Chapter 1

Introduction

Information & Communication

TrendsThree different forces have consistently driven the architecture and evolution of data communications and networking facilities:

1. Traffic growthGrowing at a high and steady rateNo longer limited to voice and dataIncreasing business emphasis on Web service, remote access, online transactions, and social networking

2. Development of new servicesRange of services that business users desire is expandingIncreasing data traffic due to smartphones and tabletsDemand for services to support high-resolution camera phones, video streams, and high-end audio

3. Advances in technologyMore powerful computers and clusters of computers capable of supporting more demanding applicationsNetworks are more “intelligent”The Internet and the Web have led to intranets and extranetsMobile devices have become drivers of the evolution of business networks and their use

Services versus

ThroughputRates

Ethernet Bandwidth Trends

Enterprise Network Drivers

Table 1.1

Emerging Enterprise Network

Applications

ConvergenceRefers to the merger of previously distinct telephony and information technologies and marketsThree layer model:

ApplicationsSeen by the end users of a businessIntegrates communications applications

Enterprise servicesSeen by the network managerEnsures that users can take full advantage of the applications that they use (privacy mechanisms, authentication services, support remote print services and network storage facilities, setting up collaborative environments)

InfrastructureConsists of the communication links, LANs, WANs, and Internet connections available to the enterpriseAlso includes private and/or public cloud connections to data centers

Business-Driven Convergence

Key Benefits of IP Network ConvergenceCost savings

Can provide a significant reduction in network administration, maintenance, and operating costsEnables better use of existing resources and implementation of centralized capacity planning, asset management, and policy management

EffectivenessHas the potential to provide users with great flexibility, irrespective of where they areMobile workers can use a virtual private network (VPN) to remotely access business applications and communication services on the corporate network, secure from other Internet traffic

TransformationCan easily adapt to technological advancements without having to install new infrastructureEnables the enterprise-wide adoption of global standards and best practices

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Unified Communications (UC) Enterprise network convergence focuses on the consolidation of traditionally distinct voice, video, and data communications networks into a common infrastructureFocuses on the integration of real-time communication servicesSystems are built on Internet ProtocolKey elements:

UC systems typically provide a unified user interface and consistent user experience across multiple devices and mediaUC merges real-time communications services with non-real-time services and business process applications

Unified Communicati

ons Architecture Elements

Mobile Employee Profiles

Table 1.2

Business Benefits of Unified

Communications

Business Information Requirements

Voice communicationsRefers to telephone related communicationsEnhanced by computer-based services such as voice mail and the voice over IP (VoIP) protocol

Data communicationsRefers to virtually any form of information transfer other than voice

Image communicationsAn example would be facsimile (fax)Images can be attached or embedded in e-mail messagesSmartphones enable users to take and send high-resolution digital images across mobile networks

Video communicationsHigh-resolution telepresence systems enable geographically dispersed users to conduct business matters as if they were physically present in the same room

Information Transmission

Businesses need to be concerned with two dimensions of computer communications software:

The application software that is provided to the business users’ commuting devices over enterprise networks

The underlying interconnection (networking) software that allows these computing devices to work together cooperatively

The Internet and Distributed Applications

NetworksLocal Area Network (LAN)Wide Area Network (WAN)

Circuit SwitchedPacket SwitchedFrame RelayAsynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)

Wireless NetworkMetropolitan Area Network (MAN)

ANetworkingConfigurat

ion

Management IssuesNetwork Security

ConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability

Network ManagementHighly distributed peer-to-peer networksComplexity of managing and maintaining Reliable operation at all timesSkilled personnel and communication costs

Communications StandardsImportance

Choice of vendors and productsCompetition leads to lower costEnovation through open standards

OrganizationsInternet Society (ISOC)International Organization for Standardization (ISO)IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Committee The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Summary Information and communication

Data communications and networking for today’s enterprise Trends Business drivers

Convergence Unified communications Business information requirements

Transmission and transmission media

Communication techniques

Chapter 1: Introduction

Distributed data processing

Internet and distributed applications The Internet TCP/IP Client/Server

architectures, intranets, extranets, and SOA

Networks Network security

Network management

Standards