Hardware, Software and Networks

Peripherals (device)
 Network Interface Card (NIC)
 Repeater
 Hub
 Bridge
 Routers
 Switch
 Gateway
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)

Network Interface Card (NIC)

 NIC provides the physical interface between computer and
cabling.
 It prepares data, sends data, and controls the flow of data. It can
also receive and translate data into bytes for the CPU to
understand.
 The following factors should be taken into consideration when
choosing a NIC:
1. - Preparing data
2. - Sending and controlling data
3. - Configuration
4. - Drivers
5. - Compatibility
6. - Performance
NIC
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Preparing Data

 In the computer, data moves along buses in parallel,

as on a four-lane interstate highway. But on a network
cable, data travels in a single stream, as on a one lane
highway. This difference can cause problems
transmitting and receiving data, because the paths
traveled are not the same.
 It is the NIC’s job to translate the data from the
computer into signals that can flow easily along the
cable.
 It does this by translating digital signals into electrical
signals (and in the case of fiber-optic NICs, to optical
signals).
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Sending and Controlling Data

 For two computers to send and receive data, the cards must
agree on several things. These include the following:
- The maximum size of the data frames
- The amount of data sent before giving
confirmation
- The time needed between transmissions
- The amount of time needed to wait before sending
confirmation
- The amount of data a card can hold
- The speed at which data transmits
 In order to successfully send data on the network, you need to
make sure the network cards are of the same type and they are
connected to the same piece of cable.
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Configuration

 The NIC’s configuration includes things like a

manufacturer’s hardware address, IRQ
address, Base I/O port address, and base
memory address. Some may also use DMA
channels to offer better performance.
 Each card must have a unique hardware
address. If two cards have the same hardware
addresses, neither one of them will be able to
communicate.
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Drivers

 For the computer to use the network

interface card, it is very important to
install the proper device drivers.
 These drivers communicate directly with
the network redirector and adapter. They
operate in the Media Access Control
sublayer of the Data Link layer of the
OSI model.
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Compatibility

 When choosing a NIC, use one that fits

the bus type of your PC. If you have
more than one type of bus in your PC
(for example, a combination ISA/PCI),
use an NIC that fits into the fastest type
(the PCI, in this case).
 This is especially important in servers,
as the NIC can very quickly become a
bottleneck if this guideline isn’t followed.
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Performance

 The most important goal of the network

adapter card is to optimize network
performance and minimize the amount of
time needed to transfer data packets
across the network.
 There are several ways of doing this,
including assigning a DMA channel, use
of a shared memory adapter, and
deciding to allow bus mastering.
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Repeaters

 Repeaters are very simple devices. They allow a cabling system

to extend beyond its maximum allowed length by amplifying the
network voltages so they travel farther.
 Repeaters are nothing more than amplifiers and, as such, are
very inexpensive.
 Repeaters can only be used to regenerate signals between
similar network segments.
 For example, we can extend an Ethernet 10Base2 network to
400 meters with a repeater. But can’t connect an Ethernet and
Token Ring network together with one.
 The main disadvantage to repeaters is that they just amplify
signals. These signals not only include the network signals, but
any noise on the wire as well.
 Eventually, if you use enough repeaters, you could possibly
drown out the signal with the amplified noise. For this reason,
repeaters are used only as a temporary fix.
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Repeaters
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Hubs

 Hubs are devices used to link several computers

together.
 They repeat any signal that comes in on one port and
copy it to the other ports (a process that is also called
broadcasting).
 There are two types of hubs: active and passive.
 Passive hubs simply connect all ports together
electrically and are usually not powered.
 Active hubs use electronics to amplify and clean up
the signal before it is broadcast to the other ports.
 In the category of active hubs, there is also a class
called “intelligent” hubs, which are hubs that can be
remotely managed on the network.
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Hubs
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Bridges

 They join similar topologies and are used to divide network

segments.
 For example, with 200 people on one Ethernet segment, the
performance will be mediocre, because of the design of Ethernet
and the number of workstations that are fighting to transmit. If you
divide the segment into two segments of 100 workstations each,
the traffic will be much lower on either side and performance will
increase.
 If it is aware of the destination address, it is able to forward
packets; otherwise a bridge will forward the packets to all
segments. They are more intelligent than repeaters but are
unable to move data across multiple networks simultaneously.
 Unlike repeaters, bridges can filter out noise.
 The main disadvantage to bridges is that they can’t connect
dissimilar network types or perform intelligent path selection. For
that function, you would need a router.
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Bridges
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Routers

 Routers are highly intelligent devices that connect multiple

network types and determine the best path for sending data.
 The advantage of using a router over a bridge is that routers can
determine the best path that data can take to get to its
destination.
 Like bridges, they can segment large networks and can filter out
noise.
 However, they are slower than bridges because they are more
intelligent devices; as such, they analyze every packet, causing
packet-forwarding delays. Because of this intelligence, they are
also more expensive.
 Routers are normally used to connect one LAN to another.
 Typically, when a WAN is set up, there will be at least two routers
used.
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Routers
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Switch

 A network switch is a computer networking device that connects network

segments.
 Low-end network switches appear nearly identical to network hubs, but a switch
contains more "intelligence" (and a slightly higher price tag) than a network hub.
 Network switches are capable of inspecting data packets as they are received,
determining the source and destination device of that packet, and forwarding it
appropriately.
 By delivering each message only to the connected device it was intended for, a
network switch conserves network bandwidth and offers generally better
performance than a hub.
 A vital difference between a hub and a switch is that all the nodes connected to
a hub share the bandwidth among themselves, while a device connected to a
switch port has the full bandwidth all to itself.
 For example, if 10 nodes are communicating using a hub on a 10-Mbps network,
then each node may only get a portion of the 10 Mbps if other nodes on the hub
want to communicate as well. .
 But with a switch, each node could possibly communicate at the full 10 Mbps.
Hardware, Software and Networks Peripherals (cont.)
Switch
Gateway
 A computer that sits between different networks or applications.
The gateway converts information, data or other communications
from one protocol or format to another. A router may perform
some of the functions of a gateway.
 An Internet gateway can transfer communications between an
enterprise network and the Internet. Because enterprises often
use protocols on their local-area networks (LANs) that differ from
those of the Internet, a gateway will often act as a protocol
converter so that users can send and receive communications
over the Internet.
LAB1
 Connect 2 buildings 3 storey high with a distance of
500m between each building.
 Each floor is occupied by the Finance Department,
Administration Department and Computing
Department.
 Your report should have the following items. Anything
extra is encouraged.
a. Introduction
b. Network Diagrams
c. Devices that will be used.
 You are required to use MS Visio to draw the Network
Diagrams.