UNIT 1

Networking Fundamentals and Internet

1. Basics of Network and Networking

Computer Network:- a collection of computing devices

that are connected in various ways in order to communicate
and share resources.

The generic term node or host refers to any device on a

network.

Data transfer rate:- the speed with which the data is moved
from one place on a network to another

File Server:- a computer that manages and stores files for

multiple users on a network.

Web Server:- a computer dedicated to responding to requests

(from the browser client) for web pages.

2. Types of Networks: LAN, MAN, WAN

Local-area network (LAN):- a network that connects a

relatively small number of machines in a relatively close
geographical area.
Metropolitan-area Network (MAN):- the communication
interest structures that have been developed in and around
large cities.

Wide-area network (WAN):- is the technology that connects

your offices, data centers, cloud applications, and cloud storage
together.
 3. Peer-to-Peer(P2P) network
A peer-to-peer (P2P) network is a decentralized network of
computers that share resources and communicate without a
central server.

In a P2P network, each computer, called a peer or node, is both

a user and a provider of resources.
 4. Client/Server network
A client-server network is a network topology where clients
access services and resources from a central server.

A server is a computer system that provides services, data, and

applications to other computers, called clients.
5. Workgroup Vs. Domain

 Workgroup:-

A peer-to-peer (P2P) network where computers share

resources and operate independently.
Workgroups are best for small organizations with fewer
than ten PCs and no dedicated server.

 Domain:-

A network where computers are arranged hierarchically

and share a central security database.
Domains are best for larger companies that value security,
centralized management, and administrative task
delegation.
 Difference between a workgroup and a domain:-

6. Network Topologies

Topology defines the structure of the network of how all

the components are interconnected to each other.

There are six types of network topology

1. Bus Topology
2. Ring Topology
3. Star/Hub Topology
4. Tree Topology
5. Mesh Topology
6. Hybrid Topology

1)Bus Topology
Bus Topology
o The bus topology is designed in such a way that all the
stations are connected through a single cable known as a
backbone cable.
o The configuration of a bus topology is quite simpler as
compared to other topologies.
o The backbone cable is considered as a "single
lane" through which the message is broadcast to all the
stations.

Advantages of Bus topology:

o Easy to add/remove nodes in a network.
o Required only cable.
o Low-cost cable: In bus topology, nodes are directly
connected to the cable without passing through a hub.
o It broadcast the messages to each device which are
connected through the cable.
o Limited failure: A failure in one node will not have any
effect on other nodes.
o Easy to maintain
Disadvantages of Bus topology:
o If any fault occurs in the cable, then it would disrupt the
communication for all the nodes.
o Signal interference: If two nodes send the messages
simultaneously, then the signals of both the nodes collide
with each other. In this topology data is transmitted in only
one direction.
o Adding new devices to the network would slow down the
network.
o the messages are broadcast so we can't send private
messages.
o It takes more time to pass the messages from one place to
another place.
o length of cable is limited.

2) Ring Topology

It ia Called ring topology because it forms a ring in this

topology each node is strongly connected with its
adjacent node.
o The node that receives the message from the previous
computer will retransmit to the next node.
o The data flows in one direction, i.e., it is unidirectional.
 o The data flows in a single loop continuously known as an
endless loop.
o It has no terminated ends, i.e., each node is connected to
other node and having no termination point.
Advantages of Ring topology:
o Cost: cost is very low.
o Reliable: It is a more reliable network because the
communication system is not dependent on the single
host computer.
Disadvantages of Ring topology:
o It is very difficult task to add some new computer. If any
fault occurs in the cable, then it would disrupt the
communication for all the nodes.
o if you want to send data from a source to destination
machine then data will unnecessary passed to all nodes.
o Single point of failure that means if a node goes down
entire network goes down.
o Failure: The breakdown in one station leads to the failure
of the overall network.
o Adding new devices to the network would slow down the
network.
o Communication delay is directly proportional to the
number of nodes. Adding new devices increases the
communication delay.

