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  1. 1. 150 COMPUTER NETWORKS AND COMMUNICATIONS LESSON 67 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER NETWORKS AND COMMUNICATIONS COMPUTER NETWORK A computer network is a system of interconnected computers and peripheral devices. For example, it may connect computers, printers, scanners and cameras. 151 Using hardware and software, these interconnected computing devices can communicate with each other through defined rules of data communications. In a network, computers can exchange and share information and resources. A computer network may operate on wired connections or wireless connections. When two or more networks are linked or connected and are able to communicate with one another using suitable hardware and software, it is called an internet work.
  2. 2. 152 COMMUNICATIONS Communications is about the transfer of information from a sender, across a distance, to a receiver. Using electricity, radio waves or light, information and data in the form of codes are transmitted through a physical medium such as wire, cable, or even the atmosphere. The information that is transmitted (sent) can be text, voice, sound, video, graphics and images, or a combination of all these, which we call multimedia. We transmit information or data by using two types of signals, namely analogue and digital. Computers communicate with digital signals. The older forms of communications technology, such as telephones and radios, use analogue signals. 153 Therefore, in order to make communications possible from computers, across telephones and radios and back to computers and other digital devices again, there must be a signal translator, which we call – a modem. The modem, which is short for modulator or demodulator, converts digital signals into analogue and back again into digital signals for information to move across the telephone line. CONNECTIONS FOR NETWORKING Communications among computing devices in a network can only happen through defined rules of communications and connections. In general, for communications in a network to be possible, there must be: a physical medium – to allow data to travel across it from device to device a set of rules called protocols to ensure that interconnected computing devices have the same standards for exchange of information to occur smoothly. a system application for managing network information flow to ensure that data transmission sent from one device is received by the intended receiver. If any of these levels of connectivity is missing, communications for networking will not be possible. For example, if the physical medium is cut off, there will be no communications. If protocol between interconnected devices are not the same, data transmission will not be ‘understood’ between devices. If there is no network management application available, there will be no means of ensuring that information from one device will be sent to the correct receiving device.
  3. 3. 154 Protocol Often simply referred to as a protocol, a communications protocol is a set of rules or standards designed so that computers can exchange information with a minimal errors. LESSON 68 COMPONENTS OF COMMUNICATIONS INTRODUCTION In order for a network to properly operate, two categories of network communications components are needed; ‘Hardware’ and ‘Software’. Computers, hub, switch, router, network interface cards and both wired and wireless communications media fall under the ‘Hardware’ category. Operating systems and applications fall under the ‘Software’ category. 155 NETWORK COMMUNICATION CHANNELS Signals which carry information in a communications system travel through a physical medium. This physical medium is called a communications channel, or at other times a communications link, a communications line, or a communications medium. Some common types of network communications channels are the: twisted-pair wire coaxial cable fibre-optic cable satellite systems wireless systems (namely using radio waves, microwaves and infrared) NETWORK INTERFACE CARDS AND NETWORKING DEVICES The Network Interface Card or NIC is one of the most important communications devices for a PC. Communications channels provide the most basic level of connectivity medium for a network.
  4. 4. 156 The NIC provides connection between the computer and the network’s communications media. This connection is necessary because the NIC functions as a data conversion device to move data from the PC’s system to the network medium and vice versa. The Network Interface Card also supplies the basic addressing system used to get data from PC to PC across a network. The other hardware component that is required for communications to work on a network is the networking device, such as the hub, switch, router and even the modem. The function of these devices is generally to control the flow of data on a network. 157 NETWORK SOFTWARE How do computers communicate on a network? Once we have got the necessary hardware set up for a network, we will need to have suitable software on the network computers that would be able to provide some basic functions, such as connecting to other computers on the network, sharing resources and files and providing for network security for users who are online. In general, network software must be able to handle networking protocols and connections within the network and with other networks. Most importantly, it should also provide file systems functions to organise disk space on the network computers for sharing purposes. Since most computer networks are connected to the Internet, network software must have some form of management and security services to protect the network as well as computers on the network, from unauthorised access.
  5. 5. 158 LESSON 69 APPLICATION SOFTWARE: ADVANCED FEATURES OF PRESENTATION SOFTWARE Networking and communications technology is fast changing the way people view society and how we plan our daily social activities. Through networking technology alone, many today are finding friends online, visiting a library in another country. Some people are able to go to the banks after they are closed, as well as getting the latest development in news from within and outside the country. Mobile communications today is also based on the networking technology. Surfing the internet is not only limited to the desktop computer users but also those who have mobile phones with wireless technology. At present there are more than 7 million such users across the world. The internet has helped science and medical research progress further as doctors and researchers from anywhere in the world can contribute and cooperate in any problem brought to their attention. Technological solutions can be discovered quickly as individuals come forward to offer their help through the internet. Homemakers, students, teachers, business people, and almost anyone with access to networked computer go online and continue their path of lifelong education anywhere, anytime. Organisations and individuals can make connections and establish communications within seconds with people nearby or overseas. Online communities can be formed and important issues and opinions to difficult problems can be discussed without a threatening environment. All these are now possible because of networks and communications technology. 159 IMPORTANCE OF NETWORKS AND COMMUNICATIONS Information is now made easy with the availability of network communications. In a clinic for example, network communications plays an important part in keeping patients’ database for easy retrieval. Unlike in conventional practice, doctors and nurses have to look for a patient’s personal file from hundreds or maybe thousands of records. With network communication, the clinic saves time and manpower allocation can be effectively planned. E-Business E-business or electronic business refers to conducting business transactions on the internet, not only limited to buying and selling but also servicing customers and collaborating with business partners. E-business supports many types of business transactions, including online shopping, selling and renting. Users can browse the website and choose from the list of items or services to buy. Payment is usually via credit card.
  6. 6. 160 Online Education With a network connection, online education is made possible. Students at any location around the world can participate in an online classroom, download tutorial questions and submit their assignments. E-Banking E-banking or electronic banking is the most popular banking facility nowadays. It handles all types of banking transactions like account management, fund transfer and payments primarily over the internet. User can pay bills, check the account balance and transfer money to other parties, using e- banking facilities twenty four hours a day and seven days a week. With e-banking, most of the transactions can be done at home or from the office, thus users save time on travelling and queuing at the bank counters. Long Distance Communication Long distance communication is made easy via network availability. Communication is possible via voice, text or video. The cost of having this type of communication is cheaper than making a normal phone call and definitely faster and more effective than corresponding via letters of fax. In business, important decisions can effectively made through video conference meeting. 161 LESSON 70 TYPES OF NETWORKS TYPES OF NETWORKS Three types of networks: Local Area Network or LAN Metropolitan Area Network or MAN Wide Area Network or WAN Here: LAN - the email system within the school lab in SMK KL MAN - the email system within KL city WAN - the email system between KL and London A LAN covers a small region of space, typically a single building. A MAN is a collection of LANs with the same geographical area, for instance a city. A WAN can be a collection of LANs or MANs or the mix of two with a very large geographical area, for instance a country or even beyond the border.
  7. 7. 162 LESSON 71 LOCAL AREA NETWORK (LAN) Local Area Network (LAN) is the smallest network compared to the other two networks. The simplest form of LAN is to connect two computers together. LAN is operated within a limited physical area, such as at home, school, a single building or several buildings. A network which consists of less than 500 interconnected devices across several buildings, is still recognised as a LAN. Inexpensive hardware used in LAN previously include twisted pair, coaxial cables and the higher end is fibre optic or wireless. However, coaxial cables are now being replaced by a higher speed cabling system such as CAT5 using RJ45 connectors. LAN is a very high speed network (from previously 10Mbps) to 100Mbps, which is faster than MAN and WAN. Local Area Network is a group of computers and network devices connected together, usually within the same building. 163 LESSON 72 METROPOLITAN AREA NETWORK (MAN) First, you have to understand the word metropolitan. Metropolitan describes important cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Tokyo, London and New York. MAN is a network of computers located at different sites within a large physical area, such as a city. Companies that have several branches within the Kuala Lumpur city such as banks, might find a MAN useful to them. In this case, setting up a MAN across long distances can be best connected using fiber optics. Sometimes, a MAN can be a collection of several LANs within the same city. MAN often acts as a high speed network (although not as fast as a LAN) to allow sharing of regional resources. MAN can be defined as a group of computers and network devices connected together within a large physical area. LESSON 73 WIDE AREA NETWORK (WAN) Wide Area Network (WAN) is the largest network of all network types. The Internet is the largest WAN in the world. WAN generally covers large distances such as states, countries or continents.
  8. 8. 164 An example in the society using WAN is the banking organisation. Local banks have always maintained their business online by connecting all computers of their branches in the countries. International banks also use WAN to connect their computers all over the world. Actually, WAN is a group of MANs or LANs or the mixture of both networks. A device called a router is needed to connect the MANs and LANs all over a large physical area. A router is a special networking device that connects two or more different networks and keeps data flowing between them. A router makes all the different networks communicate, such as connecting LAN to LAN, LAN to WAN or WAN to WAN. The transmission media in WAN uses the fibre optic cable. WAN is still considered a fast network with speeds 20 – 2000 Kbps, but slower than LAN and MAN. LESSON 74 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TYPES OF NETWORK SETTING UP COST Setting up a MAN network is more expensive than a LAN but less than a WAN. Managers have to consider the cost of buying the necessary hardware, software, medium and maintenance service for the desired network. 165 NETWORK SIZE The network size of a MAN falls between LAN and WAN. As you know, a LAN usually covers only a limited area such as a school lab; a MAN will cover a greater area such as a city while a WAN will cover the largest geographical area such as the size of Malaysia. SPEED LAN offers the best speed in transmitting information followed by MAN and WAN. In addition, LANs are capable of transmitting data at very fast rates, much faster than data which is transmitted over a telephone line although the distances are limited. LAN is also frequently used to provide a shared connection to other networks using a link to a WAN. A MAN often acts as a high speed network to allow sharing of regional resources (similar to a large LAN). For larger network coverage, MAN is a better choice for a higher speed connection compared to a WAN. TRANSMISSION MEDIA A LAN uses the cheapest transmission media compared to MAN and WAN. Generally LAN only uses communication media such as twisted-pair cables. A MAN might have more than one transmission media since it involves a combination of two or more LANs and the media used depends on the network coverage. Here, a MAN might use the twisted-pair and fibre-optics cables.
