NETWORKING

NETWORKING

Networking is the concept of sharing resources and services. A network of computers is a group of
interconnected systems sharing resources and interacting using a shared communication link.
The shared resource can be a data, a printer, a MODEM. Service can be a database or an email.

1. Transmission media
2. Topology
3. Protocol
4. Connectivity devices
Transmission Media
A. Bounded/cable Media B. Unbounded/Wireless Media.

a. Twisted pair cable a. Packet Radio

b. Coaxial cable b. Microwave Media
c. Fiber optic cable

Network Topology
a. Star Network
b. Ring Network
c. Bus Network

Protocol
TCP/IP Protocol

Connectivity Devices
a. HUBS
b. MODEM
c. REPEATERS
d. ROUTERS
Transmission Media :
The individual systems can be connected through a pathway. This pathway is called transmission media.
Transmission media make possible the transmission of electronic signals from one computer to another.

Characteristics of Transmission Media

Each type of transmission media has special characteristics that make it suitable for a specific type of service
1. Cost
2. Installation requirement
3. Band width
4. Band Usage
5. Attenuation
6. Immunity from electromagnetic interference the capacity

Band Width
Band width is a measure of the capacity of a medium to transmit data. Data transmission rates are data that can be
transmitted per second. A short cable can have a greater band width than a long cable.

Band Usage
There are two transmission modes, base band and broad band transmission. Base band devotes the entire capacity
of the medium to one communication channel. Broad band enables two or more communications channels to share
the band width of the communication medium. LANS function in base band mode . The TV cable coming from the
anteena or cable provider is broad band mode.
Attenuation
It is a measure of how much signal is weaken as it passes through a medium. As signals pass through the
medium , part of signal is absorbed and makes the signal weak. Repeaters are used to regenerate the signal.

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)

It affects the signal which is transmitted through a media. EMI is caused by outside electromagnetic waves
and also unwanted noise signals produce by various electrical appliances.
CABLE MEDIA

1. Coaxial cable : In this cable there are two conductors sharing a

common axis. These cables are used in LANS.
The components of coaxial cable are as follows:
a) A center conductor is a solid copper wire or standard wire.
b) An outer conductor form a tube surrounding the inner
conductor.
c) An insulator layer keeps outer conductor spaced evenly from
inner conductor.
d) A plastic jacket protects cable from damage.

Advantages :
1) The coaxial cable is better shielded than twisted pair.
2) Its shielding provides better resistance to EMI.
3) Attenuation is less than twisted pair cable.

Disadvantages :
1) It is relatively more expensive than twisted pair but less than
fiber optic cable.
2) Bandwidth capacity is comparatively less than fiber optic
cable.
2. Twisted pair cable: Twisted pair cable consists of two wires of conducting material like copper, insulated from each
other by plastic. It consists of two or more strands of copper wire twisted together. The twisting reduces the sensitivity
of the cable to EMI. This cable is used to connect the PC to either HUB. Also commonly used in telephone network.
Twisted pair cables are of two types
1) Shielded twisted pair ( STP)
2) Unshielded twisted pair (UTP)

Advantages:
1) This is inexpensive and easy to install.
2) Since wires are twisted, it reduces EMI and also avoids RF radiation.
3) Twisted wires also reduce crosstalk.

Disadvantages:
1) They can be used only for short distance communication.
3. Fiber optic cable: The light wave can be efficiently conducted through transparent glass cable known as fiber
optic cable. It is designed to transmit light signals with little loss. This cable can carry much information at a time.
This cable have extremely high bandwidth. It has zero sensitivity to EMI and runs over several kilometer.
The two disadvantages are cost and installation difficulty. It is costlier than twisted pair and coaxial cable and also
difficult to install but in every way fiber optic cable is ideal for data transmission.
WIRELESS MEDIA OR UNBOUNDED MEDIA

1. Radio waves : Radio waves are easy to generate. They can travel long distance and can penetrate buildings easily
hence, radio waves are widely used for both indoor and outdoor purposes . These are omnidirectional i.e the
waves travel in all directions. As radio waves covers long distance , interfere between users is a problem. For this
reason government license is necessary to transmit radio waves.
The major drawback of radio communication is it may be disturbed by rains, bounce back from obstacles, it offers
low bandwidth for data communication.

