CIS 313 Networking and Telecommunications
Reflection
Learning Goals:
· The OSI Model and the different components that comprise the model
· Data transmission and different types of transmission media
· Various telecommunication circuit types
· Various LAN hardware devices
· Transmission efficiency and multiplexing
· The different components that comprises the Data Link layer
· TCP/IP addressing and functionality
· Medium Access Control protocols including CSMA/CD and Token passing
· LANs, CANs, MANs and WANs
· Wireless LANs
· How telecommunications can influence and infiltrate our daily lives and more
After what I thought was a great learning experience in CIS 317, I went into CIS 313 with a little chip on my shoulder (no pun intended). Our first session was spent discussing about the Final Project and how our weekly projects add to what the final project would look like. We were given the option to pick a partner or do it alone. I decided to do it on my own mostly because of my schedule. Although the project deliverables seemed daunting, the thought of problem-solving the challenges and limitations of a network and providing a solution to make a network run smoothly was interesting.
Working on all aspect of my project, I learned about different protocols –the Hypertext Transfer Protocol, the Internet Protocol, the Transmission Control Protocol and the User Datagram Protocol. I also learned about the 7 layers of the Open Systems Interconnection architecture or OSI and its components. To remember the layers, Dr. Woo showed us an easy way to memorize it by simply saying “Please do not throw sausage pizza away,” using the first letter of each word as a reminder of the various layers. P stands for Physical, which is the first layer. These are the wiring, the monitor, the keyboard, the hardware, etc., or the physical connections between other devices. The second layer is the Data Link which is the main transmission in single networks. The third layer is the Network which rarely used by real organizations but is almost like the TCP/IP internet layer. The fourth is Transport which is similar to the TCP/IP transport layer. The fifth is Session which is responsible in the initiation and maintenance of a connection between application programs of different computers. The sixth is Presentation, designed for handling data formatting differences as well as compression and encryption of data. The last layer is Application which covers the rest of the application matters. I was filled with pride when my best friend who is a computer engineer was talking about the 7 OSI layers and I actually understood what she was talking about.
I also discovered that in order for data or information to be transmitted, there has to be a sender, a transmission medium and a receiver. A transmission medium carries the transmitted signal from one site to another. There are different types of transmission medium. The electrical signals are transmitted by metal wires, optical signals by fiber optic cables and radio waves travel by air. Although installation of fiber optic cables require much effort and the infrastructure is more pricey than copper used in wired media, fiber optic cables are able to transmit data in longer distances, it is thinner and more durable, it is not affected by outside interference and is able to provide a higher bandwidth.
I found out there are three different telecommunication circuit types-dial-up, leased-line, also called the private line circuit, and the virtual circuit. The dial-up telephone circuit is very slow and once the call has ended, the reserved capacity is released so other circuits could use it. On the other hand, leased lines are always available for transmission and are able to transmit data at higher speed than dial-up circuits.
Through this class I also learned that In order for the computer network to transmit data from one computer to the other in a Local Area Network or LAN, devices such as routers, hub, switch, gateway, network interface card are necessary. In order to reduce the total operational cost, improve performance ensure reliability and manageability, it is very important to have a good infrastructure with network devices like routers and switches properly installed and configured. Businesses transmit their data using the leased line circuits which allows them to multiplex or use multiple voice circuits in one line. T1 line, the most popular leased line is able to multiplex 24 voice circuits.
As I had mentioned earlier, the Data Link Layer is the second layer in the OSI Model. There are two components making up this layer. The Logical Link Control is the upper layer and specifies where a frame of data ends and where another frame begins. The lower layer which is the Media Access Control decides who is allowed to have access to the media at any given time.
The Transmission Control Protocol or TCP and Internet Protocol or IP are communication protocols used in the Internet. The TCP/IP model has four layers-Link, Internet, Transport and Application. Operating at the Transport Layer, the TCP is reliable albeit complex.
CSMA or Carrier Sense Multiple Access checks the traffic before sending the data in a shared medium. Token passing is when a signal or token is passed on from one node to another which then allows the node to communicate over the network.
Creating the legends for my network familiarized me with the different Local Area Network or LAN hardware devices. LAN is appropriate for creating a network in one building or department. WAN or wide area network is for long distance buildings, or buildings located in different cities. An example of a MAN or metropolitan area network is a campus network. PAN is personal area network which is the Bluetooth technology. This was also the time when there was a push to convert analog to digital. So feeling like an expert, I explained to my in-laws how the digital signal is different from the analog signal hence they need a converter to be able to watch their favorite shows on television.
I discovered that to alleviate the problem of the Ethernet requiring devices are plugged into a wall or the Ethernet itself, the wireless LAN emerged providing a solution to the mobile devices that has dominated the market. The wireless LANs provide signals thru radio waves instead of wires which allow mobile users to move about in the building and still remain connected to the Internet.
Building the network for my project was challenging but I learned a lot. I learned about difference between Data Communication, which is the transmission of text, numbers, pictures and other information, and Telecommunications is the transmission of voice and video. I also learned that there is now convergence between data and telecommunication. A perfect example would be Skype where not only are you able to communicate thru voice but you can also exchange text messages as well.
Because we are social beings, Telecommunications is a very important component of our lives. The influx of smart phones allows its users to not only access information wherever they are, but also enable communication wherever and whenever. Video conferencing has changed the way some companies conduct business. News travel faster because of how telecommunications has improved over the years. Having access to all sorts of information provide people with answers instantly. However, people have to be cognizant that not all information available is accurate. Although the benefits telecommunications has outweighs the disadvantages (inaccurate information are easily disseminated, potential for information overload), the fact of the matter is, it is here to stay and we just need to realize that it is up to us to use this tool wisely to improve our daily lives.