  9. 9. 166 A WAN might use costly transmission medias such as fibre-optics, radio waves and satellites, depending on their coverage. CONNECTION LIMIT The number of computers that can be attached to a single LAN is limited. A MAN can have a large number of computers compared to a LAN but less than a WAN. A WAN can have up to billions of computers attached to it. COMPARISON OF LAN, MAN AND WAN 167 LESSON 75 NETWORK ARCHITECTURE TYPES OF NETWORK ARCHITECTURE Network architecture is the overall design of a computer network that describes how a computer network is configured and what strategies are being used. Network architecture mainly focuses on the functions of the networks. Network architecture is also known as network model or network design. There are two main network architectures: client/server network peer-to-peer network CLIENT/SERVER NETWORK A client/server network is a network in which the shared files and applications are stored in the server but network users (clients) can still store files on their individual PCs. A server is a computer that shares information and resources with other computers on a network. A client is a computer which requests services or files from a server computer.
  10. 10. 168 PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK Peer-to-peer or P2P network is a network with all the nodes acting as both servers and clients. A PC can access files located on another PC and can also provide files to other PCs. All computers in the peer-to-peer network have equal responsibilities and capabilities to use the resources available on the network. With peer-to-peer network, no server is needed; each computer in the network is called a peer. LESSON 76 CLIENT / SERVER CLIENT / SERVER NETWORK On a client/server network, shared files and applications are stored in the server but network users can still store files on their individual PCs. A smaller client/server network uses twisted-pair or coaxial cables for networking but a larger and powerful network will use fibre optics. A client/server network is suitable for connecting 10 or more computers. To set up a client/server network, you need to install a server program for the server and a client program for the clients. A network administrator needs to configure access rights on the server side to allow access for the clients to use the resources. An email program is an example of a client program, as it sends email requests to a mail server. IRC (Internet Relay Chat), Internet browser and email program are examples of software applications for a client/server network. 169 SERVER A server is sometimes called a host computer. A server is a computer that provides services to other computers called clients. A server controls access to the hardware, software and other resources on the network. It provides a centralised storage area for programs, data and information. DEDICATED SERVER Dedicated servers perform specific tasks and usually execute only one job. For example, a file server stores and manages files; a print server manages printers and print jobs. A database server stores and provides access to a database. A network server manages network traffic. A dedicated server helps save time and storage space in one computer. It will not put the whole network at risk if it fails.
  11. 11. 170 CLIENT The client computers are computers on the network that rely on the server for its resources and services. Client computers send requests to a server for resources or services to perform their job. For example, a client computer can send a request asking permission to use the printer attached to the server, to print a document. Usually a client computer has to log onto the network using a user name and password to use the server’s resources and services. For example, you have to be a TMnet or Jaring member to use the internet service. You need to logon to TMnet or Jaring’s server by sending your username and password. After your successful login process, then you can access the internet through TMnet or Jaring’s server. LESSON 77 PEER-TO-PEER PEER-TO-PEER FUNCTIONS Peer-to-peer (P2P) network is a network with all the nodes acting as both servers and clients. A PC can access files located on another PC and can also provide files to other PCs. 171 A P2P network usually uses twisted-pair or coaxial cable because these cables are cheaper and easier to work with. P2P network is the best choice to set up a network with less than 10 computers. P2P network is easier to manage as long as there are network cards installed on the PCs and connection can be done with a network cable. To share the resources, each PC must have the necessary program. There is no central server or central router managing a P2P network. Wireless networking can be an example of a P2P network as you only need a wireless card, connect it to an existing wireless network and resources can be shared Limewire, Bearshare and Kazaa are all examples of software applications for peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing.
  12. 12. 172 THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CLIENT/SERVER AND PEER-TO-PEER LESSON 78 NETWORK TOPOLOGY Now, imagine replacing the dinner table as your network, and the chairs are your computers. How would you like your network to be? How would you arrange the computers? In networking terms, the structure you are planning to connect the computers to, is called network topology. Network topology is also referred to as the configuration of a network. It usually refers to the physical arrangement of the computers and other networking devices that are linked together. 173 It defines how nodes are connected to one another in a communication network. A network topology must show the nodes and the links between them. The nodes must be an active device connected to the network, such as a computer, printer, hub or a router. To see a network topology clearly, always apply it on a Local Area Network (LAN). According to the needs, there are three main types of network topology. They are bus topology, star topology and ring topology. Bus Topology Star Topology Ring Topology
  13. 13. 174 LESSON 79 BUS TOPOLOGY In communications technology, you think of a bus as a common “highway” on which data is transmitted. A bus refers to the main physical pathway or central cable where all other devices are connected to it. Like a major motor highway, all traffic flow will be affected if this main “road” is broken. A bus topology consists of a single central cable to which all computers and other devices connect. A bus topology is also known as a bus network. DESCRIPTION OF BUS TOPOLOGY Bus networks are very common in Local Area Networks (LAN). A bus network must have a common backbone (the central cable) to connect all devices. All nodes share the backbone to communicate with each other on the network. Sometimes, a bus network has more than one server. Sometimes, a server is not needed on the network. 175 DEPENDENCE OF A BUS TOPOLOGY If one of the nodes fails, the bus network would still function as long as the backbone is working. If the backbone fails, the network will fail to function. ADVANTAGES OF BUS TOPOLOGY Easy implementation. New devices can be added to the backbone or to the existing nodes. Failure of a node doesn't affect the entire LAN. No disruptions to the network when connecting or removing devices. Network can easily be extended, by adding new devices to the backbone or existing nodes.
  14. 14. 176 DISADVANTAGES OF BUS TOPOLOGY If the backbone fails, the entire bus network will be affected. Network speed decreases when the number of nodes increases. Troubleshooting is difficult when one of the nodes fails. LESSON 80 RING TOPOLOGY A ring topology consists of all computers and other devices that are connected in a loop. Ring topology is also known as a ring network. A ring network can be found in Local Area Networks. In a ring network each node directly connect to two neighbouring nodes. A server may exist in a ring network, but it will not connect to all the nodes in the network. The server, like other nodes, will only communicate to its two neighbouring nodes. DEPENDENCE OF A RING TOPOLOGY If one of the nodes fails, the network will fail to function. ADVANTAGES OF A RING TOPOLOGY Troubleshooting is easy when one of the nodes fails. Repair or remove the failing nodes and the network will continue to function. 177 DISADVANTAGES OF A RING TOPOLOGY Implementation is difficult. Network administrator has to terminate the entire network to install a new node between existing nodes. A failing node will affect the entire LAN. Connecting or removing devices is difficult because network administrator needs to terminate the network in order to do it. Network speed decreases when the number of nodes increases. LESSON 81 STAR TOPOLOGY In the early days of computer networking, all computers were connected to a centralised mainframe computer. All resources and management of information were centred in this main computer. The idea of a centralised mainframe computer is where the basic concept of a star topology comes from. A star topology consists of a central host which acts as the centre, and all nodes connect to the host. A star topology is also known as star network. DESCRIPTION OF STAR TOPOLOGY A star network is found in a Local Area Network setting. A star network must have a host which acts as the centre.
