CHAPTER 1
NETWORK ADMINISTRATION
Upon completing this chapter, you should be able to do the following:
Describe how to establish communications with remote terminals and
monitor system transmissions.
Describe how to start up, monitor, and terminate network processing.
Explain how to change network software configurations and how to analyze
network hardware configurations.
Explain how to install and test software and how to perform system
restorations.
Explain how to evaluate network requests.
Describe the procedures used to calculate network capacity.
Explain how to determine communications protocols and how to design a
network.
Welcome to the wonderful world of networking.
Networking has opened the world to connectivity.
Networking gives an individual the capability to
communicate and connect with another individual or
another system in order to share resources.
The end result is to establish communications
between two PC computers or two entirely different
systems. The process used to reach that point can be
done many ways. Once you have established
connectivity and are communicating, then you will
need to monitor the systems transmission to ensure the
two computers are, in fact, communicating
successfully. Some of the factors that will have to be
taken into consideration are:
. What type of hardware will be needed
. What operating system (OS) will be used
. What applications will be needed
. What type of cabling will be used
NETWORK OPERATIONS
Networks consist of nodes that are interconnected
by links. These nodes and links usually cover a
relatively small geographical area, commonly known as
a local area network, ranging from a few feet to a mile.
Nodes are the hardware, such as computers, terminals,
hard disks, printers, and so on. Links are the
communications media, such as twisted-pair wire,
coaxial cable, or fiber optic cable that connects the
nodes.
Networks are made up of a variety of hardware,
network software, connecting cables, and network
interface cards combined in any number of ways. And
that is perfectly OK. Quite often, we design a network
using existing hardware. That is just one of the many
reasons why each individual network has its own
unique characteristics. The network hardware and
software components determine the structure of a
network, whether it is a local, metropolitan, or wide area
network. Normally, the workstations (PCs) in a LAN
are in close proximity to each other, usually within the
same building. A metropolitan area network (MAN)
consists of PCs that are basewide: one command
connected with another command, or one base
connected with another base, all via phone lines. A wide
area network (WAN) is worldwide: one country
connected with another country via satellites, etc.
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