COMPUTER NETWORKS & INTERNETWORKING

computer network is a collection of computers and other devices

interconnected by communications links that facilitate communications and
allows sharing of resources such as hardware,software,data &I nformation
among users.
Advantages of Computer Networks

File

or Data sharing: a computer network allows file sharing and remote

file access e.g. A person sitting at one computer of a network can easily see
the files present on the other computer, provided he is authorized to do so.
It saves the time which is wasted in copying a file from one system to
another, by using a storage device .In addition to that, many people can
access or update the information stored in a database making it up-to-date
and accurate.
Increased

Storage Capacity: As there is more than one computer on a

network which can easily share files, the issue of storage capacity gets
resolved to a great extent. A standalone computer might fall short of
storage memory, but when many computers are on a network, memory of
different computers can be used in such case. One can also design a
storage server on the network in order to have a huge storage capacity.

Resource Sharing: a computer network allows sharing of resources

such as hardware and software e.g. if there are four people in a family,
each having their own computer, they will require four modems for
the Internet connection and four printers, if they want to use the
resources at the same time. A computer network, on the other hand,
provides a cheaper alternative by the provision of resource sharing, In
this way, all the four computers can be interconnected, using a
network, and just one modem and printer can efficiently provide the
services to all four members. The facility of shared folders can also be
availed by family members.

Centralized Software Management: a computer network allows

installation of software on one computer (the file server), this
eliminates that need to spend time and energy installing updates and
tracking files on independent computers throughout the building.

Communication medium: a computer network can provide a powerful

communication medium among people spread widely at different
physical locations, It acts as a powerful communication medium when
it comes to sharing information and resources across the world.

Data Security and Management :In a business environment, a

computer network allows the administrators to much better manage
the company's critical data. Instead of having this data spread over
dozens or even hundreds of small computers in a haphazard fashion
as their users create it, data can be centralized on shared servers. This
makes it easy for everyone to find the data, makes it possible for the
administrators to ensure that the data is regularly backed up, and also
allows for the implementation of security measures to control who can
read or change various pieces of critical information.

Speed: Sharing and transferring files within Networks are very fast.
Networks provide a very rapid method for sharing and transferring
files. The sharing of data with the other users in a stand-alone
environment requires physical transfer of data. This can be done by
copying the data on a floppy disk or taking a printout. This requires
more time and is inconvenient as compared to sharing the data over a
network.

Disadvantages of the computer Network

Expensive Set Up: The initial set up cost of a computer network can be
high depending on the number of computers to be connected. Costly
devices like routers, switches, hubs, software etc. can add up to the bills of
a person trying to install a computer network and the installation may
require the services of a technician. .
Data Security: If a network is implemented properly, it is possible to
greatly improve the security of important data, in contrast a poorly
secured network puts critical data at risk exposing it to the potential
problems associated with hackers or unauthorized access.
Rapid Spread of Computer Viruses: If any computer system in a
network gets affected by a computer virus there is a possible threat of
other systems getting affected too. Viruses get spread on a network easily
because of the interconnectivity of workstations, such spread can be
dangerous if the computers have important database which can get
corrupted by the virus.
Server failure or cable breakage: In case the main Server of a computer
network breaks down, the system becomes useless also cables may break
interfering with the effective operation of the network.

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER NETWORKS

Computer Networks may be classified according to a wide variety of
characteristics such as geographical coverage,ownership,size ,physical
architecture etc.
Local area network(LAN)
A LAN is a network that connects computers and devices in a limited
geographical area such as home, school, computer laboratory, office
building or closely positioned group of buildings.
Each computer or device on the network is called as a node.
LANs usually use only one type of transmission media and organized
using bus, ring or star topologies.
Personal area network (PAN)
A PAN is a computer network used for communication among computer
and different information technological devices such as personal
computers, printers, fax machines, telephones, PDAs, scanners close to
one person.
A PAN may include wired and wireless devices.
The reach of a PAN typically extends to 10 meters.
] A wired PAN is usually constructed with USB and Firewire connections
while technologies such as Bluetooth and infrared communication
typically form a wireless PAN.

PAN(Personal Area Network)

Bluetooth trademark sign

Metropolitan area network (MAN)

A large computer network that usually spans a city. It usually

interconnects a number of local area networks (LANs) using a highcapacity backbone technology, such as fiber-optical links, and
provides up-link services to wide area networks (or WAN) and the
Internet.