  15. 15. 178 The host can be a server, hub or router. In a star network, every node will not connect to the neighbouring nodes. Every node must connect to the host in order to communicate. The host will control the flow of communication in the network. DEPENDENCE OF A STAR TOPOLOGY If one of the nodes fails, the star network can still function as long as the host is working. If the host fails, the network will fail to function. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF STAR TOPOLOGY Advantages It is easy to implement. You only add nodes to the host. The failure of a node does not affect the entire LAN. There are no disruptions to the network when connecting or removing devices. The network can be extended by adding new devices to the host or nodes. Troubleshooting is easy when the host fails. Simply repair or replace the host and the network will continue to function. 179 Disadvantages If the host fails, the entire LAN will be affected. Network speed decreases when the number of nodes increases. Troubleshooting is difficult when one of the nodes fails. A host must be installed to control the network. LESSON 82 DIFFERENCES OF NETWORK TOPOLOGIES UNDERSTANDING DIFFERENT TOPOLOGIES Understanding differences in network topologies helps us to see what each topology is able to do. Each topology has an influence on: the type of equipment we will use the potential of the network in accommodating more computers the way we manage our network the capabilities of the hardware to manage the flow of information THE STRUCTURE NETWORK TOPOLOGY The following table compares the structures of the three main types of the network topologies: Bus Topology Ring Topology Star Topology Structure there is a single central cable (backbone) and all computers and other devices connect to it all computers and other devices are connected in a circle there is a central host and all nodes connect to it
  16. 16. 180 Host existence depends on network needs depends on network needs yes Connection between nodes It has no connection between the nodes. yes no Host failure network can still run network will fail network will fail Node failure network can still run network will fail network can still run Ease of troubleshooting Difficult. Need to search for the problematic node one by one Depends on backbone. If there is a backbone, troubleshooting is difficult. If there is no backbone, the focus is on the two nodes not communicating Depends on the host. It is easier to repair the problematic host. However, if the nodes fail, then each node has to be searched Ease of adding or removing nodes easy difficult average Number of nodes when extending network many limited limited LESSON 83 INTRODUCTION TO NETWORK STANDARDS Network architectures are defined by exact and detailed specifications regarding the physical layout, cabling and methods used to access and maintain communications in and between network media. The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) is one international organisation responsible for developing and providing networking technology specifications for worldwide usage. We call these networking technology specifications as network standards. 181 COMMON NETWORK STANDARDS Network communications use a variety of standards to ensure that data travels correctly to its destination. Network standards define guidelines that specify the way computers access the medium to which they are attached. The guidelines also describe the type of medium used, the speeds used on different types of networks and the type of physical cable or wireless technology used. The well-known standards adopted by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) are the 802 standards. These are the standards that define the requirements for physical cabling and specify the way data is transmitted. The ones we will get to know here are: 802.3 802.7 802.8 802.11 802.3 ETHERNET LAN The 802.3 standard is the standard for an Ethernet LAN. In 802.3, Ethernet refers to the physical cabling, while the way data is transmitted through the cable is called Carrier Sense Multiple Access/ Collision Detection (CSMA/ CD). This method of transmission requires that only one device on the network can be transmitted at a time. If another device can sense that a transmission is already in the cable, it will have to wait. All the other devices on the network will also sense and wait until the line is clear before one of them can transmit data along the cable.
  17. 17. 182 802.7 BROADBAND LAN 802.7 are the standard specifications for a Broadband LAN. This 802.7 standard provides specifications for the design, installation and testing needed for broadband transmissions. Broadband transmissions allow simultaneous multiple transmissions or signals using different communications channels at the same time. 802.8 FIBRE-OPTIC LAN AND MAN Specifications for a Fibre-Optic LAN and MAN are given under the 802.8 standard. This standard gives the recommendations for the configuration and testing of fibre-optic Local Area Networks and Metropolitan Area Networks. 802.8 WIRELESS LAN This standard defines communication between a wireless computer or client and an access point or between two wireless computers or clients. 183 The 802.11 standard uses the 2.4GHz frequency band to transmit data up to 2Mbps. LESSON 84 PROTOCOLS PROTOCOLS Protocols provide the rules on how computers communicate. They define how devices intercommunicate in a network environment. THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTOCOLS Before protocols were developed, intercommunication between devices was not possible. Protocols are important as they define how devices, applications or computers communicate in a network. When two computers on a network perform a single exchange of data or information, they will be busy looking for the best communication process between them. For example, there will be a protocol to specify the format that the information bits or packets must contain when travelling across this connection. There are also protocols that are responsible for ensuring that the information bits or data packets are sent or received in a proper sequence. All these protocols work together as a group to prepare and process data for an exchange of information over a network. We call such a group a protocol stack or a protocol suite.
  18. 18. 184 SOME TYPES OF PROTOCOLS Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) – This protocol is used to access, send and receive Hypertext Markup Language files (HTML) files on the Internet. Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) – This protocol is used for transferring e-mail between computers. File Transfer Protocol (FTP) – FTP is responsible for allowing files to be copied between devices. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) – This protocol ensures the delivery of information packets across network. 185 Internet Protocol (IP) – This important protocol is responsible for providing logical addressing called IP address to route information between networks. LESSON 85 INTRODUCTION TO TCP/IP For communications across the Internet, we need to have protocols to demonstrate how data should be packaged and sent. TCP/IP is the communication protocol suite on the internet. It has a number of protocols controlling and handling data communication on the internet. TCP/IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol. TRANSMISSION CONTROL PROTOCOL / INTERNET PROTOCOL TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) is the internet communication protocol. It
  19. 19. 186 is a standard that sets the rules computers must follow in communicating with each other on a network. Some refer TCP/IP as the Internet Protocol Suite. When you use any applications or programs to access the Internet, these application will use TCP/IP to achieve the task. For example, when you want to surf a network, you will use the internet browser. Your browser then uses TCP/IP to request services from Internet servers. These servers will use TCP/IP to send the web pages you requested back to your browser. TRANSMISSION CONTROL PROTOCOL TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is the protocol that sets the communication rules between computers. Here, TCP establishes connection between two computers, protects against data loss and data corruption. TCP is responsible for breaking the data into packets before they are sent. TCP then assembles the packets when they reach a destination. INTERNET PROTOCOL 187 IP (Internet Protocol) is the protocol that transfers data from node to node. Here, IP takes care of delivering data packets between two computers. IP is responsible for sending the packets from sender to receiver. LESSON 86 THE WAY TCP AND IP WORK Each computer must have an IP address assigned by the network administrator to access the internet. Let say yours is When you access a web page, for example the Yahoo main page, the TCP/IP will make the communication work between your computer and the Yahoo server. First, you type the URL address “”on the browser. The TCP will send a request for the web page on Yahoo server according to the address you typed in. TCP will establish a connection between two computers which is yours and Yahoo server and it will prepare the full-duplex communication.
  20. 20. 188 A full-duplex system allows communication in both directions, and unlike half-duplex, allows this to happen simultaneously. Land-line telephone networks are full-duplex since they allow both callers to speak and be heard at the same time. A good analogy for a full-duplex system would be a two lane road with one lane for each direction The IP will begin sending the data request from to ‘’ or The Internet is a huge collection of networks. There are many routes from your computer to the server. IP will send the data packets through these routes as fast as possible. It will constantly use several different routes to deliver the packets to the destination. Meanwhile, TCP will continue to maintain the link between the two computers. TCP will close the communication link once the web page has reached your computer. LESSON 87 PRIVATE COMPUTER NETWORK SETTING Similar to mobile phones, computers connected to a network have: A phone number (an IP address on a network). Service provider identification, for example Maxis 012, Digi 016 and Celcom 019 (a subnet mask on a network). Antennas (a network gateway on a network). A phone book function to help user put names to telephone numbers (a DNS server on a network). STEPS TO SETTING UP PRIVATE NETWORK When you want to set up a private network for the school, you will need to install the network card, IP address, Subnet mask and Default gateway. 1. Right click on the My Network Places icon on the desktop and click the properties command. 189 2. In the Network Connections window, right click on the network interface and click the properties command. 3. In the network interface’s Properties dialog box, click the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) entry and then click the Properties button. In the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog box, select the Use the following IP address option. 4. Type in the IP address in the IP address text box, for example 5. Type in the Subnet mask in the subnet mask text box with
  21. 21. 190 6. Enter a default gateway with your server’s IP address. Let’s say your server IP address is 7. Make sure Obtain DNS server address automatically is chosen. 8. Click OK in the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog box. 9. Click OK in the external interface’s Properties dialog box. LESSON 88 TYPES OF NETWORK COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY The Internet has become one of the necessary things in our daily lives. A lot can be done via the Internet. 191 We use the Internet to communicate with each other, deal with money transaction, surfing for entertainment and education. For example, we can pay our utility bills using the e-banking services as shown in the video. The Internet is one of the types of network communications technology besides intranet and extranet. INTERNET The Internet, or the Net, is the worldwide, publicly accessible system of interconnected computer networks that transmit data by packet switching using the standard Internet Protocol (IP). It consists of millions of smaller business, academic, domestic and government networks, which together carry various information and services, such as electronic mail, online chat, and the interlinked Web pages and other documents of the World Wide Web.
  22. 22. 192 Internet is one of the uses of communication. Through the Internet, society has access to global information and instant communication. INTRANET An Intranet (intra means within) is an internal network that uses Internet technologies and it is a small version of the Internet that exists within an organisation. An intranet is a private computer network that uses Internet protocols, network connectivity and possibly the public telecommunication system to securely share part of an organisation’s information or operation with its employees. Intranet generally makes company information accessible to employees and facilitates working in groups. Simple intranet applications include electronic publishing of organisational materials such as telephone directories, event calendars and job postings. EXTRANET An extranet is a private network that uses Internet protocols, network connectivity, and possibly the public telecommunication system to securely share part of a business’s information or operations with suppliers, vendors, partners, customers or other businesses. 193 Package shipping companies, for example, allow customers to access their network to print air bills, schedule pickups, and even track shipped packages as the packages travel to their destinations. LESSON 89 INTERNET The Internet was created in the 1960s by people with great vision. They saw the great potential value in allowing computers to share information on research and development in scientific and military fields. Nowadays, when Internet is mentioned, it means convenience, speed and economical. Many tasks can be accomplished without having to travel far, spend too much money or even wait for responses. INTERNET The Internet is the world’s largest computer network which connects millions of computers all over the world. Many organisations including private as well as government agencies, educational institutions and individuals are connected to the Internet. Some of the many usages of the Internet are: Information; research & exchange Commerce real time communication banking shopping entertainment education gaming Internet transmits data by using Internet Protocol (IP).
