Chapter 1: Introducing Networks

Fax Machines

Objectives

Identify and describe the functions of each of Network Terminology

the seven layers of the OSI reference model
Media
Identify the reasons why the networking
o Coaxial cable
industry uses a layered model
o Fiber-optic cable
Define and explain the conversion steps of
o Wireless
data encapsulation
o Infrared
Define and describe the function of a MAC
o Radio signals
address
Electromagnetic interference (EMI)
Describe connection-oriented network service
Client/Server networks
and connectionless network service, and
o Servers
identify the key differences between them
o Print server
o File server
Introduction To Networking
o Database server
o Remote access server (RAS)
Describes the connection of two of more
o Web server
computers by some type of medium
Client
o Example: A computer connected to the
Peer-to-peer networks
internet over the public telephone
o Acts as client and server
system
o Computers share resources
o Two computer connected by a wire
Files
cable
Printers
o Connections established with
Applications
Fiber-optic cable
o Known as workgroups
Infrared
o All computers are on the same level
Wireless (radio waves)
Terms used to describe the size of a network
o Local Area Network (LAN)
Origins Of Networking
o Wide Area Network (WAN)
o Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Difficult to actually place the origin of
o Storage Area Network (SAN)
networking
Two types of Operating Systems (OS)
Many devices have been networked
o Stand-alone operating systems
throughout history
o Network operating systems
o Example: 1930s electrical engineers
Network operating systems allow
used a Network Analyzer for simulating
o Communication
electrical power grids
o Distribution of:
The earliest main frame computers were
Data
placed into networks
Files
Networks today include a wide variety of
Applications
Network Interface Card (NIC)
computers and peripheral components
o Also known as
Why Do We Use Networks?
Network adapter
Network Card
Sneakernet Networks allow the
Network interface
Efficiency
transfer of
o Connect to a network through the
Necessity Files
media
Convenience
Data
o Considered a physical component
Shared applications
Networks allow computers and users to share
o
o

Printers
Scanners

o
o
o

Processors
Disk drives
Many other

Networking hardware

Generic term for describing all physical

components of a network
o Examples of networking hardware
NIC
Cable Switch
Hub
Router
Networking software
o Programs used to run a network
o Programs used to run on a network
o Examples of programs
NOS
All client/server software programs
Email
Database applications
Virtual Private Networks
o Use public communications infrastructure
to communicate privately
o Inexpensive way to connect remote and
mobile users securely
o Two types
Site-to-site
Remote
o Extranet
o Intranet
o

Each layer receive services from the layer below

Each layer has its own method of data
organization as it passes the data to the layer
below
Data stream
Data encapsulation

Understanding The OSI Model

Networking before Open Systems

Interconnect (OSI)
1984, Networking with the OSI model
o

o
o
o

International Organization for

Standardization (ISO)

Seven-layer network model

Used as a reference model
Layered Functions
An ideal tool for learning how networks
OSI model was developed as an industry standard
function

Reasons For Layering

Layered networking model is advantageous

because
o
o
o
o
o

Divides networking into less complex

components
Enables programmers to specialize in a
particular level
Allows upgrades to a specific layer without
effecting other layers
Encourages interoperability
Allows for standardized interfaces

Physical (Layer 1)

Physical layer has the following responsibilities

o Defines the physical characteristics of
network hardware
Cable
Connectors
Interfaces
o Representation of binary encoding as
voltages
o Transmission of the signal on the medium

Physical layer defines the mechanical, electrical,

and procedural events
o Infrared
Transmission Medium
o Fiber/glass

Peer OSI Communication

Each layer will only communicate with its peer

level
Each layer is unaware of the activities of all other
layers
Each layer provide services to the layer above

