Module 1

What is a COMPUTER?

A computer is a high speed electronic data processing machine.

It is an electronic device that stores, retrieves, and processes data, and can be
programmed with instructions.
A computer is composed of hardware and software, and can exist in a variety of
sizes and configurations.

It accepts data as input, process the data and generates output.

In simple words a computer is an electronic machine that helps us to solve

variety of jobs at a great speed without committing mistakes.

Basic components
1. Input

2. Processing

3. Output

4. Storage

5. Control

1. Input

This unit is used for entering data and programs into the computer system by
the user for processing.

The input devices include key boards, electronic mouse, optical scanners and
touch screens.

They convert data into electronic machine readable form.

2. Processing

The task of performing operations like arithmetic and logical operations is called
processing.

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The Central Processing Unit (CPU) takes data and instructions from the storage
unit and makes all sorts of calculations based on the instructions given and the
type of data provided.
It is then sent back to the storage unit. CPU includes Arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
and control unit.

The control element is the brain which coordinates other components like input,
output etc.

3. Output
The output unit is used for storing the result as output produced by the
computer after processing.
The output devices include video display units, printers and audio response
units.

They convert processed information into human intelligible form for

presentation to users.

4. Storage
The storage unit is used for storing data and instructions before and after
processing.

Storage devices store data and program instructions required for processing.

Data and information can be stored either in the primary storage unit or in
secondary storage devices such as magnetic disks and pen drives

5. Control
The control unit of the central processing unit controls the entire computer
system.
Controlling of all operations like input, processing and output are performed by
control unit.

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BASIC STRUCTURE OF A COMPUTER

1. Input devices.

2. Central Processing Unit.

3. Output devices.

1. INPUT DEVICES

The input units are used to read the necessary data into the computer.

Information is entered into a computer through input devices.

An input device converts input data into a form acceptable to a computer.

This is similar to our eyes and ears through which we get information from the
environment.

Some of the widely used input devices are keyboard and mouse.

2. CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU)

The Central Processing Unit is the most important component of a computer
system.

It is the brain of any computer system.

CPU controls the operation of all other components such as memory, input and
output devices.

It performs the calculations, comparisons and general data processing of a

computer system.
It also provides necessary directions to other components attached to a
computer.

The CPU has three major components namely Primary memory, the Arithmetic
Logic Unit (ALU) and the control unit.

(a) Memory or Storage Unit

The memory unit of a computer is used to store data, programs, intermediate
and final results.
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Computer's memory can be classified into two types; primary memory and
secondary memory.

 Primary Memory / Volatile Memory

Primary Memory also called as volatile memory because the memory can't store
the data permanently.
All data and program must be placed in the primary memory before they can be
used in processing.
The primary storage unit is also used to store data and program instruction
between processing steps and after processing is completed but before output
is produced.

Primary Memory can be further classified as RAM and ROM.

RAM or Random Access Memory is the unit in a computer system. It is the area
in a computer where the operating system, application programs and the data
in current use are kept temporarily so that they can be accessed by the
computer's processor.
It is said to be 'volatile' since its contents are accessible only as long as the
computer is on.

The contents of RAM are no more available once the computer is turned off.
ROM or Read Only Memory is a special type of memory which can only be read
and contents of which are not lost even when the computer is switched off.

It typically contains manufacturer's instructions.

Among other things, ROM also stores an initial program called the 'bootstrap
loader' whose function is to start the operation of computer system once the
power turned on.

 Secondary Memory:

Secondary memory is the additional memory attached to a computer system.

RAM is volatile memory having a limited storage capacity.

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Secondary/auxiliary memory is storage other than the RAM.

These include devices that are peripheral and are connected and controlled by
the computer to enable permanent storage of programs and data.

The space available in the primary storage is limited and hence secondary
memory place a supporting role to the primary storage in storing data and
program.

Secondary storage devices are of two types; magnetic and optical.

Magnetic devices include hard disks and optical storage devices are CDs, DVDs,
Pen drive, Zip drive etc.
Hard disks: Hard disks are made up of rigid material and are usually a stack of
metal disks sealed in a box.

The hard disk and the hard disk drive exist together as a unit and is a permanent
part of the computer where data and programs are saved.

Hard disks are rewritable.

Compact Disk: Compact Disk (CD) is portable disk having data storage capacity
between 650-700 MB.
It can hold large amount of information such as music, full-motion videos, and
text etc.

CDs can be either read only or read write type.

Digital Video Disk: Digital Video Disk (DVD) is similar to a CD but has larger
storage capacity and enormous clarity.

