CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Networking
OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this chapter, you will be able to
Identify the requirements for Internet connection
Identify the major components of a personal computer
Name the Ethernet adapter used for a laptop computer
State the functions of network interface cards (NICs)
List the components needed for NIC installation
Identify the functions of the ping command
Identify the features of web browsers
Describe the units used to measure the size of digital data
Convert a decimal number to a binary number
Convert a binary number to a decimal number
Convert a hexadecimal number to a binary number
Convert a binary number to a hexadecimal number
Requirements for Internet Connection
1. Device: You need a device that can connect to the internet, such as a
computer, smartphone, tablet, or smart TV.
2. Internet Service Provider (ISP): You need to have an account with an
ISP that provides internet connectivity. ISPs can be cable companies,
telephone companies, or specialized internet service providers.
3. Modem or Router: You need a modem or router to connect your device to
the internet. A modem is used for wired connections, while a router is used
for both wired and wireless connections.
4. Internet Protocol (IP) Address: Your device needs to have a unique IP
address to communicate with other devices on the internet. IP addresses
can be assigned dynamically by the ISP or configured manually.
5. Network Connection: You need a stable network connection to access
the internet. This can be a wired Ethernet connection, a Wi-Fi connection,
or a mobile data connection.
Internet Connection Components
Physical Connection
Logical Connection
Applications
Electronic Components
PC Basics
Transistor
Integrated circuit (IC)
Resistor
Capacitor
Connector
Light emitting diode (LED)
PC Components
PC Basics
Printed circuit board (PCB)
CD-ROM drive
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Floppy disk drive
Hard disk drive
Microprocessor
Motherboard
Bus
Random-access memory (RAM)
Read-only memory (ROM)
Expansion slot
System unit
Power supply
Motherboard Components
Backplane
Memory chips
Network interface card (NIC)
Video card
Sound card
Power cord
Parallel port
Serial port
Mouse port
Keyboard port
Universal Serial
Bus (USB) port
Desktop Versus
Laptop
Personal Computer Memory Card
International Association (PCMCIA)
card slots or PC card slots
Network interface Card
A circuit board that provides network communication capabilities to and
from a PC. Also called a LAN adapter, a NIC plugs into a motherboard
and provides a port for connecting to the network. The NIC constitutes
the computer interface with the LAN.
When selecting a NIC for a network, consider the following:
Type of network—Different types of networks use different types of
NICs. For example, Ethernet NICs are designed for Ethernet LANs.
Some other types of networks include Token Ring and Fiber
Distributed Data Interface (FDDI). Ethernet is by far the most
common.
Type of medium—The type of port or connector used by the NIC
for network connection is specific to the medium type, such as
twisted-pair, coaxial, fiberoptic, or wireless. Coaxial is becoming
increasingly rare.
Type of system bus—There are different types of system buses,
such as PCI and ISA. Because PCI slots are faster than ISA slots,
the latter are being phased out.
NIC and Modem Installation
Connectivity to the Internet requires an adapter card, which might be a
modem or NIC.
A modem is an electronic device that is used for computer
communications through telephone lines. It allows data transfer
between one computer and another over the Public Switched
Telephone Network (PSTN).
Situations that require NIC installation
include the following:
Adding a NIC to a PC that does not already
have one.
Replacing a bad or damaged NIC
Upgrading from a 10-megabits per second
(Mbps) NIC to a 10/100-Mbps NIC
Installing the NIC.
To install a NIC, you need the following resources:
Knowledge of how the adapter is configured, including jumpers and
plug-and-play software. Most modern NICs do not require jumpers
and are plug-and-play, requiring little or no configuration. They can
be configured using software that comes with the NIC if necessary.
Use of network card diagnostics, including the vendor-supplied
diagnostics and loopback test (see the card’s documentation).
The ability to resolve hardware resource conflicts, including IRQ, I/O
base address, and direct memory address (DMA), which is used to
transfer data from RAM to a device without going through the CPU.
Overview of High-Speed and Dialup Connectivity
TCP/IP Configuration
TCP/IP is a set of protocols or
rules developed to allow cooperating
computers to share resources across a
network. A computer must be running
the TCP/IP protocol suite to access the
Internet. To enable TCP/IP on the
workstation, it must be configured using
the operating system tools.
Testing Connectivity with Ping
Ping is a program that is useful for verifying a successful TCP/IP
installation. It is named after the sonar operation used to locate
and determine the distance to an underwater object. Ping stands
for Packet Internet Groper.
The ping command works by sending multiple IP packets to a
specified destination.
Each packet sent is a request for a reply. The output response for
a ping contains the success ratio and round-trip time to the
destination. From this information, you can determine if there is
connectivity to a destination.
The ping command is used to test the NIC transmit/receive
function, the TCP/IP configuration, and network connectivity.
The following are some usages of the ping
command:
ping 127.0.0.1 (internal loopback test)—This verifies the
operation of the TCP/IP stack and NIC transmit/receive
function.
ping IP address of host computer—Verifies the TCP/IP
address configuration for the local host.
ping default-gateway IP address—Verifies whether the router
that connects the local network to other networks can be
accessed.
ping remote destination IP address—Verifies connectivity to a
remote host.
