SS3 FIRST TERM ICT NOTE

WEEK ONE
NETWORKING
DEFINITION OF A NETWORK
A computer network often simply refers to as a network, is a collection of computers and device
interconnected by communication channels that facilitates communication among users and allow users
to share resources. A computer network allows sharing of resources and information among
interconnected device.

Network exists for one major reason: to share information and resources.

Types of Networks

The types of networks covered here are:

1. Arc net
2. Token ring
3. Ethernet

ARCNET

Arc net (an acronym from Attached Resource Computer Network) is a star LAN (Local Area Network)
topology network.

Arc net was the first widely available networking system for microcomputers and became popular in the
1980s in the office automation tasks. ARCNET was developed by John Murphy at Data point corporation
in 1976. STAR (ARCNET)
TOKEN RING

Token ring (local area network) LAN technology is a ring topology network.

It uses a special three-byte frame called a token ring that travels around the ring. Physically, when
implemented, the computers are connected through cables to a “HUB”.

It is the hub that manages the network in a ring topology manner. An example of a token ring network is
IBM token ring.

ETHERNET

Ethernet is a bus topology LAN network system. Ethernet LAN users coaxial or twisted pair cables to
connect computer systems.
 NETWORK TOPOLOGY
In computing, topology refers to the layout of connected devices. There are two types of network
topology, a physical topology and a logical topology.

The physical topology of a network refers to the layout of the cables and network devices; and logical
topology refers to the method of communication of the network devices.

Network topology are categorized into the following basic types.

➢ Star topology
➢ Bus topology
➢ Ring topology

Star topology

This is Star Topology, In a star topology, the network devices are connected to a central point like
a STAR. The central point may be Hub, Switch or a router. All the individual network is
communicated with the central point. Thus, once the hub fails, the whole network is grounded but
if any other network devices fail, the network will still be operating without the failed device.
Also, the star topology requires more cables because cables are laid from all the network device to
the hub.
A star topology is designed with each node (file server, workstations and peripherals) connected
directly to a central network hub, switch or connector.
Data on a star network passes through the hub, switch or connector manages and control all
functions of the network.
It also acts as a repeater for the data flow. This configuration is common with twisted pair cable,
coaxial cable or fiber optic cable. An example of star network is the ARCNET.

BUS TOPOLOGY
Bus Topology uses a common backbone (a Cable) to connect all devices. The backbone is a shared
communication medium that all devices are attached or connected. A device wanting to
communicate with another device on the network sends a broadcast message onto the wire that all
other device sees, but only the intended recipient actually accepts and processes the message.
It works with a limited number of devices but if the backbone cable fails, the entire network fails.
Also, if any of the devices are down, the network fails. E.g. Ethernet.

RING TOPOLOGY
In a ring network, all the network devices are connected together in a ring form. That is every device
has exactly two neighbours for communication purposes. All messages travel through a ring in the
same direction. A failure in any cable or device breaks the loop and can shut down the entire
network. E.g IBM token ring
 NETWORK DEVICES

The common network devices are:

The Hub, the network interface card, the switch, the router, the modem etc.
1. The Hub
A hub is a device that connects all the other devices in a star network together. Every device in the
network connects directly to the hub through a single cable.
The hub receives a message from a device and broadcast it to all the other devices in the network
and monitors it for collision to the destination.
Due to the fact that the hub broadcast messages, any message sent by the hub is received by all the
devices because the hub is not able to identify the device that owns the message. This is the reason
why; people say the hub is not intelligent.
2. Modems
Modem is an acronym for modulator/demodulator; it is a device that can convert a digital data to
an analog data and vice versa.
The most familiar example is a voice band modem that turns the digital data of a personal computer
into modulated electrical signals in the voice frequency range of a telephone channel.
These signals can be transmitted over telephone lines and demodulated by another modem at the
receiver side to recover the digital data.

3. Switches
A switch is a device that channels incoming data from any of network device to the specific device
that is the destination of the data.
Unlike the hub, the switch is intelligent because it does not broadcast but channels the data to the
specific destination.

4. Bridge
A bridge is a device that connects two similar networks together. A bridge will connect/join two
ring networks together or two-star networks together. It could connect many similar networks
together.
5. Routers
A router is a network device that connects two or more dissimilar networks together. For example,
a router can connect a ring network with a star network, a wireless network and a cable network,
a LAN with a WAN and so on.

6. A Network Interface Card (NIC)/ Network interface controller/network (LAN) adapter

A network interface is a computer hardware component that connects a computer to a computer
network.
A network interface controller (also known as a network interface card, network adapter, LAN adapter
and by similar terms) is a computer hardware component that connects a computer to a computer
network.

BENEFITS OF COMPUTER NETWORKING

Benefits of Computer Networking
1. Helps to enhance connectivity:
Networks connects and link unlimited number of computers. This in turn connects the
people using those computers. Individuals within a work group are connected through local
area networks.
These connectors ease out communication between people using technologies like E.Mails.
2. Networking helps in sharing of hardware resources
 Network helps in sharing of different kinds of hardware devices. For example, a single
printer can be shared by many staff in an office. This saves a lot of cost.
3. Eases out management of data
Networking provides the advantage of centralization of data from all the user system to
one system where it can be managed in an easy and better way.

4. Internet:
Internect is a network that connects different people in different parts of the world.
Therefore it gives room to connect people in different parts of the world. It allows people
to communicate and share resources across the globe.

5. Data Sharing:
It also help in data sharing where it facilitates the use of applications like databases that are
based on ability of many individuals to access and share exactly the same data. Sharing of
data through the use of networks helps saves a lot of time and energy.

6. Networking promotes games:

It promotes game where players all over the world using common servers play with one
another. Like many internet games.