HKDSE ICT

Notes
Compulsory Part
Unit C: Chapter 16
The Networking and Internet Basics

Name: __________________
Class: _____ ( )

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 Chapter 16
The Networking and Internet Basics
Computer Network

A network is a set of computers being linked together for communications

A network is a system of interconnected computers, peripherals and
communication devices that can exchange information and share resources.

A. Advantages of using computer networks

1. Communication
● Messages and files can be exchanged easily
● Conduct conferencing

2. Hardware Sharing
● Hardware resources like scanners and printers can be shared among users
● Costs for such hardware items can be reduced

3. Software Sharing
● Allow users to run programs that are not installed on their own computers
but are installed elsewhere in the network
● Easy to keep the programs configured correctly
● Saves storage space

4. Centralized Data Management

● Users can access to centralized data files on a network server rather than
keeping their own copies of data
● This keeps the data up-to-date
● The centralized data could be backed up regularly

5. Internet access service sharing

● For example, you can share Internet service at your home with different
family members with one Internet broadband line

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B. Different classification of networks

We may describe or classify networks with their attributes in different aspects:

Attributes Description Examples

Geographical Scope The coverage area LAN, WAN
covered by the network
Organizational structure The hierarchy of devices Client/Server,
connected to a network Peer-to-peer
Communication Channel The use of cables or Twisted pair cable,
signals for data coaxial cable, optical
transmission fiber, WiFi
Bandwidth The capacity of a Broadband, narrowband
network for carrying
data

1. Geographical Scope

● Geographical coverage implies the distance, the number of computers

included in the complexity of the network
● A local network usually includes a small number of computers connected
with basic equipment
● As the area coverage expands, more sophisticated tools and technologies
will be used due to the diversity and distance between devices

We may divide networks into several categories, LAN and WAN:

Local Area Network (LAN)
● A limited geographical area, usually within a building
● Schools and companies are typical examples
● Used for internal resources sharing and communications (e.g. conferencing)
etc.
● Typically uses the Ethernet technology
Wide Area Network (WAN)
● Covers a large geographical area
● Usually consists of several LANs
● LANs are connected to routers and then
being interconnected by Internet
Services Providers (ISP)’s links

2. Organizational Structure

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Network can be classified according to its organizational structure (the roles of
the computers in the network)

Client / Server network

● Client workstations are connected to a central server, or a host computer.

● Clients can access the resources stored on the server.
● The set-up cost is relatively high.
● It provides better security controls and network services in a large-scale
network environment.
● Centralized and hierarchical structure
● In a client/server network, one or more computers are configured with
server software (Network Operating System / NOS) while others are
configured with client software
● The server controls clients’ access to data / resources
● Most suitable for large organizations which require better resource
management / security control

REMARKS
Several Common server
types in LAN / WAN:

File server
● Shares files with on its
hard disk with clients
Print Server
● Manages printing requests from clients
Application Server
● The server is installed with a specific program. Clients send input data
requests and then the server feedbacks with results after processing
Mail Server
● Send/receive email for clients, e.g. SMTP, IMAP, POP etc
Proxy Server
● Speed up access of clients to web resources by storing the web content
● Apply access control to web content (blocking undesired sites, etc)

Peer-to-Peer network

● A network of workstations without a server

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● Decentralized and flattened structure with no permanent server node
● All the workstations can communicate directly with each other.
● Usually has a small number of workstations.
● Cost of setting up is relatively low.
● Workstations share/access resources with / from the others
● Most suitable for home network or small companies

Sharing of Internet Access Sharing Printing Services

Client - Server Peer-to-Peer
Resources Management Centralized Difficult as resources are
management distributed
Security Control Higher Lower
Speed Slower as everyone Shared workload; Faster
relies on the Server
Risk Single point of failure as No single point of failure
the server is being
highly relied on
Hardware Cost Higher for servers Lower
Software Cost NOS is more expensive Lower
Setup Cost and Higher; requiring Lower
Maintenance Cost professionals for server
configurations and
maintenance

Exercise 1

1. Which of the following statements about peer-to-peer networks is / are correct?

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 (1) The performance of the computers must not be too high. Otherwise, the network may
be broken down easily.
(2) The capabilities of all computers are similar.
(3) Network printers cannot be directly connected to the network.
A. (1) only
B. (2) only
C. (1) and (2) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)
Answer: B

2. Which of the following statements about client/server networks is / are correct?

(1) The roles of some computers are different from those of the others.
(2) Normal desktop computers cannot be used as servers.
(3) Client/server networks are more efficient than peer-to-peer networks when there are
a large number of computers.
A. (1) only
B. (2) only
C. (1) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)
Answer: C

