Networking

Concepts

What are networks?

Through a combination of hardware

and software, networks permit
information and peripherals to be
shared efficiently and economically.

Physical & Logical Topologies

Physical Topologies define the actual
layout of the wire (media).
Logical Topologies define how the
media is accessed by the hosts.
For example, in this classroom hosts
access the media on a first come, first
served basis

Parts of LAN
Clients workstations
Servers usually have more RAM,
more storage capacity & a faster
processor than the PCs
Network devices
Repeaters
Transceivers
Bridges
Routers

Hubs
NICs
Switches

Physical Topologies
Bus

Extended
Star

Ring

Hierarchical

Star

Mesh

Bus Topology
Single backbone
All hosts directly
connected to backbone
Each end of the bus must
be properly terminated

Ring Topology
No backbone
A host is directly
connected to each of its
neighbors
Used for token passing
logical topologies

Star Topology
All devices connected to
a central point
Center of star is usually
a hub or a switch
Used for Ethernet
technologies

Extended Star Topology

Connects individual star
topologies together.
At the center of the star
is a hub or a switch.
Extends the length and
size of the network.
This is the topology we
are using in our lab!

Hierarchical Topology
Server

Like the extended star

except a computer
controls trafficnot a
hub or a switch.

Mesh Topology
Each host has its own
connection to every
other host
Used in situations where
communication must not
be interrupted.

Logical Topologies
Broadcast Topology
Each host on the LAN sends its data (or
broadcasts its data) to every other host.
Access to media is based of first-come,
first-serve. (Ethernet works this way)

Token Passing Topology

Access to media is controlled by an
electronic token.
Possession of the token gives the host the
right to pass data to its destination.

Media
Basic function of media carry flow of
information in form of bits through a
LAN
In a copper based network, bits will be
electrical signals
In a fiber based network, bits will be light
pulses
Media considered to be Layer 1
component of a LAN

Common Media
Network media
Coax cable
Fiber
Twisted pair
UTP Unshielded
STP - Shielded

Regardless of the medium of choice,

still have to deal with distance limtations

Wide Area Networks

A WAN is a data communications network
covering a large geographic area.
Unlike LANs , a WAN connection is
generally rented from a service provider.
WANs connect various sites at different
geographic locations so that information
can be exchanged.

WAN Components

Telco
CSU/DSU

CSU/DSU

CSU/DSU
CSU/DSU

CSU/DSU
CSU/DSU

Telco

OSI Model
Developed by the International Organization
for Standardization in 1974
It consists of seven layers.
Each layer has a different but specific
processing function.
Each layer provides functions for the layer
directly adjacent to it.
Modules (layers) may be replaced with one of
equal type (that is, transport layer may not be
replaced with the network layer).

OSI Model Layers

OSI layer
Application
Presentation

Function provided
Network applications such as file transfer and terminal
emulation
Data formatting and encryption

Session

Establishment and maintenance of sessions

Transport

Provision for end-to-end reliable and unreliable delivery

Network

Delivery of packets of information - routing

Data Link

Transfer of units of information, framing,

and error checking

Physical

Transmission of binary data of a medium

TCP/IP Protocol Suite

Evolution of LAN Devices

NICs, Repeaters, & Hubs
Bridges
Switches
Routers

NIC Specifics
NICs provide hosts with access to
media by using a MAC address.
MAC stands for Media Access Control
NICs operate at Layer 2 !!

NICs, Repeaters, & Hubs

The First LAN
NIC

NIC

To connect two computers, you must...

NIC
Install a NIC card in each.
Attach computers using a crossover
cable

NICs, Repeaters, & Hubs

NIC

Repeaters can be
used to increase the
distance

NIC

So
what
can
we
use
if
this
Repeaters
amplify
Whats the maximum
100distance
meters
or
approx.
300
greater
than
100feet
and is
retime
signals
distance meters?
for Cat 5 cable?

NICs, Repeaters, & Hubs

NIC

NIC

Using repeaters was fine as long as a

business only needed two computers
networked.
What if a business
wanted a third computer
NIC
NIC
attached?
Or a fourth? What
device would they
need?

NICs, Repeaters, & Hubs

A multi-port repeater!
Also called a...
NIC

NIC

Hub

NIC

NIC

A Dilemma!