Depending upon the disk type it can store several Gigabytes of data.
DVDs are primarily used to store music or movies and can be played back on
your television or the computer too. These are not rewritable.

(b) Arithmetic Logic Unit-ALU

All calculations and comparisons, based on the instructions provided, are carried
out within the ALU.
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It performs arithmetic functions like addition, subtraction, multiplication,
division and also logical operations like greater than, less than and equal to etc.
Besides performing arithmetic operations ALU also performs logic operations
such as comparison of two numbers to find out which is greater or matching
two alphabetic names to see that they are the same.

Before performing logical operations, the data should be transferred from

primary memory to ALU's register.

The results of computation or logical decision are sent from ALU to the main
memory

(c) Control Unit

Controlling of all operations like input, processing and output are performed by
control unit.

It takes care of step by step processing of all operations inside the computer.
The Control Unit of CPU directs and co-ordinates all operations of a computer as
per the instruction given to it.
The control unit is responsible for interpreting computer instructions a nd
supervising their execution.

3. OUTPUT DEVICES

Output devices are used to show the results of processed data.

They are used to record the results obtained from processing and present them
to the user.

The commonly used output devices are printers and monitor.

Magnetic tapes and disks are also used as output devices.

A computer system consists of two major components namely hardware and

software.
Both hardware and software are necessary to operate a computer. The
hardware and software taken together form a computer system.
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FEATURES OF NEW GENERATIONCOMPUTER

1. Speed of Operation: Modern computers are much faster and hence they can
perform even very complex calculations very fast.

2. Accuracy: Computers are also very accurate in processing data. Once the
correct data is entered with a correct program, the results will also be correct.
3. Storage: Another important characteristic of computer is its storage capacity.
It is difficult to store large volume of data in human brain and remember it for
fairly long period of time. But computers have the capacity to store large
amount of data and instructions and can retrieve it as and when we require it.
They have large memory capacity to retain information. The size of the internal
memory of the CPU is limited. To overcome this defect, various secondary
storage devices such as magnetic tape or disk are used for storing information.
Computer storage is measured in bytes, kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB),
gigabytes (GB) and increasingly terabytes (TB). One byte is one character of
information, and is comprised of eight bits (or eight digital 1's or O's).
Technically a kilobyte is 1024 bytes, a megabyte 1024 kilobytes, a gigabyte 1024
megabytes, and a terabyte 1024 gigabytes

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4. Versatility: Computers are versatile in nature. Computers are versatile
machines and are capable of performing any task as long as it can be broken
down into a series of logical steps. The presence of computers can be seen in
almost every field - Railway/Air reservation, Banks, Hotels, Weather forecasting
and many more.
5. Automatic Operation: Many machines require human intervention to operate
and the operators have to press the necessary keys to start and stop. A
computer can carry out a particular task on the basis of the instructions given to
it until a stop instruction is executed.
6. Diligence: Unlike human beings, computers are highly consistent. Computer is
free from tiredness, boredom and resulting lack of concentration, therefore, are
better than human beings in performing large and repetitive jobs. It can work
for hours without creating any error.

7. Complexity: Some of the applications of computers are very complex and it is

impossible and impracticable to do the work manually. Even a complex
mathematical model can be analyzed easily with the help of computers.

8. Reliability: Computer is also reliable. Reliability is measured in terms of the

performance with a predetermined standard of operations. The reliability of
results processed by a computer is very high, If a program is executed any
number of times with the same set of data, every time the results would be the
same Human intervention is not necessary for undertaking processing
operations at the hardware level.

PARTS OF NEW GENERATIONCOMPUTER

1. Computer case

The main components of a computer are enclosed in a computer case. Cases are
usually built with steel or aluminium. Cases can come in many different sizes.
The size and shape of a computer case is usually determined by the form factor
of the motherboard that it is designed to accommodate, since this is the largest
and most central component of most computers.
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2. Central Processing Unit

The central processing unit, or CPU, is that part of a computer which executes
instructions given in the form of programs.

3. Motherboard
The motherboard is the primary large printed circuit board within a personal
computer. Many other components connect directly or indirectly to the
motherboard.

4. Main memory

Another critical component in computers is memory. The two most important

kinds of memory are read-only memory (ROM) and random access memory
(RAM). Computers can read data stored in ROM, but cannot write new data to
it. With RAM, computers can read from and write to that memory. Without
computer memory, every calculation on a computer would be stateless

5. Hard disk
Magnetic disks are also known as hard disks. The hard disk is direct access
storage medium with a rigid magnetic disk. The data is stored as magnetised
spots arranged in concentric circles (tracks) on the disk. Each track is divided
into sectors. The number of tracks and sectors on a disk is known as its 'format".

