DIT 0204: NETWORKING ESSENTIALS
Prerequisite: DIT 0101-Introduction to Computers
Course Purpose
Learning Objectives
Course Description
Introduction to networking
History of networking
Types of networks
Network topologies
Network cabling
Networking operating system
Network models
Server types
Data communication
Network standards
Network protocols
LAN architecture
Access methods
Networking hardware
Switching techniques
Installing and configuring a network
Network security
Teaching methodologies
Instructional Material/Equipment
Course Assessment
Course Textbooks
Introduction to networking
,Each of the past three centuries was dominated by a single new technology.
The 18th century was the era of the great mechanical systems accompanying the Industrial
Revolution.
The 19th century was the age of the steam engine.
During the 20th century, the key technology was information gathering, processing, and
distribution.
Among other developments, we saw the installation of worldwide telephone networks, the
invention of radio and television, the birth and unprecedented growth of the computer industry, the
launching of communication satellites, and, of course, the Internet.
During the first two decades of their existence, computer systems were highly centralized, usually
within a single large room.
The once-dominant concept of the‘‘computer center’’ as a room with a large computer to which
users bring their work for processing is now totally obsolete (although data centers holding
thousands of Internet servers are becoming common). The old model of a single computer serving
all of the organization’s computational needs has been replaced by one in which a large number of
separate but interconnected computers do the job. These systems are called computer networks.
A computer network is the infrastructure that allows two or more computers (called hosts) to
communicate with each other. Two computers are said to be interconnected if they are able to
exchange information. The connection need not be via a copper wire; fiber optics, microwaves,
infrared, and communication satellites can also be used. The network achieves this by providing a
set of rules for communication, called protocols, which should be observed by all participating hosts.
The need for a protocol should be obvious: it allows different computers from different vendors and
with different operating characteristics to ‘speak the same language’.
Types of networks
There are many ways in which different networks can be classified, such as their size, capabilities
and the geographical distance they cover. A network is simply a group of two or more computer
systems linked together in some way so that they can share data between them. Different types of
networks provide different services, and require different things to work properly. Some of the most
common types of network you are likely to encounter are detailed here below:
Personal Area Network
A Personal Area Network (PAN) is smallest network which is very personal to a user. This may
include Bluetooth enabled devices or infra-red enabled devices. PAN has connectivity range up to 10
meters. PAN may include wireless computer keyboard and mouse, Bluetooth enabled headphones,
wireless printers, and TV remotes.
Local Area Network
, A LAN is a privately owned network that operates within and nearby a single building like a home,
office or factory. LANs are widely used to connect personal computers and consumer electronics to
let them share resources (e.g., printers) and exchange information. LANs are composed of
inexpensive networking and routing equipment. It may contains local servers serving file storage and
other locally shared applications.
LAN can be wired, wireless, or in both forms at once.
Metropolitan Area Network
A MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) covers a city. The best-known examples of MANs are the cable
television networks available in many cities. These systems grew from earlier community antenna
systems used in areas with poor over-the-air television reception. In those early systems, a large
antenna was placed on top of a nearby hill and a signal was then piped to the subscribers’ houses.
Backbone of MAN is high-capacity and high-speed fiber optics. MAN works in between Local Area
Network and Wide Area Network.
Wide Area Network
A WAN (Wide Area Network) spans a large geographical area, often a country or continent. As the
name suggests, the Wide Area Network (WAN) covers a wide area which may span across provinces
and even a whole country. Generally, telecommunication networks are Wide Area Network. These
networks provide connectivity to MANs and LANs. Since they are equipped with very high speed
backbone, WANs use very expensive network equipment.
Other Types of Network
There are also other types of network you may encounter. Some of these are different, but most are
simply developed from LAN and WAN networks to have slight difference and adapt to different user
needs. These include:
Campus Area Network – This is a network which is larger than a LAN, but smaller than an
MAN. This is typical in areas such as a university, large school or small business. It is typically
spread over a collection of buildings which are reasonably local to each other. It may have
an internal Ethernet as well as capability of connecting to the internet.
Wireless Local Area Network – This is a LAN which works using wireless network technology
such as Wi-Fi. This type of network is becoming more popular as wireless technology is
further developed and is used more in the home and by small businesses. It means devices
do not need to rely on physical cables and wires as much and can organise their spaces more
effectively.
System Area Network – This network connects computers together on an especially high-
speed connection, in a configuration known as a cluster. This means computers which are
connected together so as to work as a single system, and can be done as a result of very high
speed computers and new low cost microprocessors. They are usually used to improve
performance and for cost effectiveness.
Storage Area Network – This network connects servers directly to devices which store
amounts of data without relying on a LAN or WAN network to do so. This can involve
another type of connection known as Fibre Channel, a system similar to Ethernet which
handles high-performance disk storage for applications on a number of professional
networks.
