18 Networking Systems

Dr. Reni Francis

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17.0 Learning Outcomes

 

17.1 Introduction

 

17.2 What is networking?

 

17.3 Benefits of Networking Systems

 

17.4 Based on network installations

 

17.5 Based on network size

 

17.6 Based on management method

 

17.7 Based on topology

 

17.8 Let us sum up

 

17.0 Learning Outcomes:

 

 

By the end of the lesson, students should know:

  • What is networking
  • Benefits of networking systems
  • The different types of networking systems

 

17.1    Introduction:  

 

The use of computers is becoming an essential part of life. A user works at different places on different computers, then the data to be used may have to be taken have to saved and used at other places. Sometimes it is not possible to use the data at all places. To solve such problem, if computers are connected to each other through some transmission media, then the information can be transferred from one computer to other. This is called networking.

 

17.2 What is networking?

 

Interconnecting a set of computers with each other using transmission media is called a network. With the help of network, the resources and services can be shared. The shared resources can be data, printer, floppy drive, CD drive, fax, modem etc. The shared services can be a database, a file, a software etc. All interconnected computer must follow a set of communication rules for transmitting and receiving the data. The rules governing computer communication are called protocols.

 

Every network includes:

  • At least two computers Server or Client workstation.
  • Networking Interface Card’s (NIC)
  • A connection medium, usually a wire or cable, although wireless communication between networked computers and peripherals is also possible.
  • Network Operating system software, such as Microsoft Windows NT or 2000, Novell NetWare, Unix and Linux

 

17.3 Benefits of networking systems

 

Networks permit the computers to stay connected. They allow for the easy distribution of information and resources and cooperation linking the devices in other ways.

  • Connectivity and Communication: Networks helps in connection between computer and the person who uses that computer, thus making it easier, faster, effective and reasonable
  • Data Sharing: To share data among a large group of employees at a same time easily and at a faster speed is done through networking.
  • Hardware Sharing: Networks help in easy sharing of hardware devices i.e.: printer, floppy drive, CD drive. This can reduce the cost of using separate resources.
  • Internet Access: The Internet is itself a vast network, so when at any time one accesses the Internet, they are using a network. The significance of the Internet is vital in every aspect of the modern culture.
  • Internet Access Sharing: Small computer systems allow many users to share a single Internet connection. Special hardware devices permit the bandwidth of the connection to be easily used by various individuals as per their need and let an organization to obtain one high-speed connection as a replacement for of many slower connections.
  • Data Safety and Management: In a business background, a network permits the managers to handle the data of the organization in a further methodical manner. Instead of having the data extend over a lot of small computers in an unorganized manner, the data can be centralized on shared servers.
  • Performance development: In some situation, a network can be made used to develop the general performance of a few applications by allocating the calculation tasks to different computers on the network.
  • Entertainment: Networks assist numerous types of games and entertainment. The Internet itself proposes many basis of entertainment.

 

17.4 Types of networking systems based on network installations

 

Centralized Network Installation:

 

These types of networks have a central computer (server) connected to all other computers. The central computer known as mainframe computer does the entire work. The other computers are called as nodes and work as only input/output devices.

 

Distributed Network Installation:

 

In a distributed network, the processing is done on each node in an individual way. This is because the new personal computers are with higher processing capacity and higher memory. Using the distributed network more amounts of data are processed in less amount of time increasing the efficiency.

 

Collaborative Network Installation:

 

This is also called as co-operative processing. This type of processing enables the computer in a collaborative manner to share data, resources and services. The computers work in collaboration with each other depending upon the available resources to share, the application gets executed in the network in a better way.

 

17.5 Types of networking systems based on network size

 

A network is an interrelated system that offers communication linkages among two or more stations. Each location in a network is called a node. There are diverse electronic communication networks which can be largely classified based on the coverage area.

 

Types of Networks:

 

LAN (Local Area Networks)

LAN (Local Area Networks) : A local area network is a collection of computers linked to each other in a small area. The LAN’s are located in a building or a campus. LAN has the following characteristics:

 

  • Data transmitted at high rate.
  • The physical area covered by network is restricted
  • The resources are joined with different method.

 

A LAN structure consists of many Personal Computer terminals but a universal control terminal controls this network known as Server.

 

WAN has a larger coverage area. The locations are extremely high in number, hence named as Wide Area Network.WAN can integrate LAN’s. WAN is able of covering the entire country or state for interactions. The railway reservation system, airline reservation system are examples of WAN.

 

WAN has the following characteristics:

  • The area enclosed is very big
  • The data transmit is slow in comparison to LAN
  • The link media is normally a telephone line to be linked to LAN’s

 

Internet

 

The Internet is an organization of associated networks that are universal in scale and assist data communication services such as remote login, file transfer, email, World Wide Web and newsgroups. With the soaring demand for connectivity, the Internet has become an interaction highway for millions of users.