6. Video card
The video card also called a graphics card processes and transfers the graphics
output from the computer to the monitor, and is an essential part of the
modern computer. Today in many computers, graphics circuitry is integrated
with the motherboard but, for modern flexible machines, they are supplied in
other formats.

7. Visual display unit

A Monitor is a commonly and at the same time powerful output device which is
used to see data, graphics, images and all other type of information. A visual
display unit or monitor is a piece of electrical equipment that displays viewable
images generated by a computer without producing a permanent record.
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8. Card Reader

Interchange of data such as photographs from digital cameras is made it

possible by installation of a card reader. It is usually faster and more convenient
to move large amounts of data by removing the card from the mobile device,
instead of communicating with the mobile device through a USB interface.

DRIVE BAYS
A drive bay is a standard-sized area for adding hardware to a computer. Most
drive bays are fixed to the inside of a case, but some can be removed. Drive bays
are most commonly used to store disk drives, although they can also be used for
front-end USB ports, I/O bays and other uses.

PORTS

A personal computer may have several ports for connecting devices peripherals
such as a trackball, expanded keyboard, scanner, touch screen, and other
devices.

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 PS/2 Port
This port is the connection from the user to the personal computer. It allows for
the connection of a mouse and a keyboard, and it enables the computer user to
access functions, type in commands, and generally communicates any need the
user may have to the machine itself.

 Serial Port

A serial port is a serial communication physical interface through which

information transfers in or out one bit at a time. Throughout most of the history
of personal computers, data transfer through serial ports co nnected the
computer to devices such as terminals and various peripherals. These ports
allow for the connection of a modern, which these days for many a user is the
connection to the Internet and the outside world.

 Parallel Port
Even though parallel port may support other functions, it is almost always used
for connecting printer.

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 Universal Serial Bus (USB)

Most computers will sport at least two of these ports, yet some may have more.
This is one of the most popular ports found on a PC. It is very user friendly. Once
it is connected to a PC, it is automatically detected and set up. With USB ports, it
is easy to connect other peripherals, such as printer and scanner, to a computer.

 VGA port
This port connects the computer to the monitor and allows the user to actually
see what he is creating. Without a monitor it is impossible to ascertain one's
progress, and without a VGA port it would be impossible to hook up any kind of
monitor.

 Firewire
This high-speed interface is found on newer PCs. It works well for digital video
and audio. It is also good for connecting external hard drives or other high-
bandwidth peripherals.

 Flashcard
This type of ports allows user to read and write flashcards. Some types of flash
card are Compact Flash I/II, Smart Media, Memory Stick, Multi-Media Card, and
secure Digital. With flash card ports, users can access data directly from the
flash cards without having their PDAs (personal digital assistants) or digital
cameras connected to a PC

 Legacy Ports
These ports are the parallel, serial and game ports; these are fully or partially
considered obsolete.

PERIPHERALS OF A NEW GENERATION COMPUTER

1. Headset

A headset is a headphone combined with a microphone, Headsets provide the

equivalent functionality of a telephone handset with hands-free operation.
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Headsets typically have only one speaker like a telephone, but also come with
speakers for both ears.

2. Webcam

A webcam is a video capture device connected to a computer or computer

network and therefore it is an input device. These are small cameras that usually
connected at the top of the computer monitor and are used to transfer both still
and video directly to the computer.

3. Sound cards and Speakers

Sound cards are an integrated circuit that generates an audio signal and sends it
to a computer's speakers. The sound card can accept an analog sound and
convert it to digital data that can be stored in an audio file, or accept digitized
audio signals and convert them to analog signals that can be played on the
computer's speakers.

4. Removable Storage

The same kinds of CD and DVD drives that could come built-in on our computer
can also be attached externally. We might only have a CD -ROM drive built-in to
our computer but we need a CD writer to burn CDs. The same is true for DVD
writers.

5. Printers
In computing, a printer is a peripheral which produces a hard copy of documents
stored in electronic form, usually on physical print media such as paper or
transparencies.

6. Video Card
A video card also known as graphics card is an expansion card whose func tion is
to generate and output images to a display. Some video cards offer added
functions, such as video capture, TV tuner adapter, ability to connect multiple
monitors, and others.

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7. Network Card

A network card is an expansion card that allows computers to communicate

over a computer network. It allows users to connect to each other either by
using cables or wirelessly.

8. USB
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a serial bus standard to interface devices. USB was
designed to allow many peripherals to be connected using a single standardized
interface socket and to improve the plug-and-play capabilities by allowing
devices to be connected and disconnected without rebooting the computer
Other convenient features include providing power to low-consumption devices
without the need for an external power.

