Spring - 2025

Lecture – 1,2

ITEC 105 Computer Networks

Chapter 1:
Introductions
Prepared By
Dr. Ashraf Abdelhaliem
Dr. Salma Subh
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ITEC 105 in your carrier
Companies seek professionals
who can bridge the gap between
technology and business. Your
knowledge of networking
protocols, data security, and IT
infrastructure will make you a
valuable asset in any business
technology role.

Aligning Technology with

Business Goals
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ITEC 105 in your carrier
This course equips you with the knowledge to support and
manage digital infrastructure in a business environment.

This course doesn’t just teach networking—it prepares you to

apply networking concepts to solve real business challenges
and advance in the business technology field.

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Course Aims\Outcomes
1. Introduction to Communication and Networking:
Understand the basics of communication and how networks
have transformed modern life.
2. Modeling and Usage of Networks: Learn how networks are
modeled and applied in real-world scenarios.
3. Layered Networking Approach: Gain knowledge through a
top-down approach, starting from the application layer and
moving down to physical layers.
4. Hands-on Networking: Develop practical skills in configuring
small networks using Cisco IOS commands.
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General Outlines

 Basic Concepts of Networks

 Network Protocols and Models

 Network Infrastructure, Types and Performance

 Communication and Application Configuration

 Practical Network Management

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 Assessment Methods, Weeks, and Grading

Quizzes Assignments Final Lab Midterm Final

15 5 10 20 50
100

3 Quizzes 1 Assignments Week 14 Week 7 Week 16

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References

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• You are not allowed to attend the lecture after 5 mins of its start.
• You are free to ask any time in the lecture topic.
• If you have a question out of the lecture scope, it is preferable to ask it
after the lecture or at the end of it.
• Absence from the quiz cannot be made up.
• Assignments should be submitted in person during office hours, within
a maximum of one week from the date they are assigned.
• Don’t attend the lecture just for attendance, it won’t help you. Try to
gain knowledge

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INTRODUCTION
What is the Computer Network?
 Computer Network means, a collection of
Computers, and other devices, or peripherals
connected together through connecting media.
Benefits of Computer Networks
Easy access and sharing of information.
Sharing of expensive devices and network
resources:
 File Sharing.
 Peripheral Sharing.
 Software Sharing with multi-user licenses.
Modern Technologies (IP telephony, Video
Conferencing, ….etc).
Shared Internet Access.
Data Communication System
 Network Components

H /W S/W

Shared channel N IC Devices Application NOS

Wired Wireless End Network

Devices Devices

Network Access Internetworking

Repeater Router
 Hub
Bridge
Switch
Hardware Components
1) Shared Channel (transmission media):
 Media that physically connect the computers and network devices
 It can be:
a) Wired (cables) such as :
▪ Metallic wires - encoding into patterns of electrical impulses.
▪ Fiber optics – encoding into pulses of light (infrared or visible light
ranges)
b) Wireless (Air) which encoding patterns of electromagnetic waves.
such as :
• Infrared.
• Bluetooth.
• Radio Waves
• Microwaves.
Hardware Components (cont.)
2) NIC (Network Interface Card):
 The hardware that plugs into the motherboard and directly
access the network.

3) Devices:
A) End Devices:
▪ Source of applications (network aware applications).
▪ Such as : Workstations, PCs , Servers, Printers…etc.

B) Network Devices:
▪ Devices that interconnect different computers together.
▪ Ex: Repeaters, hub, bridge, switch, router, NIC and modems
Hardware Components (cont.)
Network Devices can be categorized into:
I. Network Access Devices: Provide connectivity to the
network such as:
▪ Hub: device allows different nodes to communicate with
each other.
▪ Switch: Allow different nodes to communicate with each
other at the same time without slowing each other down.
II. Internetworking Devices: Connect individual networks
such as:
▪ Router: Allow different networks to communicate with each other
Hardware Components (cont.)
NIC:  Hub:
Hardware Components (cont.)
Switch:  Router:
 LAN

Area MAN

WAN

P2P
Network Classification Sharing of
Information
C/S

Circuit Switch
Interchange
method
Packet Switch

Bus

Star
Topology
Ring

Mesh
Classifications of Networks
According to covered area:
 LAN.
 MAN.
 WAN.
According to network model:
 C/S.
 P2P.
According to network topology:
 Bus, Star, Ring, Extended Star, Mesh etc.
(1) According to covered area:

 Local Area Networks [LAN]:

