COMPUTER NETWORKS AND INTERNET

What is Computer Network?

Computer network is an interconnected collection of autonomous computers. There are many
components of computer network.
a. Sender – The node that is responsible for sending the data.
b. Receiver – The node that is responsible for receiving the data.
c. Message – Message is the information or meaningful data that is being communicated in a
structured form.
d. Channel – Channel is the communication medium through which message is transmitted.
What is network communication?
A computer network is made up of a number of connected nodes that communicate over a channel.
There are three types of computer network communication:
1. Simplex – Information can only be transmitted in one way in simplex mode. It is known as a
unidirectional mode.
2. Half-duplex – Only one node at a time can broadcast data in the half-duplex mode, which
allows for bidirectional communication between the two nodes. In low-bandwidth situations,
this mode is typically used to transfer files between nodes.
3. Full-duplex – In full-duplex mode, both communicating parties can send and receive at the
same time. NIC (Network Interface Card) supports full-duplex mode.
Different type of network devices
 Repeater – With increase in distance, a signal may become weak and distorted. A repeater is
used to restore the input signal to its original form, so that it can travel a larger distance.
 Hub – A hub is a hardware device used to connect several computers together. Hub can be
either active or passive. Active hubs electrically amplify the signals as it moves one
connected device to other. Passive hub allow signal to pass from one computer to another
without any change.
 Switch – Switches are used to connect individual nodes in the network with one another, as
opposed to bridges, which join two or more LAN segments.
 Bridge – a bridge is a device that lets you link two network together. Bridges can handle
networks that follow same protocol.
 Router – A device that works like a bridge but can hndle different protocol is known as a
router. A router works like a bridge but can handle different protocols.
 Gateway – A gateway is a network device that connects dissimilar networks. It establishes
an intelligent connection between a local network and external networks with completely
different structure.
 Modem: A modem is a computer peripheral that allow us to connect and communicate with
other computers via telephone lines. A modem stands for Modulator/ Demodulator.

Different type of Network

On the basis of geographical span, network can be broadly categorized as PAN, LAN, MAN, and
WAN.
 Personal area network – An individual’s workspace can be connected to
a computer network called a personal area network (PAN) . for example, connection
between PCs and smartphone, PCs and tables, PCs and printer etc.
  Local area network – Local Area networks are private networks and can span a radius of up
to 1 Km. They are generally established within a building or campus. LANs operate at a
speed in the range 10 Mbps to 1 Gbps.
 Metropolitan Area Network – These networks, which have a radius of up to 50 km, are
used to create connections within cities. Resources can be shared more easily because to
MANs, which link different local area networks. a city-based cable television network, as an
example.
 Wide Area Network – A WAN typically covers a distance of roughly 1000 km. They are
useful for linking isolated places and for long-distance communication.
What are the different types of topology and types?
Network topology refers to the positioning of nodes in a network, often known as their layout. or the
arrangement of nodes in a network is called network topology
Bus Topology:
In a bus topology, several nodes are connected by a lengthy cable known as the backbone cable or
BUS. This topology requires less cabling and is easy to install and extend the network laid using it.
However, fault detection and isolation is difficult.

Ring or CircularTopology:
In a ring topology, all devices are connected by a cable that forms a ring. The problem of network is
it take longer time to send a message from one node to another node.

Star Topology
All of the devices in a star topology are connected to the hub, which serves as the central controller.
Any two devices can communicate with each other through the hub that relays messages.
Installation and configuration of the star network are simple.
Tree Topology
A hybrid topology that combines bus and star topologies is called tree topology. The shape of the
network is that of an inverted tree with the central root branching and sub branching to the
extremities of the network.

NIC (Network Interface card)

A Network Interface Card (NIC), also known as a network adapter, is a hardware component that
connects a computer to a network, enabling it to send and receive data. The NIC is also called NIU.
MAC ADDRESS:
A MAC address (medium access control address or media access control address) is a unique
identifier assigned to a network interface controller (NIC) for use as a network address in
communications within a network segment.
IP Address:
A public IP address is a unique numerical label assigned to each device connected to the Internet,
allowing for the identification and communication between devices on a global scale.
 What is transmission medium?
The channel of transmission through which data can be sent as a signal from one node to another is
referred to as a transmission medium.
There are two type of transmission medium –
 Guided Medium
 Unguided Medium
Guided Medium – In guided medium, the data transmitted in a cable system that has a fixed path.
for example Co-axial, Optical fiber cable, etc.