2. Micro waves : Micro waves travels in straight lines and therefore narrowly focused , concentrating all the energy
into beam. For micro waves transmitting and receiving antennas should be accurately aligned. Since micro waves
travels in straight lines for longer distances periodic repeaters are necessary. Unlike radio waves at lower frequency
micro waves cannot penetrate buildings.
Difference between UTP and STP

UTP Cable STP Cable

1. It consist of number of twisted pairs with plastic 1. It also consist of a number of pairs but a
jacket shell usually aluminium or polyster between
jacket and pairs
2. Inexpensive 2. Expensive
3 Easy to install 3. Difficult to install
4 Band width capacity is 1 to 100 mbps up to 100 mtrs 4. It is 10 to 155 mbps up to 100 mtrs
5 More Attenuation 5. Less Attenuation
6 Sensitive to EMI 6. EMI is reduced to shielding.
7 Used in telephone system 7 It is used in LAN

Network Topologies :
Nodes in the network are physically interconnected in some configuration to provide efficient communication .
This configuration is called topology. Other way topology is the arrangement of nodes , cable and connectivity
devices that make up the network. There are two categories
1. Physical Topology and 2. Logical topology
Physical topology describe the actual layout of the network transmission media. It defines the way network look.
Logical topology describes the logical pathway a signal follows as it passes among the network nodes.
Different forms of physical and logical topologies are :
1. Bus Topology
2. Ring Topology
3. Star Topology
Bus Topology :

In Bus topology all devices are connected to a common shared cable. This shared cable is also called backbone of
network. The bus is available for each node to sends its data to each and every node.

Advantages :
1. It is much faster.
2. Breakdown or any failure of node does not affect other node’s communication
3. Bus topology is widely used in LAN netwo
Ring Topology :
They are wired in a circle. Each node is connected to its neighbor’s on either side, and the data transmits along
the ring in one direction only. Each device incorporates a receiver and transmitter and serves as a repeater that
passes the signal onto the next device in the ring.

Advantages :
1. Cable failure affects limited users.
2. Each node has equal access speed to ring.
3. Equal access for all users
Disadvantages :
1. Wiring is costly
2. Difficult connections
Star Topology :
In STAR Topology all the workstations are connected to central hub. The hub receives signal from a workstation
and routes it to the proper destination. Star physical topology is often implemented to implement BUS or RING
logical topology.

Advantage :
1. Adding a new workstation is easier than that in BUS and RING topology.
Disadvantage :
1. Hub failure affects all users.
Network Architectures :
Network architecture is the design specification of the physical layout of the connected devices. This includes cable
being used, types of network cards and mechanism through which data is sent on the network.
Ethernet and token ring are network architecture.
Ethernet is very popular local area network architecture.
The Ethernet topologies are :
1. 10 BASE 2 Speed 10 Mbps (10) and thick coaxial known as thick net. Maximum cable length is 200 meters
2. 10 BASE 5 Speed 10 Mbps (10) and thin coaxial cable known as thin net. Maximum length is 500 meters
3. 10 BASE T Speed 10 Mbps (10) and uses UTP twisted pair . Maximum length 100 meters
4. 10 BASE FL Speed 10 Mbps (10) and uses twisted pair

Token Ring :
It is originally developed by IBM. Token ring uses token passing architecture. The topology is physically a STAR, but
it uses logical ring to pass the token. The node which passes token have right to send information. If the node
passing token has no information to send then it passes token to next node. Each node can hold token for
maximum period of time.
Internet Protocol :
Protocols are rules by which computers communicate . The extremely popular protocol is TCP/IP protocol.
TCP/IP protocol use three types of addresses for network addressing .
1. Hardware or physical address is used by the data link and physical layers. It is hard coded into the network
cards at each device.
2. Internet protocol address provides logical node specification. This address is unique address assigned by the
administrator according to certain guidelines. It is expressed in 4 parts doted notations.
eg. 123 . 144 . 131 . 12
3. Logical node names, which an administrator can assign are easier to remember than IP address.
eg, [Link]
Connectivity devices :
There are 4 connectivity devices used in network namely MODEM, Repeaters , Routers & Hubs .

MODEM
Computer stores digital data while telephone lines can transfer only analog data. Converting one signal form
into another is called modulation and converting it to original form is called demodulation. MODEM is
modulator / demodulator. MODEM is used to connect computer to network. MODEM converts digital data to
analog data and vice versa. MODEMs are classified into two types according to transmission method.
1. Asynchronous
2. Synchronous
Repeaters :
The repeaters are used to extend the range of network cabling. It is a network device that repeats a signal from one
port to another port. It does not filter or interpret, it simply regenerates a signal. This device is inexpensive and
simple. By adding repeater we can increase the length of network.
Routers :
Routers are internetwork connectivity devices. An internetwork may consist of two or more physical connected
independent network. These networks can be of different types. Routers are intelligent . They can use algorithms to
determine most efficient path for sending a packet to any given network. Routers are also employed to connect LAN to
wide area network.(WAN) Routers are of two types
1. Static Routers and 2. Dynamic Routers
Static routers can not determine path but dynamic routers have capacity to determine routes.
Hubs :
Hub is a connecting device in cables can be connected without soldering wires to centralize network traffic through a
single connecting point.

There are three types of hubs :

1. Active hub 2. Passive hub 3. Switching hub
Active hub : The active hub interconnect the network and also amplifies the signal received apart from splitting and
retransmitting it to the destination. This hub contains electronic circuit.
Passive hub : Passive hub only splits and transmit signal received and it can not amplify it . This do not contain any
electronic circuit.
Switching hub : Switching hub is quickly routes the signal between ports of hubs. It can be used in place of router.