  23. 23. 194 Some of the many usages of the Internet are: Information; research & exchange Commerce real time communication banking shopping entertainment education gaming Internet transmits data by using Internet Protocol (IP). INTERNET ACCESS To access the Internet, users need to subscribe services to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). An ISP can either be a telecommunication company or any other organisation specialising in providing access to Internet services. Our Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications has licensed 6 telecommunication companies to provide telephony services in Malaysia. Currently, only four of them are providing Internet services, they are Jaring by MIMOS, TMnet by Telekom Malaysia Berhad, Maxisnet by Maxis Communications Bhd and by Time dotcom Berhad. Internet connection is divided into two categories; dial-up or broadband. For dial-up connections, a phone line and modem are needed to access the Internet while broadband connections use cable modem or router. 195 INTERNET SERVICES Internet users can access services like: Web browsing Email File transfer Newsgroup & Message boards Mailing lists Chat rooms Instant messaging. LESSON 90 INTRANET INTRANET With new technologies many of our tasks can be performed with a click of a few buttons. Company operations are now not just limited within very tall buildings or between two buildings located within the city. They are also available between cities, states and even countries. The intranet technology allows sharing of valuable information and lets business activities carry on even without a key personnel present at the business premises. USES OF INTRANET An Intranet is an internal network that uses Internet technologies. It is a small version of the Internet that exists within an organisation. Intranet generally makes company information accessible to employees and facilitates working in groups.
  24. 24. 196 To access intranet, employees need to be online. To let the employees access the intranet fro everywhere around the world, every employee will be given the intranet address, user name and password. Intranet usually includes electronic publishing of materials related to an organisation such as: Telephone directories Event calendars Employee handbook Job posting Email services News bulletin Company forms Staff information Intranets too are used to conduct more sophisticated tasks such as: Groupware applications in project management. Remote discussion rooms (chat rooms) Group scheduling Video conferencing COMPARISON BETWEEN INTRANET AND INTERNET 197 LESSON 91 EXTRANET In the late 1990’s and early 2000, several industries started to use the term “extranet”. It describes central repositories of shared data made accessible via the web only to authorised members of particular work groups. Currently extranet’s usages has expanded to even allowing customers and affiliates to access the web site of a company. WHAT IS EXTRANET An extranet is a private network that uses Internet technology and public telecommunications system to securely share relevant information with authorised parties. Only registered or authorised users can navigate or access the extranet. USES OF EXTRANET Extranet can be used to: Share product catalogues with wholesalers. Jointly develop programs with other companies. Provide access services given by one company to a group of other companies. Share news of common interest exclusively with partner companies.
  25. 25. 198 INTERNET AND EXTRANET LESSON 92 COMMUNICATION DEVICES : HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS Communication devices are hardware components that enable a computer to send or receive data, instructions and information to and from one or more computers. Examples of communication devices are: Network Interface Card (NIC) Wireless Network Interface Card (WNIC) internal and external modem hub or switch router wireless access point NETWORK INTERFACE CARD A network card, sometimes pronounced as NICK, is an adapter card or PC card that enables the computer to access the network. 199 WIRELESS NETWORK INTERFACE CARD Wireless Network Interface Card is a network card that provides wireless data transmission. NETWORK COMMUNICATION CHANNELS There are two types of modem, internal modem and external modem. An internal modem only works in stand-alone computers. It is built into the computer. An external modem is separated from the computer and is also mobile. HUB/SWITCH Hub or switch is a common connection point for devices in a network. Hubs are commonly used to connect segments of a LAN.
  26. 26. 200 ROUTER A router is a communications device that connects multiple computers or other routers together and transmits data to the correct destination. WIRELESS ACCESS POINT A wireless access point is a central communications device that allow computers to transfer data. This device can help information to be transferred wirelessly to other wireless devices or to a wired network. Wireless access point has high quality antennas for optimal signals. 201 LESSON 93 FUNCTIONS OF COMMUNICATION DEVICES NETWORK INTERFACE CARD A Network Interface Card is a piece of computer hardware designed to allow computers to communicate over a computer network. The card implements the electronic circuitry required to communicate using a specific physical layer and data link layer standard such as ethernet or token ring.
  27. 27. 202 WIRELESS NETWORK INTERFACE CARD A Wireless Network Interface Card or WNIC is a network card which connects to a radio-based computer network. WNIC is an essential component for wireless desktop computer. This card uses an antenna to communicate through microwaves. WNICs are designed around the IEEE 802.11 standard which sets out low-level specifications on how all wireless networks operate and can operate in two modes known as infrastructure mode and ad hoc mode. INFRASTRUCTURE MODE In an infrastructure mode network the WNIC needs an access point: all data is transferred using the access point as the central hub. All wireless nodes in an infrastructure mode network connect to an access point. All nodes connecting to the access point must have the same service set identifier as the access point. AD HOC MODE In an ad hoc mode network the WNIC does not require an access point, but can directly interface with all other wireless nodes directly. All the peer nodes in an ad hoc network must have the same channel and service set identifier. 203 MODEM A modem is a device that enables a computer to transmit data over telephone or cable lines. Computer information is stored digitally, whereas information transmitted over telephone lines is transmitted in the form of analog waves. A modem converts between these two forms. HUB / SWITCH Hubs are commonly used to connect segments of a LAN. A hub contains multiple ports. When a packet arrives at one port, it is copied to the other ports so that all segments of the LAN can see all the packets. A hub connects all the devices on its ports together. A switch understands when two devices want to talk to each other, and gives them a switched connection. ROUTER A router is a computer networking device that forwards data packets across a network toward their destinations, through a process known as routing. A router acts as a junction between two or more networks to transfer data packets among them. In order to route packets, a router communicates with other routers using routing protocols.
  28. 28. 204 WIRELESS ACCESS POINT A wireless access point is a device that connects wireless communication devices together to form a wireless network. Wireless access point (or Wireless AP) usually connects to a wired network and can relay data between wireless devices and wired devices. Several Wireless APs can link together to form a larger network that allows "roaming". Wireless access points have IP addresses for configuration. LESSON 94 TRANSMISSION MEDIUM In communications, transmission is the sending of electrical messages in the form of wave or energy. Transmission medium means any material substance which can propagate waves or energy. Computers and other telecommunication devices use signals in a form of wave or energy to represent data which are sent through a transmission media. 205 TYPES OF TRANSMISSION MEDIA Transmission media can be divided into two broad categories. The physical transmission media, or guided medium and the wireless transmission media. The twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable and fibre optic cable are examples of physical transmission media. Wireless transmission medium or unguided medium is through air. PHYSICAL TRANSMISSION MEDIUM In physical transmission medium, waves are guided along a solid transmission medium. Wireless transmission medium waves are unguided and the transmission and reception are by means of antennas. In our daily activities we probably use both media consciously or unconsciously. For example, we use physical transmission medium when we: connect a PC to a printer using parallel port or USB port connect a PC to the same phone line for Internet communication such as TMNET Streamyx. PCs are connected using twisted-pair cables to wall sockets in the office
  29. 29. 206 We use wireless transmission medium when we: listen to the radio talk over the telephone use hotspots that have wireless Internet access with WiFi technology at restaurants and airports. WIRELESS TRANSMISSION MEDIA Wireless data transmission means data communication between network devices without using cables or cords, but by using radio frequency or infrared waves.Wireless data transmission is categorised into short, medium and long range data transmission. An example for short range is Bluetooth or Infrared. Medium range data transmission is WiFi or wireless LAN and for long range it is 3G. 3G is a so-called "third-generation” broadband packet-based transmission of text, digitised voice, video, and multimedia at data rates up to and possibly higher than 2 megabits per second (Mbps), offering a consistent set of services to mobile computer and phone users no matter where they are located in the world. 3G works over wireless air interfaces. 207 TRANSMISSION ENVIRONMENT In our daily activities, such as talking over the phone, sending short messages, sending email or uploading files to remote users, will likely involve a combination of transmission mediums along the way. The sender and the receiver will also involve many communication devices especially switches and routers. These devices are interconnected by transmission mediums that can be from any of the physical or wireless transmission mediums stated earlier. In network communications, it is common to represent the interconnection between devices as network clouds. LESSON 95 PHYSICAL TRANSMISSION MEDIA Physical transmission media refers to material substances that can propagate waves or energy. It is used to guide electrical messages from one end to the other. Ethernet and token ring LANs often use physical transmission media.
