WHAT IS A COMPUTER NETWORK?

• It is a collection of computers, servers, mainframes, network devices, peripherals, or other

devices connected to allow data sharing.

o Example: Internet is an example of a network, which connects millions of people all over
the world.

• It refers to a set of computers sharing resources located on or provided by network nodes.

o The computers use common communication protocols over digital interconnections to

communicate with each other.

o These interconnections are made up of telecommunication network technologies, based

on physically wired, optical, and wireless radio-frequency methods that may be arranged
in a variety of network topologies.

• A computer network is simply two or more computers connected together so they can exchange
information and share computer resources.

▪ A small network can be as simple as two computers linked together by a single

cable.

• Most networks use a device, for example, a HUB, to connect multiple computers together.

. A large network may connect several computers and other devices together.

• A wireless network connects computers without a hub or network cables.

o Computers use radio communications to send data between each other.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A SIMPLE NETWORK?

• network is not just a bunch of computers with wires running between them.

• Properly implemented, a network is a system that provides its users with unique capabilities,
above and beyond what the individual machines and their software applications can provide.

• Most of the benefits of networking can be divided into two generic

categories: connectivity and sharing.
 ADVANTAGES OF NETWORKING

• Connectivity and Communication

▪ Networks connect computers and the users of those computers.

▪ Individuals within a building or work group can

be connected into Local Area Networks (LANs).

▪ Once connected, it is possible for network users

to communicate with each other using technologies such as
electronic mail, chat boxes and any other forms of
communication.

o Data Sharing

▪ One of the most important uses of networking is to allow the sharing of

data.

▪ Before networking was common, an accounting employee who wanted

to prepare a report for her manager would have to produce it on his PC,
put it on a floppy disk or Flash Drive, and then walk it over to the
manager, who would transfer the data to his/her PC's hard disk.

▪ This sort of “shoe-based network” was sometimes sarcastically

called a “sneakernet”.

▪ Networking allows thousands of employees to share data easily and

quickly.

o Hardware Sharing

▪ Networks facilitate the sharing of hardware devices.

▪ Example:

▪ Instead of giving each of the 10 employees in a department an

expensive color printer (or resorting to the “sneakernet” again),
one printer can be placed on the network for everyone to share.

o Internet Access

▪ The Internet is itself an enormous network, so whenever you access the

Internet, you are using a network.

▪ The significance of the Internet in modern society is hard to exaggerate,

especially for those technical aspects.

o Internet Access Sharing

 ▪ Small computer networks allow multiple users to share a single Internet
connection.

▪ Special hardware devices allow the bandwidth of the connection to be

easily allocated to various individuals as they need it and permit an
organization to purchase one high-speed connection instead of many
slower ones.

o Data Security and Management

▪ In a business environment, information is very essential to each and

every company’s advantage.

▪ Instead of having these data spread over dozens or even hundreds of

small computers, data or information can be centralized on shared
servers (computer).

▪ This makes it easy for everyone to find the data, and it is very
easy for administrators to ensure safety by regularly backing up
the data, and also allows for the implementation of security
measures to control who can read or change various pieces of
critical information.

o Entertainment

▪ Networks facilitate many types of games and entertainment.

▪ The Internet itself offers many sources of entertainment.

▪ In addition, many multi-player games exist that operate over a Local

Area Network.

▪ Many home networks are set up for this reason, and gaming
Internet has also become quite popular.

DISADVANTAGES OF NETWORKING

Virus and Malware

Networks make sharing information between network users easy.

Unfortunately, this also means that viruses and malware (malicious software) have an
easier time spreading between computers on a network.

Vulnerabilities
When a network is created, it introduces new methods of accessing the computers
remotely, especially if they are connected to the Internet.

With these potential new methods of accessing the computer, it can introduce new
vulnerabilities to computers, users, and data on a network.

Complexity

Networks are complex, and setting up and managing a network for a business or
corporation requires someone with a lot of experience or certification.

