COMPUTER

NETWORK
COMPONENTS AND FUNCTIONS OF A
COMPUTER NETWORK.
Objectives

• List and Explain the basic components of a computer network.

• Identify and Describe the different transmission media (Wired and
Wireless)

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Components of a Network

Transmission Network Interface

Media (Wired Connection Cards/ Network
or Wireless) Devices Adapters

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 • There are two types of connection
methods are available:

1. A wired network
2. A wireless network

Components of a • Most networks use a combination of wired

and wireless technologies.
Network • A wired transmission medium carries data
directly from one point to another.
• Wireless medium broadcasts the data, which is
carried to all devices within its range.

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CLASS ACTIVITY
Explore the lab and discover the following: Describe the characteristics and appearance
of each item discovered.
Connection Devices Transmission Media NODES
• List FOUR(4) • List TWO(2) • List FOUR(4)
connection transmission nodes that are
devices that are methods that is now present in
now present in shown to be the Lab.
the lab. available in the
lab.

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Network Components
• Network designers make decisions as to
which type of transmission media to use
based on a number of factors.

• These include:
• The physical environment (for example location
of the rooms in relation to each other, their
size, and the material used to construct the
walls)
• The volume of data that will be transmitted and
received by the various devices
• The flexibility and convenience required by
users’ devices, for example fixed desktop
computers or mobile devices
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Network Components
• Networks are created by combining computing devices (desktop computers, laptops,
tablets and smartphones) and peripherals (printers, scanners) to a central connection
point such as a switch.

• So the components used in a network are:

1. Transmission media – Used to connect everything together. (Wired vs Wireless)
2. Connected Devices – Hubs, Routers and Switches. Devices used to ensure that data gets directed to the
intended destination.
3. Network Interface Cards / Network Adapters – Ensure the end devices such as (Laptops, Desktops,
etc.) can connect to the network and receive the data.

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Connection Devices

Routers Switches/Hubs Modems

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Hubs
• In a really simple network connecting a
few computers, the computers will all be
directly connected together via a hub

• A hub is a multiport device that connects

many computing devices together.

• A simple hub works by repeating data

received from one of its ports to all other
ports.

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 • Every computer linked to the hub will
receive a message when it traverse the
network, even if it is not the intended
destination.

• Due to this fact, hubs aren’t used in

businesses or organization because it
Hubs degrades the network performance with
unnecessary traffic

• Hubs are mostly used in simple networks,

such as testing networks for demonstration
purposes.

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Switches
• Organizations and businesses of all sizes will have
numerous computers connected to its network
and will need to include devices that direct data
traffic to its correct destination.

• Switches and Routers send data on a network in

the right direction.

• A switch is an intelligent device that routes

incoming data directly to the specific computer or
end device.

• Due to this fact, switches are commonly used in

LANs in both businesses and network homes to
ensure efficient network performance.
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 • A router is an intelligent network device
that connects two or more networks
together.

• For example connecting a department of a

company to another within the same
company. (Sales Department to Accounting
Routers Department)

• Another example would be connect your

home network to the internet.

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Modems
• Modem is an abbreviation for
modulator-demodulator, a device that
converts signals from analogue to digital
and vice versa.

• A modem allows computers to exchange

information through telephone lines.

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 • Any device that wants to connect to a
network needs a network interface card or
a network adapter.

Network Interface • A network interface card (NIC) is a

computer hardware component installed in
Cards / Network a device into which a network cable may be
Adapters plugged. (For example a desktop computer)

• A wireless network interface card

communicates wirelessly and has an
antenna instead of a port that accepts a
cable (For example, a laptop)

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Network Adapter
• A network adapter is a converter that
adapts/extends a USB port in order for it
to function like a NIC or a wireless NIC.

• A network adapter is needed if the

computing device does not have a built-in
networking component.

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Wired Connection
Twisted Pair
• Twisted Pair cable consists of eight
copper wires, twisted in pairs to
reduce interference and enclosed in
a plastic covering

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Wired Connection
Coaxial Cable

• Coaxial Cable uses a core

copper conductor to transmit
signals.
• It has an insulator that is
surrounded by a braided metal
conductor which helps to
prevent the interference of
electrical signals.
• It has an outer protective layer,
an external polymer layer. It has
a plastic coating that is used to
protect internal layers from
damages.
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Wired Connection
Fiber Optic Cable

• Fiber optic cable consists of

flexible fibres with a glass core;
they carry information using
light.
• Fiber optic cables are
high-performance and very high
capacity communication media
and so are used extensively for
a country’s Internet backbone
connecting the country’s main
cities and towns.

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Wireless
Connection
Microwaves
• Microwaves are part of the
electromagnetic radiation
spectrum at frequencies 300
MHz to 300 GHz
• Like infrared, microwave
communication works with a
clear line of sight but covers
over making kilometres
between the two antennae.
• Microwave communications can
be used to connect remote
locations to a network.

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Wired Connection
Satellite
• A satellite is a communication
device orbiting in space that
relays and amplifies radio
telecommunication signals to
and from remote locations.
• Communication satellites can be
included in a computer network
when a remote computer
system needs to join a network
and no other solutions are
possible because of distance or
location.
• Satellite uses microwaves
wireless technology.
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