Introduction to Data Communications
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Table of Contents

  1. Introduction

  2. Acknowledgements

  3. Revision List

  4. Data Communications
    1. Why Telecommunications?
    2. Voice Channels
    3. Data Channels

  5. Introduction to Networking
    1. The Big Picture
    2. The Big Picture Illustration
    3. Breaking The Big Picture up!
      1. The Local Loop
      2. LANs
      3. MANs
      4. WANs.
      5. Telecommunication components of the Big Picture.

  6. Criteria for a Data Communication Network
    1. Performance
    2. Consistency
    3. Reliability,
    4. Recovery
    5. Security

  7. Tools to Understand Data Communications
    1. The Data Communications Model
    2. Introduction to the ISO - OSI Model
      1. Layer 7 - Application Layer
      2. Layer 6 - Presentation Layer
      3. Layer 5 - Session Layer
      4. Layer 4 - Transport Layer
      5. Layer 3 - Network Layer
      6. Layer 2 - Data Link Layer
      7. Layer 1 - Physical Layer
      8. Layer Specific Communication OSI Model Functional Drawing

  8. Physical Connection
    1. Serial Data Communication
    2. Parallel Data Communication
    3. Transmission Media Categories
    4. Transmission Media - Guided
      1. Media versus Bandwidth
      2. Open Wire
      3. Twisted Pair
      4. Coaxial Cable
      5. Noise Immunity: Unbalanced line versus Balanced line
      6. Optical Fibre
        1. Optical Transmission Modes
          1. Step Index Mode
          2. Grade Index Mode
          3. Single Mode
        2. Comparison of Optical Fibres
        3. Advantages of Optical Fibre
        4. Disadvantages of Optical Fibre
    5. Transmission Media - Unguided
      1. RF Propagation
        1. Ground Wave Propagation
        2. Ionospheric Propagation
        3. Line of Sight Propagation
      2. Radio Frequencies
      3. Microwave
      4. Satellite
      5. Iridium Telecom System

  9. Line Encoding
    1. Unipolar Encoding
    2. Polar Encoding
    3. Bipolar Line Encoding
    4. Manchester Line Encoding

  10. Standard Digital Codes
    1. EBCDIC - Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code
    2. ASCII - American Standard Code for Information Interchange

  11. Timing
    1. Asynchronous vs. Synchronous Transmission
    2. Data Flow

  12. Asynchronous Communications
    1. Start/Stop bits
    2. 7/8 Bit Codes
    3. Parity Bits

  13. RS-232D Serial Interface Standard
    1. Mechanical Characteristics of the RS-232D
    2. Electrical Characteristics of the RS-232D
    3. Function of Each Signal
    4. Subsets of Signals for Certain Applications

  14. RS-232D Flow Control
    1. Hardware Handshaking
    2. Hardware Null Modems
    3. Software Handshaking (Xon/Xoff)
    4. Software Null Modem
    5. Terminals and PCs

  15. Voice Channel Communications
    1. Voice Channel Specification
    2. Voice Channel Constraints

  16. Telephone Networks
    1. POTS - Plain Old Telephone Set
    2. Local Loops
    3. Central Office
    4. Hierarchical Phone Networks

  17. Telephone Line Characteristics
    1. Attenuation Distortion
    2. Propagation Delay
    3. Envelope Delay Distortion

  18. Line Impairments
    1. Crosstalk
    2. Echo or Signal Return
    3. Frequency Shift
    4. Non-Linear Distortion
    5. Jitter: Amplitude and Phase
    6. Transients: Impulse Noise, Gain Hits, Dropouts & Phase Hits

  19. Modems
    1. Basic Definition
    2. Digital Connection
    3. Analog Connection
    4. External/Internal Modems
    5. Modem Types
    6. Features of Modems
    7. Modem Speeds / Standards
    8. V.90 and V.92 56kbps Modems

  20. AT Command Set

  21. Modulation Techniques
    1. AM - Amplitude Modulation
    2. FM - Frequency Modulation
    3. PM - Phase Modulation

  22. Modem Modulation
    1. FSK - Frequency Shift Keying
    2. QPSK - Quadrature Phase Shift Keying
    3. QAM - Quadrature Amplitude Modulation

  23. ISDN - Integrated Services Digital Network

  24. ADSL - Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line

  25. Cable Modems

  26. Multiplexing
    1. FDM - Frequency Division Multiplexing
    2. TDM - Time Division Multiplexing
    3. STDM - Statistical Time Division Multiplexing

  27. Telecommunication Multiplexing
    1. FDM - Channel Groups
    2. TDM - T1 Carrier System

  28. X.25
    1. X.25 OSI Layers
    2. X.25 High overhead
    3. X.25 Packet Formats

  29. Frame Relay
    1. Decreased Protocol Overhead
    2. LAPD - Link Access Protocol D channel
    3. LAN to Frame Relay Connection

  30. Synchronous Transmission
    1. Clocking: Self and Manchester Encoding

  31. Basic Frame Structure
    1. Preamble: Starting Delimiter/Alert Burst/Start of Header
    2. Address Field(s): Source and/or Destination
    3. Control Field
    4. Data/Message and optional Pad
    5. CRC/ Frame Check Sequence
    6. End Frame Delimiter

  32. Physical Layer
    1. Asynchronous and Synchronous Communication

  33. IEEE-802.3 Protocol
    1. CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access/ Collision Detect)
    2. IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Media Types
      1. IEEE 802.3 10Base5
      2. IEEE 802.3a 10Base2
      3. IEEE 802.3i 10BaseT
    3. MAC - Medium Access Control
    4. Total Length of a MAC Frame
    5. MAC Frame

