3.

1 NETWOTKING
Networking is a system that allows communication to occur between two people or machines.
Communication computers need to know the rules, so-like two people speaking the same language-they
communication without delay. If the computer don’t understand each other, nothing is accomplished;
there is no internet access, sharing printing; and all work stops. As a networking professional, it will be
your responsibility to help prevent this from happening.

Types of Networks

They are three main categories of networks are as follows:

 A local area network (LAN)

 A metropolitan area network (MAN)
 A wide area network (WAN)

1. Local Area Networks

Local Area Network (LAN) is a small network of computers and printers in a single building or floor. It
is used to connect computers and other network devices so that the devices can communicate with
each to share resources. It is very important in the everyday functioning of schools, businesses, and
government. The device using LAN uses inexpensive cable due to limitation in distance.

In the proceeding illustration, several computers are connected via a cable to a central device called
a hub or switch. It is a common devices with multiple network node together that allow data
transmission to pass from one computer to the others.

There is also a wireless LAN allow users to connect to network sources without the installation of
cabling and wiring.

It has the following characteristics:

 They are used within small areas (Such as in an office buildings).

 They offer high-speed communication-typically, 10Mbps or fast.
 They provide access for many devices.
 They use LAN-specific equipment such as repeaters, hubs and networks interface card.
 2. Metropolitan Area Networks

A metropolitan area network (MAN) is made up of LANs that are interconnected across a
city or metropolitan area. MANs have become increasingly popular as a way of allowing
local government to share valuable resources, communicate with one another and provide
large-scale private phone services.
It offers better speed because of the high-performance cable and equipment used to
implement them. It can span as much as 50 to 70 miles and provides high-speed network
access between sites.

Unlike LANs, in which there are many connection to devices, MANs typically will have just one
connection to each sites and that has been shown in the pictorial illustration above.

Metropolitan area network has the following characteristics:

 Sites are dispersed across a city and perhaps the surroundings are as well.
 With the advent of MANs, historically slow connections (56Kbps-1.5Kbps) have given way to
communication at hundreds of megabits per seconds and even gigabit speeds.
 They provide single points of connection between each LAN.
 They use devices such as routers, telephone and ATM switches and microwave antennas.

3. Wide Area Networks

A wide area network (WAN) interconnection two or more LANs (or MANs) over connections often leased
from the local telephone company. They can be connected through fiber-optic cabling or even wireless
technologies. WANs typically can run over telephone cables because they cover wide geographical area-
they may span cities, states, or even countries. It interconnecting LANs and MANs over great distances
of land and water.

The majority of WANs communicate at speeds between 56Kbps-1.5Kbps and even speeds up to
9.953Gbps are available. In fact it has very slow speed connection but new technologies are emerging
and offering high-speed communication over telephone network.
Wide area networks have the following characteristics:

 They can cover a very large geographical areas-even span the world.
 They usually communicate at slow speed(compared to LAN)
 Access to the WAN is limited-a LAN usually has only one WAN link that shared by all devices.
 They use devices such as routers, modems, and WAN switches.

WAN links are how the internet was created. By connecting many LANs using WANs, organizations
enable their users to share information.
COMMUNICATION MODELS
In our previous lesson, we have learnt that many types of networks that designed to meet specific
performance and geographical needs. The key to making these various networks work together is
ensuring that they understand and comply with communication standards. In order for these
communication standards to be successful at exchanging information, they have to be built around a
communication model.
The theoretical model used for communication between devices on a network is the Open System
Interconnection (OSI) model. This model is considered the fundamental framework for the way all
devices on a network should communicate.
What is the OSI Model?
The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model is the fundamental for all communications that take
place between computers and other networking devices. The inherent value of the OSI model requires a
much deeper review of seven layers that make up the OSI model. Each layer of the OSI model is
independent from every other in the purpose and responsibilities and each its own, as well as provide the
ability for the information to move between the layers above and below. They seven layers of the OSI
model are as follows;
1. Application
2. Presentation,
3. Session,
4. Transport,
5. Network
6. Data Link
7. And Physical
As you can see each in the following illustration, when two devices communication, each device is
responsibilities for utilizing each layer to ensure that the data will be transferred to appropriate layer
on the receiving end. For instance, the application layer of computer A communicate with the
Application layer of computer B by passing the data through other layers. For example, if you send a
HTTP request for a web page from a server that is not running web server software, the Application
layer of the server will not be able to respond to the request. The result is that you see an error
message on your screen.
How Data Flows through the OSI Model?
The movement of data through the OSI model is easy to follow. When the two computer want to
communicate with each other, data will be sent from the Application layer of a sending computer or
device, referred as source. The data in the form of a packet, will continue down the layers of the OSI
model of the source device until it reaches the physical layer: Layer 1. The physical is where the data
begin its journey out into the network.