 

Intranet

 

With the progress in the Internet, many private groups are executing intranets. An intranet is a private network make use of Internet-type tools, but accessible only in that organization. For bigger organizations, an intranet offers an easy access means to business information for employees.

 

MANs (Metropolitan area Networks)

  • : The network smaller to WAN and larger to LAN is recognized as MAN (Medium size network). A model of MAN is a cable network inside a city. Cable network is getting TV programme from the satellite and it transmits to numerous user.

 

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

 

VPN uses a system known as channeling to transmit the data steadily on the Internet to a distant access server in your place of work system. Using a VPN assists you economically by using the open Internet as a substitute to long–distance phone calls to join strongly with your private network. There are two ways to create a VPN connection, by dialing an Internet service provider (ISP), or linking directly to Internet.

 

17.6 Based on management method

 

Network configuration indicates the process of operating /managing a network by making a decision on the node system. There are two basic design generally found in many organizations:

Peer- to – Peer: In a Peer- to- Peer network system each personal computer has the same rights. Each peer directly corresponds to the other Peer exclusive of any server and hence it is known as Peer to Peer configuration .The hardware of each peer is nearly standard and equal, E.g.: windows – 95.

 

Client – Server configurations: Client – Server configurations: In a Client- Server configuration several clients use the master personal computer called the server controls to offer services. The client networks by asking the server to share resources, access data etc. The server has a high performance PC in the group and has highest operating speed, e.g. Novell Netware.

 

17.7 Based on topology

 

A topology is a depiction of the design of a detailed region or area. A network topology is a description of the plan of the region or area enclosed by that network. The layout of inter-connections of different elements or nodes of a computer network is a network topology that might be logical or physical.

 

Types of Topology

 

There are seven basic topologies in the study of network topology:

  1. Point-to-point topology,
  2. Bus (point-to-multipoint) topology,
  3. Star topology,
  4. Hybrid topology,
  5. Tree topology.

 

  1. Point-to-Point Network Topology: The Point-to-Point Network Topology is the original form of a typical telephone. It is an everlasting connection linking the two points. The significance of a point-to-point network is in ratio to the number of subscriber’s prospective pairs. This network helps to link to a permanent circuit contained by many switched telecommunication systems.

 

2  Bus Network Topology: When the LAN’s joins each node to a single cable the Bus Network Topology is used. A connector links each computer or server to the bus cable. The starting place passes on a signal that travels in both directions and moves through all the machines till it arrives at the projected recipient with the IP address. The data is ignored if the IP address does not match.

3. Star Network Topology: When each network host is joined to a central hub in LAN it is called Star Network Topology. Each node is linked to the hub with a point-to-point connection. All the signals move through the hub that serves as a signal booster.

  1. Hybrid Topology: When two or more topologies are combined we call it as Hybrid Topology. WAN’s makes use of Hybrid topologies at times because they join to a variety of LAN topologies. The benefit of hybrid topologies is that they link different topologies but they also have a disadvantage of being likely complex to set up and manage the network.

 

  1. Tree Network Topology: In a Tree Network Topology the top level of the ladder and the central root node is linked to the lower level nodes through a point-to-point link. The second level that is already connected to central root can be connected to the third level by a point-to-point link.

 

17.7 Let us sum up

  • Interconnecting a set of computers with each other using transmission media is called a network. With the help of network, the resources and services can be shared. The shared resources can be data, printer, floppy drive, CD drive, fax, modem etc.
  • Networks allow the computers to remain connected. They allow for the easy sharing of information and resources, and cooperation between the devices in other ways. Connectivity and Communication, Data Sharing, Internet Access, Data Security and Management, Performance Enhancement and Balancing, Entertainment.
  • Types of networking systems based on network installations – Centralized Network Installation, Distributed Network Installation and Collaborative Network Installation.
  • Types of networking systems based on network size – LAN, MAN,WAN, Internet, Intranet, VPN
  • Types of networking systems based on management methods – Peer to Peer, Client to Server
  • Types of networking systems based on topology – . Point-to-point topology, Bus (point-to-multipoint) topology, Star topology, Hybrid topology, Tree topology.

 

you can view video on Networking Systems

References

  • http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/basicnetworking/whatsnetworking.html
  • Basic Networking Tutorial 1
  • www.mof.gov.bt/publication/files/pub9ew3702mv.pdf
  • Introduction to Computer Networking
  • vfu.bg/…/Computer-Networks–Introduction_Computer_Networking.pdf
  • Computer-Networks:
  • vfu.bg/en/e-Learning/Computer-Networks–Network.ppt
  • 5 Intro to Networking.ppt
  • www.eie.polyu.edu.hk/~em/…/5%20Intro%20to%20Networking.ppt