1Gorman, Stubbs, & CEP Inc.

Introduction to Operating Systems

Lesson 9

Introduction to Network Operating Systems

Lesson 9 – Introduction to Network Operating Systems2

Objectives

Describe what a network is and why networks are important in business today.

Distinguish between a local area network and a wide area network.

Describe the differences between a peer-to-peer network and a client server network.

Describe the differences between the three common topologies: bus, star and ring.

Lesson 9 – Introduction to Network Operating Systems3

Objectives (continued)

Describe the differences between the four popular types of network media: twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, and wireless.

Describe the difference between Ethernet and token ring.

Discuss where networking is headed in the future.

Lesson 9 – Introduction to Network Operating Systems4

What Is Networking?

The ability to access multiple files at the same time

The ability to share hardware resources, such as printers

The ability of multiple users to access the same file at the same time

The ability to communicate in real time The ability to streamline the process of data

backup

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What Are Ways to Describe a Network?

Geography Whether or not the network uses a server Topology

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How Can a Network Be Described by Geography?

A local area network (LAN) consists of computers located near each other.

A wide area network (WAN) is two or more LANs connected together over a wide geographic area.

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How Can a Network Be Described by Its Use of a Server?

A peer-to-peer network means that all computers on the network have an equal relationship with one another. There is no hierarchy in this structure.

A client/server network is a hierarchy where individual nodes share information and resources through a central computer called a server.

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What Is Topology?

Topology is the physical layout of the cables and devices that connect the nodes to the network.

There are three basic topologies:– Bus– Star– Ring

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Bus Topology

Advantages– It requires less cabling.– It is less expensive.

Disadvantages– It is difficult to troubleshoot.– A broken connection can crash the entire

system.

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Star Topology

Advantages– Each device is isolated on its own cable.– All data goes through a central point.– It allows for isolation of traffic on the network.– A broken connection does not render all communication

impossible.

Disadvantages– More cable is required.– Hub failure can disable large segments of the network.

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Ring Topology

Advantages– There are no dangers of data collisions

because only one packet may travel the ring at a time.

Disadvantages– A break in the ring can disable the entire

network.– Networking devices tend to be more

expensive.

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Network Media

Media refers to the wires, cables, and other means by which data travels from one destination to another.

Four common types:– Twisted-pair cable– Coaxial cable– Fiber-optic cable– Wireless

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Twisted-pair Cable

Advantage– Less expensive

Disadvantage– Considered a low-bandwidth medium

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Coaxial Cable

Advantages– Less susceptible to interference– Can carry large amounts of data

Disadvantage– Expensive

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Fiber-optic Cable

Advantages– Greater bandwidth than metal cables– Less susceptible to interference– Thinner and lighter than metal cables– Data can be transmitted digitally

Disadvantages– Expensive– Difficult to install and split

Lesson 9 – Introduction to Network Operating Systems16

Wireless

Advantage– Greater bandwidth

Disadvantage– Expensive

Lesson 9 – Introduction to Network Operating Systems17

Which Cable to Use?

Budget Bandwidth Placement Scope

Lesson 9 – Introduction to Network Operating Systems18

Ethernet

Most common network technology used Detects collisions of data between two nodes

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Token Ring

Has a controlling node that creates a token that is passed to every node on the network until it reaches its destination or the end of the ring

Remedies data-collision problems because only one node can transmit data at a time

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Network Operating Systems

The group of programs that manages the resources on the network

This book will cover the following:– Mac OS X– Windows XP– Windows 2000 Professional– Windows NT Workstation– Novell NetWare– Linux

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Future of Networking

The Internet will rule. Wireless will be the norm. Computers will be everywhere. Language user interfaces will replace the

graphical user interface.

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Summary

The term network means the connection of computers for communication, exchange of information, and sharing of resources.

Two kinds of networks are LAN and WAN. In a peer-to-peer network, all nodes are equal;

there is no hierarchy. A client server network is a hierarchy in which individual nodes share resources and information through a central server.

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Summary (continued)

Topology refers to the physical layout of the cables and devices that connect the nodes to the network. The three common topologies are bus, star, and ring.

The four common methods for connecting a network are twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, and wireless technology.

Lesson 9 – Introduction to Network Operating Systems24

Summary (continued)

Ethernet is the most common networking technology.

Experts predict the following five trends for the future of networking: The desktop will no longer be the norm, the Internet will rule, wireless will be the norm, computers will be everywhere, and the machine/human interaction will become more integrated.