3. Which of the following is / are (a) function(s) of a computer network?

(1) Hardware sharing
(2) File sharing
(3) Communication
A. (1) only
B. (1) and (2) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)
Answer: D

4. Which of the following statements about a WAN is correct?

A. It is the network of a bank.
B. It consists of a number of networks that are located in the same building.
C. It consists of a number of LANs spreading over a wide area to form a large network.
D. It consists of a number of computer systems that can only be located in a big room.
Answer: C
HKCEE 1997-CE COMP STUD Q16
5. Which of the following is/are reason(s) for forming a network?
(1) to share devices
(2) to allow users to communicate with each other
(3) to allow users to transfer data to and from each other
A. (3) only
B. (1) and (2) only
C. (1) and (3) only
D. (2) and (3) only
E. (1), (2) and (3)
Answer: E
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HKCEE 1998-CE COMP STUD Q31
6. In a local area network where one printer serves several computers, the printing jobs of the
printer will most will most likely be executed……
A. simultaneously.
B. on a time-sharing basis.
C. on a random basis.
D. on the first-com-first-serve basis.
E. on the last-in-first-out basis.
Answer: D

7. State two advantages and two disadvantages of client/server networks over peer-to-peer
networks.
(4 marks)
Answer
(a) Advantages:
● Data is centralized for easier management and more efficient user access. (1)
● (Higher) Security is controlled in a centralized manner that can be managed more
efficiently. (1)
Disadvantages:
● The set-up cost is higher since servers need more advanced hardware usually. (1)
● More technical knowledge is required to set up and maintain servers. (1)

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C. Connecting to a Network using Network Devices

Network Interface Card (NIC)

● An expansion board for connecting a computer to a network
● Media access control (MAC) address
■ Each NIC’s unique hardware number
■ Identify the computer on the network.
■ Burnt onto the NIC by the manufacturer
● Classified by:
■ Types of connectors
■ Expansion buses
■ Size of its bandwidth

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Repeater
● Mostly used in long distance transmissions
● Strengthen signals in the middle of long distance transmissions
◆ A device that amplifies the received signals

◆ Removes unwanted noise.

◆ Sends the amplified signals to the connected device.

◆ Overcomes the problem of signal attenuation due to the long

distance transmission.

Hub
● A hub is a device which connects nodes together
● Distributes messages to every node connected to the hub
◆ Similar to switch

◆ Can only handle low transmission traffic

◆ Its efficiency drops significantly under heavy network traffic.

◆ Cost is very close to switch

Example:
Sending a message from PC-A to PC-C:
A hub will broadcast the messages to all nodes connected

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All nodes receive the message. PC-C opens the messages as it is the recipient.
Other PCs ignores the message as they are not the recipient

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Switch
● Switch also connects node together, its function is similar to a hub
● Usually more expensive than a hub, as it usually supports more nodes, more
secure and more efficient
● Memorizes the MAC address of the nodes connected to it and distributed
information for the corresponding device according to the MAC address
● Connected to a server with typical data transmission speeds of 10 Mbps,
100 Mbps and 1 Gbps

Example
Sending a message from PC-A to PC-C:

Only PC-C receives the message. Other PCs won’t receive the message

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Exercise 3 [2009 HKALE AL-CS/CA Paper 1A Question 5(a)-(b)]

Solution

HKEAA report

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Bridge
● Connect two LANs of the SAME type

**Router
● A device that translates signals from different networks
● Usually responsible for the connectivity
between different types of LANs and between
a LAN and the Internet.
● Connects between two or more networks
● Connects between LAN and the Internet
(gateway)
● A router identifies its connections by recognizing IP addresses
● Calculates the shortest path to the destination and avoids looping
● Using each connection to a router is regards as a subnet
● The advantages of dividing a network into subnets include:
■ Better security control
■ Better traffic management
● By looking at the IP addresses and subnet masks of a network, we may
identify how many subnets the network contains

REMARKS:
Home-use routers = switching routers
● Work as both a router and a switch
● Users can connect two or more computer to the broadband modem and
form a small network.
● Not very reliable and durable
● Incapable of handling large volumes of data traffic

Gateway
● A node which enables communications between two networks of different
types. Usually this node is a router.

