Week 1: Network Components & Network Types & Transmission Media
Hardware:
For this class we will learn about various hardware and software components required to set up a network:
The PowerPoint will not be made Public online until after the activity. You will need to take notes.
The PowerPoint will not be made Public online until after the activity. You will need to take notes.
Extension Activity:
Think you know it all now?
This teacher has written some notes on computer networks.
Unfortunately, the teacher made a number of mistakes. Read through the text and correct their mistakes.
There are 12 mistakes – can you find them all?
Few organisations will network their computers together. They do this for a number of reasons. One reason is so that users can share expensive hardware packages such as printers and scanners. With a network, every computer would need to have a printer attached to it, whereas without a network, one good quality printer can be purchased and then every person can print their work to this printer.
Another reason to network computers is that files can be shared amongst computers. Someone can put a document or other file into a private folder and other users can then access the document and work on it.
Another important reason is so that users can log onto just one workstation. Without a network, files are saved on an individual computer’s hard disk and so the user must always use the same computer in order to access the files. With a network, the files are saved on a central network. This means that they can access their work from any standalone machine.
Other benefits include the network technicians being able to install software centrally and then deploy it to all of the workstations, rather than having to go to each workstation and install it individually. They can also back up all of the files from one machine, again instead of having to do this centrally. They can also perform regular email checks in order to ensure that the network is free from malicious software.
This teacher has written some notes on computer networks.
Unfortunately, the teacher made a number of mistakes. Read through the text and correct their mistakes.
There are 12 mistakes – can you find them all?
Few organisations will network their computers together. They do this for a number of reasons. One reason is so that users can share expensive hardware packages such as printers and scanners. With a network, every computer would need to have a printer attached to it, whereas without a network, one good quality printer can be purchased and then every person can print their work to this printer.
Another reason to network computers is that files can be shared amongst computers. Someone can put a document or other file into a private folder and other users can then access the document and work on it.
Another important reason is so that users can log onto just one workstation. Without a network, files are saved on an individual computer’s hard disk and so the user must always use the same computer in order to access the files. With a network, the files are saved on a central network. This means that they can access their work from any standalone machine.
Other benefits include the network technicians being able to install software centrally and then deploy it to all of the workstations, rather than having to go to each workstation and install it individually. They can also back up all of the files from one machine, again instead of having to do this centrally. They can also perform regular email checks in order to ensure that the network is free from malicious software.
Network Types:
Transmission Media:
Transmission media carries information from the sender to the receiver.
Types of Transmission media include:
Types of Transmission media include:
- Cables
- Satellite
Cables
What to consider when choosing cables for a network:
Cost:
- The cost of the cable used to build a network is very important.
- Most organizations have limited funds and seek to build the optimum network.
Signal Attenuation:
- Signal attenuation refers to how far the information must travel over a cable before the electrical strength weakens.
- Each type of cable can transmit information up to a specific distance without special equipment to help boost the electrical signal.
EMI (Electro-Magnetic Interference) :
- EMI comes from electrical signals emitted by equipment such as photocopiers, fluorescent lights, and electrical wiring that may disrupt the transmission of information across a network.
- Some cables are better designed to block out EMI (Electro-Magnetic Interference) than others are.
Expansion Capabilities:
- Organizations may not always be able to build the largest network needed.
- Offices may grow over time and need more computers added to their network.
- The ease of installation and need for additional equipment affect the expansion capability of the cable.
Bandwidth:
- The bandwidth represents how much information can be transferred over the cable at one time.
- The greater the cable’s bandwidth the faster the information is passed over the network. ·
Task 1: [Must be submitted]
Complete the following questions:
- What is the advantage of using coaxial cable over twisted-pair wire? When would you use twisted pair?
- What advantage does fibre optics have over wire cables?
- In what circumstances would a network designer consider using wireless transmission media?
- What is the main limitation of microwave transmission?
- List the wireless transmission devices.