Types of Guided Medium

 Twisted Pair Cable: Consists of two insulated copper wires twisted around each other to reduce
electromagnetic interference and crosstalk.

o Application: Widely used in local area networks (LANs) and telephone networks.

 Coaxial Cable: Has a central copper conductor surrounded by an insulating layer, a metallic shield
(outer conductor), and an outer plastic jacket.

 Application: Used in cable television (CATV) and older Ethernet networks due to its higher
bandwidth capabilities than twisted pair.

 Fiber Optic Cable: Transmits data in the form of light signals through thin strands of glass or
plastic fiber.
 Application: Ideal for long-distance communication (e.g., internet backbone) and applications
requiring very high bandwidth and immunity to electromagnetic interference.

Unguided Medium – In Unguided medium, the data transmit through free space in the form of
electromagnetic signal. For example, radio waves, lasers, micro waves etc.

1. Radio Waves
Radio waves are electromagnetic signals used for various wireless communication technologies,
such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and radio broadcasting.
Applications of Radio Waves:
The Omni directional characteristics of radio waves make them useful for multicasting, in which
there is one sender but many receivers. FM radio, television, maritime radio, cordless phones, and
paging are examples of multicasting.
2. Microwaves
Electromagnetic waves having frequencies between 1 and 300 GHz are called microwaves.
Microwaves are unidirectional. The sending and receiving antennas need to be aligned.
Key Applications
1. Mobile & Wireless Networks: Powers 4G/5G cellular services, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and WiMAX
for portable communication.
2. Satellite Systems: Essential for global positioning (GPS), satellite TV, internet, and weather
forecasting.
3. Infrared
Infrared waves, with frequencies from 300 GHz to 400 THz (wavelengths from 1 mm to 770 nm),
can be used for short-range communication.
Application of Infrared Signals
 Infrared signals can be used for short-range communication in a closed area using
line-of-sight propagation.
 Infrared technology is widely used in security systems, including motion detectors
and infrared cameras.
Network Protocols:
Network protocol is a set of rules/standards governing data exchange between devices on a network.
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol): is the fundamental suite of
communication protocols that governs how data travels across the internet and other networks,
working in layers to break data into packets, address them, route them efficiently, and reassemble
them reliably at the destination, ensuring applications like web browsing and email function
smoothly. TCP handles reliable, ordered data delivery (like packaging and tracking), while IP
manages addressing and routing (getting the package to the right house).
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol): HTTP is a set of rules for transferring web pages between
browsers and servers.
HTTPS (HTTP Secure): Secure, encrypted version of HTTP for sensitive data.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol): Used for transferring files between computers.
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol): For sending emails.
POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3): For downloading emails from a server to a local device.
UDP: UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is a fast, lightweight, connectionless protocol in internet
technology, prioritizing speed over reliability for time-sensitive apps like streaming, online gaming,
and VoIP, where low latency is crucial and losing a few packets isn't a big deal, unlike TCP.
ISP (Internet Service Provider) : An ISP (Internet Service Provider) is a company that provides
internet access to individuals and businesses, acting as a gateway to the internet. They connect users
to the internet through various methods like cable, fiber, or wireless and often provide additional
services like web hosting and email. In India AIRTEL, JIO, BSNL etc. are examples of ISP.

Data Transmission Rate:

Data transmission rate (also known as bitrate or throughput) refers to the speed at which digital data is
successfully transferred from one point to another over a network or communication channel.
 bps : Measured in bits per second (bps). Higher values indicate faster speeds.

o Kbps (Kilobits per second): thousands of bps.

o Mbps (Megabits per second): millions of bps (common for residential internet plans).

o Gbps (Gigabits per second): billions of bps.

o Tbps (Terabits per second): trillions of bps (used in core network infrastructure).

 Bits vs. Bytes: Internet speeds are typically advertised in megabits (Mb), while file sizes are often
in megabytes (MB). Note that 1 Byte = 8 bits.

Some Related Concepts

 Bandwidth: This is the maximum theoretical capacity of a network connection to transmit data. It's like the
maximum width of a pipe. The actual data transfer rate (throughput) is typically less than the bandwidth due
to real-world factors.

 Throughput: This is the actual amount of data successfully delivered over a network in a given time,
accounting for all real-world inefficiencies. Throughput is the practical measure of data transfer rate.