Network Hardware, Software and Setup Costs

Computers do not just magically network themselves.

Setting up a network requires an investment in hardware and software, as well as funds

for planning, designing, and implementing the network.

Hardware and Software Management and Administration Costs

In all but the smallest of implementations, ongoing maintenance and management of

the network require the care and attention of an IT professional.

In a smaller organization that already has a system administrator, a network may fall
within this person's job responsibilities, but it will take time away from other tasks.

In more substantial organizations, a network administrator may need to be hired, and in

large companies, an entire department may be necessary.

Undesirable Sharing

With the good comes the bad; while networking allows the easy sharing of useful
information, it also allows the sharing of undesirable data.

One significant “sharing problem” in this regard has to do with viruses, which are easily
spread over networks and the Internet.

Mitigating these effects costs more time, money, and administrative effort.

Illegal or Undesirable Behavior

Similar to the point above, networking facilitates useful connectivity and communication
but also brings difficulties with it.

Typical problems include abuse of company resources, distractions that reduce

productivity, downloading of illegal or illicit materials, and even software piracy.

In larger organizations, these issues must be managed through explicit policies and
monitoring, which again, further increases management costs.

Data Security Concerns

 If a network is implemented properly, it is possible to greatly improve the security of
important data.

In contrast, a poorly-secured network puts critical data at risk, exposing it to the

potential problems associated with hackers, unauthorized access, and even sabotage.

Important Notes:

But at the end of the day, networking can really solve your problem.

Although, most of these costs and potential problems can be managed; that's a big part of the job of
those who set up and run networks.

In the end, as with any other decision, whether to network or not is a matter of weighing the advantages
against the disadvantages.

Of course today, almost everybody decides that networking is advisable.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF NETWORKS

three categories of networks:

LAN (Local Area Network)

MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

WAN (Wide Area Network)

LAN

LAN stands for Local Area Network.

It is a group of computers which all belong to the same organization, and which are linked within a
small geographic area using a network, and often the same technology (the most widespread being
Ethernet).

It is a network in its simplest form.

Data transfer speeds over a local area network can reach up to 10 Mbps (such as for an Ethernet
network) and 1 Gbps (as with FDDI or Gigabit Ethernet).

FDDI means Fiber Distributed Data Interface.

A Local Area Network can reach as many as 100, or even 1000, users.
By expanding the definition of a LAN to the services that it provides, two different operating modes
can be defined:

In a "peer-to-peer" network, in which communication is carried out from one computer to another,
without a central computer, and where each computer has the same role.

In a "client/server" environment, in which a central computer provides network services to users.

MAN

MANs (Metropolitan Area Networks) connect multiple geographically nearby LANs to one another
(over an area of up to a few dozen kilometers) at high speeds.

Thus, a MAN lets two remote nodes communicate as if they were part of the same local area network.

MAN is made from switches or routers connected to one another with high-speed links (usually fiber
optic cables).

WAN

WAN (Wide Area Network or extended network) connects multiple LANs to one another over great
geographic distances.

The speed available on a WAN varies depending on the cost of the connections (which increases with
distance) and may below.

WANs operate using routers, which can "choose" the most appropriate path for data to take to reach a
network node.

The most well-known WAN is the Internet.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INTRANET, EXTRANET, AND INTERNET

The Intranet

An intranet is a private network, operated by a large company or other organization, which uses
internet technologies, but is insulated from the global internet.

The intranet is best suited for organizations that do not want their information to be available to the
outside world.

Intranets typically start by publishing web pages about company events, health and safety policies,
and staff newsletters.

Popular applications follow, such as forms to reclaim expenses or request holidays.

All these help eliminate paperwork and speed up workflows.

As more features are added, an intranet can become essential to the operation of an organization.

It becomes a portal that provides access to all the things workers need.

The intranet is protected from the global internet by firewalls and by the need to log on with a secure
password.

