Peer-to-Peer Network

1
Peer-to-Peer Network

• Computers communicate on single segment of cable
  and share each others data and devices
• Simple example of a local area network (LAN)

Figure 1-2 Simple peer-to-peer network
2
Peer-to-Peer Network

• Simple to configure and require little expertise
• Less expensive than other setups
• Not very flexible solution
• Net very secure solution
• Not very practical for connecting more than a few
  computers
• Does not require NOS

3
Networking Basics
Figure 1-3 LAN with a file server
4
Networking Basics
Figure 1-4 An example of a complex network
5
Advantages of Server-Based over Peer-to-Peer
Networks

• User login accounts and passwords can be assigned
  in one place
• Access to multiple shared resources can be
  centrally granted
• Servers are optimized to handle heavy processing
  loads and dedicated to handling requests from
  clients
• Servers can connect more than a handful of
  computers

6
MANs and WANs

• Metropolitan area network (MAN)
• Network connecting clients and servers in
  multiple buildings within limited geographic area
• Wide area network (WAN)
• Network that spans large distance and connects
  two or more LANs
• The Internet is an example of a very intricate
  and extensive WAN that spans the globe

7
WAN
Figure 1-5 A simple WAN
8
Elements Common to AllServer-Based Networks

• Client
• In addition to referring to a computer on the
  network, may also refers to human user of client
  workstation
• Server
• Workstation
• Network interface card (NIC)
• Enables workstation to connect to the network and
  communicate with other computers

9
Elements Common to AllServer-Based Networks
Figure 1-6 A network interface card (NIC)
10
Elements Common to AllServer-Based Networks

• Network operating system (NOS)
• Host
• Server that manages shared resources
• Node
• Client, server, or other device that can
  communicate over a network and that is identified
  by a unique identifying number, known as its
  network address

11
Elements Common to AllServer-Based Networks

• Topology
• Physical layout of computer network
• More detail in Ch. 5

Figure 1-7 Commonly used network topologies
12
Elements Common to AllServer-Based Networks

• Protocol
• Rules network uses to transfer data
• Ensures data are transferred whole, in sequence,
  and without error (Ch. 3)
• Data Packets
• The distinct units of data transmitted from one
  computer to another on a network (Ch. 2/3)

13
Elements Common to AllServer-Based Networks

• Addressing
• Scheme for assigning unique identifying number to
  every workstation on network
• The number that uniquely identifies each
  workstation and device on a network is its
  address (Ch. 2/3)

14
Elements Common to AllServer-Based Networks

• Transmission media
• Means through which data are transmitted and
  received
• More detail in Ch. 4

Figure 1-8 Examples of network transmission media
15
How Networks Are Used

• Services
• Features provided by a network most visible is
  e-mail
• File and print services
• Communications services (RAS)
• Mail services
• Internet services
• Management services

16
Network Services

• File services
• Refers to capability of a server to share data
  files, applications, and disk storage space
• Server that provides file services is called a
  file server
• Print services
• Allows printers to be shared by several users on
  a network

17
Network Services

• Communications services
• Allow remote users to connect to a network
• Remote user
• Person working on a computer in a different
  geographical location from the LANs server
• Win 2K Remote Access Server (RAS)
• Netware Network Access Server (NAS)
• Communications server
• Server that runs communications services
• Also referred to as access servers and remote
  access servers

18
Network Services

• Mail services
• Coordinate storage and transfer of e-mail between
  users on a network
• May include a Gateway
• Combination of software and hardware enabling two
  different kinds of networks to exchange data
• Internet services
• Enable networks to communicate with the Internet

19
Network Services

• Management services
• Centrally administer and simplify complicated
  management tasks on the network
• Numerous services fall under category of network
  management

20
Important Management Services

• Traffic monitoring and control
• Traffic
• Data transmission and processing activity taking
  place on a computer network at any given time
• Segment
• Part of LAN that is logically separated from
  other parts of LAN and that shares fixed amount
  of traffic capacity

21
Important Management Services

• Load balancing
• Distributing process activity evenly across a
  network so that no single device is overwhelmed
• Hardware diagnosis and failure alert
• Determining when a network component fails and
  automatically notifying network administrators
  through e-mail or pager

22
Important Management Services

• Asset management
• Collecting and storing data on number and types
  of software and hardware assets in an
  organizations network
• License tracking
• Determining how many copies of a single
  application are currently in use on a network

23
Important Management Services

• Security auditing
• Evaluating what security measures are currently
  in force and notifying network administrator if a
  security breach occurs
• Software distribution
• Automatically transferring data file or program
  from the server to a client on the network

24
Important Management Services

• Address management
• Centrally administering a finite number of
  network addresses for an entire LAN
• Backup and restoration of data
• Backing up
• Copying critical files to a secure storage area
• Restoring
• Retrieving data if original files are lost or
  deleted
• Covered more in depth in Ch. 12/13

25
Becoming a Network Professional

• Mastering the technical challenges
• Developing your soft skills
• Pursuing certification
• Finding a job in networking
• Joining professional associations

26
Mastering the Technical Challenges

• Specialty areas in high demand for networking
  professionals
• Network security
• Internet and intranet design
• Network management
• Voice/data integration (VoIP)
• Remote and mobile computing

27
Mastering the Technical Challenges

• Specialty areas in high demand for networking
  professionals (cont.)
• Data integrity and fault tolerance
• In-depth knowledge of Microsoft networking
  products
• In-depth knowledge of NetWare networking products
  (decreasing)
• In-depth knowledge of router configuration and
  management (Cisco)

28
Developing Your Soft Skills

• Skills not easily measured but important to a
  networking career
• Customer relations
• Oral and written communications
• Dependability
• Teamwork
• Leadership abilities

29
Pursuing Certification

• Certification
• Process of mastering material pertaining to a
  particular hardware system, operating system,
  programming language, or other software program,
  then proving your mastery by passing a series of
  exams
• Computer Technology Association (CompTIA)
• An association that sets industry-wide standards
  for computer professionals

30
Pursuing Certification

• A
• Certification established by CompTIA
• Verifies knowledge about PC operation, repair,
  and management
• Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
• Certification established by Microsoft
• Demonstrates in-depth knowledge about Microsofts
  products
• Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA)
• MCSE designs networks MCSA administers
  networks

31
Pursuing Certification

• Certified NetWare Engineer (CNE)
• Certification established by Novell
• Demonstrates in-depth understanding of Novells
  networking software
• Network (Net)
• Certification established by CompTIA
• Verifies broad, vendor-independent networking
  technology skills

32
Pursuing Certification

• Benefits of becoming certified include
• Better salary
• Greater opportunities
• Professional respect
• Access to better support
• Good way to prove you have at least some
  knowledge of a specific skill
• Degree vs. certification debate

33
Finding a Job in Networking

• Search the Web
• Read the paper
• Visit a career center
• Network
• Attend career fairs

34
Finding a Job in Networking
Table 1-1 Web sites with job databases
35
Joining Professional Associations

• Benefits can include
• Connecting with people who have similar interests
• Providing new opportunities for learning
• Allowing access to specialized information
• Giving you tangible assets such as free goods

36
Joining Professional Associations
Table 1-2 Web sites of networking organizations