  30. 30. 208 CABLES AS A PHYSICAL TRANSMISSION MEDIUM Cables are used as a physical transmission medium. There are three types of cables used in transmitting electrical messages. They are: Twisted-Pair Cable - Two insulated copper wires that are twisted around each other. Each connection on twisted-pair requires both wires. Coaxial Cable - A cable consisting of a conducting outer metal tube that encloses and is insulated from a central conducting core, used primarily for the transmission of high-frequency signals. Fibre Optic Cable - Glass fibre used for laser transmission of video, audio and/or data. TWISTED-PAIR CABLE The twisted-pair cable is generally a common form of transmission medium. It consists of two wires or conductors twisted together, each with its own plastic insulation. The twisted wires cancel out electromagnetic interference that can cause crosstalk , the noise generated by adjacent pairs. The most common connector used for twisted-pair cable is RJ-45. Electromagnetic A wave produced by the interaction of time-varying electric and magnetic fields. Crosstalk Undesired coupling of a signal from one circuit, part of a circuit, or channel, to another. RJ-45 Registered Jack-45 (RJ-45) is an eight-wire connector used commonly to connect computers onto Local Area Networks (LAN), especially Ethernets. 209 TYPES OF TWISTED PAIR CABLE The Unshielded Twisted-Pair or UTP is the most common twisted-pair cable used in communications. It has four pairs of colour-coded twisted-pair cables that are covered with a plastic outer jacket. UTP Cable Cables that consist of pairs of unshielded wire twisted together. It is the most common kind of copper telephone wiring. The Shielded Twisted-Pair or STP is another form of twisted-pair cable. Its four pairs of colour-coded wires are each wrapped in metallic foil, and all four are then collectively wrapped in a layer of metallic braid or foil. Finally, this layer is wrapped with a plastic outer jacket. STP Cable Twisted-pair cable wires that consist of an outer covering or shield. COAXIAL CABLE The coaxial cable, often referred to as ‘coax’, consists of a single copper wire surrounded by at least three layers.They are an insulating material, a woven or braided metal and a plastic outer coating. This cable is often used as cable television (CATV) network wiring because it can be cabled over longer distances in comparison to the twisted-pair cable. PART OF COAXIAL CABLE
  31. 31. 210 The coaxial cable consists of a centre inner conductor of solid or stranded wire enclosed in an insulating sheath. The sheath is enclosed in an outer conductor of metal foil or a woven copper braid. This outer conductor is also enclosed in another insulating sheath, and the whole cable is protected by a plastic cover. The outer conductor acts as the second wire in the cable. It also acts as a shield for the inner conductor and helps reduce outside interference. CONNECTORS FOR THE COAXIAL CABLE The connector most commonly used in connecting a coaxial cable to a device is the BNC connector. BNC is short for British Naval Connector or Bayonet-Neill- Concelman. There are three popular BNC connectors. They are: BNC connector: used to connect devices such as the TV set BNC T connector: used in Ethernet networks BNC terminator: connected at the end of a cable to prevent the reflection of signals FIBRE OPTIC CABLE 211 The fibre optic cable is a networking medium that uses light for data transmission. The intensity of light is increased and decreased to represent binary one and zero. Its core consists of dozens or hundreds of thin strands of glass or plastic which uses light to transmit signals. Each strand, called an optical fibre, is as thin as a human hair. Transmission The act of sending electrical messages (and also radiant energy that passes through media.) Binary The binary system is a way of counting using just the two numbers 0 and 1. Optical Fibre A flexible optically transparent fibre, usually made of glass or plastic, through which light can be transmitted by successive internal reflections. PARTS OF A FIBRE OPTIC CABLE Inside a fibre optic cable, each optical fibre is clad with an insulating glass and a protective coating. Typically, a fibre optic cable has five parts. The core is the light transmission element. It is typically made of glass or plastic. Cladding surrounds the core.It is also made of glass or plastic but is less dense than the core. Buffer surrounds cladding. It is usually made of plastic and helps shields the core and cladding from being damaged. A strengthening material surrounds the buffer to prevent the fibre cable from being stretched when installers pull it. Outer jacket surrounds the cable to protect the fibre against abrasion, solvents and other contaminants. CONNECTORS OF A FIBRE OPTIC CABLE The most commonly used fibre optic connectors are SC, ST, FC and MT-RJ connectors.
  32. 32. 212 SC A fibre optic cable connector that uses a push-pull latching mechanism similar to common audio and video cables. ST A fibre optic cable connector that uses a bayonet plug and socket. FC A fibre optic cable connector that uses a threaded plug and socket. MT-RJ Mechanical Transfer Registered Jack (MT-RJ), a fibre optics connector popular for small form factor devices due to its small size. LESSON 96 WIRELESS TRANSMISSION MEDIA WIRELESS COMMUNICATION Wireless is a method of communication that uses electromagnetic waves rather than wire conductors to transmit data between devices.Wireless networks are telephone or computer networks that use radio frequencies and infrared waves as their carrier. The mediums used in wireless communications are air, vacuum and even water. Air is the most commonly used medium. Signals are normally broadcasted through air and are available to anyone who has a device capable of receiving them. 213 WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY The use of wireless technology as a method of data transport appears very similar to a wired technology. In a wireless media however, signal transmission is unguided and the device communicates without using wires between nodes, usually by relying on radio frequencies instead. WIRELESS TRANSMISSION Wireless transmission can be categorised into three broad groups: Radio Waves Microwaves Infrared RADIO WAVES There is no clear difference between radio waves and microwaves. Electromagnetic waves ranging in frequencies between 3 KHz and 1 GHz are normally called radio waves. Waves ranging in frequencies between 1 and 300 GHz are normally called microwaves. It is actually the behaviour of the waves rather than the frequencies that determines the classification of wireless transmission.
  33. 33. 214 RADIO WAVES SIGNALS Radio waves are normally omnidirectional. When an antenna transmits radio waves, they are propagated in all directions. This means that the sending and receiving antennas do not have to be aligned. The omnidirectional characteristics of radio waves make them useful for multicasting, in which there is one sender but many receivers. Our AM and FM radio stations, cordless phones and televisions are examples of multicasting. DISADVANTAGES OF USING RADIO WAVES Radio waves transmitted by one antenna are susceptible to interference by another antenna that is sending signals of the same frequency or band. MICROWAVES Electronic waves with frequencies between 1 GHz to 300 GHz are normally called microwaves. Unlike radio waves, microwaves are unidirectional, in which the sending and receiving antennas need to be aligned. Microwaves propagation is line-of-sight therefore towers with mounted antennas need to be in direct sight of each other. 215 Due to the unidirectional property of microwaves, a pair of antennas can be placed aligned together without interfering with another pair of antennas using the same frequency. Two types of antenna are used for microwave communications. They are the parabolic dish antenna and the horn antenna. The parabolic dish antenna receives ingoing transmissions by reflecting the signal to a common point called the focus. Outgoing transmissions are broadcasted through a horn antenna by deflecting signals outward in a series of narrow parallel beams. High-frequency microwaves cannot penetrate walls. This is why receiving antennas cannot be placed inside buildings. INFRARED Infrared is used in devices such as the mouse, wireless keyboard and printers. Some manufacturers provide a special port called the IrDA port that allows a wireless keyboard to communicate with a PC. Infrared signals have frequencies between 300 GHz to 400 THz. They are used for short-range communication.
  34. 34. 216 INFRARED SIGNALS Infrared signals have high frequencies and cannot penetrate walls. Due to its short-range communication system, the use of an infrared communication system in one room will not be affected by the use of another system in the next room. This is why using an infrared TV remote control in our home will not interfere with the use of our neighbour’s infrared TV remote control. DISADVANTAGES OF USING INFRARED Infrared signals cannot be used for long distance communication. In addition, we cannot use infrared waves outside a building because sun's rays contain infrared waves that can interfere with communication. LESSON 97 SERVER SOFTWARE Software such as Windows Server 2003, Windows NT and Red Hat Linux are some of the examples of server software. All of these software fall under the Network Operating System. 217 DEFINITION OF NETWORK OPERATING SYSTEMS An operating system is the program that first loads when a computer boots and manages any other software or hardware on the computer. A Network Operating System or known as NOS, has additional functionality that allows it to connect computers and peripherals to a network. A Network Operating System is most frequently used with Local Area Networks and Wide Area Networks, but could also have application to larger network systems. A NOS is not the same as the networking tools provided by some existing operating systems, Windows XP for instance. NOS is an operating system that has been specifically written to keep networks running at optimal performance. EXAMPLES OF NETWORK OPERATING SYSTEMS Some popular Network Operating Systems include: Windows NT Windows 2000 Server Windows Server 2003 Red Hat Linux Windows NT is a family of operating systems produced by Microsoft, the first version of which was released in July 2003. It was the first 23-bit version of Windows. Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 are the latest versions of Windows NT. Windows 2000 (also referred to as Win2K or W2K) is graphical and business-oriented operating system. It is part of the Microsoft
  35. 35. 218 NT line of operating systems and was released on February 17, 2000. Windows 2000 comes in four versions which are Professional, Server, Advanced Server and Datacenter Server. Additionally, Microsoft offers Windows 2000 Advanced Server-Limited edition, which was released in 2001 and runs on 64-bit Intel Itanium Microprocessor. Windows Server 2003 is the name of Microsoft’s line of server operating systems. It was introduced in April 2003 as the successor to Windows 2000 Server. It is considered by Microsoft to be the cornerstone of their Windows Server System line of business server products. Red Hat Linux was one of the most popular Linux distributions, assembled by Red Hat. It is one of the “middle-aged” Linux distributions; 1.0 was released in November 3rd , 1994. Since 2003, Red Hat has discontinued the Red Hat Linux line in favour of its new Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Red Hat Linux 9, the final release, ended on April 30th , 2004, although the Fedora Legacy project continues to publish updates. 219 PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK OPERATING SYSTEMS Peer-to-peer Network Operating Systems allow users to share resources and files located on their computers. It is also for users to access shared resources found on other computers. However, they do not have a file server or a centralised management source. AppleShare and Windows for Workgroups are examples of programs that can function as peer-to- peer Network Operating System. CLIENT/SERVER NETWORKING OPERATING SYSTEM Client/server Network Operating Systems allow the network to centralise functions and applications in one or more dedicated file servers. The file servers become the heart of the system, providing access to resources and providing security. Individual workstations or clients have access to the resources available on the file servers. The Network Operating System provides the mechanism to integrate all the components of the network and allow multiple users to simultaneously share the same resources irrespective of physical location.