INPUT DEVICES

1. Keyboard

Keyboard is an important data entry device. Programs and data are entered into
a computer through a Keyboard which is attached to a microcomputer or the
terminal of a mini or large computer. It contains alphabets, digits, special
characters and control keys. In addition to the usual keys, computer has some
special keys known as function and operating keys. These keys are used for
correcting data and also used for performing certain sequence of instructions
automatically when pressed. Different functions can be assigned to these keys
according to the system or application program. The keys on computer
keyboards are often classified as follows:

a. Alphanumeric keys - letter and numerals.

b. Punctuation keys - comma, period, semicolon and so on.

c. Special keys - Function keys, control keys, arrow keys, caps lock key and so on.
The basic QWERTY layout of characters is maintained to make it easy to use the
system. The standard layout of letters, numbers and punctuation is known as
QWERTY keyboard because the first six keys on the top row of letters spell

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QWERTY IBM keyboard contains keys like Page Up, Page Down, Home, End, Caps
Lock, Print Screen etc..

2. Mouse
Mouse is a pointing device that controls the movement of the cursor or pointer
on a display screen. A mouse is a small object that can roll along a hard and flat
surface because it is operated by two rotating wheels. Its name is derived from
its shape, which looks a bit like a mouse. The connecting wire of the mouse can
be resembled with the mouse's tails. When a user moves the mouse across a flat
surface, the cursor also moves in the direction of mouse's movement. The
cursor can be positioned anywhere on the screen.
Mouse may contain one or two button which has different functions depending
upon what program is running. Modern mouse also include a scroll wheel for
scrolling through long documents.

3. Trackball
A trackball is an input device used to enter motion data into computers or other
electronic devices. It serves the same purpose as a mouse, but is designed with
a moveable ball on the top, which can be rolled in any direction. Track ball is an

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input device that is mostly used in notebook or laptop computer, instead of a
mouse.

4. Touch Screen
Touch Screen is a type of display screen that has a touch sensitive transparent
panel covering the screen. Instead of using a pointing device such as mouse or
light pen, one can use this finger to point directly to objects on the screen.

5. Touch Pad
This is another type of pointing device used in portable computers. A touch
sensitive pad is used to point finger on a desired object or place on the screen. It
is an alternative to the mouse. Originally incorporated in laptop
computers,touch pads are also being made for use with desktop computers. A
touch pad works by sensing the user's finger movement and downward
pressure.

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6. Light Pen

Light pen is an input device that utilizes a light-sensitive detector to select

objects on a display screen.

7. Graphics Tablet
A graphics tablet allows data to be input in much the same way as a mouse. This
input device that enables an artist to draw or sketch digitally using a pen or
stylus.

8. Digital Camera

Digital camera is used to feed image input to the computer. These images can
be manipulated in many ways using the various imaging tools available. The
digital camera takes a still photograph or video, stores it and then sends it as
digital input into the computer.

9. Webcams
Webcam is input device that connects to a computer and the internet and
captures either still pictures or motion video of a user or other object. This is an
input device because it can capture video image for further processing. It is
either built into the computer monitor or laptop or connected through an USB
cable. The images captured by webcam are sent to the computer for further
processing by webcam software. Webcam can be used for chatting.
teleconferencing and for security purposes.

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10. Joystick

Joystick is also a pointing device, which is used to move the cursor position on a
monitor screen. It is a stick having a spherical ball at its both lower and upper
ends. The lower spherical ball moves in a socket. The joystick can be moved in
all four directions.

11. Scanners
Scanner is an input device, which works more like a photocopy machine. It is
used when some information is available on paper and it is to be transferred to
the hard disk of the computer for further manipulation. A scanner operates by
digitising an image. Scanners can convert photographs and flat documents into
electronic images. Both colour and black & white images can be created.

12. Microphone
Microphone or mike is used to convert the spoken word to a digital signal for
computer input. It allows computer users to input audio into their computers.

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The microphone converts audio signals to electrical waves and these can be
converted by electronic circuitry in the computer to digital from.

13. Magnetic ink character recognition (MICR)

MICR can identify character printed with a special ink that contains particles of
magnetic material. MICR input device is generally used in banks as there are
large number of cheques to be processed every day. The bank's code number
and cheque number are printed on the cheques with a special type of ink that
contains particles of magnetic material that are machine readable.

14. Optical mark recognition (OMR)

OMR is a special type of optical scanner used to recognize the type of mark
made by pen or pencil. It is used where one out of a few alternatives is to be
selected and marked. It is specially used for checking the answer sheets of
examinations having multiple choice questions.