 A LAN is a group of computers connected in small
geographical area.
 Allow users to share files and services.
 Metropolitan Area Networks [MAN]:
 A MAN connects an area larger than a LAN but smaller than a
WAN, such as a city.
 Wide Area Networks [WAN]
 A WAN is a group of computers connected in Large
geographical area such as country.
 A WAN often connects two LANs (WAN Link).
(2) According Network Model:

1) Peer – too – Peer Networks (P2P):

 In a peer-to-peer network, all computers are
considered equal; they all have the same abilities to
use the resources available on the network.
 Example : Windows Workgroup.
According Network Model (cont.):

2) Client / Server Networks(C/S):

 Some nodes (SERVER) are dedicated to present
services to other nodes (CLIENTS).
 Examples:
 Mail Server.
 Web Server.
 FTP Server.
 DNS Server.
Client Server Model
(3) According to Network Topology:

 Topology refers to the shape of a network, or the

network's layout.

 How different nodes in a network are connected to

each other and how they communicate are
determined by the network's topology.

 The choice of topology is dependent upon

 Type and number of equipment being used
 Cost
According to Network Topology
(Cont.):
According to topology computer networks
can be (Types of network Topologies):
 Bus.
 Star.
 Ring.
 Mesh.
 Hybrid.
Bus Topology
 All devices are connected to a central cable, called the bus or
backbone.
Bus Topology (cont.)
 Both ends of the network must be terminated with a
terminator.

 A barrel connector can be used to extend the

network.
Bus Topology (cont.)
 The backbone functions as a shared communication medium

 Device wanting to communicate with another device on the

network sends a message onto the backbone

 The message is heard by all stations, but only the intended

recipient actually accepts and processes the message.

 Terminator absorbs frames at end of medium

Bus Topology (cont.)
Frame Transmission - Bus LAN

Bus Topology (cont.)
Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages:
Simple, easy to use and construct
Requires least amount of cable (less expensive)

Disadvantages:
A faulty cable will take the entire LAN down
Difficult to troubleshoot
Heavy network traffic can slow bus considerably
Star Topology
 A physical Star topology connects the devices via a
centralized unit such as a Hub or Switch.

 Nodes communicate across the network by passing data

through the central device.
Star Topology (cont.)
Star Types

 Broadcasted Star
Topology (Hubbed Star)

 Switched Star Topology

(Switched Star)
Star Topology (cont.)
Advantages
Single computer failure doesn’t bring down
whole network.
Adding new devices to a Star network is very
simple compared to any of the other topologies.
No disruptions to the network when connecting
or removing devices.
Centralized control.
Centralized network/hub monitoring.
Easy to troubleshoot.
Star Topology (cont.)
Disadvantages
If central device fails, the whole network
fails.
Compared to the bus topology, a star
network generally requires more cable.
More expensive than linear bus topologies
because of the cost of the central device.
Star Topology (cont.)
Hubbed Star Rule
 Hubs simply pass on all the information they receive.
 Therefore, a large number of directly connected hubs
cause a lot of traffic, making the network vulnerable to
collisions.
 This limits the number of hubs you can connect together.
 The maximum number of allowed repeater hops is four.
Ring Topology
 All devices are connected to one another in
the shape of a closed loop, so that each
device is connected directly to two other
devices, one on either side of it.
 Data is passed one way from device to
device.
Ring Topology (cont.)
 A short message (called a token) is circulated around the
ring, being passed from station to station.
 The token originates from a controller or master station
which inserts it onto the ring.
 A station which wants to transmit waits for the token to
arrive.
 When the token arrives, the station changes it from a token
to a connector message, and appends its message. This new
message is then placed on the outgoing side of the ring.
Ring Topology (cont.)
 Each station passes on received tokens if they have nothing to
transmit.

 They monitor connector messages to see if the message is

addressed to them.

 If connector messages are addressed to them, they copy the

message, modify it to signify its receipt, then send it on around
the ring.

 Connector messages which are not addressed to them are passed

directly on to the next station in the ring.

 When the connector message travels full circle and arrives at the
original sending station, it checks the message to see if it's been
received. It then discards the message and replaces it with a token.
Ring Topology (cont.).
Advantages and Disadvantages
 Advantages
 Equal access for all users
 Perform well under heavy traffic

 Disadvantages
 If one device/cable fails then the whole network goes down.
 Difficult to troubleshoot
 Adding/Removing computers disrupts the whole network
Mesh Topology
 In a mesh topology each device/PC is connected to every
other device/PC in the network by its own cable.
 Mesh Types:
 Full Mesh.
 Partial Mesh.
Mesh Topology (cont.)
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
 Mesh topology boasts the highest fault tolerance of all of the
network topologies