3) Star Topology
 o Star topology is an arrangement of the network in which
every node is connected to the central hub, switch or a
central computer.
o The central computer is known as a server, and the
peripheral devices attached to the server are known
as clients.
o Star topology is the most popular topology in network
implementation.
Advantages of Star topology
o In a star topology, all the stations are connected to the
centralized network.
 o Limited failure: As each station is connected to the
central hub with its own cable, therefore failure in one
cable will not affect the entire network.
o Easily expandable: It is easily expandable as new
stations can be added to the open ports on the hub.
o High data speeds: It supports a bandwidth of approx
100Mbps.
o No of Cables= n
o Dedicated Communication/ Point to point

Disadvantages of Star topology

o A Central point of failure: If the central hub or switch
goes down, then all the connected nodes will not be able
to communicate with each other.
o No relaibility
o Low Security

4) Tree topology

o Tree topology combines the characteristics of bus topology

and star topology.
o A tree topology is a type of structure in which all the
computers are connected with each other in hierarchical
fashion.
Advantages of Tree topology
o Easily expandable: We can add the new device to the
existing network. Therefore, we can say that tree topology
is easily expandable.
o Easily manageable: In tree topology, the whole network
is divided into segments known as star networks which
can be easily managed and maintained.
o Error detection: Error detection and error correction are
very easy in a tree topology.
o Limited failure: The breakdown in one station does not
affect the entire network.
o Point-to-point wiring: It has point-to-point wiring for
individual segments.
Disadvantages of Tree topology
o If any fault occurs in the node, then it becomes difficult to
troubleshoot the problem.
o High cost: Devices required for broadband transmission
are very costly.
o Failure: A tree topology mainly relies on main bus cable
and failure in main bus cable will damage the overall
network.

4) Mesh topology
 o Mesh technology is an arrangement of the network in
which computers are interconnected with each other.
o There are multiple paths from one computer to another
computer.
o Mesh topology is mainly used for wireless networks.
o Mesh topology can be formed by using the formula:
Number of cables = (n*(n-1))/2
Where n is the number of nodes that represents the
network.

Advantages of Mesh topology:

1. Security : High
2. Reliable: The mesh topology networks are high reliable
as if any link breakdown will not affect the communication
between connected computers.
3. Fast Communication: Communication is very fast
between the nodes.
4. Easier Reconfiguration: Adding new devices would not
disrupt the communication between other devices.
5. Dedicated Communication/ Point to point
Disadvantages of Mesh topology
o Cost: High because multiple devices connected with
multiple wires.
o Management: Mesh topology networks are very large
and very difficult to maintain and manage. If the network
is not monitored carefully, then the communication link
failure goes undetected.

6) Hybrid Topology

o When two or more different topologies are combined

together is termed as Hybrid topology and if similar
topologies are connected with each other will not result in
Hybrid topology.
o For example, if there exist a ring topology in one branch of
ICICI bank and bus topology in another branch of ICICI
 bank, connecting these two topologies will result in Hybrid
topology.
Advantages of Hybrid Topology
o Reliable: If a fault occurs in any part of the network will
not affect the functioning of the rest of the network.
o Scalable: Size of the network can be easily expanded by
adding new devices without affecting the functionality of
the existing network.
o Flexible: This topology is very flexible as it can be
designed according to the requirements of the
organization.
o Effective: Hybrid topology is very effective.

Disadvantages of Hybrid topology

o Complex design: The major drawback of the Hybrid
topology is the design of the Hybrid network. It is very
difficult to design the architecture of the Hybrid network.
o Costly Hub: The Hubs used in the Hybrid topology are very
expensive as these hubs are different from usual Hubs
used in other topologies.
o Costly infrastructure: The infrastructure cost is very high
as a hybrid network requires a lot of cabling, network
devices, etc.