How do LANs and WANs connect
Prerequisite: DIT 0101-Introduction to Computers
Course Purpose
Learning Objectives
Course Description
Introduction to networking
History of networking
Types of networks
Network topologies
Network cabling
Networking operating system
Network models
Server types
Data communication
Network standards
Network protocols
LAN architecture
Access methods
Networking hardware
Switching techniques
Installing and configuring a network
Network security
Teaching methodologies
Instructional Material/Equipment
Course Assessment
Course Textbooks
Introduction to networking
,Each of the past three centuries was dominated by a single new technology.
The 18th century was the era of the great mechanical systems accompanying the Industrial
Revolution.
The 19th century was the age of the steam engine.
During the 20th century, the key technology was information gathering, processing, and
distribution.
Among other developments, we saw the installation of worldwide telephone networks, the
invention of radio and television, the birth and unprecedented growth of the computer industry, the
launching of communication satellites, and, of course, the Internet.
During the first two decades of their existence, computer systems were highly centralized, usually
within a single large room.
The once-dominant concept of the‘‘computer center’’ as a room with a large computer to which
users bring their work for processing is now totally obsolete (although data centers holding
thousands of Internet servers are becoming common). The old model of a single computer serving
all of the organization’s computational needs has been replaced by one in which a large number of
separate but interconnected computers do the job. These systems are called computer networks.
A computer network is the infrastructure that allows two or more computers (called hosts) to
communicate with each other. Two computers are said to be interconnected if they are able to
exchange information. The connection need not be via a copper wire; fiber optics, microwaves,
infrared, and communication satellites can also be used. The network achieves this by providing a
set of rules for communication, called protocols, which should be observed by all participating hosts.
The need for a protocol should be obvious: it allows different computers from different vendors and
with different operating characteristics to ‘speak the same language’.
Types of networks
There are many ways in which different networks can be classified, such as their size, capabilities
and the geographical distance they cover. A network is simply a group of two or more computer
systems linked together in some way so that they can share data between them. Different types of
networks provide different services, and require different things to work properly. Some of the most
common types of network you are likely to encounter are detailed here below:
Personal Area Network
A Personal Area Network (PAN) is smallest network which is very personal to a user. This may
include Bluetooth enabled devices or infra-red enabled devices. PAN has connectivity range up to 10
meters. PAN may include wireless computer keyboard and mouse, Bluetooth enabled headphones,
wireless printers, and TV remotes.
Local Area Network
, A LAN is a privately owned network that operates within and nearby a single building like a home,
office or factory. LANs are widely used to connect personal computers and consumer electronics to
let them share resources (e.g., printers) and exchange information. LANs are composed of
inexpensive networking and routing equipment. It may contains local servers serving file storage and
other locally shared applications.
LAN can be wired, wireless, or in both forms at once.
Metropolitan Area Network
A MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) covers a city. The best-known examples of MANs are the cable
television networks available in many cities. These systems grew from earlier community antenna
systems used in areas with poor over-the-air television reception. In those early systems, a large
antenna was placed on top of a nearby hill and a signal was then piped to the subscribers’ houses.
Backbone of MAN is high-capacity and high-speed fiber optics. MAN works in between Local Area
Network and Wide Area Network.
Wide Area Network
A WAN (Wide Area Network) spans a large geographical area, often a country or continent. As the
name suggests, the Wide Area Network (WAN) covers a wide area which may span across provinces
and even a whole country. Generally, telecommunication networks are Wide Area Network. These
networks provide connectivity to MANs and LANs. Since they are equipped with very high speed
backbone, WANs use very expensive network equipment.
Other Types of Network
There are also other types of network you may encounter. Some of these are different, but most are
simply developed from LAN and WAN networks to have slight difference and adapt to different user
needs. These include:
Campus Area Network – This is a network which is larger than a LAN, but smaller than an
MAN. This is typical in areas such as a university, large school or small business. It is typically
spread over a collection of buildings which are reasonably local to each other. It may have
an internal Ethernet as well as capability of connecting to the internet.
Wireless Local Area Network – This is a LAN which works using wireless network technology
such as Wi-Fi. This type of network is becoming more popular as wireless technology is
further developed and is used more in the home and by small businesses. It means devices
do not need to rely on physical cables and wires as much and can organise their spaces more
effectively.
System Area Network – This network connects computers together on an especially high-
speed connection, in a configuration known as a cluster. This means computers which are
connected together so as to work as a single system, and can be done as a result of very high
speed computers and new low cost microprocessors. They are usually used to improve
performance and for cost effectiveness.
Storage Area Network – This network connects servers directly to devices which store
amounts of data without relying on a LAN or WAN network to do so. This can involve
another type of connection known as Fibre Channel, a system similar to Ethernet which
handles high-performance disk storage for applications on a number of professional
networks.
How do LANs and WANs connect
