A Guide to Hardware, 4e

1
A Guide to Hardware, 4e

• Chapter 10
• PCs on a Network

2
Objectives

• Learn about different types of physical network
  architectures
• Learn how networking works with Windows
• Learn how to install a network card and connect
  to a network
• Learn how to set up and secure a wireless network
• Learn about troubleshooting tools and tips for
  network connections

3
Introduction

• Topics covered in this chapter
• Technologies used to build networks
• How Windows supports a network connection
• How to connect a computer to a network
• How switches and routers interface networks
• How to setup and secure a wireless network
• How to troubleshoot a network connection

4
Physical Network Architectures

• Elements providing an overview of networks
• The different sizes of networks
• The different technologies used by networks
• Some networking terms
• Network types commonly encountered
• Ethernet
• Wireless networks
• Telephone networks
• Mostly outdated token ring and FDDI networks

5
Sizes of Networks

• A network links two or more computers
• PAN (personal area network)
• Consists of personal devices at close range
• LAN (local area network)
• Covers a small local area such as a home, or
  office
• MAN (metropolitan area network)
• Covers a large campus or city
• WAN (wide area network)
• Covers a large geographical area e.g., the
  Internet

6
Networking Technologies

• Factors driving network evolution
• The type of data the network is intended to
  support
• The data capacity on the network
• How a network is to fit among other networks
• Bandwidth (data throughput or line speed)
• Analog systems measured in cycles/sec (hertz or
  Hz)
• Digital systems measured in bps, Kbps, or Mbps
• As networks grow, the need for bandwidth grows

7
Additional Terms Used in Networking

• Node (host) one device on a network e.g.,
  server
• Network adapter interfaces a PC with a network
• Network interface card (NIC) fits in a PCI slot
• Adapter (MAC, physical, or hardware) address
• 48-bit (6-byte) id number hard-coded on card
• Example 00-0C-6E-4E-AB-A5
• Network protocols rules of communication
• Packets (datagrams or frames)
• Basic unit of data transmitted on a network

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Figure 10-1 Ethernet network card showing its MAC
address
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Introducing Ethernet

• Ethernet types (categorized by speed)
• 10-Mbps Ethernet
• 100-Mbps or Fast Ethernet
• 1000-Mbps or Gigabit Ethernet
• 10-Gigabit Ethernet
• Types of cabling used
• Two kinds of twisted-pair
• Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) four pairs of
  twisted wire
• Shielded twisted pair (STP) protected from EMI
• Coaxial cable single copper wire with braided
  shield
• Fiber-optic glass strands inside protective
  tubing

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Table 10-2 Variations of Ethernet and Ethernet
cabling
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Figure 10-4 Fiber-optic cables contain a glass
core for transmitting light
12
Introducing Ethernet (continued)

• Topology arrangement of nodes in a network
• Bus topology connects all nodes with a line (no
  hub)
• Star topology
• Connects nodes to central hub (or switch)
• The hub broadcasts a data packet to every device
• Switch uses a table to route packet to receiving
  device
• Scale networks by adding switches
• Star bus topology
• Multiple switches form a bus network
• Nodes connected to each switch form a star

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Figure 10-6 Nodes on an Ethernet network can be
connected to one another in a star or bus
formation
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Figure 10-10 A star bus network uses more than
one switch
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Introducing Ethernet (continued)

• Attenuation the weakening of a transmitted
  signal
• Repeater device used to amplify a signal in a
  LAN
• Amplifier repeater simply amplifies incoming
  signal
• Signal-regenerating repeater
• Reads and copies the signal (without noise)
• Transmits an exact duplicate of the original
• Ethernet uses a signal-regenerating repeater
• A switch or hub can act as the repeater

16
Quick Quiz 1

• 1. A(n) ____________________, such as the
  Internet, covers a large geographical area and is
  made up of many smaller networks.
• Answer WAN (wide area network)
• 2. ____________________ cables transmit signals
  as pulses of light over glass strands inside
  protected tubing.
• Answer Fiber-optic
• 3. A(n) ____________________ is a device that
  amplifies signals on a network.
• Answer repeater
• 4. All wireless phone systems, including
  cellular, use ____________________ transmission,
  which means both persons in a conversation can
  talk or transmit at the same time.
• Answer full-duplex

17
Figure 10-14 A repeater on a network restores the
clarity of the signal, which degrades over a
distance because of attenuation
18
Wireless Networks

• Use radio waves or infrared light to connect PCs
• Popular in places where cables are difficult to
  install
• 802.11wireless (Wi-Fi or Wireless Fidelity)
• Types 802.11g (most popular), 802.11b, 802.11a
• Two new standards 802.11k and 802.11r
• Ad hoc mode directly links two wireless devices
• Access point (AP) connects wireless device to
  LAN
• WiMAX (802.16 Wireless/802.16d and 802.16e)
• Used in public hot spots and as a last mile
  solution
• Bluetooth short range standard e.g., optical
  mouse

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Figure 10-16 Nodes on a wireless LAN connect to a
cabled network by way of an access point
20
Telephone Networks

