CHAPTER 4

Networks

CHAPTER OUTLINE

4.1 What Is a Computer Network?

4.2 Network Fundamentals

4.3 The Internet and the World Wide Web

4.4 Network Applications

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Compare and contrast the two major types of networks

2. Describe the wireline communications media and transmission technologies

3. Describe the most common methods for accessing the Internet

4. Explain the impact that networks have had on business and everyday life for each of the six major categories of network applications

4.1 What Is a Computer Network?

• Broadband

• Local Area Networks • Wide Area Networks

• Enterprise Networks

4.2 Network Fundamentals

•Analog and Digital Signals

•Communications Media and Channels

•Transmission Technologies

•Network Protocols

•Types of Network Processing

Transmission Technologies

•Digital subscriber line (DSL)

•Asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)

•Synchronous optical network (SONET)

•T-carrier system

Network Protocols

• Ethernet

•Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

Types of Network Processing

• Client/server computing

•Peer-to-peer processing

Types of Peer-to-Peer Processing

• First Type

• Second Type

• Third Type

4.3 The Internet and the World Wide Web

•Accessing the Internet

•The Future of the Internet

•The World Wide Web

Accessing the Internet

• Connecting via an online service• Internet kiosks• Dial-up• DSL• Cable Modem• Satellite• Wireless• Fiber to the home

Addresses on the Internet

Domain names

Top-level domain

Name of the organization

Name of the specific computer

The World Wide Web

Home page

Uniform resource locator

Browser Competition

4.4 Network Applications

•Discovery

•Communication

•Collaboration

•E-Learning and Distance Learning

•Virtual Universities

•Telecommuting

Discovery

• Search engines

• Metasearch engines

• Discovery of material in foreign languages

• Portals

Portals

• Commercial (public) portals

• Affinity portals

• Mobile portals

• Corporate portals

• Industrywide portals

Communication

• Electronic mail (e-mail)

• Web-based call centers (customer call

center)

• Electronic chat room

• Voice

• Unified

Collaboration

• Work group

• Virtual group (team)

• Virtual collaboration

• Collaboration software

• Electronic Teleconferencing

• E-Learning and Distance Learning

Benefits of E-Learning

• Self-paced learning increases content retention.• Online materials deliver high-quality, current

content.• Students have the flexibility of learning from

any place at any time at their own pace.• Learning time generally is shorter, and more

people can be trained due to faster training time.

• Training costs can be reduced.

Drawbacks of E-Learning

• Instructors may need training to be able to teach electronically.

• The purchase of additional multimedia equipment may be necessary.

• Students must be computer literate and may miss the face-to-face interaction with instructors.

• There are issues with assessing students’ work, as instructors really do not know who completed assignments.

Telecommuting Benefits

• For Employees–Reduced stress, improved family life– Employment opportunities for single

parents and persons with disabilities• For Employers– Increased productivity–Ability to retain skilled employees

Telecommuting Disadvantages

• For Employees– Feelings of isolation– No workplace visibility– Potential for slower promotions

• For Employers– Difficulties in supervising work– Potential information security problems– Additional training costs

Closing Case #1The Network Neutrality Wars

• The Problem

• The Solution

• The Results

Closing Case #2: Marriott’s Corporate Portal

• The Problem

• The Solution

• The Results