Disadvantages
 Because each connection needs its own cable a Mesh topology can
get very expensive.
Hybrid Topologies
 Hybrid means that there is more than
one topology exist
 Stared Bus
 Groups of star-configured networks
are connected to a linear bus
backbone.
 Advantages:
 Network expansion is simple
 Disadvantages:
 If hub fails connections between failed
hub and other hubs will fail
According to data Interchange
Method
 Dedicated communication path between two stations
 Three phases
 Circuit establishment
 Data transfer
 Circuit disconnect
 Must have switching capacity and channel capacity to
establish connection
 Examples of circuit-switched communication links
are analog dialup (PSTN)
According to data Interchange
Method (cont.)
 Circuit-switch communication
Circuit Switching – Properties(1)
Inefficient
 Channel capacity dedicated for duration of
connection
 If no data, capacity wasted
Set up (connection) takes time
Once connected, transfer is transparent
Developed for voice traffic (phone)
Circuit Switching – Properties(2)
Inflexible
 The path taken remain the same as soon as it is
established
Assume single data rate for both
communicating devices
When traffic become heavy request for new
connection is refused (Blocking)
Packet-Switching – Basics
Data transmitted in small packets
 Longer messages split into series of packets
Each packet contains
 Payload : portion of user data
 Header : Control information (Routing and
addressing information)
Packets are received, stored briefly (buffered)
and passed on to the next node
Packet-Switching –
Use of Packets
Packet-Switching –
Advantages(1)
Line efficiency
 Single node to node link can be shared by
many packets over time
 Packets queued and transmitted as fast as
possible
Data rate conversion
 Each station connects to the local node at its
own speed
 Nodes buffer data if required to equalize rates
Packet-Switching –
Advantages(2)
Packets are accepted even when network is
busy
 Delivery may slow down but no blocking
Priorities can be used
Network Transmission
Media
 To transmit data, a medium must exist
 The medium can be in the form of cables or wireless
medium
 Most common used media for data networks
 Twisted pair cable
 Coaxial cable
 Fiber optic cable
 Wireless media
 Network Transmission
Media
 Cable Media
 Twisted Pair Cables
 STP
 UTP
 Fiber Optic Cables
 Coaxial Cables

 Wireless Media
 Infrared
 Microwave
 Bluetooth
Network Transmission
Media
Cable Media
 There are several types of cable which are commonly used
with LANs.

 In some cases, a network will utilize only one type of

cable, other networks will use a variety of cable types.

 The type of cable chosen for a network is related to the

network's topology, protocol, and size.
Twisted pair cable
Most widely used (Ethernet networks)
The segment can’t exceed 100 meters
Two basic types
 STP
 UTP

Twisted pair cable has 7 categories

Use RJ-45 connectors
Crimper tool attach the twisted pair cable to RJ-
45
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)
Low Cost
Easy Installation
Bandwidth ~
1,4,10,16,100,1000
Mbps
Attenuation ~
hundred of meters
(high)
UTP Categories
 The UTP cables are classified into many types called
categories:
 Cat 1 : which supports up to 1 Mbps
 Cat 2 : which supports up to 4 Mbps
 Cat 3 : which supports up to 10 Mbps
 Cat 4 : which supports up to 16 Mbps
 Cat 5 : which supports up to 100 Mbps ( this is the kind used in
AEthernet networks )
 The principle upon which the UTP cables are classified is
the amount of twisting, when the twisting amount is
increased, the interference amount is decreased, . as a final
result, the bandwidth the cable support increases
UTP Categories

(a) Category 3 UTP.

(b) Category 5 UTP.
Shielded Twisted Pair
(STP)
Moderate Cost
Fairly Easy
Installation
Bandwidth ~ more
than same cat of UTP
Attenuation ~
hundred of meters
Connector Used
123 ……… 8
RJ-45
Twisted Pair Cable Connection
Types

Dropped Cable (Patch Chord / Straight)

Cross-over Cable
Rolled-over Cable
Dropped (Patch Chord / Straight)
Cable

1 1
2 2

3 3
6 6
Cross-over Cable
1 3
2 6

3 1
6 2
Coaxial

Cost is Moderate
Fairly Easy
Installation
Bandwidth ~ 10
Mbps
Attenuation ~ few
hundreds of meters
Fiber-optic
Highest Cost
Difficult Installation
Bandwidth ~ 2 Gbps
Attenuation ~ ten of
kilometers (low)
Wireless Media
Flexible (Used in areas where it is hard to install
cables )
Used in wireless LANs
Hybrid environment is one which wireless
components communicate with a network that
use cables