way

to install a network; you do not have to purchase switches or
hubs.

Length of cable needed. The linear bus network uses shorter

lengths of cable.

Future growth. With a star topology, expanding a network is

easily done by adding another switch or hub.

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Fundamental Concepts Network Technologies

Application Layer
LAN
Transport Layer WLAN

Network Layer Backbone

WAN
Data Link Layer
Physical Layer Internet

Networked Environment

Network Management
Network Design
Network Security

18
Network Models and Protocol Hierarchies

There are several different network models. The most

important two are: TCP/IP and the ISO-OSI Model

A Network Models defines a set of network layers and

how they interact.

The TCP/IP Model - This model is called the internet

model because TCP/IP are two protocols used on the
internet.

ISO-OSI or just OSI Model – Which is a Reference

Model developed by the International Standards
Organisation. This model has a 7-layer architecture.

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 Protocol Hierarchies
What is a Protocol?

A protocol is basically an agreement between two parties on

how communication is to proceed.

In the case of data communication

this includes the physical aspects such as what signal levels to
use for representing the 1’s and 0’s and also logical aspects such
as how to start and stop an information exchange or how to deal
with errors.

In the area of computer communication it is convenient to

divide up the communication problem into a number of layers.

Layer N Layer N

Layer N-1 Layer N-1

Layer 1 Layer 1

physical media 20
 Protocol Hierarchies

Layer N Layer N

Layer N-1 Layer N-1

Layer 1 Layer 1

physical media

The entity or peer at Layer N on one computer converses with its

corresponding peer on the other using the layer N protocol. In a
similar manner the peers at Layer N-1 use the layer N-1 protocol.

No data actually passes directly from one layer to another.

Instead, each layer passes data and control information to the
layer immediately below it (for the sender) until it reaches the
Physical Medium and then from the lower layer to the layer above
it at the receiver.

A set of layers and protocols is called a network architecture,

whilst a list of protocols used by a certain system, one protocol
per layer, is called a protocol stack.
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 OSI Reference Model

Application Layer Application Layer

Presentation Layer Presentation Layer

Session Layer Session Layer

Transport Layer Transport Layer

Network Layer Network Layer

Data Link Layer Data Link Layer

Physical Layer Physical Layer

physical media

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