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15. Bar code reader

Bar Code Reader is a device used for reading bar coded data-data in the form of
light and dark lines. Bar coded data is generally used in labelling goods,
numbering the books, etc.

OUTPUT DEVICES
Output device receives information from the CPU and presents it to the user in
the desired from.

1. MONITORS

Monitor is computer screen" or "display." Monitor is an output device that

resembles the television screen. There are three main types of monitors: the
CRT, or Cathode Ray Tube monitor, the LCD Flat Panel monitor, and the TFT-LCD
monitor. Each has their own advantages.

 CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) Monitor: This is the most inexpensive monitor in
the market today and it looks like our traditional TV set. Monitor unit is
capable of displaying alphanumeric characters and graphs. A CRT display
unit displays characters in multicolour. Displays are available in blue,
green, orange, yellow etc. Black and white colours can also be obtained.
 LCD Flat Panel Monitor: Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) monitors were first
developed for use with laptop computers. Also known as flat screen
monitors, they are becoming more and more common these days. When
initially introduced in the market, these flat screens cost quite a high price,
but with its popularity and wide usage, prices are continuing to drop.

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 TFT-LCD Monitor: A Thin Film Transistor (TFT) - LCD monitor is now being
more widely used with LCD monitors, because of its high level of
resolution and sharpness. The only difference is a thin film transistor that
is applied to the screen, which results in better control of pixels.

2. PRINTERS
Printed output is the most common form of Visual Output. Printers are used to
produce paper output generally known as hardcopy. Thus computers can
produce printed reports and documents such as invoices, payroll, reports and
bank statements. Based on the technology used, they can be classified as
Impact or Non-impact printers.

 Impact printers
When a part of printer impact or presses the paper to print a character is known
as impact printers. It can print a character or line at a time. It uses the
typewriting printing mechanism wherein a hammer strikes the paper through a
ribbon in order to produce output. Dot-matrix and Character printers fall under
this category,

 Dot-matrix Printers: This is the most popular type of serial printers. A

character is printed by printing the selected number of dots from a matrix
of dots. Each letter is formed with a series of dots. A character is printing
using 5 dot rows and 7 dots columns. This pattern is called 5x7 dot-
matrixes. In dot-matrix printers, small pins are arranged in a rectangular
matrix of 5x7. Characters to be printed are sent one character at a time
from the memory to the printer.

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 Nonimpact Printers

A nonimpact printer does not strike the paper but ink used for printing is
sprayed by other means. This type of printers does not touch the paper while
printing. They use chemical, heat or electrical signals to etch the symbols on
paper. Inkjet, Deskjet, Laser, Thermal printers fall under this category of
printers.

 Laser Printers: This is one of the fastest printers available. It is also known
as page or document printer. These type printers can print 120 to 300
pages per minute. Laser printers are capable to produce a report page by
page and it also produces high quality printed output including texts and
graphics. They also offer a wide variety of character fonts.

 Inkjet Printers: Ink-Jet printers work by spraying ionized ink at a sheet of

paper. Magnetised plates in the ink's path direct the ink on the paper in
the required shapes. Ink-jet printers are suitable for producing high quality
print. A typical ink-jet printer provides a resolution of 300 dots per inch,
although some new models offer better performance. The price of the ink-
jet printers is lower than that of laser printers. One important drawback of
this type of printer is its slow performance. Another demerit of the printer
is that they require a special type of ink that is likely smudge on poor
quality papers.

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 Plotter: Plotters are used to print graphical output on paper. It interprets
computer commands and makes line drawings on paper using
multicoloured automated pens. It is capable of producing graphs,
drawings, charts, maps etc..

LIMITATIONS OF COMPUTERS

1. Lack of Commonsense

2. Inability to correct

3. Dependence on human assistance

USE OF COMPUTER

1. Education

2. Science

3. Communications

4. Business

5. Government

FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED WHILE SELECTING COMPUTER

1. Usability

2. Price

3. Type of Operating System

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4. Size

5. Peripherals

6. Brand

7. RAM

8. Processor (CPU) speed

9. Hard Disk

10. Warranty

IMPORTANCE OF COMPUTERS IN BUSINESS

1. Generating new business ideas

2. Executing business idea and plans

3. Hiring employees

4. Cost reduction

5. Marketing

6. Marketing and advertising materials

7. Advertise and Market products and services

8. Global marketing

9. Increase the demand of product and services

10. Communication

11. Accounting

12. Storage

13. Documents and Reports

14. Education

15. Research

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COMPUTER NETWORKS

Computers are widely used in sending and receiving information. People and
organisation need to exchange data and information electronically with one
another. Rapid advancement of technology in the field of communication led to
the creation of communication networks. All forms of telecommunications now
heavily depend on computers and computerised devices for sending and
receiving information. The technology that is bringing all these together and
making it possible is networking.

