Networking Basics
Lokie
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[( Introduction )]
+Introductory to bits, and bytes
-Bits
-Bytes
-Kilobytes
-Megabytes
-Gigabytes
-Terabytes
-Interpreting Binary
+Introductory to bandwidth
-What is bandwidth?
-bit
-Kilobit
-Megabit
-Gigabits
+Introductory to NIC
-What is NIC?
-Different NIC's
-Ethernet
-Token Ring
-FDDI
+Types of Networks and there uses
-Data Networks
-Local Area Networks(LAN)
-Wide Area Networks(WAN)
[( Outro )]
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Introduction
Greetings, Lokie here. This document is intended for educational purposes. What you will learn here is just an
introduction to get you off the ground in your networking career(if you are wanting a career in networking). Anyhow,
I believe this is well written, and easily understood. No big words, I promise :). Blah Blah.. Have fun!
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+Introductory to Bits, and Bytes: Bits
A bit is basically a binary digit, which are: 1, and 0. Most of everything is measured in bits and bytes. RAM, and a
Hard Disk(HD) being a good example of hardware that is measured in bits and bytes. A bit is equal to 1bit.
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+Introductory to Bits, and Bytes: Bytes
A byte is composed of usually 8 bits. A byte represents the letter "X" in the American Standard Code for Information
Interchange(ASCII). Yet again, a good example of a hardware device measured in bits or bytes would be RAM or Hard Disk(HD).
Ex: 64MegaBytes of RAM.
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+Introductory to Bits, and Bytes: KiloBytes
A Kilobyte is composed of 1024 bytes. Something measured in KiloBytes(KB) would be a word document(Usually anywhere from
2KB to 250KB).
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+Introductory to Bits, and Bytes: MegaBytes
A Megabyte is composed of 1024 KiloBytes. Something measured in MegaBytes(MB) would be an IRC Client for example(A
little over 1MB usually).
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+Introductory to Bits, and Bytes: GigaBytes
A GigaByte is composed of 1024 MegaBytes(Notice everything is in intervals of 1024*hint hint*). An example of something
composed of Gigabytes would be a Hard Disk(HD. The standard HD is 4.0GB.
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+Introductory to Bits, and Bytes: TeraBytes
A TeraByte is 1024GigaBytes. Something measured in TeraBytes(TB) would be Lycos.com's server(Somewhere around 4-5 TB).
A TB wouldn't generally be needed for personal use, for that's extremely large. A TB would be needed for a large company.
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+Introductory to Bits, and Bytes: Interpreting Binary
Everyone wondered how to read that fascinating "101010101" code? Well, i'm going to teach you how to convert binary to a
number! Alright, lets take an example: 10110. When converting binary to a number, you have to read the binary RIGHT to LEFT
.. Now look at the Diagram closely.
1 0 1 1 0
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
16 8 4 2 1
As you can see, as the intervals go right to left, they're worth doubles. Now here's how to add it up.
1=Amount of value for the designated spot
0=Worth nothing
As you can see, we must cancel out the 0's, so lets do that
so now were left with: 16+4+2
Now, from here, all you do is add: 16+4+2=22
Now isnt that easy? Ofcourse binary digits get much larger then that, but now you know how to figure up how much each
digit is worth.
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Introductory to Bandwidth: What is Bandwidth?
Bandwidth is basically how fast data flows over a transmission path. The more the bandwidth, the faster the data can flow
which will ultimately make your connection speed faster if you have more bandwidth. You can compare bandwidth to a pipe.
More water can flow through the pipe at one time if the pipe is wider. It can also be compared to as a highway. The more
lanes the highway has, the faster traffic moves.
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Introductory to Bandwidth: Bit
A bit is the building block of bandwidth. A bit is the smallest unit of bandwidth and everything measured in bandwidth
can be referred back to bits. If you had one bit of bandwidth(geez I hope not), you would travel at 1bps. Generally, not
very fast.
