Chapter One

1
Chapter One

• An Introduction
• to Networking

2
Lets Get Acquainted

• What is your name and how would you like us to
  address you?
• Is this your first networking class?
• Are you taking any other networking classes?
• What is your background in networking?
• Are you a career changer?
• Why did you sign up for this class and what are
  your expectations?
• Are you interested in any industry certifications
  such as Net, MCP, MCSE, or CCNA?
• What is your next step in technical training and
  industry certification after finishing this
  class?

3
Objectives

• List advantages of networked computing relative
  to standalone computing
• Identify elements of a network
• Describe several specific uses of a network

4
Objectives

• Distinguish between client/server and
  peer-to-peer networks
• Identify some of the certifications available to
  networking professionals
• Identify kinds of non-technical, or soft,
  skills to help in succeeding as a networking
  professional

5
Networks and Standalone Computers

• Network
• Group of computers and other devices connected by
  some type of transmission media
• Networks enable users to share devices and data,
  collectively called a networks resources
• Standalone computer
• Uses programs and data only from its local disks
  and is not connected to a network

6
Sneakernet

• Method of sharing data by copying it to a disk
  and carrying the disk from computer to computer

7
Local and Remote Computers

• Local computer
• Computer on which user is working
• Remote computer
• Computer that user controls or works on via
  network connection

8
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)

9
Local Area Network (LAN)

• Network of computers and other devices confined
  to relatively small space
• LANs involving many computers are usually
  server-based
• On a server-based network, special computers
  (known as servers) process data for and
  facilitate communication between other computers
  on the network (known as clients)

10
Networking Basics

• Workstation
• Computer that typically runs a desktop operating
  system and connects to a network
• Client/server architecture
• Networking model in which clients use central
  server to share applications, devices, and data

11
Networking Basics

• Client/server network
• Network based on client/server architecture
• Network operating system
• Special software designed to manage data and
  other resources on a server for a number of
  clients

12
Networking Basics
13
Networking Basics
14
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

15
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

16
WAN
17
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

18
Elements Common to AllServer-Based Networks
19
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

20
Elements Common to AllServer-Based Networks

• Topology
• Physical layout of computer network

21
Elements Common to AllServer-Based Networks

• Protocol
• Rules network uses to transfer data
• Data Packets
• The distinct units of data transmitted from one
  computer to another on a network

22
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

23
Elements Common to AllServer-Based Networks

• Transmission media
• Means through which data are transmitted and
  received

24
How Networks Are Used

• Services
• Features provided by a network
• File and print services
• Communications services
• Mail services
• Internet services
• Management services

25
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

26
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
• Communications server
• Server that runs communications services
• Also referred to as access servers and remote
  access servers

27
Network Services

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

28
Network Services

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

29
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

30
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

31
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

32
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

33
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

34
Becoming a Network Professional

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

35
Mastering the Technical Challenges

• Installing, configuring, and troubleshooting
  network server software
• Installing, configuring, and troubleshooting
  network server hardware
• Installing, configuring, and troubleshooting
  network client software
• Installing, configuring, and troubleshooting
  network client hardware

36
Mastering the Technical Challenges

• Understanding the characteristics of different
  transmission media
• Understanding network design
• Understanding network protocols
• Understanding how users interact with the network

37
Mastering the Technical Challenges

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

38
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
• In-depth knowledge of router configuration and
  management

39
Developing Your Soft Skills

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

40
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

41
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

42
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

43
Pursuing Certification

• Benefits of becoming certified include
• Better salary
• Greater opportunities
• Professional respect
• Access to better support

44
Finding a Job in Networking

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

45
Finding a Job in Networking
46
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

47
Joining Professional Associations
48
Chapter Summary

• A Network is a group of computers or other
  devices connected by some type of transmission
  media
• Networks may be small or large, connecting
  computers in one office or across the world
• All networks offer advantages relative to the use
  of standalone computers
• Simplest form of a network still used today
  connects a handful of computers through one cable
  and uses peer-to-peer communication

49
Chapter Summary

• A LAN is a network of computers and other devices
  confined to a relatively small space
• A WAN is a network connecting two or more
  geographically distinct LANs
• All server-based networks share some common
  elements
• The physical layout of a computer network is
  called a topology
• Network protocols are rules the network uses to
  transfer data

50
Chapter Summary

• File and print services provide foundation for
  networking
• Communications services allow remote users to
  connect to the network
• Mail services allow networks users to exchange
  and store e-mail
• Internet services enable organizations to connect
  to the Internet
• Network management services centrally administer
  and simplify complicated management tasks on
  network

51
Chapter Summary

• Networking professionals are in demand
• Pursuing certification can benefit you in many
  ways
• Hone your soft skills
• Numerous resources are available in searching for
  networking positions
• Joining associations can benefit your
  professional growth