Computer network is a group of two or more computers that connect with each
other to share a resource. Sharing of devices and resources is the purpose of
computer network. We can share printers, fax machines, scanners, network
connection, local drives, copiers and other resources.

COMPONENTS OF NETWORK
A Communication network is any arrangement where a sender transmits a
message to a receiver over a channel consisting of some type of network system
consists of the following basic components.

1. Network Interface Card

The network adapter transmits data onto the network and receives data from
the network. This is a device that enables a computer to talk with other
computer/ network. These are devices connected in network nodes to
communicate with each other and to access the network. Using unique
hardware addresses encoded on the card chip, the data-link protocol employs
these addresses to discover other systems on the network so that it can transfer
data to the right destination. There are two types of network cards: wired and
wireless.

2. Hub
Hub is a device that splits a network connection into multiple computers. It is
like a distribution centre. Computers connect to a hub via a length of twisted-
pair cabling.
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3. Switch

A network switch, or bridge, is a specialized device that connects multiple

network segments. It is a small hardware device that joins multiple computers
together within one local area network (LAN). Switch is like a Hub but built in
with advanced features. It uses physical device addresses in each incoming
messages so that it can deliver the message to the right destination or port.

4. Routers

Network routers are typically small, box-like pieces of equipment that multiple
computers can connect to. Router have a number of "ports" the front or back
that provide the connection points for these computers, a connection for
electric power, and a number of LED lights to display device status. A router
translates information from one network to another.

4. Cables and connectors

Cable is one way of transmission media which can transmit communication
signals. The wired network typology uses special type of cable to connect
computers on a network.

5. Modems

Computers represent data in the digital form for the purpose of processing. In a
computer network, data are sent through communication channels from source
to destination. Digital signal given by the computer at the sending place should
be converted again as digital signals at the receiving destination. A modem is
used for this signal conversion and it connects a computer to the
communication channel. Data can be transmitted in both directions. The
process of converting digital signals into analog and then back to digital form is
known as modulation and demodulation and the word 'Modem' is the combined
abbreviation of these two words.

There are two types of modems namely internal and external modem. Internal
modems are built on cards that fit into the slot of microcomputers mother
board. On the other hand external modems are plug into connectors.

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TYPES OF NETWORK
Communication network are formed from the interconnection of a number of
different locations through communication facilities. Computers on a network
are sometimes called nodes. Computers and devices that allocate resources for
a network are called servers.
A computer network is a data communication system which interconnects
computer systems at various locations with the help of communication devices
like hubs, routers, cables and NICs.

Some of the common computer networks are Local Area Network (LAN), Wide
Area Network (WAN), Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), Virtual Private
Network (VPN), Intranet and Internet. Computer networking is done to facilitate
data flow, implement security, share applications, resources and hardware.

NETWORK BASED ON DISTANCE

Depending on the size and coverage area of the network, it can be classified into
following groups:

1. Local Area Network (LAN)

LAN is a Computer Network that connects information processing devices with

in limited geographical area such as office building, manufacturing plant,
educational institution etc. A network that connects a group of computers in a
small geographical area such as in a building or office is called Local Area
Network (LAN).

A LAN is a small and privately owned network to provide local connectivity

within a small region. "A region" refers to the same office, the same building,
the same company and in the same schools. It provide different services like
document management, sharing resources, workgroup scheduling, e-mail and
fax communications services and other VOIP and unified communication.

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As shown in the above figure, all computers in an office is connected to each

other by cable through central hub. All computers can communicate, share
information and hardware resources.

Characteristics of a LAN
 Limited geographic operation up to 10 Km .
 High speed data transfer rates
 Full time connectivity to local services
 Generally lower in cost than a WAN
 It uses mainly bus, ring and star topology
 LAN support a variety of transmission medium such as Ethernet, fiber,
wireless etc..
 Requires little wiring, typically a single cable connecting to each device

Advantages of LAN
 lower in cost
 Sharing of Resources
 High Speed
 Security

Disadvantages of LAN

o When number of nodes became increases then performance became

decrease.
o Area covered is limited.

