Networking
Assignment 2: Networking Assume that you were recently hired by a manufacturing company as a systems administrator trainee. Your first assignment is to develop a paper that communicates the various functions of telecommunications to end users. As a result, you should try to keep your explanations of the technology as simple as possible. Write a four to five (4-5) page paper in which you: 1. Describe the features of telecommunications networks, including key networking technologies. Cover the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, including each logical layer. 2. Discuss whether telephone networks and computer networks will remain distinct in the future. 3. Describe various network media and how they are changing. 4. Explain the differences among LANS, WANS, CANS, and MANS. 5. Describe three (3) ways in which businesses use Internet services and protocols. (For example, what is VoIP and how is it used?) 6. Use at least three (3) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources. Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: Be typed, double-spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length. The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are: Illustrate the use of information and communication technologies to solve problems as an information technology professional. Use technology and information resources to research issues in information technology. Write clearly and concisely about introductory information technology topics using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.
Information Technology: Networking
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Information Technology: Networking
Information is the most important asset in any society. Thus the saying, Information is power. But with no means of communication, passing this very important resource that is the foundation of knowledge becomes a problem. This renders the information useless if it does not benefit the society which it is intended for. Thanks to technology, this is no longer a problem as there exists telecommunication channels that have made the world a global village with almost anyone just a phone call away. These channels have led to the formation of networks that interconnect together forming the internet that makes the acquisition and search for information easy. This essay will be focusing on the various uses of Information and Communication Technology and how it has helped in solving various problems in the spheres of life. It discusses the features of telecommunication networks, network media, and how the internet is used in problem solving in business.
The interconnection of computers and other telecommunication resources for the transfer and processing of information over some distance is known as networking (Hafner, 1998). This kind of connection involves different kinds of components that include computers used in the processing of information, terminals which are the end points that send or receive information, telecommunication links that form the transmission channel, telecommunication software controlling the transmission of messages over the network and transmission equipment that are the main facilitators of information transmission.
Due to the complicated nature of network at engineering level, the networking concept has been divided into layers. These layers are independent of each other and perform different tasks. The two main types of models are the open system interconnect (OSI) model having seven layers, and the internet (TCP/IP) model which is four layered. These layers are not physical but just a set of guidelines used by developers in creating and implementing applications running on the network. The OSI specification model is designed to provide functionality that assists in transfer of data between different hosts such as a Mac, PC or a UNIX host. Below are the seven layers of the OSI model and their functions in the network structure:
Application Layer: This is the point at the layer where the users interact with the computers.
Presentation Layer: This layer assists in the presentation of data to the application layer.
Session Layer: This manages sets up, and maintains sessions between remote hosts. It also keeps different applications’ data from others.
Transport Layer: This layer is responsible for delivery of data from one end to another.
Network Layer: Deals with routing. It provides addressing assignments for devices.
Data Link Layer: This layer is responsible for the physical transmission of data, handles errors, flow control and network topology.
Physical Layer: This layer involves the hardware parts of the network. That is the hardware components, power output, and pulse rate, cabling and wiring (Hafner, 1998).
The OSI reference model is used as the guide for open network protocol set and remains the most popular means of comparison for protocol suites today.
The telecommunication sector has been growing and changing over time. In the past, the only telephone network available was the use of copper cables and the public switched telephone network. This changed in the late 90s with the introduction of mobile phones. This made it easier to communicate and pass on information. On the other hand, computer networks also involved cabling. But with time, the substitution with the wireless network has largely helped solve the cabling problems and making the use of networks easily av...