Computer Networking

Networking is referred as connecting computers electronically for the purpose of sharing information. Resources such as files, applications, printers and software are common information shared in a networking. The advantage of networking can be seen clearly in terms of security, efficiency, manageability and cost effectiveness as it allows collaboration between users in a wide range. Basically, network consists of hardware component such as computer, hubs, switches, routers and other devices which form the network infrastructure. These are the devices that play an important role in data transfer from one place to another using different technology such as radio waves and wires. There are many types of network available in the networking industries and the most common network are Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN).LAN network is made up of two or more computers connected together in a short distance usually at home, office buildings or school. WAN is a network that covers wider area than LAN and usually covers cities, countries and the whole world. Several major LAN can be connect together to form a WAN. As several devices are connected to network, it is important to ensure data collision does not happened when this devices attempt to use data channel simultaneously.

Network Devices and Terms

There are various network devices available, and many terminologies used and their description is as below:

Router: A router is used to connect different networks together. I.e., for two or more LANs to be interconnected, you need a router. It is responsible for the path determination of sent data. The router is regarded as a layer three device, due to the fact that it operates at layer 3 of the OSI (Open System Interconnection) model of communication, and it makes use of IP addresses at its interface.

Switch: The switch is responsible for connecting the computers together. The switch is a major backbone of LANs. As it provides an avenue for different computers to be interconnected. This device is known to operate at layer 2 of the OSI model standard of communication. Hence it is a layer two device. The switch is an improved form of a bridge.

Wireless Router: A wireless router helps to connect multiple devices without wire. Commonly known as wi-fi network and used to distribute the Internet to multiple devices at home, shop, or office.

Hub: Hub is also known as a multi-port repeater due to its similarity with the repeater, though there are specific devices called repeaters. The hub was also used to connect computers and share data amongst them, but it is now majorly used as a repeater to repeat signals from long distances. The hub is known as a layer one device  (on the OSI model), likewise the repeater.

Ethernet: Ethernet to the cabling and ports system involved in networking. The network cables are referred to as Ethernet cables, and they are used to connect a computer to all other networking devices or for a computer to computer connection. The most common of which is the RJ45 connector.

IP address: IP means Internet Protocol. The IP address is a 32-bit address given to computers, switches, and routers, so as for them to be easily located by other devices on the network.  This exists in two versions currently, which are IPv4 (IP version 4) and IPv6 (IP version 6).

MAC: MAC (Media Access Control) address is a 64-bit manufacturer’s address burnt on the motherboards of computers, routers, and switches. Every computer, switch, or router has a MAC address that is unique to itself. This is a source of unique identity to electronic devices for easy recognition. It is as unique as the fingerprint of human beings.

WI-FI: Wi-Fi is a method of connecting computers to a network without the use of cables, i.e. wireless networking, which involves the use of Wi-Fi-enabled computers, access points, wireless routers, etc.

Scalability: This is the ability of a network to expand such that it gives room for more devices to be interconnected and integrated into the network without causing any major changes to the whole network.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COVER PAGE

TITLE PAGE

APPROVAL PAGE

DEDICATION

ACKNOWELDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE

• INTRODUCTION
• BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT
• STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
• AIM AND OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
• SCOPE OF THE STUDY
• METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY
• THE OUTLINE OF THE STUDY

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

           2.0       LITERATURE REVIEW

• OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY
• TYPES OF COMPUTER NETWORK
• COMPUTER NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE

SYSTEM DESIGN

• METHODOLOGY
• BASICS OF COMPUTER NETWORKING
• WORKING PRINCIPLE OF A COMPUTER NETWORKING
• CHARACTERISTICS OF A COMPUTER NETWORK
• COMPUTER NETWORKING HARDWARE
• COMPUTER NETWORKING PROCEDURE

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1      CARRIER SENSE MULTIPLE ACCESS (CSMA)

4.2        CARRIER SENSE MULTIPLE ACCESS WITH COLLISION   DETECTION (CSMA / CD)

4.3       NETWORK PROBLEMS AND THEIR SOLUTIONS

CHAPTER FIVE

• CONCLUSION 

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                                        INTRODUCTION

1.1                                         BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

Computer networking is a means by which computers are interconnected to share data and information, resources, and all other network devices such as printers.

Computers, as we now know, apply to all fields of endeavors, be it agriculture, education, medicine, technology, transportation, and so on. Therefore, there is an obvious need for an organization to have an inter-network of its computers to further aid data sharing and retrieval, and efficient management and use of computing resources.

The world today is a global village with the advent of the Internet, which is a combination of millions of computer systems inter-networked to share information. The growth of the Internet has been seen to be sporadically improving, as it provides useful information and platforms for all classes of people, entrepreneurs, students, artisans, craftsmen, and all other categories of people and professions.

1.2                                          STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

In the last decade external storage devices such as CD-ROM, memory card, flash drive, diskette etc are used to transfer data from one computer to another. Computer operators used find it difficult to share information of data from one computer to another using these devices because it involves much labour, wastes time, cost effective and low speed of transfer of data. The use of computer networking which involves the interconnected autonomous systems that facilitate distributed processing of information overcame these problems. It gives a better performance with high speed of processing of data. With computer networking, Files can be stored on a central node (the file server) that can be shared and made available to each and every user in an organization. There is a negligible range of abilities required to connect to a modern computer network. The effortlessness of joining makes it workable for even youthful kids to start exploiting the data. Security and protection of information is additionally settled through the system. As just the system clients are approved to get to specific records or applications, no other individual can crack the protection or security of information.

1.3                                     AIM AND OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The main aim of this work is to discuss computer networking as a method of data and resource sharing. The objective of networking is “Resource sharing”, and it is to make all programs, data and equipment available to anyone on the network without the regard to the physical location of the resource and the user. A second goal is to provide high reliability by having alternative sources of supply

1.4                                                   SCOPE OF THE STUDY

Networking is referred as connecting computers electronically for the purpose of sharing information. Resources such as files, applications, printers and software are common information shared in a networking. The advantage of networking can be seen clearly in terms of security, efficiency, manageability and cost effectiveness as it allows collaboration between users in a wide range. Basically, network consists of hardware component such as computer, hubs, switches, routers and other devices which form the network infrastructure. These are the devices that play an important role in data transfer from one place to another using different technology such as radio waves and wires. In this work, different types of computer network that are available in the networking industries and the most common network are Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN).LAN network is made up of two or more computers connected together in a short distance usually at home, office buildings or school. WAN is a network that covers wider area than LAN and usually covers cities, countries and the whole world. Several major LAN can be connect together to form a WAN.

1.5                                         METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY

To achieve the aim and objectives of this work, the following are the steps involved.

1. Study of the previous work on the project so as to improve its efficiency.
2. The importance of the computer networking studied
3. Components used for computer networking was listed and studied
4. Procedures on how to setup a computer network was also studied.
5. Problem and solutions for computer networking was studies.

1.6                                             THE OUTLINE OF THE STUDY

The work is organized as follows: chapter one discuses the introductory part of the work, chapter two presents the literature review of the study, chapter three describes the methods applied, chapter four discusses the results of the work, chapter five summarizes the research outcomes and the recommendations.