Data Communications and Networking

TCP/IP Example (Data Communications and Networking)

This topic has discussed the functions of the transport and network layers: linking to the application layer, segmenting, session management, addressing, and routing. In this section, we tie all of these concepts together to take a closer look at how these functions actually work using TCP/IP. When a computer is installed on a TCP/IP network […]

Implications For Management (Data Communications and Networking)

The implications from this topic are similar in many ways to the implications from last topic. There used to be several distinct protocols used at the network and transport layers but as the Internet has become an important network, most organizations are moving to the adoption of TCP/IP as the single standard protocol at the […]

Local Area Networks (Data Communications and Networking)

The preceding topics provided a fundamental understanding of the five basic layers in a typical network. This topic draws together these concepts to describe a basic LAN. We first summarize the major components of a LAN and then describe the two most commonly used LAN technologies: traditional Ethernet and switched Ethernet. The topic ends with […]

Lan components (Data Communications and Networking)

There are six components in a traditional LAN (Figure 6.1). The first two are the client computer and the server (but see the earlier section on peer-to-peer networks). Clients and servers have been discussed in next topic, so they are not discussed further here. The other components are network interface cards (NICs), network cables, hubs/switches, […]

Traditional ethernet (ieee 802.3) (Data Communications and Networking)

Almost all LANs installed today use some form of Ethernet. Ethernet was originally developed by DEC, Xerox, and Intel but has since become a standard formalized by the IEEE as IEEE 802.3.1 The IEEE 802.3 version of Ethernet is slightly different from the original version but the differences are minor. Likewise, another version of Ethernet […]

Switched Ethernet (Data Communications and Networking)

Switched Ethernet is identical to traditional Ethernet, except that a switch replaces the hub (Figure 6.7). In traditional shared Ethernet, all devices share the same multipoint circuit and must take turns using it. When a frame is sent from one computer to another, it enters the hub, and the hub retransmits it to all the […]

The best practice Lan design (Data Communications and Networking)

The past few years have seen major changes in LAN technologies (e.g., gigabit Ethernet, switched Ethernet). As technologies have changed and costs have dropped, so too has our understanding of the best practice design for LANs. Most organizations today install switched 100Base-T over category 5e wiring for their LANs. It is relatively low cost and […]

Improving LAN performance (Data Communications and Networking)

When LANs had only a few users, performance was usually very good. Today, however, when most computers in an organization are on LANs, performance can be a problem. Performance is usually expressed in terms of throughput (the total amount of user data transmitted in a given time period). In this section, we discuss how to […]

Implications for management (Data Communications and Networking)

As LANs have standardized on Ethernet, local area networking technology has become a commodity in most organizations. As with most commodities, the cost of LAN equipment (i.e., network interface cards, cabling, hubs, and switches) has dropped significantly. Some vendors are producing high-quality equipment while some new entrants into the market are producing equipment that meets […]

Wireless Local Area Networks (Data Communications and Networking)

Although traditional wired Ethernet LANs dominate today’s network environment, wireless LANs [WLANs] are common. This topic describes the basic components of a WLAN and then examines three common wireless technologies: Wi-Fi [IEEE 802.11], WiMAX [IEEE 802.16], and Bluetooth [IEEE 802.15]. The topic ends with a discussion of best practice WLAN design, including security, and how […]

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