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.

A network could be made up of 13 PCs, a server with a hard disk, 3 printers, and a plotter. Another network could be made up of 6 PCs (one of which is the network server) and a laser printer. Both are networks. When you connect individual PCs together (via cable), and each PC is allowed access to the other's information and/or resources, you have created a network (see figure 1-1). By connecting PCs in this fashion, you are able to share all sorts of things. Examples are information in files; software, such as word processors, spreadsheet programs, and utilities; and peripheral devices, such as hard disks, printers, plotters, and fax machines.

A network gives you the capability of transferring data, files, programs, you name it, from one PC to another or even from one network to another. You can transfer a report or listing to any printer you desire on the network, provided you have access to the printer. How is that for flexibility? By connecting your PC into a network system, you can execute application programs stored on the server's hard disk without having to worry about disk space or keeping track of diskettes. You can exchange files and programs with other users directly without copying them onto a diskette. Can you begin to see the power and flexibility built into a network system?