CP2073 - Networking

Lecture 6

1
 Introduction
 Network Segments
 NICs
 Repeaters
 Hubs
 Bridges
 Switches
 Routers and Brouters
 Gateways

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Extending Networks
Internet R e m o t e

O f f i c e

R o u t e r

F i l e S e r v e r

R e p e a t e r

S w i t c h

R e p e a t e r

H u b H u b

3
 Network Segments
 No exact definition, usually an area of a LAN, the cable connecting
two devices
 “The area of the network bound by bridges or switches where
collisions are propagated, or the area bound by a router to prevent
the propagation of broadcasts”
 The more devices which are added to the network the more traffic –
solution use a device to ‘filter’ the traffic
 Such a device reduces congestion, and improves overall performance
 Dividing a network in to segments allows the majority of traffic to
stay remain local

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 Switch

Hub
Hub

Hub

Segment 1
Segment 3
Segment 2
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 Broadcast
 A broadcast is a signal sent by one device and read by all
other devices on the network
 Can be used to send a message to all users, may be used by
network to find the identity of all the computers on the
network
 Consumes bandwidth, problem quickly becomes evident as
more devices are added to the network
 Broadcast Domain – defines the boundary of broadcasts,
some devices stop a message passing through (edge of
domain), others pass the message on (hubs)

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 Collision Domains
 Collisions occur when two or more devices transmit at the
same time.
 This causes the electrical charge of the signal to increase
– a collision
 All devices in the same collision domain cease transmitting
for a random amount of time – to ensure they do not all
attempt to start transmitting at the same time again
 Network, broadcast and collision domains are no longer the
same since the introduction of switches

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Network Interface Card (NIC)
 At source:
 Receives the data packet from the Network Layer
 Attaches its the MAC address to the data packet
 Attaches the MAC address of the destination device
to the data packet
 Converts data in to packets suitable for the particular
network (Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI)
 Converts packets in to electrical, light or radio signals
 Provides the physical connection to the media

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Network Interface Card (NIC) (2)
 As a destination device
 Provides the physical connection to the media
 Translates the signal in to data
 Reads the MAC address to see if it matches
its own address
 If it does match, passes the data to the
Network Layer

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 Repeater
 Allows the connection of segments
 Extends the network beyond the maximum length of a single segment
 Functions at the Physical Layer of the OSI model
 A multi-port repeater is known as a Hub
 Connects segments of the same network, even if they use different
media
 Has three basic functions
 Receives a signal which it cleans up
 Re-times the signal to avoid collisions
 Transmits the signal on to the next segment

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 Hub
 A central point of a star topology
 Allows the multiple connection of devices
 Can be more than a basic Hub – providing
additional services (Managed Hubs,
Switched Hubs, Intelligent Hubs)
 In reality a Hub is a Repeater with multiple
ports
 Functions in a similar manner to a Repeater

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 Hub (2)
 Works at the Physical Layer of the OSI
model
 Passes data no matter which device it is
addressed to
 This feature adds to congestion
 Use large Hubs (24 port), or stacking them
exacerbates this negative feature
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 Hub Features
 Type of media connection needed
 Number of ports
 Speed
 Managed or Unmanaged
 Requirement for Uplink Port ? (allows two Hubs to
be connected using a patch cable – crossover cable)
 Token Ring Hubs are known as MAUs – see last
week’s notes
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 Bridge
 Like a Repeater or Hub it connects
segments
 Works at Data Layer – not Physical
 Uses Mac address to make decisions
 Acts as a ’filter’, by determining
whether or not to forward a packet
on to another segment
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 Bridge (2)
 Builds a Bridging Table, keeps track of devices on
each segment
 Filters packets, does not forward them, by
examining their MAC address
 It forwards packets whose destination address is
on a different segment from its own
 It divides a network in to multiple collision domains
– so reducing the number of collisions

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 Bridge (3)
 Uses the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) – to decide whether to pass
a packet on to a different network segment
Bridge

A Transmits to Segment A Segment B G Transmits to

A D E H

B C F G

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 Switch
 A multiport Bridge, functioning at the Data Link Layer
 Each port of the bridge decides whether to forward data
packets to the attached network
 Keeps track of the Mac addresses of all attached devices
(just like a bridge)
 Similarly priced to Hubs – making them popular
 Acts like a Hub, but filters like a Bridge
 Each port on a Switch is a collision domain

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 Brouter
 Functions both as Bridge and a Router – hence name
 Can work on networks using different protocols
 Can be programmed only to pass data packets using
a specific protocol forward to a segment – in this
case it is functioning in a similar manner to a Bridge
 If a Brouter is set to route data packets to the
appropriate network with a routed protocol such as
IP, it is functioning as a Router

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 Router
 Works at Network Layer in an intelligent manner
 Can connect different network segments, if they are in
the same building or even on the opposite side of the globe
 Work in LAN, MAN and WAN environments
 Allows access to resources by selecting the best path
 Can interconnect different networks – Ethernet with
Token Ring
 Changes packet size and format to match the
requirements of the destination network

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 Router (2)
 Two primary functions – to determine the ‘best path’ and to
share details of routes with other routers
 Routing Table – a database which keeps track of the routes to
networks and the associated costs
 Static Routing – routes are manually configured by a network
administrator
 Dynamic Routing – adjust automatically to changes in network
topology, and information it receives from other routers
 Routing Protocol – uses a special algorithm to route data across
a network eg RIP

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 Gateway
 Allows different networks to communicate by offering a
translation service from one protocol stack to another
 They work at all levels of the OSI model – due to the type
of translation service they are providing
 Address Gateway – connects networks using the same
protocol, but using different directory spaces such as
Message Handling Service
 Protocol Gateway – connects network using different
protocols. Translates source protocol so destination can
understand it
 Application Gateway – translates between applications such
as from an Internet email server to a messaging server

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Advantages and Disadvantages

Repeater
 Advantages – Can connect different types of media,
can extend a network in terms of distance, does not
increase network traffic
 Disadvantages – Extends the collision domain, can
not filter data, can not connect different network
architectures, limited number only can be used in
network

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 Advantages and Disadvantages (2)
Hub
 Advantages – Cheap, can connect different
media types
 Disadvantages – Extends the collision domain,
can not filter information, passes packets to
all connected segments

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 Advantages and Disadvantages (3)
Bridge
 Advantages – Limits the collision domain, can extend
network distances, uses MAC address to filter
traffic, eases congestion, can connect different
types of media, some can connect differing
architectures
 Disadvantages – Broadcast packets can not be
filtered, more expensive than a repeater, slower
than a repeater – due to additional processing of
packets

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 Advantages and Disadvantages (4)
Switch
 Advantages - Limits the collision domain, can
provide bridging, can be configured to limit
broadcast domain
 Disadvantages – More expensive than a hub
or bridge, configuration of additional
functions can be very complex

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 Advantages and Disadvantages (5)
Router
 Advantages – Limits the collision domain, can
function in LAN or WAN, connects differing media
and architectures, can determine best path/route,
can filter broadcasts
 Disadvantages – Expensive, must use routable
protocols, can be difficult to configure (static
routing), slower than a bridge

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 Summary
 Network Segments
 NICs
 Repeaters
 Hubs
 Bridges
 Switches
 Routers and Brouters
 Gateways
 Disadvantages/ Advantages
 Questions ?

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