Mombasa Rd
Branch

Rongai
Branch

Githurai
Branch

Westlands
Branch

Wide area network (WAN)

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A WAN is a computer network that covers a large

geographic area such as a country, a continent or the whole
world using a communications channel that combines many
types of media such as telephone lines, cables, and air
waves.

The Internet
The term Internet is an acronym that stands for International
Network.
The Internet is a global system of interconnected governmental,
academic, corporate, public, and private computer networks based
on the networking technologies of the TCP/IP protocol.
It is defined as a world-wide computer network linking countless
thousands of computer networks, through a mixture of private and
public computer networks.
Internet is just like a wide highway in a cyber space (space of
electronic movement of data) that moves data and information.
Therefore, the terms Cyber Space and Information Super Highway
are frequently used to refer to Internet.

Internet Services
Some of the most common uses of Internet are:
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World Wide Web (WWW) This is a vast virtual space of the internet where information
pages called web pages are installed. A collection of web pages stored as a file in a
special type of a computer called web server is called a Website. Every website is
accessed using Uniform Resource Locator (URL) e.g. KSTCs http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

Communication - You can exchange information with your family and friends anywhere
in the world through e-mails, chat rooms and newsgroups ETC.

E-commerce Today you can access cyber shops for online purchasing, windowshopping and pay for the services through electronic funds transfer (EFT), cheque and
credit cards.

Research - Researchers and scholars use Internet to access digital (virtual) libraries for
the latest information and archives.

Entertainment - You can watch Web TVs, online videos and play games, in Internet you
will almost get anything you need to keep you entertained.

E-learning Academic materials for all levels of education are readily available on the
Internet.

Telnet Logging into remote computer & work on it as your local computer.

FTP Transferring files to a remote computer or from remote comp. to a local comp.

Internet Connectivity Requirements:

A computer, a PDA or WAP enabled mobile phones) these devices are used
to access the internet data either through the physical or wireless means.
Transmission media This is a physical (copper wires) or wireless (radio
frequencies) pathway used to the medium for transferring data/information
from one computer to another.
Internet Service Provider - These are licensed commercial or non-commercial
organizations that provide access to internet. Examples are Access Kenya,
Swift Kenya, Nairobi net, Africa online, Wananchi, Celtel, Safaricom etc.
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Software The main categories of internet software are:

Browser Software - This lets you access the Internet resources examples are
Internet explorer, Netscape Navigator, Opera, Monzila FireFox, Mosaic etc.
Email Software enables you to receive, compose and send emails e.g. Outlook
express, Eudora Light, Pegasus Mail, Yahoo mail etc.
Search Engines These are search agent programs that enable one to quickly
search and access internet resources. They provide a catalogue of all
information available over the internet for quick access. They all provide a
search form where one types key words of the information he/she wants to
access. Examples are: Yahoo, Google, Inforseek, Alta Vista, Lycos etc.

MODEM (Modular-Demodulator) - Transforms digital data signals from a

computer into analog data signals (a form that can travel over the transmission
media) and vise versa.

Internet Connection Types

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There are two principal ways of connecting to the Internet, that is; Direct
and Dial up connection

1.

Direct

In this, the user has a fixed or dedicated link (physical line/wireless)to

the ISP.

Direct connections provide continuous, always on access to the

Internet.

A direct connection can be obtained in many ways e.g. Local Area

Network (LAN) A LAN can be connected to the Internet through a
special hardware component called a router which is connected to
another router at the ISP by a high-speed line.

Advantages:

High speed connection

You do not need a modem but a router

It is convenient as one does not have to keep on dialing up.

Disadvantage:

It is expensive to maintain the connection

Only economical for large corporation/organizations.

Internet Connection Types

Dial-up

2.

In this you connect your computer by use of a modem and/or phone line/wireless only
when you want to use Internet.

The user gains Internet access when he/she contact the ISP and the ISP
transfers him/her to Internet. When he/she finishes, they disconnect from the
ISP. The speed with which you can access the Internet is determined
primarily by the speed of your modem.

To gain faster dial-up connections, you can install an Integrated Service

Digital Network (ISDN) line which is a digital line provided by the local phone
company.

Advantage:

Initial connection fee is less as compared to direct connection

Cost can be controlled by reducing connection time

Connection done only when there is a need

Disadvantages:

May be disappointing in case of resource contention/traffic jam during dial up process as

one has to keep on dialing up.