Modem

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Exercise 4
Identify the network devices (in rectangular shapes) in the following diagrams,
each circle represents a node in the network:

Exercise 5
Identify the network devices (in rectangular shapes) in the following diagram,
each circle represents a node in the network:

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Exercise 6
[2009 HKALE CA Paper 1A Question 5(c)]

Solution

Exercise 7
[2012 HKDSE ICT Practice Paper 1B Q4]

Exercise 8
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[2009 HKCEE CIT Paper 1A Q17-Q18] (24%) (63%)

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Exercise 9 [2009 HKALE AL-CS/AS-CA Paper 1A Q7(a)-(b)]

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Exercise 10
[2007 HKALE AL-CS/AS-CA Paper 1B Q9(i)-(ii)]

This question was answered fairly well. Many candidates were not familiar with
the basic functions of various network devices and the concepts of connecting
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network devices together to form a network.

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Exercise 11
[2010 HKCEE CIT Paper 2C Q1 (e) (i) – (ii), (f) – (g) ]

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Exam Report:

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D. Different Communication Channels

Computer communication can only be achieved by transmitting data between

computers over a communication channel

Bandwidth is a measurement for quantifying the transmission speed of a

channel

Bandwidth
● The maximum transmission capacity of a communications channel
● Usually measured in bits per second (bps)

There are two main categories for communication channels, wired and wireless
connections

1. Wired Connections

Twisted Pair Cable

● Looks like a phone line
● Conducts electrical signals
● The two ends of the wire use RJ-45 connectors
● Copper wires are twisted in pairs to reduce interference caused by parallel
wires, Winding two conductors together → eliminate electromagnetic
interference
● Widely used in local area networks.

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a. UTP (Unshielded twisted pair)
● Could be interfered by electromagnetic fields from the environment
● CAT-5 UTP is the most common type of UTP cables nowadays (100Mbps)
● Features: for short distance only (typically < 100m), Cheap, easy to wire
● Does not have metal shielding
● Low-cost substitution for the STP cable
● Maximum data transmission speed of Cat 6 UTP cable is about 1,000 Mbps
within 100 m distance limit.

b. STP (shielded twisted pair)

● less interfered by electromagnetic fields from the envirionment due to the
shielding
● can be used for longer distances, more expensive than UTP
● Has a metal wrapper around each wire to reduce noise and electromagnetic
interference

REMARKS:
A Twisted Pair Cable (UTP or STP) can either be straight-through or cross-over

Straight-through
● For connecting a PC to a hub / switch / router

Cross-over
● The positions of the lines for receiving and transmitting are swapped
● For connecting a PC to another PC
● For connecting a hub / switch / router to another hub / switch / router

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Coaxial Cables
● Commonly used for VCR and cable television connections.
● Has a BNC connector on both ends.
● Higher ability to retain the strength of a transmitting signal over a long
distance than a twisted-pair cable
● Conducts electromagnetic signals
● A copper wire rounded by shielding materials for protecting from
interference
● Features: can be used for medium distances (typically < 500m), bulky,
expensive
● Consists of:
■ a copper wire
■ a sheath of insulation
■ a wire mesh that conducts and shields against interference
■ an outside coating

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Optical fiber
● Conducts optical signals
● A bundle of glass threads transmitting light beams
● Can be used in long distance transmissions as it is not interfered by
electromagnetic fields
● Features: fastest, reliable, secure, more expensive, harder to install and
modify

Disadvantages:
● Cost is very high.
● Installation process is much more difficult that that of other network cables.
● Special device is needed to convert digital signals to optical light beams and
vice versa.
● Once installed it can hardly be changed.

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 2.Wireless Connection

Microwave
● Transmits microwave signals (a type of electromagnetic waves) in the air
● Mainly used in point-to-point communications (usually on top of tall
buildings)
● May also involve communications between satellites and base stations
● Rather unstable as the transmissions could be affected by bad weather
● Thus, low data transfer rate

Bluetooth
● Usually for short-distance data transfer between computer devices but not
in wireless LAN or Internet access
● Often equipped in PDAs, mobile phones

WiFi (IEEE Standard: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac)

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● Connecting nodes with wireless access points (also called hotspots), forming
a wireless LAN
● Limited area (typical radius < 100m), limited number of devices connected
● To connect to a Wi-Fi network:
■ The workstation should be installed with a wireless network card
(wireless NIC)
■ The user needs to know the SSID (the identifier of the Wi-Fi network),
username / password, encryption methods (WEP, WPA, WPA2) etc

REMARKS
Wired vs Wireless Connection
Wired Connection Wireless Connection
Bandwidth (network Higher Lower
Speed)
Reliability More reliable More vulnerable to
interference
Mobility Poor Good, easy to add new
workstations
Security Less vulnerable to More security concerns
intrusions
Suitable for Desktop computers Notebooks or other
mobile computing
devices

Exercise 9
Which of the following data transmission media is/are NOT subject to
electromagnetic interference?