Used when developing network hardware and

software
Ensures complete compatibility
OSI model vs. TCP/IP model

o Cable/wire
o Radio waves
Physical layer devices
o Network card ( also Data Link layer)
o Hubs
o Repeaters o Transceivers
o
o Connectors
Encoding schemes o Wall Jacks
o Manchester encoding method
Considerations when choosing cable
o Expense
o Security
o Physical location
o Distance
requirements
o Transmission speed
requirements

Data Link Broadcast messages

Network (Layer 3)
Data Link (Layer 2)

Data Link layer has the following

responsibilities
o NIC software functions
Identification of source and
destination physical addresses
o Definition of how data is package for
transport
o Error notification
CRC, FCS
Data Link sublayers
o Logical Link Control (LLC) layer
Defines how data is packaged
(frames)
Provides the linking function
between the Physical Layer and
the higher layers
o Media Access Control (MAC) layer
Media access method
Provides a unique identifier for the NIC
(Physical address)
Ethernet
CSMA/CD

Network layer has the following

responsibilities
o Software/logical addressing
Depends on Network layer
protocol
o Defines how data is packaged
(Packets)
o Routes data and provides connectivity
o Best path selection
IP, IPX

Transport (Layer 4)

Transport layer has the following

responsibilities
o End-to-end error free transmission and
delivery
o Flow control
o Data segmentation into MTU
o Messaging service for the Sessions Layer
(Layer 5)
Connection-oriented (TCP)
Connectionless (UDP)

Session (Layer 5)

Session layer has the following

responsibilities
o Control for data exchange
o Data synchronization
o Failure recovery
o Communication setup and teardown
Enables two applications to have an
ongoing conversation or dialog
Ability to interrupt and recover as session
SQL, RPC, X-Windows

Presentation (Layer 6)

Presentation has the following

responsibilities
o Data translation
o Data formatting
o Data syntax restructuring
o Data encryption
o Data compression
BMP, WAV, JPEG, MIDI, HTML, ASCII

Application (Layer 7)

Application has the following responsibilities

o Initiate request for network services
o Provides network services to applications
such as e-mail and Web browsers
Protocols and utilities
o Telnet
o SMTP
o FTP
o SNMP
o DNS

Summary

Data Encapsulation

Protocol data unit (PDU)

Headers and trailers
OSI encapsulation
o Data stream
o Segments o Frames
o Bits
o Packets

Two or more computers connected by media

form a network
Computers can use a network to share
resources such as printers, disk space, and
applications
Before computers were networked, file
transfers were usually conducted by users
physically walking copies of data (on floppy
disk or other magnetic media) to another
computer, a system called sneakernet
The earliest networks had no standardization,
so interoperability between the various
proprietary network implementations was rare
The ISO developed the OSI model in the mid1980s to standardize networking models
Data transmission can be connection-oriented
or connectionless
Connection-oriented transmission requires that
packets be acknowledged as received
Connectionless transmission does not require
acknowledgments
The OSI networking model has seven layers,
which simplify the networking model by
dividing it into less complex components

This layering allows engineers to specialize in

specific layers, and the modularity allows them
to upgrade components at one layer without
affecting other layers

The layered model also encourages

interoperability among the various networking
vendors by providing them with a standard
architecture

The Physical layer, the first and lowest layer of

the OSI model, handles the physical
transmission of data across the network

The Data Link layer, the second layer of the

OSI model, interacts with the networking
hardware by controlling the link and supporting
communications with the network interface;
this layer also interacts with the MAC address

The Network layer, the third layer of the OSI

model, supports logical addressing and routing
of data packets

The Transport layer, the fourth layer, segments

and optimizes data that is to be sent out on the
network

The Session layer, the fifth layer, establishes

and maintains connections between computers
during data transfers

The Presentation layer, the sixth layer, handles

data translation, encryption, and formatting for
transmission on the network or for
interpretation by the Application layer

The Application layer, the seventh and highest

layer, handles the interface between the
network and the user

When the network user sends data to the

network, it goes through a five-step data
encapsulation process

This process takes place as the data packet

travels down the OSI protocol stack