• Plain old telephone service (POTS)
• Switching creates closed circuits between phones
• VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
• Uses packets of data to communicate
• Cellular WAN
• Made up cells created by base stations
• Cellular WAN standards
• GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications)
• CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access)
• TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access)

21
Figure 10-20 A cellular WAN is made up of many
cells that provide coverage over a wide area
22
Telephone Networks (continued)

• General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)
• New communication protocol using data packets
• Two types of transmission
• Full-duplex allows both users to talk and
  transmit
• Half-duplex allows only one user on a channel
• Satellite phone communicates with satellites
• Cordless phone communicates with phone base
• Radio phone uses VHF radio waves

23
Token Ring and FDDI

• Token Ring is physically a star, logically a ring
• Components of a token ring
• Controlled Access Unit (CAU)
• Multistation Access Unit (MSAU or MAU)
• Token Ring LAN card connecting node to MSAU
• UTP or STP cables with two twisted pairs
• RJ-45 or Universal Data Connector (UDC)
• Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI)
• Uses a token that travels in a ring like a Token
  Ring
• Data frames travel on the ring without the token

24
Figure 10-21 Full-duplex and half-duplex
transmissions
25
Windows on a Network

• Major software components on a network
• An operating system installed on each PC
• Network operating system (NOS) for larger
  networks
• Peer-to-peer network (workgroup)
• Each PC has the same authority on the network
• Client/server model (domain)
• Access to network resources controlled by an NOS
• Server is called a domain controller
• A few network operating systems
• Windows 2003 Server, Novell NetWare, Linux

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Four Suites of Protocols

• TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet
  Protocol)
• Primary protocol used on the Internet
• IPX/SPX (Internetwork Packet Exchange/Sequenced
  Packet Exchange)
• Designed for use with Novell NetWare
• NetBEUI (NetBIOS Extended User Interface)
• Supports NetBIOS (Network Basic Input/Output
  System)
• AppleTalk
• Proprietary networking protocol suite for Macs

27
Figure 10-25 An operating system can use more
than one method to address a computer on the
network, but at the network level, a MAC address
is always used to address a device on the network
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Four Suites of Protocols (continued)

• Using a protocol on the network
• Install a NIC card in the computer
• Connect network cable to network device e.g., a
  switch
• NIC card binds to higher level protocol e.g.,
  TCP/IP
• How to identify which protocols are used in
  Windows
• Look at the properties of a network connection
• More than one OS protocol can be used on a
  network
• New protocols may be installed
• Network printers can be accessed in various ways

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Figure 10-26 Three Windows XP network protocols
are installed and two protocols are bound to this
network card
30
Addressing on a Network

• Four methods used to identify devices and
  programs
• Using a MAC address
• Using an IP address
• Using character-based names (host, domain,
  NetBIOS)
• Using a Port address
• IP addresses
• Used in TCP/IP to identify any device on the
  network
• 4 bytes (octets) separated by dots e.g.,
  190.180.40.120
• System allows for up to 4.3 billion IP addresses
• First part identifies network, last part
  identifies host

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Figure 10-27 Computers on the same LAN use MAC
addresses to communicate, but computers on
different LANs use IP addresses to communicate
over the Internet
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Installing a NIC and Connecting to a Network

• Components needed to connect a PC to a network
• NIC and network port or wireless NIC card in the
  PC
• Patch cable
• Device for the PC to connect to, such as a router
• NIC card selection criteria
• NIC should match type of bus on motherboard
• NIC should match speed and type of network
• Wireless NIC should match network technology

33
Installing a NIC Using Windows 2000/XP

• Overview of installation steps
• Determine whether driver or NIC is installed
  first
• If NIC precedes driver, install NIC and turn on
  PC
• Follow instructions in Found New Hardware Wizard
• Verify driver installation using the Device
  Manager
• Update the driver if necessary
• Connect patch cable to NIC port and network
  switch
• Configuring Windows 2000/XP to use a network
• Name computer in System Properties dialog box

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Figure 10-32 Windows XP uses the Computer Name
Changes dialog box to assign a host name to a
computer on a network
35
Installing a NIC Using Windows 2000/XP (continued)

• Questions to ask before configuring TCP/IP
• Will the PC use dynamic or static IP addressing?
• What are the IP address, subnet mask, default
  gateway?
• A question to ask if static IP addressing is used
• Do you use DNS?
• If so, what are the IP addresses of your DNS
  servers?
• Is a proxy server used to connect to other
  networks?
• If so, what is the IP address of the proxy
  server?
• Gateway device that connects two networks

36
Quick Quiz 2

• 1. A(n) ____________________ computer provides a
  user ID and password to a server that validates
  the data against the security database.
• Answer client
• 2. A(n) ____________________ name is a name of a
  network.
• Answer domain
• 3. A(n) ____________________ is a computer or
  other device that allows a computer on one
  network to communicate with a computer on another
  network.
• Answer gateway

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Installing a NIC Using Windows 2000/XP (continued)

• Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog box
• Used to configure TCP/IP under Windows XP
• Dialog opened from Properties of Local Area
  Connection
• NWLink or NetBEUI protocol
• Used for network communication (excluding the
  Internet)
• Can be used in combination with TCP/IP
• Installed from Properties of Local Area
  Connection