(1) Twisted pair wire

(2) Coaxial cable
(3) Optical fiber
(4) Microwave
(5) Wireless Connection

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Exercise 10
[2009 HKCEE CIT Paper 1B Q5]

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Exercise 11

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[2009 HKCEE CIT Paper 1B Q5(c)]

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Exercise 12
[2012 HKDSE ICT Practice Paper 1B Q4 (a) (ii) and (b)]

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E. Internet and ISP

Internet
● The largest WAN in the World

Internet Service Provider

● Operates network devices and communication channels to handle data
transmission from clients
● Operates Domain name servers for translating between an address (e.g.
www.google.com) with its numeric address (208.50.141.12) on the Internet

F. Methods of Internet Access

Dial-up connection
● In old days, we connected to the Internet by making a dial-up connection
(imagine it is a phone call) to the ISP
● The connection to the ISP based on the telephone network, 56Kbps
(narrowband)
● Digital signals from the computer have to be converted to analogue signals
alone the way to the ISP with modems
Basic equipment:
■ Dial-up
modem
■ A telephone
line
■ Probably the
cheapest option of
infrequent Internet
users.
■ Its charges are
either fixed or
based on usage
time.

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ISDN
● On-demand fast dial-up technology
● Makes use of a special ISDN modem
● Gradually replaced by broadband services because of faster connections

Broadband service
● Transmission speed is much higher because of no digital / analogue signal
conversion and limitation to the voice-band allocation
● We need a digital modem (broadband router) provided by the ISP (e.g. ADSL
modem, cable modem, etc) to connect to the Internet with Broadband for
digital signal adjustments

PC or LAN connection to the Internet:

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● There are several types of Broadband connection services
1. ADSL
■ Upstream bandwidth and transmission bandwidth are different
■ The downstream bandwidth is higher to fit for the need of ordinary
users (e.g. 6Mbps / 3 Mbps)

2. SDSL
■ Upstream bandwidth and downstream bandwidth are the same

Leased Line
● Renting a 24-hr dedicated communication line from the ISP
● More reliable and more secure, but the cost is also more expensive than
broadband services
● T1 is a kind of carrier for leased lines with 1.5Mb/s

Exercise 13
[2012 HKDSE ICT Practice Paper 1A Q27]

1. Which of the following types of technology is widely used in wireless devices and has a
transmission coverage limit of 10 metres usually?
A. Infra-red
B. Bluetooth
C. Microwave broadband
D. Laser
Answer
B

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2. Which of the following statements about dial-up connection is correct?
A. Its maximum transmission speed is 256 Kbps.
B. A router is needed to set up a dial-up connection.
C. It is the most stable way to connect to the Internet nowadays.
D. It covers a wider area than broadband connections.
Answer
D
3. Which of the following hardware is assigned by a unique MAC address during production?
A. Network interface card
B. Display card
C. Modem
D. Scanner
Answer
A
4. Jack designs a network of nine workstations with Internet access for an office. Which types
of connections can he use?
(1) Metropolitan area network (MAN)
(2) Broadband
(3) Leased line
(4) Wi-Fi
A. (1) and (3) only
B. (1) and (4) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (2) and (4) only
Answer
D
5. Which of the following technologies requires the use of a telephone line?
A. ISDN
B. T-carrier
C. Cable modem
D. SDSL
Answer
C
6. Which of the following descriptions about modem is not correct?
A. It is a communication device.
B. It can convert analogue signals to digital signals.
C. It acts as a workstation.
D. It can convert digital signals to analogue signals.
Answer
C

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More to Learn
■ Internal communication
■ In both LAN and WAN, users can communicate with each other by e-mail,
instant messaging or file transfer.

■ Hardware sharing
■ In a LAN,
■ Users are allowed to share hardware resources such as hard disks,
printers and scanners.
■ Shared equipment can be better monitored and utilized.
■ Helps save the cost of extra hardware.

