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Chapter Six
Networking
Hardware
Network Interface Cards (NICs)
Connectivity devices enabling a workstation,
server, printer or other node to receive and
transmit data over the network media
Sometimes called network adapters
NICs are physical and data link layer
devices
Network Interface Cards (NICs)
Types of NICs
Industry Standard
Architecture (ISA)
MicroChannel
Architecture
(MCA)
Extended Industry
Standard
Architecture (EISA)
Peripheral
Component
Interconnect (PCI)
FIGURE 6-1 Four primary bus architectures
Network Interface Cards (NICs)
NICs may connect to interfaces other than a
PC’s bus. For example:
– For laptop computers, Personal Computer Memory
Card International Association slots may be used to
connect NICs
• PCMCIA
• Also called PC card
• Developed in the early 1990s to provide a standard
interface for connecting any type of device to a
portable computer
Network Interface Cards (NICs)
FIGURE 6-3
Typical
PCMCIA NIC
FIGURE 6-4
Parallel port
NIC
Network Interface Cards (NICs)
FIGURE 6-5
Wireless NIC
and
transceiver
FIGURE 6-6
Ethernet NICs for
printers
Network Interface Cards (NICs)
Installing NICs
– Installing hardware
– Configuring software
• Installing driver—software the tells OS how to
communicate with NIC
• Specifying IRQ, memory range, I/O port
– Configuring firmware
• Utilities supplied with NIC that enables you to write
configuration changes to the EPROM chip on the
NIC card
Installing and Configuring NIC
Software
After NIC is
physically
installed, restart
the PC
The driver for the
NIC card must be
installed and
configuration
information
entered
Repeaters
Connectivity device that regenerates and
amplifies an analog or digital signal
FIGURE 6-14
Repeater
Hubs
Multiport repeater
containing one port
that connects to a
network’s backbone
and multiple ports
that connect to a
group of
workstations
Hubs
Passive hubs
– Only repeats signal
Active hubs
– Regenerate or amplify
signal
Intelligent hubs
– Possesses processing
capabilities
Standalone Hubs
– Serves a workgroup of
computers that are
separated from the rest of
the network
Stackable Hubs
– Designed to be linked
with other hubs in a
single
telecommunications
closet
Modular Hubs and
Intelligent Hubs
Modular hub
– Provide a number of interface options within
one chassis
• Connection point for networks using with different
cabling, e.g., 10base2 and 10baseT
Intelligent hubs
– Also called managed hubs
– MIB (management information base)
• Collection of data used by management programs to
analyze network performance
Choosing the Right Hub
Performance
Cost
Size and growth
Security
Management benefits
Reliability
Bridges
Reduce network
traffic bottleneck
Regenerate signals
to extend network
lengths
Operate at the Data
Link Layer of the
OSI model because
they have to read
packet addresses
Bridges
Filtering database
– Collection of data created and used by a bridge that
correlates the MAC addresses of connected
workstations with their locations
– Also known as a forwarding
Segment 1
table
Bridge
Segment 2
Bridges
Transparent Bridging
– Method used on most Ethernet networks
Source Route Bridging
– Method used on most Token Ring networks
Translation Bridging
– Method that can connect Token Ring and
Ethernet networks
Switches
Switches subdivide a
network into smaller
logical pieces
Collision domain
– Portion of a LAN
encompassing
devices that may
cause and detect
collisions among
their group
Switches are layer 2
devices
Switches
Switch Methods
– Cut-through mode—switch reads only the
header to determine where to forward the
packet.
– Store and forward mode—switch reads the
entire packet and checks for accuracy before
forwarding
Using Switches to Create VLANs
Virtual local area
networks (VLANs)
– Means by which a
switch can
logically group a
number of ports
into a broadcast
domain
Higher-Layer Switches
Switch capable of interpreting Layer 3 is called
a Layer 3 switch
Switch capable of interpreting Layer 4 is called
a Layer 4 switch
Higher-layer switches may also be called
routing switches or application switches
Routers
Routers connect two or
more networks
Consist of hardware and
software
– Hardware
• Network server, separate
computer, special black box
• Physical interface for various
networks
– Software
• Operating system and Routing
protocol
Routers operated at the
Network layer
Routers
Can connect dissimilar LANs and WANs
running at different transmission speeds
and using a variety of protocols
Read the network address information in a
packet
Calculates the optimal path to a particular
network
– Reroute packets if a path is not available
Routing tables stored in the router list all
known addresses and possible paths
How do Routers Select Routes
Dynamic route selection
– Routers continually adjusts the routes based on
network conditions
Static route selection
– Route is designated in a table and router cannot
vary from that route
Router Features and Functions
Filter out broadcast transmission to alleviate network
congestion
Prevent certain types of traffic from getting to a
network
Provide high network fault tolerance through
redundant components
Monitor network traffic and report statistics to a MIB
Diagnose internal or other connectivity problems and
trigger alarms
Routers
Routing Protocols
Means by which routers communicate with
each other about network status
Routing protocol characteristics
– Convergence time
• The time it takes for a router to recognize a best path
in the event of a change or outage
– Bandwidth overhead
• Burden placed on an underlying network to support
the routing protocol
Routing Protocols
RIP (Routing Information Protocol) for IP and
IPX
OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) for IP
– Best path refers to the most efficient route from one
node on a network to another
EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing
Protocol) for IP, IPX, and AppleTalk
BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) for IP
Brouters and Routing Switches
Bridge router
– Also called a brouter
– Industry term used to describe routers that take
on some characteristics of bridges
Routing switch
– Another term for a Layer 3 or Layer 4 switch
Gateways
Combination of networking hardware and
software that connects two dissimilar kinds of
networks
–
–
–
–
E-mail gateway
IBM host gateway
Internet gateway
LAN gateway