The Basics of Computing

1
Chapter 1

• The Basics of Computing

2
There are three reasons why it is important to be
able to recognize and name the major components
of a PC.

• Computers are important network-building devices
• Many devices are themselves special-purpose
  computers
• You may need to occasionally troubleshoot simple
  problems in you computers hardware and software

3
Information Flow

• Information and electric power are constantly
  flowing in a computer.
• Outgoing or exported information flows from RAM
  and the CPU, through the bus and expansion slots,
  to the printer, video card, sound card, or
  network card (NIC).

4
Network Interface Card NIC

• Also called a LAN adapter
• It is a printed circuit board that provides
  network communication
• It plugs into a motherboard provides a port for
  network connection

5
Things to consider when you select a NIC

• The type of network (Ethernet, token ring,
  FDDI,.)
• Type of media (twisted-pair, coaxial, fiber-optic
  cable)
• Type of system bus (PCI and ISA)

6
Here are some possible situations that may
require you to install a NIC.

• Adding a NIC to a computer that does not already
  have one
• Replacing a bad or damaged NIC
• Upgrading from a 10 Mbps card to a 10/100 Mbps
  card

7
PC Components Versus Laptop Components

• The main difference is that components in a
  laptop are smaller the expansion slots become
  PCMCIA slots, where NICs, modems, hard drives and
  other useful devices can be inserted into the
  slots along the perimeter (usually the size of a
  thick credit card).

8
After you have set up the PC hardware you must
configure its software. In order to be able to
view the curriculum you must complete the
following tasks

• Select the NIC
• Set the correct IP address
• Adjust the display (if necessary)
• Install and set up the browser
• Perform a few other task (if necessary)

9
Connecting to a Network Configuring TCP/IP
Settings

• In order for a PC to be part of a network, you
  must connect it to the network and configure a
  protocol for it to communicate with the rest of
  the network.
• To configure the TCP/IP settings, click on the
  Start button and select Settings. Then go to the
  Control Panel and double click on the Network
  icon.

10
Configuring TCP/IP
To begin, double click on the TCP/IP icon or
click on it once and then click on Properties
11
Configuring TCP/IP
Click on the IP Address tab. This will allow
you to enter the IP Address Subnet Mask for the
workstation.
12
Configuring TCP/IP
You may need to set a Gateway also, if so, click
on the Gateway tab. Type in the new gateway and
click Add.
13
Troubleshooting

• In trouble shooting a computer it is important to
  look at the following
• Hardware
• Software
• Network connection
• User

14
Computer Networks

• A network is an intricately connected system of
  objects or people. Networks are all around us,
  even inside us. Your own nervous system and
  cardiovascular system are networks.
• A group of two or more computer systems linked
  together.
• A network allows computers anywhere in the world
  to be able to communicate with each other.
• It also makes it possible for different types of
  computers to communicate. (Macintosh, PC, or
  Mainframe)
• The two major types of computer networks are
• LANs (Local Area Networks)
• WANs (Wide Area Networks)

15
Protocols

• A set of rules and conventions that govern how
  devices on a network exchange information.
• An agreed-upon format for transmitting data
  between two devices. The protocol determines
• the type of error checking to be used
• data compression method, if any
• how the sending device will indicate that it has
  finished sending a message
• how the receiving device will indicate that it
  has received a message
• In order for computers on a network to directly
  communicate with each other they must have a
  common protocol.

16
Why Network Computers?
Networking Computers
Networking a variety of networks together was
difficult in the mid 1980s, because emerging
network technologies used different hardware and
software specifications.

• To avoid duplication of equipment and resources
• To communicate efficiently

17
LANs

• Consist of computers, network interface cards
  (NIC), networking media, network traffic control
  devices, and peripheral devices.
• Usually located in a single building or campus
  and handles interoffice communications (limited
  geographic area).
• Connect physically adjacent devices
• Make it possible for businesses to share, files,
  printers, be able to communicate more
  efficiently.
• LANs are capable of transmitting data at very
  fast rates

18
WANs

• Interconnected LANs, which then provide access to
  computers or file servers in other locations.
• Connect users over a large geographical area
  (cities, countries, continents) .
• Provide full and part-time connectivity
• Allow access to the Internet
• Often connected through public networks, such as
  the telephone system. They can also be connected
  through leased lines or satellites.
• The largest WAN in existence is the Internet.