Centralized data management

■ All data centralized in one network server
■ All authorized users are able to share the latest and identical information all

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 the time.
■ Allows many users to work on the same project at the same time.
■ Increasing productivity and efficiency
■ Better than duplicate and scatter important data files and sensitive information
onto many different computers
■ No data update problems.
■ Reduce management costs
■ Less vulnerable to security attacks

■ In a WAN,
■ Sharing of hardware is less common except for the hard disk storage
space.
■ After logging onto a file server, a user can upload and download files
from a dedicated folder on the file server.
■ Once the network allows the Internet access:
■ Possible for a remote user to access a network server
■ Risk of attack from hackers
■ Apply a number of security measures to protect the network from intrusions
through the Internet.
■ Examples:
■ Firewalls
■ Virtual private networks (VPNs)
■ Dedicated leased lines

Modem
Cable modem
■ Used when the broadband service is provided via a cable TV line.
■ Modulates the digital computer network data into radio-frequency signals for
transmission.
■ Demodulates incoming radio-frequency signals into digital signals.
Digital subscriber line (DSL) modem
■ Used when broadband service is provided via a residential telephone cable.
■ Filters DSL signals from telephone voice signals.
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 ■ Converts incoming signals that a computer can process and vice versa.

■ Main broadband systems for home users:

■ Asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL)
■ Symmetric digital subscriber line (SDSL)
■ Cable modem

■ Satellite broadband
■ Can be used to establish a connection to the Internet in remote areas
where wired broadband is not available.
■ Requires a dedicated satellite and a satellite dish on each end of the
connection.
■ Average upload and download speeds are around 50Kbps and 500Kbps
respectively.
■ Despite the low transmission speeds, the set-up cost and the monthly
charge can be very expensive

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 ■ Microwave broadband
■ Communicates with the ISP by a microwave signal.
■ Broadband subscriber and the ISP send and receive radio signals
directly to each other.
■ Consists of a number of access points and subscriber units.
■ Access points
■ Mounted on top of buildings since each subscriber unit must
have a line-of-sight to the access point
■ Practical coverage: up to 1.5 km
■ Data transmission speed: up to 100 Mbps
■ May be affected by rainstorms and connection may become unstable or
even breaks up.

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 ■ Wi-Fi connections
■ Wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi)
■ The network based on the IEEE 802.11 wireless local area
network (WLAN) standard
■ Data is transmitted by radio waves.
■ To transmit data:
■ The sender translates digital data into radio signals and
transmits it to the receiver
■ The receiver then translates the received radio signals back to
digital data.
■ WLAN
■ Use high-frequency radio waves to transmit and receive data
■ Provide all the features and benefits of wired LAN technologies
■ Without the limitations of cables
■ Can be connected to a wired LAN by means of an access point.

■ Advantages:
■ Cost of building up a network is lower.
■ Network structure can be modified if required.
■ A network can be extended to an outdoor area.
■ Disadvantages:
■ Effective data transfer rate is highly affected by the surrounding
environment.
■ The risk of intrusions is higher.
■ The maximum data transmission speed of a WLAN is
significantly lower than that of a wired network.
■ The coverage of a wireless router or access point is limited.
■ The cost of building up a large wireless network can be very
high.
Comparison between different network connection:

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 ■ Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
■ ISDN works on the same principle as a dial-up connection.
■ Need an ISDN modem connected to a conventional telephone line to establish
an ISDN connection to the ISP server.
■ Maximum data transmission speed: 128 Kbps
■ Data is transmitted as digital signals instead of analogue signals.
■ More stable and less likely to be affected by surrounding interference.

■ Wireless Internet access

■ Can access the Internet or connect to a computer network instantly almost
anywhere with our notebook computer or other mobile devices.
■ Popular wireless connection methods:
■ Wi-Fi hot spots
■ Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
■ General Packet Radio Services (GPRS)
■ Wi-Fi hot spots
■ Large number of Wi-Fi hot spots have been built in public areas.
■ Users may need to subscribe to an ISP for connection to the Wi-Fi hot
spots.
■ Free Wi-Fi hot spots
■ Airport
■ Government properties
■ Public facilities
■ WAP
■ A communication protocol designed for handheld wireless devices
■ Maximum data transmission speed of WAP ranges from 10 Kbps to 153
Kbps

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 ■ GPRS
■ A technology designed for mobile phones
■ Maximum data transmission speed: 115.2 Kbps
■ Provides a constant connection that allows users to surf the WWW and
use e-mail services.
■ A notebook computer with a GPRS network card or a communication
medium with a GPRS-enabled mobile phone can use GPRS to connect
to the Internet.
■ Most mobile phone companies provide WAP, GPRS and HSDPA services
for their customers to obtain instant information.

■ Latest development for data communications

■ A new wireless transmission protocol has been developed
■ Can transmit data at 2.5 Gbps
■ The fastest Wi-Fi connection available in the market today.
■ However, the security concerns about wireless transmission is still an unsolved
problem
■ No encryption method is proved to make a wireless network as safe as a wired
network.
■ It may take ten more years to complete the migration of all existing 10/100
Mbit computer networks to Gigabit networks.

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