Staff working outside the organization may be able to access the intranet by using a VPN (Virtual
Private Network).

This means that all communications between the intranet and the user’s personal computer are
encrypted.

The Extranet

extranet is an intranet that is accessible to some people from outside the company, or possibly shared
by more than one organization.

This network system is basically used for business to business (B2B) purposes.

This system basically allows the outside users of an organization, like partners, suppliers, vendors, and
other stakeholders to remain in touch with the activities of the organization.

Information and data access performed through a proper account or link system.

This is the best network system to keep in touch with market position and share a large amount of
data with partners in a timely manner.

Moreover, conducting new training programs and discussing the product catalogs with partners can be
easily done without bearing too much cost of traveling.

An extranet is a next stage in the intranet.

It has also very restricted users but as compared to the intranet it has a more open environment.

The Internet

The word Internet is widely used in our day to day life, but you should note that there is a huge
difference between the actual technical meanings of the word as compared to the context we use it in.

The Internet is actually a system of computers that are interrelated through wired or wireless
connectivity.

They will communicate with each other through either Internet Protocol (IP) or Transmission Control
Protocol (TCP).

It is a global network of millions of private, public, and organizational networks.

It carries a massive range of informational resources and data in the form of HTML (HyperText Markup
Language) documents and applications through the World Wide Web (WWW).
Common functions of sharing are email, file sharing, telephony, and p2p networks.

The Internet has totally reshaped entire professions of the world.

TV channels, cellular companies, newspapers, books, retailers are using website technology to expand
their services.

All kinds of verbal communication, social networking, online shopping, and financial services are being
performed through the Internet.

The extranet and intranet also rely on the internet.

First, it was the time period when landline was used as a means for accessing the internet but now
with the evaluation in technology, Wi-Fi and other wireless broadband services have been also
stepped into the market.

It is now the global world of the unlimited network of networks that comprises millions of users across
the globe from the public, private, business, and other sectors.

It carries an extensive range of data and information that is then distributed across the globe through
the system of the World Wide Web, file sharing, cloud sharing, telephony, Usenet newsgroups, etc.

However, work on the internet was started in the late 80s but it started to get popular in the world in
the early 90s.

Today, it is being used in almost every aspect of life either it is E-banking, online shopping, financial
services, entertainment, education, or anything else.

There are seven continents in the world and now the internet is also considered as the eighth
continent of the world.

There is no central governing body of the internet and it comprises the various autonomous networks
that operate as a medium of interconnection.

Important Notes:

Protocol (General Concepts):

It generally means an official set of procedures for what actions to take in a certain situation.

It is used in specific ways in the contexts of diplomacy, medicine, and computing, but it’s also often
used in a general way in situations that require people to follow official procedures.

Protocol (in Computing):

It is a set of rules that governs the communications between computers on a network.

It is a set of rules or procedures for transmitting data between electronic devices, such as computers.

It is a set of rules and guidelines for communicating data.

Rules are defined for each step and process during communication between two or more computers.
Networks have to follow these rules to successfully transmit data.

NETWORK TOPOLOGY

• It is the arrangement of a network, including its nodes and connecting lines.

• It refers to the arrangement of the elements of a communication network.

• It can be used to define or describe the arrangement of various types of telecommunication

networks, including command and control radio networks, industrial field buses,
and computer networks.

• There are two ways of defining network geometry: the physical topology and the logical (or
signal) topology.

o The physical topology of a network is the actual geometric layout of workstations.

o There are several common physical topologies, as described below and as shown in
the illustration.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF NETWORK TOPOLOGY

▪ The mapping of a LAN design is called Topology.

▪ There are four categories:

▪ Star topology

▪ Bus topology

▪ Ring topology

▪ Mesh topology

Star Topology

It is the most common type of network and follows the Ethernet standard.

It is a topology having computer systems connected to a single point of connection (i.e., hub).

All computers and devices are connected to a main hub or switch.

The hub or switch amasses and disburses the flow of data within the network.

