Internet Connections

Internet Access Technologies

So, now you have a basic understanding of what makes up a network and the different types of networks. But, how do you actually connect users and organizations to the internet? As you may have guessed, there are many different ways to do this.

Home users, remote workers, and small offices typically require a connection to an ISP to access the internet. Connection options vary greatly between ISPs and geographical locations. However, popular choices include broadband cable, broadband digital subscriber line (DSL), wireless WANs, and mobile services.

Organizations usually need access to other corporate sites as well as the internet. Fast connections are required to support business services including IP phones, video conferencing, and data center storage. SPs offer business-class interconnections. Popular business-class services include business DSL, leased lines, and Metro Ethernet.

Home and Small Office Internet Connections

The figure illustrates common connection options for small office and home office users.

• Cable – Typically offered by cable television service providers, the internet data signal transmits on the same cable that delivers cable television. It provides a high bandwidth, high availability, and an always-on connection to the internet.
• DSL – Digital Subscriber Lines also provide high bandwidth, high availability, and an always-on connection to the internet. DSL runs over a telephone line. In general, small office and home office users connect using Asymmetrical DSL (ADSL), which means that the download speed is faster than the upload speed.
• Cellular – Cellular internet access uses a cell phone network to connect. Wherever you can get a cellular signal, you can get cellular internet access. Performance is limited by the capabilities of the phone and the cell tower to which it is connected.
• Satellite – The availability of satellite internet access is a benefit in those areas that would otherwise have no internet connectivity at all. Satellite dishes require a clear line of sight to the satellite.
• Dial-up Telephone – An inexpensive option that uses any phone line and a modem. The low bandwidth provided by a dial-up modem connection is not sufficient for large data transfer, although it is useful for mobile access while traveling.

The choice of connection varies depending on geographical location and service provider availability.

Businesses Internet Connections

Corporate connection options differ from home user options. Businesses may require higher bandwidth, dedicated bandwidth, and managed services. Connection options that are available differ depending on the type of service providers located nearby.

The figure illustrates common connection options for businesses.

• Dedicated Leased Line – Leased lines are reserved circuits within the service provider’s network that connect geographically separated offices for private voice and/or data networking. The circuits are rented at a monthly or yearly rate.
• Metro Ethernet – This is sometimes known as Ethernet WAN. In this module, we will refer to it as Metro Ethernet. Metro ethernets extend LAN access technology into the WAN. Ethernet is a LAN technology you will learn about in a later module.
• Business DSL – Business DSL is available in various formats. A popular choice is Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL) which is similar to the consumer version of DSL but provides uploads and downloads at the same high speeds.
• Satellite – Satellite service can provide a connection when a wired solution is not available.

The choice of connection varies depending on geographical location and service provider availability.

The Converging Network

Traditional Separate Networks

Consider a school built thirty years ago. Back then, some classrooms were cabled for the data network, telephone network, and video network for televisions. These separate networks could not communicate with each other. Each network used different technologies to carry the communication signal. Each network had its own set of rules and standards to ensure successful communication. Multiple services ran on multiple networks.

Converged Networks

Today, the separate data, telephone, and video networks converge. Unlike dedicated networks, converged networks are capable of delivering data, voice, and video between many different types of devices over the same network infrastructure. This network infrastructure uses the same set of rules, agreements, and implementation standards. Converged data networks carry multiple services on one network.

Video – Download and Install Packet Tracer

This video will show you how to download and install Packet Tracer. You will use Packet Tracer to simulate creating and testing networks on your computer. Packet Tracer is a fun, take-home, flexible software program that will give you the opportunity to use the network representations and theories that you have just learned to build network models and explore relatively complex LANs and WANs.

Students commonly use Packet Tracer to:

• Prepare for a certification exam.
• Practice what they learn in networking courses.
• Sharpen their skills for a job interview.
• Examine the impact of adding new technologies into existing network designs.
• Build their skills for jobs in the Internet of Things.
• Compete in Global Design Challenges (take a look at the 2017 PT 7 Design Challenge on Facebook).

Packet Tracer is an essential learning tool used in many Cisco Networking Academy courses.

To obtain and install your copy of Cisco Packet Tracer follow these steps:

• Step 1. Log into your Cisco Networking Academy “I’m Learning” page.
• Step 2. Select Resources.
• Step 3. Select Download Packet Tracer.
• Step 4. Select the version of Packet Tracer you require.
• Step 5. Save the file to your computer.
• Step 6. Launch the Packet Tracer install program.

Click Play in the video for a detailed walk-through of the Packet Tracer download and installation process.

Video – Getting Started in Cisco Packet Tracer

Packet Tracer is a tool that allows you to simulate real networks. It provides three main menus:

• You can add devices and connect them via cables or wireless.
• You can select, delete, inspect, label, and group components within your network.
• You can manage your network by opening an existing/sample network, saving your current network, and modifying your user profile or preferences.

If you have used any program such as a word processor or spreadsheet, you are already familiar with the File menu commands located in the top menu bar. The Open, Save, Save As, and Exit commands work as they would for any program, but there are two commands that are special to Packet Tracer.

The Open Samples command will display a directory of prebuilt examples of features and configurations of various network and Internet of Things devices included within Packet Tracer.

The Exit and Logout command will remove the registration information for this copy of Packet Tracer and require the next user of this copy of Packet Tracer to do the login procedure again.

Click Play in the video to learn how to use the menus and how to create your first Packet Tracer network.

Packet Tracer – Network Representation

In this activity, you will explore how Packet Tracer serves as a modeling tool for network representations.

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