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2. Wide Area Network (WAN)

A wide Area Network (WAN) is a computer network covering geographical areas

such as state or country, contrast with Local Area Networks (LANS) or
Metropolitan Area Networks (MANS) that are usually limited to a room,
building. Campus or city. WAN are composed of a number of independent
terminals that are distributed over a large geographical area, which could even
extend through out a country. Such large networks are becoming a necessity for
carrying out the day to day activities of business organisation and governmental
departments and their end users.
WANS are also used to connect Local Area Networks (LANS) together. The
largest and most well-known example of a WAN is the Internet. In WAN, the
data and information delivery is made via telephone lines, microwaves or
satellites.

Advantages of WAN

o large geographical area

Disadvantages of WAN

 Complicated and complex

 High cost
 Required high performance devices
 low security
 WANs use very expensive network equipment.

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3. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

Metropolitan area Networks are the networks spread over a city. They are large
computer networks usually spreading a campus or a city. Metropolitan Area
Network (MAN) is a backbone network that connects Local Area Networks
(LANS) in a metropolitan area such as a city or town. It handles many
communication activities or traffic. Typically a MAN includes one or more LANS,
covering a larger geographical area than LAN but smaller geographical area than
a Wide Area Network (WAN).

For instance a university or college may have a MAN that joins together many of
their local area networks situated around a several hectare site. Then from their
MAN they could have several wide area network links to other universities or
the Internet.

Cable TV networks that are spread over a city or town can also be called as
Metropolitan Area Network. The main objective of a MAN is to share the
hardware and software resources among its users.

Advantages of MAN
o It is wider area than a LAN
o It is a large network connectedness, information can be disseminated
more widely, rapidly and significantly.
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Disadvantages of MAN

 Data rate is slow compare to LAN

 Cost is higher than LAN, required more devices and cables to covered large
area.
 It is difficult to manage.

4. Personal area Network (PAN)

A personal area network, or PAN, is a computer network organized around an

individual person within a single building. This could be inside a small office or
residence. A typical PAN would include one or more computers, telephones,
peripheral devices, video game consoles and other personal entertainment
devices.

If multiple individuals use the same network within a residence, the network is
sometimes referred to as a home area network, or HAN. In a very typical setup,
a residence will have a single wired Internet connection connected to a modem.
This modem then provides both wired and wireless connections for multiple
devices. The network is typically managed from a single computer but can be
accessed from any device.

This type of network provides great flexibility. For example, it allows you to:
Send a document to the printer in the office upstairs while you are sitting on the
couch with your laptop.

Upload a photo from your cell phone to your desktop computer.

Watch movies from an online streaming service to your TV.

PAN is used to transmit data and information very shorter distances which
control by a single person within a single building. PAN has connectivity range
up to 10 meters. PAN may include wireless computer keyboard and mouse,
Bluetooth enabled headphones, wireless printers, mobile, tablet, IPAD and TV
remotes.

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Advantages of PAN
o PANS are efficient, cost-effective and convenient.
o security because it is control by single person

Disadvantages of PAN

 Shorter distance up to 10 meter only

 Data rate is low compare to other network

5. Body Area Network (BAN)

This type of network are created by using wearable devices like smart watches,
fitness bands and medical devices placed inside the body like pacemakers.
Wireless BAN is the primary form used to create such networks. It is defined as
per the IEEE 802.15.6 standard which describes a short-range, extremely low
power wireless communication within or in a vicinity of the human body.
Wireless BAN can work together with PAN technologies. For instance, a
Bluetooth- connected smart phone can be used to sync data from wearables
and various sensors present in the body.

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Advantages of BAN
o Used for the detection of chronic diseases beforehand
o This technique is used in military for security purposes
o It also assists the seamless communication between individual and
machine

Disadvantages of BAN

 Restriction between the body movements

 Interference of the multi devices that share the channel.
 Lack of integration-sensors

6. Storage Area Network (SAN)

SAN (storage area network) is a high-speed network of storage devices that also
connects those storage devices with servers. Generally, it is used to connect
external storage devices to servers but make them believe that the storage is
attached directly. It provides block-level storage that can be accessed by the
applications running on any networked servers. Storage Area Networks help
attach remote computer storage devices, such as disk arrays, tape libraries, and

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optical jukeboxes, to servers in such a manner that that they appear to be
locally attached to the operating system.

Advantages of SAN
o Scalability:- It can add multiple device without limit of a handful of disks
that are attach to a system
o Performance: Data transmitted to and from a SAN is on its own private
network partitioned off from user traffic, backup traffic and other SAN
traffic. So performance is not affected.
o Uptime:-SAN systems require no reboots to add new disks, or to replace
disks.
o Versatile: -ASAN can be single entity, a master grouping of several SANS
and can include SANS in remote locations.
o It provides long distance connectivity.
o Disaster Recovery: -A SAN is a reliable and fast data recovery solution.

