© N. Ganesan, Ph.D., All rights reserved. Chapter Communication Trends and Applications

© N. Ganesan, Ph.D. , All rights reserved.

Chapter

Communication Trends and Applications

Chapter Objectives

• Describe the status of information communication past and present

• List the factors that led to the growth of computer communications

• Outline a few sample communication applications

• Discuss the evolution of Wide Area Network communications and its current convergence to digital technology


Module

Information Communication Past and Present

Communication in the Past

• Known as Data Communications– Mostly concerned with alphanumeric

data

• A highly specialized topic• Focus

– Mainframes– Analog telecommunication technology – WANs

Communications at Present

• Known as Information Communication– Data, image, audio and video

communications

• A necessary topic for IT professionals• Focus

– Microcomputers – Digital communication technology– LANs, WANs etc.

• Internet– Internet, Intranet and Extranet

Data and Information Communication

Data Information

Image AudioComputer

Data Video

Real-time streaming

Audio and Video Transmission

• Requirements– More bandwidth is required– Real-time transmission may also be

required• Solution

– Compression– Streaming

• Note: Streaming includes compression as well

Comparison of Data and information Communication

Data and Information Communications

Data Communications Information Communications

Alphanumeric data Data, image, audio and video

Mainframe focused Microcomputer focused

Analog technology Digital technologySpecialized topic General topicPrivate network based Internet basedWANs LANs and WANsSeparate Voice and Data

Voice and Data together

Key Words

• Mainframe• Centralized• Analog• Data• Telecommunicatio

n network

• LANs• Distributed• Digital• Information• Computer

network (Internet)

Hosting Services

• Godaddy• 1&1• MediaTemple • Yahoo hosting service

Homework

• Difference between Internet, Intranet, Extranet

• Explore Godaddy and other hosting services

• Download, install and experiment with Microsoft Encoder and Audacity– Convert between different audio file

formats

End of Module


Module

Opportunities and Certification

Opportunities in Communications

• Specialized knowledge is required for specialist in the communication field– Example: Network Engineer– Certification examinations are available

for attesting to the special skills

• Some knowledge of communications is required of all in the computer field

Certification

• Microsoft Certification– MCSA & MCSE

• CISCO Certification etc.• Network+ Certification • Different vendors offer certifications at

different levels of expertise– Contact their web sites for further

information

Certification Websites

• Microsoft– http://www.microsoft.com/learning/m

cp/certifications.mspx

• CISCO– http://www.cisco.com/en/US/learning/l

e3/learning_career_certifications_and_learning_paths_home.html

Key Words

• Microsoft certifications– MCS*

• CISCO certification• Network+

End of Module


Module

Information Communication Growth Factors

Information Communications: Growth

Factors• Internet• Fast access technologies for the Internet

ramp• Emergence of microcomputers as a

serious business and home computing tool and the focus on connectivity

• Move from large mainframe based infrastructure to LAN based structures

• Client-server computing architectures• Emerging concept of terminal servers

Growth Factors Continued

• Home networking• Digitization of telecommunication

lines• Wireless networking• Multimedia on the Internet • Internet security• Virtual Private Network• Voice over IP (VoIP)

Homework

• Fast access technologies– DSL, Cable, T1, T3, OC1, OC2– Home fiber connections

• IBM business computers– Replacements for mainframes

End of Module


Module

Evolution Physical Network Architecture

Evolution

• Physical architecture– From mainframes to LAN based

• Functional architecture– Centralized mainframe based architecture

to LAN based client-server architecture– In the case of LAN based architecture,

client-server evolved following the initial introduction of the peer-to-peer network architecture

– Client-server architecture is now followed by terminal server architecture

Early Mainframe-based Centralized Architecture

Mainframe

ModemServer

External AnalogLines

Front End ProcessorMini-Computer

Term. Term.

ConcentratorTerm.

