Electronic systems that transmit data from one location to another
Basic elements of communication systems
Sending and receiving devices
Connection devices
Data transmission specifications
Communication channel
Sending and receiving devices
Initiate an instruction to transmit/accept data, instruction, or information
Originate (send) as well as accept (receive) messages in the form of data, information, and/or instructions
Examples of sending and receiving devices
Mainframe computers
Servers
Desktop computers
Notebook computers
Smartphones
Portable media players
Handheld game consoles
GPS receivers
Physical connection types
Twisted pair cable
Telephone lines
Ethernet cables
Coaxial cable
Fiber-optic cable
Wireless connection types
Radio waves
Modem
Modulator-demodulator<|>Modulation is the process of converting from digital to analog<|>Demodulation is the process of converting from analog to digital
Transfer rate
Speed in which modems transfer data, usually measured in megabits per second (Mbps)
Types of modems
Digital subscriber line (DSL)
Cable
Wireless (WWAN)
Types of signals
Analog
Digital
Transfer rate units
Mbps (million bits per second)
Gbps (billion bits per second)
Tbps (trillion bits per second)
Connection services for corporations
Leased lines (T1, T3, DS3)
Optical carrier lines (OC)
Connection services for individuals
Digital subscriber line (DSL)
Cable
Satellite
Cellular (3G, 4G)
Fiber Optic Service (FiOS)
Bandwidth
How much information can move across the communication channel in a given amount of time
Categories of bandwidth
Voiceband (or low bandwidth) - standard telephone
Medium band - leased lines for high-speed
Mid-range computer and mainframes
Broadband for DSL, cable, satellite connections to the Internet
Baseband for individual connections for computers in close range
Have an "always-on" connection to access e-mail, websites, cloud services, and apps
Protocols
Communication rules for exchanging data between computers
Examples of protocols
HTTPS - Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure
TCP/IP - Transmission control protocol/Internet protocol
DNS
Domain name service that resolves IP addresses to names
Packetization
Information broken down into small parts (packets) and then reassembled
Network
A communication system that connects two or more computers so they can exchange information and share resources
Advantages of networks
Specialized Terms in a Network
Network Types
Network Architecture
Network topologies
Bus
Ring
Star
Tree
Mesh
Network strategies
Client/Server
Peer-to-Peer (P2P)
Client/Server network
Central computers coordinate and supply services to other nodes on the network
Peer-to-Peer (P2P) network
All nodes have equal authority and can act as both client and server
Network devices
Modem
Router
Network Interface Card
Hub or Switch
Intranet
Private network within an organization that works like the Internet
Extranet
Private network that connects more than one organization and works like the Internet, but provides suppliers and other trusted partners with limited access
Network security technologies
Firewall
Proxy server
Intrusion detection system (IDS)
Virtual private network (VPN)
Telepresence seeks to create the illusion that you are actually at a remote location