CCS10803 COMPUTER TROUBLESHOOTING

Chapter 9: PCs on a Network

Objectives

In this chapter, you will learn: About different types of physical network

architectures

How networking works with Windows

How to install a network card and a network protocol using Windows

Troubleshooting tools and tips for network connections

How to connect networks to each other

Physical Network Architectures

Network adapter, usually an expansion card called a network interface card (NIC), connected to a PCI slot

Communications follow rules called network protocols

Network communication is layered

Data is transmitted in packets, datagrams or frames

Ethernet

10-Mbps Ethernet

100-Mpbs Ethernet or Fast Ethernet

1000-Mbps Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet

10-Gigabit Ethernet

Ethernet (continued)

Ethernet (continued)

Ethernet Topology

Ethernet Topology (continued)

Ethernet Topology (continued)

Wireless LANs

Use radio waves or infrared light

Direct connection or through a LAN

Access points are placed for node access

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, IEEE are various standards

Security is accomplished with filtered MAC addresses of the wireless NICs and encryption

Wireless LANs (continued)

Token Ring and FDDI Older technology

Transmits at 4 Mbps or 16 Mbps

Star ring topology

Workstations contain Token Ring LAN card

Universal Data Connector or IBM Data Connector

FDDI provides data transfer at 100/1000Mbps

How NICs Work

Internal NIC Plugs into the motherboard

Provides ports for connection to a network

External NIC can use a PC Card slot or a USB port

Network Card and device drivers are the only components in PC aware of the type of physical network being used

How NICs Work (continued)

How NICs Work

Different networks have different ways of identifying network nodes

Media Access Control (MAC) address

Ethernet, WLAN and Token Ring

6 byte hex addresses unique to card

Also called hardware, physical, adapter or Ethernet addresses

Segmenting a Network

Bridge Routes traffic

Learns more information as it is used

Will broadcast packets

Switch Also uses table of MAC addresses of devices

attached to it

Does not broadcast packets

Windows on a Network

Small network (10 or less PCs) can be peer-to-peer

Windows peer-to-peer is a workgroup

Large networks use client/server model

Windows network use domain controller

The network model is the domain

Windows on a Network (continued)

TCP/IP used on the Internet, should be used if you want an Internet connection

IPX/SPX is an NWLink protocol for Novell NetWare operating system

NetBEUI is a proprietary Windows protocol used only by Windows computers

Addressing on a Network

MAC address

IP address

Character-based names

Port address

IP Addresses

Four sets of four numbers separated by periods

Each set is called an octet representing 8 bits

First part identifies the network

Last part identifies the host

Installing and Configuring TCP/IP Using Windows 2000/XP

Get information from network administrator

Dynamic or static IP

If static, identify IP addresses, subnet mask, and default gateway

DNS information

Proxy server information

Installing and Configuring TCP/IP Using Windows 2000/XP

To set TCP/IP properties

Windows XP: open Network Connections

Windows 2000: open Network and Dial-up Connection

Right-click Local Area Connection

Select Properties

Select TCP/IP and click Properties

Installing a Wireless NIC

Use NIC’s configuration software to specify wireless parameters

Range between access point and computer is determined by wireless technology

Higher speed, shorter range

Installing a Wireless NIC (continued)

Configuration settings Mode

SSID

Tx Rate

PS Mode

Encryption

TCP/IP or NetBEUI

Troubleshooting a Network Connection

Symptoms of NIC problems

Connection cannot be made to the network

My Network Places or Network Neighborhood does not show any other computers on the network

Error message while installing the NIC drivers

Troubleshooting a Network Connection (continued)

Device Manager with a yellow exclamation point or a red X beside name of the NIC

No lights showing a physical connection between the NIC and the network

Problem with the network cable, the card, or the hub

Troubleshooting a Network Connection (continued)

Some NIC solutions Check other computers on network Make sure the NIC and drivers are installed For a legacy network card, the problem might be

an IRQ conflict Check network cables Try a different port on the hub Check motherboard BIOS version Check for user ID and password

Troubleshooting a Network Connection (continued)

Test TCP/IP configuration and connectivity

To display a working TCP/IP configuration: Windows NT/2000/XP: enter ipconfig/all at the command

prompt

Windows 9x: enter winipcfg in the Run dialog box

This will display the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway along with adapter address

Connecting Networks

Routers

Responsible for data traveling across interconnected networks

Routers that connect networks belong to more than one network

Brouter functions as bridge and router

Bandwidth Technologies

Bandwidth - how much data can travel over a given communication system in a given amount of time

Measured in bits per second (bps), or thousands of bits per second (Kbps) or millions of bits per second (Mbps)

Bandwidth Technologies (continued)

Bandwidth Technologies (continued)

Bandwidth Technologies (continued)

Summary Different types of physical network

architectures

Networking with Windows

Installing a network card and network protocol using Windows

Troubleshooting tools and tips for network connections

How to connect networks to each other