  36. 36. 220 Novell Netware and Windows 2000 Server are examples of client or server Network Operating Systems. LESSON 98 CLIENT SOFTWARE FUNCTIONS OF WEB BROWSER A web browser is a software application that enables a user to display and interact with HTML documents hosted by web servers or held in a file system. Text and images on a web page can contain hyperlinks to other web pages at the same or to different websites. Web browser allow a user to quickly and easily access information provided on many web pages at many websites by surfing these links. Web browsers available for personal computer include Microsoft Internet Explorer, Safari, Netscape and Opera.Web browsers are the most commonly used type of Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) user agent. Although browsers are typically used to access the World Wide Web, they can also be used to access information provided by web servers in private networks or content in file systems. 221 FUNCTIONS OF EMAIL CLIENT An email client is a computer program that is used to read and send email. FUNCTIONS OF FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL (FTP) File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is used to connect two computers over the Internet so that the user of one computer can transfer files and perform file commands on the other computer. LESSON 99 SETTING NETWORK FACILITIES NETWORK INTERFACE CARD A computer, or any computing devices, needs a network interface to connect to a network and communicate with other devices on the network. A Network Interface Card or NIC is an expansion card that allows the transmission of data over a cable network. Also known as a network adapter card, it is an electronic circuit card that is inserted inside the computer. Installing NIC into computers enables the user to connect with other computers and share not only data but also other devices such as the server and printer. Once it is installed, you can connect the network cable from the computer to the switch or hub. Then, with some software configuration, your computer is ready for communication on the network.
  37. 37. 222 Inserting or installing a Network Interface card is not difficult. If you have installed a modem, a sound card, or a video controller card on your computer before, you will probably find it a simple task to install a Network Interface Card. CHECKING FOR A NETWORK INTERFACE CARD Check whether your PC already has a Network Interface Card by inspecting the back of the PC for a network socket. IDENTIFYING THE LOCATION OF THE NETWORK INTERFACE CARD If your PC does not have a Network Interface Card, then you need to insert one. First you have to disconnect the power from your PC. You should remember the dangers of static electricity. Once the main power supply has been turned off, touch any metal part on your computer casing before starting your work. Second, carefully remove the casing or side panel of your PC. Select either the ISA (black) or PCI (white) slot, depending on the Network Interface Card you are using. 223 Third, remove the back blank plate from behind the slot you have selected for the Network Interface Card. INSERTING THE NETWORK INTERFACE CARD Insert the Network Interface Card into the slot you have selected by firmly pressing the card down. Secure the card in place with the screw from the blanking plate. Replace the casing or side panel of your PC. Finally, boot the PC and install the driver.
  38. 38. 224 LESSON 100 INSTALLING NETWORK INTERFACE CARD (NIC) INSTALLING THE NIC DRIVER FOR WINDOWS 98 AND WINDOWS ME. Step 1: After inserting the Network Interface Card into its slot, the “Add New Hardware Wizard” should now appear. Click “Next” to continue. Step 2: Select Search for the better driver and click “Next” to continue. Step 3: Select “Specify a location” and browse to the location where your CD-ROM drive is located. Select “Next” to continue. Step 4: Windows will locate the correct driver for your device on the CD supplied by the library. Windows will also indicate that it is now ready to install the driver. Select “Next” to continue. The NIC driver is now properly installed. Restart the computer to complete the installation. 225 INSTALLING THE NIC DRIVER FOR WINDOWS 2000 Windows will indicate that it has found a new hardware after the NIC has been inserted into its slot. The “Found New Hardware Wizard” will then appear. Click “Next” to continue. Step 1: Select "Search for a suitable driver for my device (recommended)” and click “Next” to continue. Step 2: Select “CD-ROM Drives” and click “Next” to continue. Windows will now search for a suitable driver for your device. Step 3: Windows will locate the correct driver for your device and indicate that it is now ready to install the driver. Click “Next” to continue. The NIC driver is now properly installed. Restart the computer to complete the installation.
  39. 39. 226 INSTALLING THE NIC DRIVER FOR WINDOWS XP Windows will indicate that it has found a new hardware after the NIC has been inserted into its slot. The “Found New Hardware Wizard” will then appear. Click “Next” to continue. Step 1: Select “Search for the best driver for my device (recommended)” and click “Next” to continue. Step 2: Select “CD-ROM Drives” and click “Next” to continue. Windows will now search for a suitable driver for your device. Step 3: Windows will locate the correct driver for your device and indicate that it is now ready to install the driver. Click “Next” to continue. The NIC driver is now properly installed. Restart the computer to complete the installation. INSTALLING A WIRELESS NETWORK INTERFACE 227 CARD DRIVER Step 1: Place your client adapter in the PCI of your computer. Windows will indicate that it has found new hardware. The "Found New Hardware Wizard" will then appear. Click "Next" to continue. Step 2: Select “CD-ROM Drives” and click “Next” to continue. Windows will now search for a suitable driver for your device. The NIC driver is now properly installed. Restart the computer to complete the installation.
  40. 40. 228 LESSON 101 CRIMPING STRAIGHT CABLE STRAIGHT CABLE A network cable acts as an extension enabling a device with a Network Interface Card to be attached to a network. A common form of network media is the UTP CAT 5 known as Unshielded Twisted-Pair Category 5 cable. ITEMS FOR MAKING STRAIGHT CABLE CAT 5 CABLE CAT 5 cable has four twisted pairs of wire for a total of eight individually insulated wires. Each pair is colour coded with one wire having a solid colour: Blue Orange Green Brown Twisted around a second wire with a white background and a stripe of the same colour. RJ-45 The straight cable is terminated with CAT 5 RJ-45 (Jack) modular plug (RJ means Registered Jack). RJ-45 plug are similar to those you'll see on the end of your telephone cable except they have eight contacts on the end of the plug and they are about twice as big. Make sure they are rated for CAT 5 wiring. 229 CRIMP TOOL Crimp tool - to crimp RJ-45 connectors. CABLE STRIPPER Cable stripper – to cut and strip cables. CUTTERS Cutters - to cut the cable off at the reel and to fine tune the cable ends during assembly. CABLE CRIMPING PROCESS The total length of wire segments between a PC and a hub or between two PCs cannot exceed 100 Meters. Strip one end of the cable with the stripper or a cutter. If you are using the stripper, place the cable in the groove on the blade (left) side of the stripper and align the end of the cable with the right side of the stripper. Spread and arrange the pairs roughly: White/Green, Blue White/Blue, Green White/Brown, Brown White/Orange, Orange
  41. 41. 230 Trim the ends of the wires so they are even with one another. It is very important that the unstripped or untwisted end be slightly less than half-inch long. If it is longer than half-inch it will be out of its specifications and will cause crosstalk. If it is slightly less than half-inch long, it will not be properly clinched when RJ-45 plug is crimped on. There should be little or no space between the wires. Hold the RJ-45 plug with the clip facing down or away from you. Push the wire firmly into the plug. 231 Inspect it carefully. Looking through the bottom of the plug, the wire on the far left side will have a white background The wires should all end evenly at the front of the plug. Hold the wire near the RJ-45 plug with the clip down and firmly push it into the front-left of the crimper. Hold the wire in place and squeeze the crimper handles quite firmly. Crimp it once. Finally test the crimping result. Test the crimp strength. If it is done properly, an average person will not be able to pull the plug off the cable with his or her bare hands. LESSON 102 CRIMPING CROSSOVER CABLE This cable can be used to directly connect two computers to each other without the use of a hub or switch.
  42. 42. 232 TOOLS FOR CABLE CRIMPING What you need are some tools such as a cable, connectors, crimper, stripper and cutter. Be sure the cable you are using is properly rated for CAT 5. Crossover cables are terminated with CAT 5 RJ-45. STRIPPING CATEGORY 5 CABLE Start by stripping off about two inches (5cm) of the plastic jacket off the end of the cable. CATEGORY 5 CABLE Category 5 cable must only have half of an inch (1.3 cm) at the end. CUTTING CATEGORY 5 CABLE Begin to untwist the twisted exposed wires on your cable, be sure to hold onto the base of the jacket with your other hand. Once you have all the wires untwisted begin to arrange them in the proper order: White/Green, Green White/Orange, Blue White/Blue, Orange White/Brown, Brown Once you get all the wired arranged in the proper order, make sure your wire cutters are within reach then grasp at the point where they enter the jacket. Grab your cutters now. Line them up along your prepared wires about half an inch or 1.3 cm above the jacket. Be sure at this point that you are both half an inch or 1.3 cm above the jacket, and that your cutters are aligned straight across the wires. 233 FITTING RJ-45 PLUG Take RJ-45 plugs and begin to slide the wires into the RJ-45 plugs. You might face some difficulties at this point, but have some patience and hold onto those wires. It will fit in there just fine. Once it is in as far as it will go the wires should extend almost to the front of the RJ-45 plugs, and about 3/8 of an inch or 2 cm of the jacket will be inside the RJ-45 plugs. CRIMPING CATEGORY 5 CABLE Be sure to keep a good grip on the RJ-45 plug and the cable. Insert the RJ-45 plug into the crimper. It should only go in one way, so you don't have to worry about inserting it. Begin to compress those crimpers. You will hear a clicking sound. Keep squeezing. If you try to let go too early, nothing will happen. They will not release. Keep compressing until they stop clicking or stop moving all together. At this point, you should be able to let go of the RJ-45 plug and the crimpers. EXAMINING THE CRIMPED CATEGORY 5 CABLE If you look at the end of the RJ-45 plug, you should see that the copper connectors should not be pressed down into the wires. Toward the back of the RJ-45 plug it should be crimped securely holding the jacket or cable in the RJ-45 plug.