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Figure 10-34 To configure TCP/IP under Windows
XP, use the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties
dialog box
39
Installing a NIC Using Windows 9x/Me

• Overview of installation steps
• Physically install the NIC and turn on the PC
• Follow instructions of the Wizard
• Verify the installation using Device Manager
• Assigning a computer name
• Access Identification tab in Network dialog box
• Enter names of computer and workgroup
• Verify assignment in Network Neighborhood window
• Installing and configuring TCP/IP using Windows
  98
• Use functions in the Network window

40
Figure 10-40 To configure TCP/IP in Windows 98,
select the binding and click Properties to view
the TCP/IP Properties dialog box
41
Installing a Wireless Adapter in a Notebook

• Wireless adapter uses a USB port or PC Card slot
• Installation package includes a CD and
  accessories
• Overview of steps for installing a Linksys
  adapter
• Install the software from the setup CD
• Plug the wireless adapter into a USB port
• Launch Found New Hardware and follow instructions
• Managing the issue of an unsigned driver
• Find approved driver or continue installation
• Deciding which installation utility to use
• Choose manufacturers utility over Windows XPs

42
Figure 10-45 Plug the wireless USB adapter into
the USB port
43
Installing a Wireless Adapter in a Notebook
(continued)

• Information displayed about a current connection
• MAC address of access point device used by
  adapter
• The current channel the connection is using
• Transfer rate, throughput, link quality, signal
  strength
• Configuration changes you can make
• Mode or network type
• The SSID (service set identifier)
• Encryption settings
• Tx rate
• TCP/IP configuration

44
Figure 10-49 Opening screen to configure a
Linksys wireless adapter
45
Installing a Wireless Adapter in a Notebook
(continued)

• Connecting to a public hot spot using Windows XP
• Open Wireless Network Connection dialog box
• Select unsecured network from list and click
  Connect
• Open a browser to test the connection
• View link in Wireless Network Connection Status
  box
• Two ways to troubleshoot a connection
• Add network SSID in Wireless network properties
• Provide MAC address to network administrator

46
Figure 10-57 Enter the SSID of a hot spot to
which you want to connect
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How to Set Up Your Own Wireless Network

• Two principal steps
• Buy a wireless access point
• Configure AP and wireless PC for communication
• Providing security is critical for a successful
  network

48
Security on a Wireless LAN

• Methods for securing a wireless connection
• Disable SSID broadcasting
• Filter MAC addresses
• Data encryption e.g., WPA (WiFi Protected
  Access)
• Change firmware default settings
• Update firmware
• Use a firewall
• Virtual private network (VPN)

49
Figure 10-60 With tunneling, packets can travel
over a wireless LAN and the Internet in a virtual
private network (VPN), but WEP or WPA applies
only to the wireless connection
50
Choosing a Wireless Access Point

• Selection criteria
• The ability to use multiple security measures
• Supports for the 802.11 b/g wireless standards
• Good hardware reviews from other users
• An access point can be a standalone device
• An access point can also serve multiple purposes

51
Quick Quiz 3

• 1. ____________________for Microsoft Networks is
  the Windows component that allows you to use
  resources on the network made available by other
  computers.
• Answer Client
• 2. A network drive ____________________ is one of
  the most powerful and versatile methods of
  communicating over a network.
• Answer map
• 3. A VPN (virtual private network) uses a
  technique called ____________________, in which a
  packet of data is encrypted.
• Answer tunneling
• 4. A ferrite ____________________ installed close
  to the device end of the cable protects against
  electrical interference.
• Answer clamp

52
Configure and Test Your Wireless Network

• Installing the hardware
• Position device and plug it in
• Connect the device using a network or USB cable
• Access point configuration is saved on firmware
• Configuring the access point
• Change default password to the administrative
  utility
• Select basic wireless settings, such as the
  channel
• Set up data encryption
• Choose whether to filter MAC addresses
• Save the settings and test the connection

53
Figure 10-65 This wireless access point supports
several encryption methods
54
Troubleshooting a Network Connection

• Some symptoms indicating a faulty NIC
• You cannot make a connection to the network.
• My Network Places does not show any other PCs
• An error message displays during driver
  installation
• Displaying TCP/IP connection information
• Use Ipconfig under Windows 2000/XP
• Use Winipcfg under Windows 9x/Me
• Ping (Packet Internet Groper) diagnostic tool
• Sends a signal to a remote computer
• If remote PC is online and senses signal, it
  responds

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Summary

• Network system interconnecting two or more PCs
• Basic network types PANs, LANs, MANs, and WANs
• Bandwidth amount of data transmitted per unit
  time
• Ethernet topologies bus, star, star bus
• Wireless standards 802.11g/b/a/k/r, WiMAX,
  Bluetooth

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Summary (continued)

• Telephone technologies POTS, VoIP, Cellular WAN,
  satellite phone, cordless phone, and radio phone
• OS level protocols TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, Net BEUI,
  AppleTalk
• IP address 32-bit address identifying network
  node
• Local Area Connection dialog box used to install
  and modify communication protocols