Introduction to Networking
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1Lesson 1: Introduction to Networking Objectives By the end of this lesson, you will be able to: 3.1.1: Define basic data and telephony network concepts, including convergence, Voice over IP (VoIP), AC/DC requirements for telephony and data equipment. 3.1.3: Identify basic network topologies. 3.1.4: Define the Open Systems Interconnection reference model (OSI/RM) in terms of packet creation. 3.1.5: Define the nature, purpose and operation essentials of Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). 3.1.6: Define local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN). 3.1.8: Identify the components of a Network Operations Center (NOC). 3.1.9: Compare and contrast server-based networks and peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, and provide examples of each. 3.1.10: Distinguish between distributed architectures and database models, such as Hadoop and SQL. 1-2 Network Technology Associate Pre-Assessment Questions 1. Which network topology provides multiple communication paths so that an alternative path may be used if a connection fails? a. Ring b. Bus c. Star d. Mesh 2. What type of network is typically implemented at a given location for internal communication and data storage? a. WAN b. Ethernet c. LAN d. VoIP 3. A packet consists of what three elements? © 2014 Certification Partners, LLC. — All Rights Reserved. Version 2.1 Lesson 1: Introduction to Networking 1-3 Overview of Networks and Protocols A network can be defined as two or more connected computers that share data by way of a transport medium. This configuration can include a small business network in one room, two smartphones that communicate by means of a wireless network, or a global network such as the Internet that connects millions of users. Networks have become extremely popular because they allow users to share data quickly. In the past, users had to place files on a floppy disk or print them, and deliver them to the destination in person or by mail. Networks allow information to be distributed easily and quickly through a system of protocols, cables and other hardware. Local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs) are the basis of networking and internetworking. The two systems can work together to allow companies to transmit data internally and externally. In this lesson, you will learn about networking basics, network protocols, and LANs and WANs. ® CIW Online Resources – Movie Clips Visit CIW Online at http://education.Certification-Partners.com/CIW to watch a movie clip about this topic. Lesson 1: Introduction to Networking OBJECTIVE 3.1.1: Convergence networks Telephony and Convergence Networking Before examining specific types of computer networks, we will turn our attention to one of NOTE: the oldest existing networks — the public switched telephone network (PSTN). The PSTN Watch the "Warriors of the Net" video, has connected millions of users for decades, and remains a cornerstone in located at internetworking today. In the following sections, we will discuss how the PSTN and data www.warriorsofthe. net, at least once networks have been combined to create convergence networks that enable unified during the first two communications. lessons of this course. The video explains how the Traditional telephone network Internet works. It is available in various Since the inception of the telephone, voice has been carried over circuit-switched resolutions and connections of the PSTN. Originally, all phone service was analog. Today, however, the languages. network is entirely digital except for the portion that extends from the central office of the local telephone company to the user. Typically, to exchange data over the public telephone network using a dial-up connection, a modem is necessary. A modem (modulator/demodulator) is a device that translates, or modulates, a digital signal coming from your computer into an analog signal that can be carried over the phone line. A modem attached to the receiving computer demodulates the analog signal back into a digital one. Today, the PSTN is a hybrid network. A telephone user initiates a call from a land line using analog technology. The signal is then converted into a digital signal at the central office, and this digital signal is sent across a major portion of the telephone network. As necessary, signals are converted back into analog at the central office, to which the destination telephone is linked. © 2014 Certification Partners, LLC. — All Rights Reserved. Version 2.1 1-4 Network Technology Associate Internet Service The PSTN is still an integral part of the Internet infrastructure because it furnishes most Provider (ISP) An organization that of the long-distance connections. Most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) pay long- maintains a distance providers for access to telephone lines. gateway to the Internet and rents access to customers IP telephony and Voice over IP (VoIP) on a per-use or subscription basis. Internet Protocol (IP) telephony is a technology that uses packet-switched connections to exchange voice, fax and other forms of data that were previously carried on circuit- switched connections. (You will learn about packets later in this lesson.) IP telephony uses an Internet connection and hardware (e.g., IP phones) or software installed on personal computers (e.g., soft phones) to transmit the voice data as data packets over shared lines. IP telephony enables users to avoid the tolls charged on telephone company lines because most ISPs absorb this cost. Voice over IP (VoIP) Voice over IP (VoIP) involves the use of a data network to deliver voice information, A technology that converts voice into instead of the traditional circuit-switched lines of the PSTN. Most local and long-distance data packets for providers, cable TV companies and ISPs now offer IP telephony services. Many companies transmission over a also use VoIP solutions rather than traditional voice services in order to provide more packet-switched IP network. Allows the services. The term convergence technology is often used to describe the combination of use of the Internet voice, video and data all on one data network. for real-time voice and video traffic. Power requirements Computer equipment runs on direct current (DC) power, whereas the voltage coming out of a wall socket is an alternating current (AC). An AC signal consists of a series of pulses (voltage changes) at a fixed frequency. A DC signal encounters no voltage changes; current is either on or off. At some point, the AC line voltage must be converted into appropriate DC voltages. This conversion from AC to DC is accomplished by the computer's power supply. Electronic devices must be supplied the correct voltage in order to operate. If the correct voltage is not present, the device will not operate properly and may be physically damaged. Each device will also have an associated power requirement. The computer's power supply is designed to provide sufficient power for the system. However, it is important to remember that extra devices you add to the computer — such as extra hard drives or an additional optical drive, upgraded CPU or advanced video adapter — will require additional power. Today, many devices that are connected to a PC are designed to tap into the PC for power requirements, including smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, USB drives, VoIP phones and a host of others devices. It is important to understand the maximum load that the PC's power supply can handle and determine when it may be time to upgrade the power supply to avoid any issues. A typical guideline when investigating a new power supply is to calculate the total power requirements in watts for the devices in the computer, then add 30 percent. That should cover all power requirements needed for the computer. uninterruptible It is also important that some emergency power source, such as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) power supply (UPS), be available in case of an emergency. Without the availability of an A device that contains a battery emergency power source, an IP telephone's components (and those of any other device to provide power that relies on a computer's power supply) will cease to function during a power outage. during a power outage. Traditional phones connected to the PSTN do not experience this problem because they are powered by the telephone company's battery supply, which will continue to function during a power outage. © 2014 Certification Partners, LLC. — All Rights Reserved. Version 2.1 Lesson 1: Introduction to Networking 1-5 unified Unified communications (UC) communications Convergence has given rise to unified communications (UC), in which voice can be (UC) A business trend converted into text and vice versa. Your e-mail inbox is capable of receiving faxes, even if that seeks to simplify they are sent via a traditional fax machine. Your e-mail inbox can also receive voice mail and integrate all recordings. Unified communications technology seeks to eliminate communication forms of communication. latency (the amount of time between the moments when any form of communication is Also, a set of sent and received) as much as possible to make communication more efficient. technologies that enable voice to be converted into text, Presencing and mobile communication and vice versa. Presencing is the ability for devices to automatically track and report your location and availability. For example, when a user signs in to an instant messaging (IM) service, his presencing The ability for a status (e.g., online) is advertised (or published) to the people on his contacts list. A user's device to presence information, or presence state, is provided to a presence service via a network automatically track and report the user's connection. Presencing requires collaboration among a number of devices (for example, location and mobile phone, electronic calendar, IM client, GPS) and the presence services with which availability.