  43. 43. 234 LESSON 103 CONFIGURATION OF NETWORK Step 1 The first step is to open the Control Panel window. Step 2 Select Network and Internet Connections. Step 3 Click on the Network Connections icon. Step 4 Inside the Network Connections window, right click on Local Area Connection icon. Then click on Properties in the drop down menu. Step 5 (A) Make sure the TCP/IP is one of the items in the list of connection items. If TCP/IP is available, proceed to Step 6 If TCP/IP is not available, click on the Install button. 235 Step 5 (B) In the next dialog box, Select Protocol and click Add… button. Once inside the Protocol dialog box, install the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Then, proceed to step 6. Step 6 In the next dialogue box, click on Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) icon. Then click on the properties button. Step 7 After the properties button is clicked, the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties window will appear. You will see details like IP address, Subnet mask and Default gateway. Subnet mask specifies the size of the network. Here, we usually use for small networks. Gateways are used to connect to other networks and the Internet.
  44. 44. 236 Step 8 Select Use the following IP address . Fill in the network information given by your teacher for the following. IP address Subnet Mask Default Gateway (optional) Preferred DNS Server (optional) Click the OK button when done. Finally, close all windows. You must restart your computer before the setting take effect. LESSON 104 TESTING OF NETWORK Once you have installed the network card, cables and software, you can test the new TCP/IP protocol. Ping is the best utility for a TCP/IP connection test. TESTING OF NETWORK To use ping, open the Command Prompt window. Enter the name or IP address you want to test after the ping command. The ping utility then sends and receives packets of information. If you successfully sent and received packets, all is well with the TCP/IP connection. 237 If ping displays error messages such as: • request timed out • unknown host • could not send, receive packets over the network You should verify that the IP is valid. If the problem still persists, you have to check your network adapter or protocol. LESSON 105 SHARED FOLDER In Windows, Macintosh and other operating systems, a folder is a named collection of a related files that can be retrieved as on entity. Folders can contain many different types of file, such as documents, music, pictures, videos and programs. These files can be copied or moved to other folders, computers and even to the Internet. You can also create folders within folders. You can share the files and folders stored on your computer, and on your network.
  45. 45. 238 LESSON 106 WIRELESS AND MOBILE Wireless and mobile technology allows you to access the Internet from wherever you are. You no longer have to be at home or in the office to check your email or browse the net. With wireless technology, you can get connected with anyone from anywhere. WIRELESS AND MOBILE COMMUNICATION Wireless is a term used to describe telecommunications that use electromagnetic waves rather than some form of wire to carry signal over part or the entire communication path. It refers to communication without cables or cords, but which chiefly uses radio frequency and infrared waves. This method of communication relies on low-powered radio waves to transmit data between devices. Wireless and mobile communications rely on IrDA and the wireless networking of computers. Wireless Wireless is a term used to describe telecommunications that use electromagnetic waves rather than some form of wire to carry signal over part or the entire communication path. 239 Telecommunication The science of information transport using wire, radio, optical, or electromagnetic channels to transmit and receive signals for voice or data communications. Electromagnetic Waves A wave produced by the interaction of time-varying electric and magnetic fields. Radio Frequency Frequency of electromagnetic waves used for radio and television broadcasting. Infrared Wave Electromagnetic waves in the frequency range just below visible light corresponding to radiated heat. IR waves are often used for remote controls. IrDA Infrared Data Association (IrDA) is an organisation that defines the infrared communications protocol. A protocol used by many laptops and mobile cellular phones to exchange data at short ranges. WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY Wireless technology is rapidly evolving, and is playing an increasingly important role in the lives of people throughout the world. An ever-larger number of people are relying on this technology both directly and indirectly. Specialised and exotic examples of wireless communications and control include: Global System for Mobile Communication General Packet Radio Service Enhanced Data GSM Environment Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Wireless Application Protocol i-Mode GSM Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is a globally accepted standard for digital cellular communications system i-Mode The Packet-based service for mobile phones offered by Japan's leader in wireless technology, NTT DoCoMo
  46. 46. 240 GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION (GSM) Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) is a digital mobile telephone system used in Europe and other parts of the world. It is the de facto (widely recognised) wireless telephone standard in Europe. de facto A specification that hasn't been officially established by an accrediting agency but that is accepted and used as a standard by a majority of practitioners. GENERAL PACKET RADIO SERVICE (GPRS) General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is a packet- based wireless communication service that provides continuous connection to the Internet for mobile phone and computer users. GPRS General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is a standard for wireless communications which runs at speeds up to 115 kilobits per second. Packet The unit of data that is routed between an origin and a destination on the Internet or any other packet-switched network. ENHANCED DATA GSM ENVIRONMENT (EDGE) Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE) is a faster version of the Global System for Mobile (GSM) wireless service. EDGE Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution(EDGE) is a faster version to the Global System for Mobile (GSM) wireless service designed to deliver data at rates up to 384 Kbps. 241 UNIVERSAL MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM (UMTS) Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is a broadband, packet-based system. It offers a consistent set of services to mobile computer and phone users no matter where they are located in the world. UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is a third-generation (3G) broadband, packet-based transmission of text, digitised voice, video and multimedia at data rates up to 2 megabits per second (Mbps) and offers global roaming. Broadband Transmission over a network in which more than one signal is carried at a time. Broadband technology can transmit data, audio and video all at once over long distances. WIRELESS APPLICATION PROTOCOL (WAP) Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is a set of communication protocols to standardise the way that wireless devices, such as cellular telephones and radio transceivers can be used for Internet access. Internet An international network first used to connect education and research networks, begun by the US government. The Internet now provides communication and application services to international-based businesses, consumers, educational institutions, governments, and research organisations. Transceiver A device that performs both transmitting and receiving functions. WAP Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is a specification for a set of communication protocols to standardise the way wireless devices, such as cellular telephones and radio transceivers, can be used for Internet access.
  47. 47. 242 i-MODE i-Mode, the world's first "smart phone service" was first introduced in Japan. It not only provides colour and video over telephone sets but can also be used for Web browsing. Smart Phone A cellular telephone that provides digital voice service as well as any combination of e-mail, text messaging, pager, Web access, voice recognition as well as picture taking (camera phone). TYPES OF WIRELESS Wireless can be divided into four categories. They are: fixed wireless mobile wireless portable wireless IR wireless FIXED WIRELESS Fixed wireless is the operation of wireless devices or systems in homes and offices. Devices of fixed wireless are connected to the Internet via specialised modems. MOBILE WIRELESS Mobile wireless is the use of wireless devices or systems aboard motorised, moving vehicles. Examples of mobile wireless are the automotive cell phone. PORTABLE WIRELESS Portable wireless is the operation of autonomous, battery-powered wireless devices or systems outside the office, home or vehicle. An examples of portable wireless are cell phones. 243 IR WIRELESS IR wireless is the use of devices that convey data via IR (infrared) radiation and is employed in certain limited-range communications and control systems. LESSON 107 MOBILE COMPUTING Mobile computing is a generic term used to describe the ability to use technology to wirelessly connect to and use centrally located information and/or application software via small portable and wireless computing and communication devices. Nomadic computing is another name for mobile computing. Here, users can access the Internet and retrieve data from anywhere in the world, using portable computing devices (such as laptop and handheld computers) in conjunction with mobile communication technologies. People using such a system are sometimes referred to as technomads, and their ability to use that system is referred to as nomadicity. Nomadic Computing A computing environment which offers its user access to data or information from any device and network while he or she is in on the move. Nomadicity The tendency of a person, or group of people, to move with relative frequency. DEFINING MOBILE COMPUTING Mobile computing is about the new strategies of computing that utilise portable or mobile devices and wireless communication networks. There are various types of mobile computing devices. They include the notebook computer, tablet PC, handheld computer, PDA and smartphone.
  48. 48. 244 Tablet PC A wireless personal computer (PC) that allows a user to take notes in his/her natural handwriting using a stylus or digital pen on a touch screen. PDA Handheld computer device used to organise personal information such as contacts and schedules. Data can usually be transferred to a desktop computer by cable or wirelesstransmission. Smartphone A cellular telephone that provides digital voice service as well as any combination of e-mail, text messaging, pager, Web access, voice recognition as well as picture taking (camera phone). Wireless communication technologies commonly used for mobile computing include the wireless LAN technology, WWAN technology, Bluetooth and IrDA interfaces. Mobile computing can be : Wireless and mobile access to the Internet. Wireless and mobile access to private intranets. Wireless and ad hoc mobile access between mobile computers. LAN A group of personal computers and/or other devices, such as printers or servers, that are located in a relatively limited area, such as an office, and can communicate and share information with each other. WWAN Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) is a form of wireless network that uses cellular network technologies such as GPRS,CDMA2000, GSM, CDPD and Mobitex to transfer data. Bluetooth A wireless networking technology using radio waves that enables users to send data and voice signals between electronic devices over short distances. 245 TYPES OF MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICES NOTEBOOK COMPUTER A notebook computer or notebook is a small mobile personal computer, usually weighing from one to three kilograms. Using the technology from Symbionics Networks Ltd., a wireless LAN adapter can be made to fit on a PCMCIA card in a laptop or notebook computer to provide mobile computing. PCMCIA stands for Personal Computer Memory Card Industry Association. PCMCIA Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PMCIA) is an industry group organised in 1989 to promote standards for a credit card-size memory or I/O device that would fit into a personal computer, usually a notebook or a laptop computer. TABLET PC A tablet PC is a notebook or slate- shaped mobile computer. Its digitising tablet technology allows the user to operate the computer using a stylus or digital pen and a touch screen instead of the usual keyboard and mouse. Most Tablet PCs offer built-in support for wireless networks. Stylus A writing device similar to a modern ballpoint pen to write text or draw lines on a surface as input to a computer or point to menus. Touch Screen Display overlays which are typically either pressure-sensitive (resistive), electrically-sensitive (capacitive), acoustically-sensitive (SAW - surface acoustic wave) or photo-sensitive (infra-red). The user selects, moves and draws by pointing to, and touching, the relevant part of the screen. PDA Personal digital assistants or PDAs are handheld devices that were originally designed as personal organisers but became much more versatile over the years.