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Introductory to Bandwidth: Kilobit
A kilobit is the next smallest unit of bandwidth measurement. Most commonly used connections such as: 28.8k, 33.6k, 56k,
ISDN, and Cable/DSL are measured with Kilobits. A Cable modem normally gets atleast 300kbps(KiloBitsPerSecond). That is
pretty fast compared to most personal connections such as 56k which gets anywhere from 3-10kbps, sometimes a little higher
if your lucky. 1kbps=1000bps
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Introductory to Bandwidth: Megabit
A megabit is a quite large unit of bandwidth. Some connection lines that use Mbps as a unit of bandwidth are: 50-OHM
Coaxial Cable, 75-OHM Coaxial Cable, Category 5 UTP, and Multimode Optical Fiber line. These lines can get anywhere from
10-100Mbps. 1Mbps=1,000,000bps
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Introductory to Bandwidth: Gigabit
A gigabit is an extremely large unit of bandwidth. The only connection line I know of capable of reaching 1Gbps is
the Singlemode 10um Core Optical Fiber 1000base-LX. There are others being researched at the moment that can reach up to
2.4Gbps. 1Gbps=1,000,000,000bps
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Introductory to NIC: What is NIC?
A Network Interface Card(NIC), also known as an LAN Adapter, is used to connect users to a network, and enabling them
to tranfer data back and forth. The NIC connects to the motherboard through either a PCI, or ISA Serial Bus. The card
communicates to a network through a serial connection, and through the computer with a parallel connection. A NIC has
three different types: Ethernet, Token Ring, and Fiber Distributed Data Interface(FDDI). In the next sections you will
learn about each of the types of NIC's.
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Introductory to NIC: Ethernet
An ethernet is the IEEE 802.3 Standard that allows two or more computers to transmit data across a network. The access
method used, Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD), is based on ethernet systems which range
from speeds of 1Mbps-1000Mbps(1Gbps). An Ethernet card allows multiple users to connect to a LAN at one time, differing
from the Token Ring method, which you will learn about below.
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Introductory to NIC: Token Ring
A token ring is the IEEE 802.5 Standard that connects multiple computers together into a closed ring. Data cannot be
tranferred across the network unless you gain permission which is sent in the form of a 'token'. Hence the name, Token
Ring. A token ring is single accessed, and only one station may use the LAN at a time. A token ring works by sending a
frame called a token around the ring while the stations are not actively sending information. When a station wants to
transmit data it must capture the token. The only person allowed to transfer on the ring is the owner of the token.
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Introductory to NIC: FDDI
Fiber Distrobuted Data Interface(FDDI) is a 100Mbit Local Area Network(LAN)defined by ANSI and OSI standards. FDDI was
originally developed to work on a fiber optic cable, but now also works on standard copper media. FDDI runs off a Token
Ring Media Access Control Protocol.
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Types of Networks: Data Networks
Data Networks came about from computer applications written for business useage. The businesses soon realized that
the standalone computers not connected to the computers in the building were not doing the job. After realizing how much
money could be saved from using network technology, businesses rapidly invested in networking. At the beginning of business
networking, not all computers were linked to a printer, and as a result employees would have to save a file to a disk, load
it on a computer hooked to a printer and print the file. From this, the name SneakerNet came about. As time progressed,
more advanced networks came about, called LAN, and WAN. In the next two sections, you will learn the differences between
them.
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Types of Networks: LAN
A Local Area Network, or LAN, is a smaller network connecting a geographically limited area to the internet. A LAN
usually covers 10-1000 meters. An example of this would be a college, building or classroom. A LAN allows users to
expierience high speed internet, share files, and/or hardware(such as a printer), and allow multiple users to access
the network at once. A LAN is moderated by a local administrator, such as the sysadmin of your school.
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Types of Networks: WAN
A Wide Area Network, or WAN, is a large, unlimited network that interconnects other LAN's in a different location
providing network access to many people worldwide. Some common technologies found in WANs are: T1(E1), T3(E3), DSL, frame-
delay, ATM, and SONET.
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Outro
Well, I hope you found this document useful, and benificial to your knowledge of networking. I believe I went into
good enough detail to make it easy enough for anyone who has some knowledge of a computer to understand.
Lokie
(
geocities.com/eljehad1)