Electronic Mail (E-mail)

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Electronic Mail refers to the sending and receiving of electronic letters and documents on
the Internet.

Advantages Over the Traditional Paper Mail/Snail Mail

It is fast
It is cheap
It is convenient
Easy to send one mail to many recipients by use of carbon copies
Mail can be saved for future retrieval
Easy to reply mails
Mails can easily be forwarded to another recipient
Document created using other application can easily be attached to the mail etc.
Reliable if all email etiquette and netiquette is observed.
Disadvantages
Security of message may not be guaranteed due to tapping while on transit.
Not yet accessible to every body due to the connectivity limitations
Requires some ICT literacy to use and enjoy
It is boring to read junk mails

E-mail Address
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For one to send and receive an email, he/she must have an email address.

Email address directs the computers on the Internet on where to deliver the
email message.

A typical email address has this format: Username@host-computer.domain e.g.

pekyalo@yahoo.com i.e. the email parts are:
Pekyalo This is the user name that identifies the owner of the email
address.
@ - Separates the username from the rest of the address parts
Yahoo The name of the host computer on the Internet in to which the
email account is hosted.
The period (.) read as dot. Separates different parts of the email address.
Com The domain. Identifies the type of Institution that owns the host
computer.

E-mail Address
Commonly Used Domains

.com commercial organizations

.co company/commercial organization
.org NGOs
.go government
.edu educational institution
.ac academic/educational institution etc
Country Domains are:
.ke Kenya.

.tz Tanzania

.uk United Kingdom

.ug - Uganda

LOG ON/SIGN IN
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Load the e-mail program that you are using e.g. for yahoo mail account holders,
type www.mail.yahoo.com in address bar of your browser to load the mail
program.

In the username text box, type your user name .e.g. pkmulwa

In the password text box, type the password. The password appears encrypted for
security.

Click on Sign in command button and wait as your mails window is opened

Composing and sending Email

Steps:
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Load email application program/Email Editor

Log in/Sign in if required by typing your user

name and password.

Click on compose command button mail

editor window appears as shown on the left.

Type email address of the recipient in the TO:

text box.

To sent Carbon Copies (Cc) & Blind Carbon

Copies (Bcc) type the addresses in the Cc: &
Bcc: textboxes respectively. Separate two or
more addresses by commas. Bcc recipients
dont see the identity of other recipients.

Type the subject/title of your message in the

Subject: text box.

Type the message and format it as you want in

the message text area.

Click on send command button to send mail.

The computer confirms on sending the mail.

File Attachment

Steps:
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Load email application program/Email

Editor

Log in or sign in as expected to access

your account by supplying your username
and password.

Compose your mail as usual.

Click on Attach Files command button.

From the dialog box that appears, browse

to specify the file/s to attach from your
computer.

Click on Open command button from the

Choose file dialog box after choosing the
file to attach.

The attachment progress bar appears. Wait

as the file/s is/are attached to you mail.

An attachment bar is inserted in the mail

window with the name of the attached file.

Click on send command to send the mail.

Receiving/Replying/Forwarding mail
Steps:

Load email application program/Email Editor

Log/sign in if required to access your email

account by supplying your username and
password.

Click on check mail command button

Click on Inbox to view the mails received as

shown on the left.

To read a mail, click on its subject/title from

the list of received mails. To read an
attachment, click on the attachment icon &
follow the instructions that follow.

To reply the mail, simply click on Reply

tab/command and type the reply message
then click on send command to send it.

To forward the mail, click on Forward tab,

type the address of the person whom you
want to forward the mail to, click on send.

Saving an E-mail

a) With the mail window opened, click on file

menu
b) Click on save as from the pull down menu
c) Select the location to save the mail and type
the file name
d) Click on save

Deleting and Spamming mails

a) From the inbox window, select the mail to delete or
spam
b) Click on the delete or spam command button to
delete or spam the mail
NB: For deleting, confirm the deletion

Printing Mails
a) Open the mail that you want to print
b) Click on the file menu
c) Click on print from the pull down menu
d) Specify the printer and the number of copies
e) Click on print.

Sign Out/Log Off

Once you have read your mail, it is advisable to sign out
or log off to ensure that unauthorized users do not read the
mail.
To sign out or log off, click on the sign out or log off
command button.