Distributed LAN Based Architecture

Fiber Optic Backbone(FDDI) or Switched Network

Connectivity

Mainframe/Minicomputer

Systems

LAN

LAN

WAN (Internet) Gateway(TCP/IP)

ModemGateway

External Digital/Analog Lines

Current Trend in Distributed Architecture

Source:CISCO

Major Components of the Distributed Architecture

• Clients• Servers• Network interface cards• Cables (copper and fiber)• Switches• Routers• Internet ramps• Internet

Key Words

• Mainframe based• Centralized• Distributed• Fiber ring

• Fiber switches

End of Module

Homework

• Explore some of the Catalyst switches at Cisco


Module

Evolution of the Network Functional Architecture

Network Architectural Evolution

• Mainframe• LAN

– Peer-to-Peer– Client Server

•File server•Application server•Terminal server

Peer-to-Peer Networking

• Initial architecture of the LAN prior to client-server architecture

• Each client operates on equal footing in sharing resources

• Unlike the client-server architecture, there is no server on the network in peer-to-peer networking

P2P Sharing

• Basic sharing is supported– Files– Printers– Internet connection

• Large scale sharing of databases and other business applications are not included in P2P sharing

Client-Server Evolution

• Client-server architecture is always identified by the presence of a server

• The evolution of client-server can be traced to three sub-architectures that are based on the functional feature of the server – File server– Application server– Terminal server

Preview of File Server Computing

Back-end data storage.

Front-end computing

Server

Clients

All the processing of the application is done at the client.

Preview of Application Server

Computing

Back-end data storage and local retrieval of data.

Front-end interface and data manipulation tools.

Server

Clients

Application processing is shared between the client and the server.

A Preview of Terminal Server Computing

Powerful Terminal Server

Thin Clients

Front end processing limited to terminal operations

Extensive back-end data storage, retrieval and

Processing

Factors Used in the Comparison of Architectures

• Point of execution of applications• Network traffic• Security• Hardware/Software requirements• Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Path of Evolution

CentralizedMainframe

Peer-to PeerDistributed

Network

ApplicationServer

Terminal Server

More power to the user

Better management of shared dataReduced cost of ownership

File Server

Homework

• Browse for wiring closet, RJ-45 patch cables, wiring rack, punch block etc.

End of Module


Module

Digitization of Telecommunication Lines

Digitization Of Telecom Network

• Initial telecom network was based on analog technology– Copper wire– Electronic transmission– Coaxial cables and twisted pair cables

• Current telecom– Copper wires and fibers– Electronic and optical transmission– Fiber cables and twisted pair cables

Digital WAN Carrier Technologies

• DSL• ISDN• T1, T3 etc.• OC1, OC3 etc.

WAN Communication Technologies

• FDDI and CDDI• Frame Relay• Asynchronous Transfer Mode

(ATM)

Voice Transmission

• Past is based on analog technology• Currently, it is moving to digital

technology– VoIP

Access Speeds• Fastest speed of an analog modem is

around 56K bps• Newer and mostly digital access

technologies such as DSL can operate at faster speeds– Download speed is usually in Mbps– Upload speed is in Kbps

• ADSL and SDSL– In SDSL both upload and download

speeds are the same

Typical DSL Speed

• Upload– 128K bps

• Download– 1.3M bps

Some DSL Providers

• Covad– http://

www.covad.com/products/access/dsl.shtml

• SBC– http://www02.sbc.com/DSL/

• DSL Extreme

Testing the Access Speed

• The current bandwidth of a connection can be tested by accessing websites that test the connection speed– www.dslreports.com – www.2wire.com

Access Security

• www.grc.com

Summary of Access Technologies for the

Internet

Cable

Mod

em

Direct

Satell

ite A

cces

s

xDSL

ISDN

End of Module


Module

Internet Architectures

Architectures

• Internet• Intranet

– An Internet restricted to the company’s own perimeter

• Extranet– Intranet extended to include outside

organizations dealing with the organization

InternetServiceProvider

(ISP)

Internet Defined

Internet Backbone run by major carriers

(TCP/IP etc.)

IndividualsSOHOUser

CompanyNetwork

InternetServiceProvider

(ISP)

Intranet Defined

Internal Company Backbone(TCP/IP)

Mini or MainframeComputer systems

DepartmentalComputerSystem

DepartmentalLAN

Internet

Firewall

Internet

Extranet Defined

Company’s Intranet

Business Associates

Other businessesdealing withcompany A.