Bus Topology

• computers and devices are connected to a single linear cable called a trunk.
 o The trunk is also referred to as the backbone or a segment.

o Each end of the trunk must be discharged to prevent the signal from rebounding back
up the cable.

• It is a network type in which every computer and network device is connected to a single
cable.

o It transmits the data from one end to another in a single direction.

o There is no bi-directional feature in bus topology.

• A bus topology with shared backbone cable is shown below and the nodes are connected to
the channel via drop lines.

Ring Topology

Computers and devices are connected to a closed-loop cable.

Here, there are no terminating ends so if one system crashes the entire network goes down.

Each computer functions as a repeater and charges the signal before sending it to the next station.

▪ In the Ring topology, data are sent through the network by

way of a token.

▪ If the token is not carrying any data, a computer

waiting to send data seizes it, attaches the data and
the electronic address to the token and sends it on.

▪ Once the token is received by the destination

computer, it strips the data and the token is sent on.

▪ This is why it is named a token ring network.

▪ The following operations take place in ring topology are:

1. One station is known as a monitor station which takes all the responsibility to perform the
operations.
2. To transmit the data, the station has to hold the token then after the transmission is done, the token
is to be released for other stations to use.
3. When no station is transmitting the data, then the token will circulate in the ring.
4. There are two types of token release techniques:
* Early token release releases the token just after the transmitting the data
* Delay token release releases the token after the acknowledgment is received from the receiver.

Advantages of this topology:

 ▪ The possibility of collision is minimum in this type of
topology.

▪ Cheap to install and expand.

Problems with this topology:

▪ Troubleshooting is difficult in this topology.

▪ The addition of stations in between or removal of

stations can disturb the whole topology.

4. Mesh Topology

▪ In a mesh topology, every device is connected to another

device via a particular channel.

▪ Every device is connected with another via dedicated channels.

▪ These channels are known as links.

Advantages of Mesh TopologY

▪ It is robust.

▪ The fault is diagnosed easily.

▪ Data are reliable because data are transferred among

the devices through dedicated channels or links.
 ▪ Provides security and privacy.

Problems with this topology:

Installation and configuration is difficult.

Cost of cables are high as bulk wiring is required, hence, suitable for fewer number of devices.

Cost of maintenance is high.

5. Hybrid Topology

This topology is a collection of two or more topologies.

This is a scalable topology, which can be expanded easily.

It is a reliable one but at the same time, it is a costly topology.

Advantages of Hybrid Network Topology

1. Reliable: Unlike other networks, fault detection and troubleshooting are easy in this type of
topology. The part in which fault is detected can be isolated from the rest of the network and required
corrective measures can be taken, WITHOUT affecting the functioning of the rest of the network.
2. Scalable: Easy to increase the size of the network by adding new components, without disturbing
existing architecture.

3. Flexible: Hybrid networks can be designed according to the requirements of the organization and by
optimizing the available resources. Special care can be given to nodes where traffic is high as well as
where chances of fault are high.

4. Effective: Hybrid topology is the combination of two or more topologies, so we can design it in such
a way that the strengths of constituent topologies are maximized while their weaknesses are
neutralized. For example, we saw Ring Topology has good data reliability (achieved by the use of
tokens) and Star topology has high tolerance capability (as each node is not directly connected to
other but through the central device), so these two can be used effectively in hybrid star-ring topology.

Disadvantages of Hybrid Topology

1. The complexity of Design: One of the biggest drawbacks of hybrid topology is the design. It is not
easy to design this type of architecture and a difficult job for designers. The configuration and
installation process needs to be very efficient.

2. Costly Hub: The hubs used to connect two distinct networks are very expensive. These hubs are
different from usual hubs as they need to be intelligent enough to work with different architectures
and should be functional even if a part of the network is down.

3. Costly Infrastructure: As hybrid architectures are usually larger in scale, they require a lot of cables,
cooling systems, sophisticated network devices, etc.