Network Principles and Protocols

NETWORK PRINCIPLES AND PROTOCOLS 1
Network Principles and Protocols
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NETWORK PRINCIPLES AND PROTOCOLS 2
Table of Contents
Task 1: Networking principles and their protocols..........................................................................3
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Benefits and Constraints of Different Network Types and Standards.............................................3
Types of Computer Network.......................................................................................................3
Local Area Network (LAN).....................................................................................................3
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)........................................................................................5
Wide Area Network (WAN)....................................................................................................5
Networking Standards.................................................................................................................7
Impact of Network Topology, Communication and Bandwidth Requirements..........................7
Network Principles......................................................................................................................8
How Protocols Enable the Effectiveness of Network Systems...................................................8
Task 2 Networking Devices and Operations...................................................................................9
The operating principle of Networking Devices.........................................................................9
Operating Principle of Different Types of Servers....................................................................10
Inter-Dependence of Workstation Hardware with Relevant Networking Software..................10
Types of Servers and Recommendations Based on Performance and Cost..............................11
Task 3 Conclusion.........................................................................................................................11
References......................................................................................................................................13

NETWORK PRINCIPLES AND PROTOCOLS 3
Task 1: Networking principles and their protocols
Introduction
A network has been defined as an interconnection of different computing components such as
servers, workstations, network devices, printers among others for the purposes of sharing data
and communication. For a network to fully operate, the should be physical and logical
connection (Comer, 2015). The former is achieved by use of network protocols such as
Transmission Control Protocol while the latter is established by use of transmission media such
as Ethernet cable (Irving, 2010). This report will seek to described the different networking
principles and their protocols. The first section will discuss the benefits of different types of
networks and standards, the impact of network topology, communication, and bandwidth, and
compare the different network principles and how protocols facilitate effectiveness of
networking systems. The second section will discuss the operating principles of networking
devices and server types, the inter-dependence of workstation hardware with relevant networking
software, and investigate the different types of servers giving recommendations on performance
and cost for a selection of various network situation. The third part will describe the network
topology in the case study and provide a conclusion of the entire paper.
Benefits and Constraints of Different Network Types and Standards
Types of Computer Network
The basic function of a network is to transfer data from one node to another and share resources
such as printers, databases, and servers. A network can be differentiated depending on the range
of computer network and the size. The most common types of computer networks include: Wide
Area Network (WAN), Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), and Local Area Network (LAN).
The subsection will discuss these types in details.
Local Area Network (LAN)
A local area network (LAN) is a type of a network that is used to connect computer systems in
one building, office, or a group of buildings that are nearby. The most commonly used standard

NETWORK PRINCIPLES AND PROTOCOLS 4
in a LAN network is Ethernet. This type of network requires additional networking devices such
as switches, bridges, and hubs to extend the network. LANs have a transmission rate of between
10 to 1000 Mbps. Lan facilitates easy sharing of information and other network resources
conveniently. In a business setup, LAN is used to share applications, printers, and files. If a LAN
is interconnected using a wireless technology, the it is referred to as Wireless Local Area
Network (WLAN) which uses IEEE 802.11 family standards (Kizza, 2017). The diagram below
illustrates how a LAN looks like.
Figure 1: Structure of Local Area Network (Kizza, 2017)
Some of the advantages of Local Area Network include:
 Facilitates sharing of network resources such as data, printers, storage media.
 Enable sharing of software applications
 Allow cheap and easy communication
 Better data security
 Centralized management of data
 Support sharing of internet connection
Some of the disadvantages of LAN include:
 High initial cost for setting up LAN infrastructure
 Privacy issues because system administrators can monitor what the users are doing and
can access their personal details.