As businesses
expanded their
networks, they began
to cascade hubs.

NIC

NIC

NIC

NIC

Whats The Problem?

1) Hubs share bandwidth between all
attached devices.
2) Hubs are stupid, Layer 1 devices.
They cannot filter traffic.
3) Most LANs use a broadcast
topology, so every device sees every
packet sent down the media.

Lets take a look at how broadcasting work

Broadcasts

In this picture, all hubs

forward all traffic to all
devices.

Broadcasts

So, if Host 1 wants ping Host 2,

all hosts see the ping. This is
what we mean by a broadcast
topology

1
2

The red arrows show that all hosts

receive the ping request. Only Host 2 will

Whats The Solution?

We need a smarter hub!
Whats a smarter hub called?
A Bridge!
Bridges filter network traffic based on
MAC addresses.
Lets take a look at how this works.

Bridge

To lessen the amount of LAN

traffic, businesses began to uses
bridges to filter frames based on
MAC addresses.

Bridge
1
2

Now, if Host 1 pings Host 2, only

the hosts on that LAN segment
see the ping. The bridges stop the
ping.

Switch

A switch (also know as a multiport bridge), can effectively

replace these four bridges.

Switch

Another benefit of a switch is that

each LAN segment gets dedicated
bandwidth.
10 Mbps
10 Mbps
The Cloud

10 Mbps

10 Mbps

10 Mbps

Router

Routers filter traffic based on IP

addresses. The IP address tells the
router which LAN segment the ping
belongs to.

16

Devices Function At Layers

Know These!

Devices Function At Layers

Also know that each
device not only
works at its layer,
but all layers below
it.

Devices Function At Layers

For example, a router
is a layer 3 device
but also uses MAC
addresses (layer 2)
and repeats the
signal (layer 1)

Internet Address Architecture

We will learn:
What network addresses are.
Structure of Internet addresses.

Network (system) address

examples
Traditional surface address
India, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, Banjara Hills

Pin codes
500 034

Telephone numbers
91-40-3394150

Computer memory addresses

Usually linear, but sometimes divided into
smaller units (pages, segments, )
Hardware assist for quickly locating a particular
memory cell from its address.

Network addresses
Network addresses are used to locate
(uniquely identify) communication end-points
(hosts) in a network system.
Address architecture implies network
architecture.
Address space = A set of all possible address
values.
Different layers may have different address
space.

Internet address
Also called as IP address.
Identifies a network interface.
A host may have multiple network interfaces.
Such host is called multi-homed.

32-bit fixed length (4G addressable range).

Often denoted in dotted-decimal format
(Four decimal notation of 8-bit units,
concatenated with period as a separator,
e.g.: 0x9641f211=150.65.242.17).

Internet address architecture

Hierarchical addressing
An IP address contains network-ID and
host-ID with in the network identified by the
network-ID.
Network ID

Host ID
32-bit

Introduction to Routers
Routers are data forwarding devices but operate
differently than a transparent or source route bridge.
Routers separate networks into regions.
Each region is assigned a unique network number.

These network numbers are unique for each network they

are assigned to.
They are not the MAC address.

Packet forwarding is based on these network IDs.

Routers route packets based on a protocol as well as a
network ID.
Most routers today are multi protocol in that one box can
forward different protocol packets.

Routing
Routing is the process by which a router
determines the best path for a packet
and sends it onward on its journey.
The procedure used by a router to
determine the best path and exchange
network reachability information with
other routers is called a routing protocol.

Routers Two Main Functions

Path Determination
Packet Switching

Routers Two Main Functions

Path Determination is the
process of evaluating a packets
destination IP address so that the
router can decide which port to
send out the packet.

Routers Two Main Functions

In Packet Switching, the router reencapsulates the packet in the
protocol needed for the specified
port and then switches the packet
out that port.

Router = host (network station) that

assists in sending/receiving messages
between other networks, on behalf of
the end-stations.
Routing = process used by routers to
deliver packets.

Access Lists
Permit or deny access of packets, into,
out of, or through a router. Used as:
Security filters
Traffic filters
For packet identification

Security Filter
Deny
Permit
Deny

Traffic filter

TCP
UDP
ICMP
RIP

Packet identification