19
Binary Digits (bits)

• Computers can only understand and process data
  that is in a binary format (0s and 1s).
• Bits are either 0s or 1s.
• Bits are represented in a computer by the
  presence of absence of electrical patterns.
• binary 0 might be represented by 0 volts of
  electricity
• binary 1 might be represented by 5 volts of
  electricity
• A group of 8 bits equals 1 byte

20
Numbering Systems

• Decimal (base 10)
• uses 10 symbols
• 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
• Binary (base 2)
• uses 2 symbols
• 0, 1
• Hexadecimal (base 16)
• uses 16 symbols
• 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F

21
Numbering Systems
Base 10
22
Binary Counting
Binary
Decimal
Binary
Decimal
0
1101
1
1110
10
1111
11
10000
100
10001
101
10010
110
10011
111
10100
1000
10101
1001
10110
1010
10111
1011
11000
1100
11001
23
Decimal to Binary ConversionMethod 1
Convert the decimal number 192 into a binary
number. 192/2 96 with a remainder of
0 96/2 48 with a remainder of 0 48/2
24 with a remainder of 0 24/2 12 with a
remainder of 0 12/2 6 with a remainder of
0 6/2 3 with a remainder of 0 3/2 1
with a remainder of 1 1/2 0 with a
remainder of 1 Write down all the remainders,
backwards, and you have the binary number
11000000.
24
Decimal to Binary ConversionMethod 1
Convert the decimal number 235 into a binary
number. 235/2 117 with a remainder of
1 117/2 58 with a remainder of 1 58/2
29 with a remainder of 0 29/2 14 with a
remainder of 1 14/2 7 with a remainder of
0 7/2 3 with a remainder of 1 3/2 1
with a remainder of 1 1/2 0 with a
remainder of 1 Write down all the remainders,
backwards, and you have the binary number
11101011.
25
Decimal to Binary ConversionMethod 2
Convert the decimal number 192 into a binary
number. First find the largest number that is a
power of 2 that you can subtract from the
original number. Repeat the process until there
is nothing left to subtract. 192-128 64
128s used 1 64-64 0 64s used 1
32s used 0 16s used 0
8s used 0 4s used 0 2s
used 0 1s used 0 Write down the 0s
1s from top to bottom, and you have the binary
number 11000000.
26
Decimal to Binary ConversionMethod 2
Convert the decimal number 213 into a binary
number. First find the largest number that is a
power of 2 that you can subtract from the
original number. Repeat the process until there
is nothing left to subtract. 213-128 85 128s
used 1 85-64 21 64s used 1 (32 cannot
be subtracted from 21) 32s used 0
21-16 5 16s used 1 (8 cannot be
subtracted from 5) 8s used 0
5-4 1 4s used 1 (2 cannot be
subtracted from 1) 2s used 0
1-1 0 1s used 1 Write down the 0s
1s from top to bottom, and you have the binary
number 11010101.
27
Binary to Decimal ConversionMethod 1
From right to left, write the values of the
powers of 2 above each binary number. Then add
up the values where a 1 exist.
128 32 16 4 1 181
28
Binary to Decimal ConversionMethod 1
From right to left, write the values of the
powers of 2 above each binary number. Then add
up the values where a 1 exist.
128 64 16 8 4 220
29
Binary to Decimal ConversionMethod 2

• Start from the left with the first 1 in the
  binary number. Write down a 1 below it.
• Then look at the next number to the right
• if it is a 0, double the previous number and
  write it down
• if it is a 1, double the previous number and add
  1 to it, then write it down
• Continue this until you reach the last 0 or 1 in
  the binary number.
• The last number you write down is the decimal
  equivalent of the binary number.

1
3
6
13
30
Binary to Decimal ConversionMethod 2
Binary place value
Binary number
1
3
6
13
26
Conversion
Binary place value
Binary number
2
4
9
19
39
1
Conversion
Binary place value
Binary number
7
15
30
61
123
3
1
Conversion
31
Bandwidth

• Bandwidth is the measure of how much information
  can flow from one place to another in a given
  amount of time.
• There are two common uses of the word bandwidth
• one deals with analog signals
• the other with digital signals. (You will work
  with digital bandwidth, called simply bandwidth
  for the rest of the curriculum.)
• Bandwidth is measured in bits per second.

Mbps Megabytes mbps megabits
mbps
gbps
32
Bandwidth

• Bandwidth is a very useful concept. It does,
  however, have limitations. No matter how you
  send your messages, no matter which physical
  medium you use, bandwidth is limited. This is
  due both to the laws of physics and to the
  current technological advances.

33
Throughput

• Usually refers to actual, measured, bandwidth at
  a specific time of day, using specific internet
  routes, while downloading a specific file.
• It is generally less than the maximum possible
  bandwidth of the medium that is being used.

Your network will be no faster than your media
will allow.