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

A Note on VPN

• Created by tunneling into the public network

• Tunneling is done largely by encrypting the computer data

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Internet

Company’s Intranet

Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol

(PPTP)Fire Wall

End of Module


Module

Internet Access

Access

• Analog Access• Digital Access• Remote execution• Telecommuting

Analog Internet Access

Gain access to the resources on the WWW.

Software: Web Browser

Micro Modem

Serial Port

Internet

Access provider

ISP

Digital Internet Access

Gain access to the resources on the WWW.

Software: Web Browser

MicroDSL

Modem

Network Port

Internet

Access provider

ISP

Computer to Computer Access

PublicSwitched

Network (PSN)

Gain access to a company’smainframe to run Unix applications

Micro Modem

Micro Modem

Software: ProComm Plus, Hyper Terminal, PCAnywhere, Remote Desktop

Telecommuting

PSNMain Office

SatelliteOffice

Home

Terminal Services

Terminal Services

Terminal Server

Telecommuting Options

• Employer supported– Previous example falls into this category

where the employer provides access to the office computer from home

– Example: Terminal services• User initiated

– Gain access to one’s computer in the office

– A remote control software is required– Examples: XP Remote Desktop and

GoToMyPC

Some Communication Software

• Hyper Terminal• Telnet• FTP• Procomm Plus• Remote Desktop

Homework

• Dlink home network router• Linksys home network router

Remote Operation

• Gotomypc• logmein

End of Module


Module

Networks

Computer Networks

• Simple – A single LAN

• Intermediate – Departmental

• Enterprise – Campus LANs and organizational LANs

• Advanced – WANs such as an Internet based Virtual

Private Networks (VPNs)

Typical Wired LAN

Client 1 Client 2 Client 3

Server:Network OS,Applications,

Data etc.

Server Operating System

Client OS

Windows2000/2003,Linux

Windows XP/Vista; Linux

Switch

Typical Wireless LAN

Client 1 Client 2 Client 3

Server:Network OS,Applications,

Data etc.

Client OS

Windows2000/2003Server,Linux

Windows XP/Vista; Linux

Wireless NIC

Wireless AccessPoint

Some LAN Applications

• Share business applications• Share data• Share printers, modems etc.• Share the Internet and Internet resources• Send electronic-mail• Engage in audio/video streaming and

conferencing• Act as the infrastructure for the .net or J2EE

architecture

End of Module


Module

Network Security

Network Security

• Network security is an important issue given the fact that many computers are connected to the Internet using broadband connections

General Security Threats

• Viruses• Denial of service attack• OS vulnerabilities• E-mail vulnerabilities• Macro execution vulnerabilities• Ect.

General Security Measures

• Anti-virus • Anti-spyware• Anti-spam software• Firewalls

– Both software firewalls and hardware firewalls can be installed

Secure Communications

• Cryptography– Encryption

• Virtual Private Network (VPN)• IPSec and other secure protocols• Digital signatures

Examples of Protocols for Secure VPN

• PPTP• IPSec with encryption• IPSec with L2TP• SSL with encryption

Examples of Protocols for Trusted VPN

• MPLS with constrained distribution of routing information through BGP ("layer 3 VPNs")

• Transport of layer 2 frames over MPLS ("layer 2 VPNs")

(Source: http://www.vpnc.org/vpn-standards.html )

Encryption

• PKI• RSA ?• MD5 ?• PGP• SSH• HTTPS• DES• AES

End of Module


Module

Wide Area Networks

WAN: The Early Days

• Telecommunication needs– Centered on analog technology

• Data communication needs– Centered around digital technology

• Digital to analog interface– For long distance computer

communications

Long-distance Communications

Digital Digital

Modulation

Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS)

Analog

Interface

Initial WANs

• Overcome the limitations of general purpose analog telephone lines

• Better conditioned lines such as leased lines were used on the network segment

• Driven by a collection of computers to route the data traffic from its source to its destination

• Arpanet was the first WAN that was created

A Summary of the Basic Components of the WAN

Leased lines

Computers/Routing algorithms

Routing devices

Present Status of WANs

• Information is carried in digitized form

• Digital communication lines– Over copper wire– Over fiber-optics

• Digital merger– Telecommunications– Computer communications

WANs: Present and Future

• Fully digital• Technologies

– Frame Relay– ATM

• Point-to-point digital communication will become the norm

ATM operating at severalhundred Mbps

Emerging WAN

DigitalRamp

BusinessComputer System

ATM Switches

High speed digital lines:OC3, OC48 etc.