· The OSI Model and the different components that comprise the model
· Data transmission and different types of transmission media
· Various telecommunication circuit types
· Various LAN hardware devices
· Transmission efficiency and multiplexing
· The different components that comprises the Data Link layer
· TCP/IP addressing and functionality
· Medium Access Control protocols including CSMA/CD and Token passing
· LANs, CANs, MANs and WANs
· Wireless LANs
· How telecommunications can influence and infiltrate our daily lives and more
After what I thought was a great learning experience in CIS 317, I went into CIS 313 with a little chip on my shoulder (no pun intended). Our first session was spent discussing about the Final Project and how our weekly projects add to what the final project would look like. We were given the option to pick a partner or do it alone. I decided to do it on my own mostly because of my schedule. Although the project deliverables seemed daunting, the thought of problem-solving the challenges and limitations of a network and providing a solution to make a network run smoothly was interesting.
Working on all aspect of my project, I learned about different protocols –the Hypertext Transfer Protocol, the Internet Protocol, the Transmission Control Protocol and the User Datagram Protocol. I also learned about the 7 layers of the Open Systems Interconnection architecture or OSI and its components. To remember the layers, Dr. Woo showed us an easy way to memorize it by simply saying “Please do not throw sausage pizza away,” using the first letter of each word as a reminder of the various layers. P stands for Physical, which is the first layer. These are the wiring, the monitor, the keyboard, the hardware, etc., or the physical connections between other devices. The second layer is the Data Link which is the main transmission in single networks. The third layer is the Network which rarely used by real organizations but is almost like the TCP/IP internet layer. The fourth is Transport which is similar to the TCP/IP transport layer. The fifth is Session which is responsible in the initiation and maintenance of a connection between application programs of different computers. The sixth is Presentation, designed for handling data formatting differences as well as compression and encryption of data. The last layer is Application which covers the rest of the application matters. I was filled with pride when my best friend who is a computer engineer was talking about the 7 OSI layers and I actually understood what she was talking about.
I also discovered that in order for data or information to be transmitted, there has to be a sender, a transmission medium and a receiver. A transmission medium carries the transmitted signal from one site to another. There are different types of transmission medium. The electrical signals are transmitted by metal wires, optical signals by fiber optic cables and radio waves travel by air. Although installation of fiber optic cables require much effort and the infrastructure is more pricey than copper used in wired media, fiber optic cables are able to transmit data in longer distances, it is thinner and more durable, it is not affected by outside interference and is able to provide a higher bandwidth.
I found out there are three different telecommunication circuit types-dial-up, leased-line, also called the private line circuit, and the virtual circuit. The dial-up telephone circuit is very slow and once the call has ended, the reserved capacity is released so other circuits could use it. On the other hand, leased lines are always available for transmission and are able to transmit data at higher speed than dial-up circuits.
Through this class I also learned that In order for the computer network to transmit data from one computer to the other in a Local Area Network or LAN, devices such as routers, hub, switch, gateway, network interface card are necessary. In order to reduce the total operational cost, improve performance ensure reliability and manageability, it is very important to have a good infrastructure with network devices like routers and switches properly installed and configured. Businesses transmit their data using the leased line circuits which allows them to multiplex or use multiple voice circuits in one line. T1 line, the most popular leased line is able to multiplex 24 voice circuits.
As I had mentioned earlier, the Data Link Layer is the second layer in the OSI Model. There are two components making up this layer. The Logical Link Control is the upper layer and specifies where a frame of data ends and where another frame begins. The lower layer which is the Media Access Control decides who is allowed to have access to the media at any given time.
The Transmission Control Protocol or TCP and Internet Protocol or IP are communication protocols used in the Internet. The TCP/IP model has four layers-Link, Internet, Transport and Application. Operating at the Transport Layer, the TCP is reliable albeit complex.
CSMA or Carrier Sense Multiple Access checks the traffic before sending the data in a shared medium. Token passing is when a signal or token is passed on from one node to another which then allows the node to communicate over the network.
Creating the legends for my network familiarized me with the different Local Area Network or LAN hardware devices. LAN is appropriate for creating a network in one building or department. WAN or wide area network is for long distance buildings, or buildings located in different cities. An example of a MAN or metropolitan area network is a campus network. PAN is personal area network which is the Bluetooth technology. This was also the time when there was a push to convert analog to digital. So feeling like an expert, I explained to my in-laws how the digital signal is different from the analog signal hence they need a converter to be able to watch their favorite shows on television.
I discovered that to alleviate the problem of the Ethernet requiring devices are plugged into a wall or the Ethernet itself, the wireless LAN emerged providing a solution to the mobile devices that has dominated the market. The wireless LANs provide signals thru radio waves instead of wires which allow mobile users to move about in the building and still remain connected to the Internet.
Building the network for my project was challenging but I learned a lot. I learned about difference between Data Communication, which is the transmission of text, numbers, pictures and other information, and Telecommunications is the transmission of voice and video. I also learned that there is now convergence between data and telecommunication. A perfect example would be Skype where not only are you able to communicate thru voice but you can also exchange text messages as well.
Because we are social beings, Telecommunications is a very important component of our lives. The influx of smart phones allows its users to not only access information wherever they are, but also enable communication wherever and whenever. Video conferencing has changed the way some companies conduct business. News travel faster because of how telecommunications has improved over the years. Having access to all sorts of information provide people with answers instantly. However, people have to be cognizant that not all information available is accurate. Although the benefits telecommunications has outweighs the disadvantages (inaccurate information are easily disseminated, potential for information overload), the fact of the matter is, it is here to stay and we just need to realize that it is up to us to use this tool wisely to improve our daily lives.