  49. 49. 246 Many PDAs can access the Internet, intranets or extranets via Wi-Fi or Wireless Wide-Area Networks or WWANs. SMART PHONE A smart phone is an electronic handheld device that integrates the functionality of a mobile phone and a personal digital assistant or PDA or other information appliance. This is often achieved by adding telephone functions to an existing PDA or PDA Phone or putting “smart” capabilities such as PDA functions into a mobile phone. TECHNOLOGIES FOR MOBILE COMPUTING WIRELESS LAN A wireless LAN is a technology that allow notebook users to connect to a Local Area Network (LAN) through a wireless (radio) connection. The IEEE 802.11 group of standards specifies technologies to be used for wireless LANs. WWAN WWAN, which stands for Wireless Wide Area Network, is a form of wireless network. Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) is a form of wireless network that uses cellular network technologies such as GPRS, CDMA2000, GSM, CDPD and Mobitex to transfer data. BLUETOOTH Bluetooth, also known as IEEE 802.15.1, is a telecommunication industry specification for wireless Personal Area Networks or PANs. Bluetooth devices operate on a radio communication system. For two Bluetooth devices to communicate, they do not have to be in line-of-sight. In fact, they can even be in separate rooms, 247 as long as the received power is high enough. Bluetooth transmits and receives data in a frequency band of 2.45 GHz. THE INFRARED DATA ASSOCIATION The Infrared Data Association or IrDA defines physical specifications of communication protocol standards for short range exchange of data over infrared light. This is used in Personal Area Networks (PANs). Among existing uses of IrDA and possible uses are: sending a document from a notebook computer to a printer exchanging business cards between handheld PCs coordinating schedules and telephone books between a desktop and network computers. PAN Personal Area Network (PAN) is a computer network used for communication among computer devices (including telephones and personal digital assistants) close to one person. COMMON SERVICES FOR MOBILE COMPUTING To cater to the needs of mobile computing, Wireless Service Providers would seek to provide wireless access points for as many wireless network devices as possible in specified service zones. Services include: Services include: email capabilities A variety of software applications for secured communications. Print stations Tracking and navigation systems Instant mobile messaging Mobile secutity services Mobile data, voive and video systems. Access to satellitte radio and TV. Remote home premise video monitor.
  50. 50. 248 LESSON 108 INTERNET TECHNOLOGY The Internet works wonders to those who are in touch with the technology. Communication is made easy, economical and fast with the development in the Internet technology. Now, we do not have to suffer high telephone bills because of our oversea calls. The Internet allow us to make voice calls for free, like those services provided by Skype and Yahoo Messenger. DEFINITION OF INTERNET TECHNOLOGY Internet Technology is a broad range of technologies for web development, web production, design, networking, telecommunication and e-commerce. VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL (VoIP) Protocols used to carry voice signals over the IP network are commonly referred to as Voice over IP or VoIP. VoIP is one of the Internet technologies that allows a user to make telephone calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (or analog) phone line. VoIP is a method for taking analog audio signals and turning them into digital data that can be transmitted over the Internet. VoIP SERVICES There are three different VoIP services in common use today. They are Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA), IP Phones and computer-to-computer. 249 ANALOG TELEPHONE ADAPTER (ATA) The simplest and most common way is through the use of a device called an Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA). The ATA allows you to connect a standard phone to your computer or your Internet connection for use with VoIP. The ATA is an analog-to-digital converter. It takes the analog signal from your traditional phone and converts it into digital data for transmission over the Internet. Skype, one VoIP provider, offers free calling locally and between members, and inexpensive long-distance calls to other numbers. IP PHONES IP Phones look just like normal phones with a handset, a cradle and buttons. IP Phones have an RJ-45 Ethernet connector instead of the standard RJ-11 phone connectors. IP Phones connect directly to your router and have all the necessary hardware and software onboard to handle the IP Call. Soon, WiFi IP phones will be available, allowing subscribing callers to make VoIP calls from any WiFi hot spot. COMPUTER-TO-COMPUTER Computer-to-computer is certainly the easiest way to use VoIP. Devices needed to place a computer-to-computer Internet telephone call:
  51. 51. 250 Software, a microphone, speakers or headphones, a sound card and an Internet connection preferably a fast one like you would get through a cable or DSL modem. Except for your normal monthly ISP fee, there is usually no charge for computer-to-computer calls, no matter what the distance. ADVANTAGES OF VoIP As VoIP is digital, it may offer features and services that are not available with a traditional phone. If you have a broadband Internet connection, you need not maintain and pay the additional cost for a line just to make telephone calls. With many VoIP plans you can talk for as long as you want with any person in the world. You can also talk with many people at the same time without any additional cost. DISADVANTAGES OF VoIP Some VoIP services do not work during power failures and the service provider may not offer backup power. Not all VoIP services connect directly to emergency services. VoIP providers may or may not offer directory assistance or white page listings. As VoIP uses an Internet connection, it is susceptible to all the problems normally associated with home broadband services. Phone conversations can become distorted, garbled or lost because of transmission errors. Some kind of stability in Internet data transfer needs to be guaranteed before VoIP could truly replace traditional phones. VoIP is susceptible to worms, viruses and hacking, although this is very rare and VoIP developers are working on VoIP encryption to counter this. 251 LESSON 109 INTERNET SERVICES BLOGGING A blog (web log or weblog) is one of the popular activities on the Internet. Most of these blogs are publicly shared and the authors frequently update the content on a regular basis. A blog is usually referred to the text produced by the author about his or her thoughts, experiences or interests. A blog is usually referred to the text produced by the author about his or her thoughts, experiences or interests. The world of blogging is referred as blogosphere. Another new term is the blogonomics, which refers to people using the blogosphere to generate money. The posts to a blog are usually arranged in this order, the most recent entries will always be on top of the journal. To write a good blog, you need to remember these principles: use a consistent writing style and appropriate tone for your subject post often, though your posts are short allow your readers to eave you comments on your posts If you would like to search some blogs, you can visit (, which categorises blogs into directories. Following are several top blogging resources you should check out: Blogger ( - owned by Google, one of the free and easiest to maintain blogging tool. TypePad ( - the blog tool that provides more functionality for a minimal fee. Movable Type ( - if you have your own domain site and want to put several blogs together, this is the best choice Wordpress ( - an open source blogging tool that needs a bit of coding to make your blogs more interesting WORLD WIDE WEB (WWW) The World Wide Web or the Web consists of a worldwide collection of electronic documents. Each electronic document on the Web is called a web page which can contain text, graphics, audio and video.
  52. 52. 252 These pages are written in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). Every website has an address or Uniform Resource Locator (URL). The URL is formed by the protocol, domain, directory and the document name. EMAIL An electronic mail or email is the transmission of messages and files via a computer network. A user utilises an email program to create, send, receive, forward, store, print and delete email messages. Some emails are called web-based email like Yahoo Mail and Hotmail. THE INTERNET RELAY CHAT (IRC) The Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a system for chatting that involves a set of rules and conventions, and client/server software. A chat is a real-time typed conversation that takes place on a computer. A chat room is a location on an Internet server that permits users to chat with each other. Anyone in the chat room can participate in the conversation, which usually is specific to a particular topic. SEARCH ENGINES Search engines are special websites on the Internet to help you find information you need. Different search engines will serve different purposes, for example: Google Scholar ( is for searching authoritative and scholarly sites. Google ( is for searching valuable or relevant sites with rankings. Yahoo News ( is for searching opinions on current issues. Wikipedia ( it is an open source for encyclopedia 253 LESSON 110 ADVANCED NETWORKING PERSONAL AREA NETWORK (PAN) A Personal Area Network (PAN) is a computer network used for communication among computer devices including PCs, laptops, printers, telephones, digital cameras, mobile phones, video game consoles and personal digital assistants, close to one person. Personal Area Networks may be wired with USB port, Firewire port, Infrared (IrDA) and Bluetooth technologies. Bluetooth is the popular wireless PAN used by most people, especially the mobile phone technologies, and it applies the IEEE 802.15.1 standards. VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORK (VPN)
  53. 53. 254 A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a network that uses a public telecommunication infrastructure, such as the Internet, to remote offices or individuals with secure access to their organisation's private network. VPN uses tunnelling mechanism to maintain privacy and security of the data. Tunnelling means transmitting data packets across a public network. VPN is often used by companies to provide access from their internal network resources to their home or mobile workers. WIRELESS LAN (WLAN) Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is a type of LAN that uses high-frequency radio waves to communicate between nodes. WLAN improves user mobility, speed and scalability to move around within a broad coverage area and still be connected to the network. The IEEE standard for Wireless LANs is 802.11 WORLDWIDE INTEROPERABILITY FOR MICROWAVE ACCESS (WiMAX) Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) is the industry term for broadband wireless access network that is developed based on the IEEE 802.16 standard. WiMAX is a Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) technology that will connect WiFi hotspots to the Internet and provides a wireless extension to cable and DSL for larger broadband access.WiMAX would operate similar to WiFi but at higher speeds, over greater distances and for a greater number of users. A WiMAX system will have two major parts: a WiMAX base station, similar in concept to a mobile phone tower a WiMAX receiver installed at home