Summary:Possible Convergent Technology

• Networks– Local– Enterprise– Wide area– Global

ATM

Point-to-point ATM connection may becomepossible?

ATM Possibility

Server

Client 1 Client 2

25 Mbps

ISP100 Mbps

Internet Backbone

1 Gbps

300 Mbps

Likely Scenario

• Ethernet on the desktop• Possibly, ATM on the backbone

Ethernet Challenge

10 Gbps

1 Gbps(Gigabit)

100 Mbps(Fast)

10 Mbps

1 Mbps(Past)

Client 2

10 Mbps/100 Mbps/

1 Gbps/10 GbpsServer

ISP

Client 1

Hub

Current Ethernet Speeds

• 1G bps used widely• 10G bps is gradually gaining

grounds• 100G bps is on the horizon

Net Result

• At the local level (LAN) Ethernet will remain the technology of choice for the foreseeable future

• At the WAN level, ATM will dominate over other WAN technologies

The Digital Future: Fusion

• Digital fusion– Computing– Telecommunications

• Use of computers and the Internet in all forms of communications that would include data as well as all forms of media – An example is Voice over IP (VoIP)

Possible Scenario

• IP based universal digital communication over the Internet with IP addresses as the point of identification– Data, voice and video communication

will be done over the Internet

Explore High-speed Internet

• 10 Gpbs solutions

End of Module


Module

Sample Applications

Some Application Areas

• Networking– Various server applications such as

database server application, messaging server application etc.

• Web hosting and E-commerce • Voice over IP (VoIP)• Network Security

End of Module


Module

Voice over IP (VoIP):Effect of Evolution

Voice Over IP (VoIP)

• VoIP is the digital replacement for the traditional analog phone line

• VoIP is based on the Internet – It is packet switched as opposed to

the traditional phone service that is circuit switched

Voice Over IP Growth

• Growth of VoIP is fuelled by the economy of using the Internet and the technological advantage of the digital technology

• It signifies the inevitable use of digital technology and the Internet to carry voice

• VoIP is poised to grow and probably become the de facto public voice carrier technology

VoIP Challenges

• Latency inherent to the IPv4 protocol

• Availability of bandwidth

VoIP Remedies

• Newer protocol such as IPv6 is designed to address latency

• Faster Internet backbones such as those using Optical Carrier (OC) lines and ATM transport technologies are being introduced to increase the bandwidth of the communication lines

Long Term Developments

• Indications are that residential connections in the long term would evolve into Internet connections replacing the phone connection

Business and Residential End Points

• Instead of identifying an end point in a business or a residence with a phone number, it is plausible that the end point could be identified with a number similar to an IP address

VoIP Application: Broadband Phone

• Broadband phone may be touted as the first real sign of convergence between computer and telephone networks

• VoIP application in the form of broadband phone will also contribute to the growth of communication on the Internet

Broadband Phone

• Uses a DSL or cable modem connection

• Sample vendor– Vonnage

• Broadband phone is known as an Internet appliance

Emergence of Internet Appliances

• Internet appliances are devices that can be used without explicit programming

• The software code necessary will be stored in firmware in the appliances

• Functionalities of the appliances could well be chosen with the use of buttons that may resemble the buttons on a telephone dial pad

Internet Appliances

• A broad range of Internet appliances will then become available for residential use with the broadband phone featuring prominently as perhaps the most used Internet appliance

• Other Internet appliances may include Radios, Interactive TV, Evolving Palm Pilots etc.

End of Module

End of Chapter

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© N. Ganesan, Ph.D., All rights reserved. Chapter Communication Trends and Applications