  34. Packet Sniffing
    1. Packet Sniffing Block Diagram

  35. IEEE 802.2 LLC - Logical Link Control Layer
    1. Service Access Ports (SAPs)
    2. Types of LLC Operation
    3. Classes of LLC
    4. LLC PDU Control Field Formats

  36. Network Interface Cards
    1. IRQs, DMAs and Base Addresses
    2. Legacy
    3. NIC Diagnostic Tools
    4. Network Interface Card Drivers
      1. NDIS Drivers
      2. ODI Drivers
      3. Packet Drivers
      4. Software Interrupts

  37. Repeaters
    1. Purpose of a Repeater
    2. Repeater's OSI Operating Layer
    3. Repeater's Segment to Segment Characteristics
    4. Repeater Addressing: MAC Layer and Network Segment

  38. Hubs
    1. Purpose of Hubs
    2. Hub's OSI Operating Layer
    3. Hub's Segment to Segment Characteristics
    4. Hub's Addressing
    5. Half-Duplex and Full-Duplex Ethernet Hubs

  39. Bridges
    1. Bridge OSI Operating Layer
    2. Purpose of a Bridge
    3. Bridge Segment to Segment Characteristics
    4. Bridge Methodologies
    5. Reasons to use a Bridge
    6. Bridge Addressing
    7. Collapsed Backbones

  40. Ethernet Switches (Switching Hubs)

  41. Routers
    1. Purpose of Routers
    2. Router OSI Operating Layer
    3. Router Segment to Segment Characteristics
    4. Router Addressing
    5. Routing Protocols
    6. RIP - Routing Information Protocol
    7. EGRP - Exterior Gateway Routing Protocol
    8. OSPF - Open Shortest Path First

  42. Brouters (Bridge/Routers)

  43. Gateway
    1. Gateway's OSI Operating Layer
    2. Gateway Segment to Segment Characteristics
    3. Gateway Addressing

  44. Token Ring
    1. IBM Token Ring
    2. IEEE 802.4 Token Bus
    3. IEEE 802.5 Token Ring
    4. IEEE 802.5 Bus Arbitration
    5. 4 / 16 Mbps Transfer Rate
    6. IEEE 802.5 Topology
    7. MSAUs
      1. Token Ring connectors
      2. MSAU Relay
      3. Ring In/ Ring Out
      4. Wrapping
      5. Physical Star/ Logical Ring
    8. IEEE 802.5 and the OSI Model
    9. Token Ring Cabling
      1. Shielded Twisted Pair
      2. Unshielded Twisted Pair - Type 3
      3. IBM Cabling System
    10. Ring Insertion
    11. CAUs and LAMs
    12. Ring Calculations
      1. Maximum Ring Length
      2. Ring Length Calculations
      3. Mixing Cables and Ring Length
      4. Active Concentrators and Ring Length
    13. Token Ring Monitors and Servers
      1. Active Monitor (AM)
      2. Standby Monitor (SM)
      3. Ring Parameter Server (RPS)
      4. Configuration Report Server (CRS)
      5. Ring Error Monitor (REM)
      6. Where are these Monitors?
    14. Token Ring Hierarchy
    15. IEEE 802.5 Frames
    16. Source Routing

  45. The Suite of TCP/IP Protocols
    1. Internet Protocol
      1. IP Addresses
      2. IP Address Classifications
        1. Class A addresses
        2. Class B addresses
        3. Class C addresses
        4. Class D addresses
        5. Class E addresses
        6. How to make the Network Class Chart for dummies
      3. Reserved IP Addresses
      4. Network Masking
      5. Introduction to Subnetting
      6. Introduction to The Magic Subnet Chart
      7. Building a Subnet Map for a Class C network
      8. Using a Subnet Map
      9. Troubleshooting using a Subnet Map
      10. Variable Length Subnet Masking - VLSM
      11. Expanding the Magic Subnet Chart for Class A and B networks
      12. Determining the Subnet Address
      13. Domain Names
      14. IP Header
    2. Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)
    3. Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (RARP)
    4. Internet Control Messaging Protocol (ICMP)
    5. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
    6. User Datagram Protocol (UDP)
    7. Simple Network Management Protocol
      1. SNMPv2 to the Rescue
      2. MIB - Management Information Base
      3. RMON - Remote Network Monitoring

Appendix

  1. PC Block Diagram
  2. PC Quick ID Guide
  3. Ethernet Type Field
  4. Ethernet Address Assignments
  5. IP Protocol Address Space
  6. IP Multicast Addresses
  7. IP Header Protocols
  8. IP Hardware Types
  9. TCP/IP Well Known Ports
  10. AT Command Set (Partial listing)
  11. ISO 3166 Country Codes
  12. Token Ring - Major Vector IDs
  13. Quick Introduction to Command Line Unix
    1. Basic Unix Commands
    2. Access and Permissions
    3. Links, Instances & Processes
    4. Background Processing
    5. Shell Programs
    6. Communicating with Other Users
    7. Creating Users and Groups
  14. Handy Unix Network Troubleshooting Commands
  15. SAMBA, Win95, NT and HP Jetdirect
  16. CUPS, Linux, Print Servers and Laserwriters
  17. Linux and Token Ring
  18. Copyright Rules and Regulations

Introduction to Data Communications
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Copyright Eugene Blanchard Jan 1998, January 2007