Networking Fundamentals
Objectives of Networking
Complex communication deals with the transfer
of information between various computer terminals through
communication links. From 1970s, the merger of the field of
computer science and data communication has led to a fast-field
of system opportunities. The technologies dominating the past
decade revolve around information gathering processing, Storage
Nowadays, the (data communication) communication
is mostly digital due to high operating speed, reliability,
miniaturization, precise data handling.
The interconnect computers do the job-instead
of a single computer serving all the companies needs. This
system is called “Computer networks”. Computer
network means interconnected collection of autonomous computers.
Inter commented computers able to exchange information. The
connection can be via copper wire, fiber optics, microwaves
and communication satellite.
1.1 Network Structure
Network reduces the cost, input hardware and cable installations.
It consists of number of stations, set of nodes (IMP) and
communications channels.
Network Stations: May be
terminal, computers, telephones or other communication devices.
They are also called HOST\END SYSTEMS. The hosts are connected
to communication subnet or subnet. They carry messages from
host and consist of switching elements and transmission lines.
Transmission lines are also called CIRCUITS, CHANNELS, TRUNKS,
move bits between the machines.
The switching elements are specialized computers
used to connect two or more transmission lines. The purpose
of the switching element is to choose outgoing line and forward
the data arriving on an incoming line. All traffic to/from
the host has to go via its IMP. They are also known as PACKET
SWITCHING NODES, INTERMEDIATE SYSTEM OR DATA SWITCHING EXCHANGES.
Subnet is the collection of the communication
lines and routers but not the host. The set of nods to which
stations attached is the boundary of the communication network.
The collection of routers and communication lines moves packets
from source host to the destination host.
Network structure can be thought with
- Data terminal equipment
(DTE).
- Data circuit terminating Equipment
(DCE) concept.
Most digital data processing device have limited data transmission
capacity and limited distance of data transmission.
DTE is the end user machine, generally refers to (Devices)
terminals and computers.
Example: Email terminal, workstation, ATM in a bank, sales
terminal in a departmental store. They are not commonly connected
directly to transmission medium.
DCE is used to connect the communication channel.
Example: modem. It interacts with DTE and provides an interface
of DTE to communication network transmits and receive bits
one at a time over the communication channel.
To specify the exact nature of interface between DTE and
DCE various standards and protocols have been developed. DCEs
and DTEs are connected in two ways. A high degree of cooperation
is essential in DTE-DCE combination, as data and control information
is to be exchanged. They can be connected in two ways
- Point to point configuration:
Here only two DTE devices are in the channel
- Multidrop configuration:
Here more than two devices are connected to the same
communication channel.
This will provide the basic technology concepts
required for understanding networking. The following are the
lessons how we categorized Network fundamentals.
Lesson
1: Networking Basics
Lesson 2: OSI Reference Model
Lesson 3:
Introduction to TCP/IP
Lesson 4:
LAN Basics
Lesson 5:
Understanding Switching
Lesson 6:
WAN Basics
Lesson 7:
Understanding Routing
Lesson 8:
What Is Layer 3 Switching?
Lesson 9:
Understanding Virtual LANs
Lesson 10:
Understanding Quality of Service
Lesson 11:
Security Basics
Lesson 12: Understanding Virtual Private Networks
Lesson 13:
Voice Technology Basics
Lesson 14:
Network Management Basics
Lesson 15:
The Internet
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