Disadvantages of SAN

 It is expensive to implement.
 Require high level of skill to maintain and troubleshoot problems.

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7. Campus Area Network (CAN)

A network infrastructure covering the school, university, or a corporate premise

can be called as campus area network. It can comprise of several LANs, a central
firewall, and connected to the internet using a leased line or any other means.

Campus Area Network is larger than a LAN, but smaller than an MAN. It area
cover a university, large school or small business. It is controlled by the campus
owner, an enterprise, university, government etc. The range of CAN is measured
1Km to 5Km.

Advantages of CAN
o Cost-effective
o It can be wireless or wired network
o Multi-departmental network access
o Managed-service available
o High Bandwidth

Disadvantages of CAN

 Difficult to manage.

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8. Home area Network (HAN)

A Home area network (HAN) is a type of computer network that operate within
a small area typically a home or small office. It connects home digital devices,
such as PCs, mobile phones, tablets, smart watch, entertainment technology,
thermostats, home security systems and smart appliances, into a common
network. With the increasing availability of Internet service and affordable PCs,
more people are networking their multiple PCs and network-capable devices to
use a single broadband outlet, usually through a cable or DSL provider.

Advantages of HAN
o Resource Sharing: Network resources can easily share between devices
like internet sharing.
o Easy to manage: - It is managed by single person. High Security:- Only
know person can use resources.
o Easy Accessible

Disadvantages of HAN

 If backbone network damaged than whole network become halt

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 Lack of Wifi Password: - If wireless security very weak than hacker can use
resources or damaged resources.
 Health:- The wave generated from wifi devices can harm health

9. Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)

A wireless LAN or WLAN is a wireless local area network to communication over

short distances using radio wave. Areas may range from a single room to an
entire campus. The backbone of this network usually cables, with one or more
wireless access points connecting the wireless users to the wired network. A
WLAN can be built using any of several different wireless network protocols,
most commonly either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Wireless LANS can contain many
different kinds of devices including.
 mobile phones
 laptop and tablet computers
 Internet audio systems
 game consoles
 Internet-enabled home appliances

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Advantages of WLAN

o Portable: - A nodes can communicate without restriction within radio

coverage.
o Planning: - wireless networks allow for communication without planning.
Wired networks need wiring plans.
o Installation is quick and easy, and can eliminate the need of cable through
walls/ceiling and wall / ceiling.
o Easier to provide connectivity in areas that are difficult to lay cable.

Disadvantages of WLAN

 Low Bandwidth due to interference.

 WLAN adapters costlier than Ethernet adapters.
 Security is difficult to maintain.
 Increase in nodes reduces the data transfer rate.
 A device is operating within range of radio wave.

10. Virtual Private Network (VPN)

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is private data network that makes use of the
public telecommunication infrastructures. It is also a WAN but it is private and
only company people have access to it. Big company, institutions, and
government agencies use VPN technology to enable remote users to securely
connect to a private network. For example, a company employee goes for
meeting out of country and urgently need company resources to access, then he
can access resource by using VPN. Educational institutions use VPNs to connect
campuses that can be distributed across the country or around the world

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Advantages of VPN
o Cost: It is inexpensive way to build a private network, because it uses
internet for communication between sites is a cost effective alternative to
expensive leased private lines and telephone charges associated with long
distance are reduced.
o Security - Virtual private networks use higher level of secure
communication when compared to other remote methods of
communication.
o Scalability: - Virtual private networks are very flexible in terms of growing
with the company and adding new users to the network.
o Mobility: - It allows users get connected with their company resources
from anywhere in world using a public network.

Disadvantages of VPN

 Bandwidth:- Bandwidth is major drawback of VPN, because public network

very slow compare to Leased line.
 VPN security must configured properly otherwise it easy for hacker to
compromise the company resources

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NETWORK BASED ON ADMINISTRATION

On the basis of network administration, network can be classified into peer-to-

peer network and client/server network.

1. Peer-to-peer Network
This type of network is very cost effective but supports lesser number of
computers in network. Ten to fifteen computers can be connected to each other
using p2p networking model without problem. Peer-to-peer network allow users
to share resources and files located on their computers and to access shared
resources found on other computers.

In a peer-to-peer network, all computers are considered equal; they all have the
same abilities to use the resources available on the network. All computers
possesses same status within the network and no computer control any other
computer. However, they do not have a file server or a centralized management
source. Peer-to-peer networks are designed primarily for small to medium local
area networks.

Advantages
1. In a peer to peer network, a software application need to be installed on a
single computer and shared by every computer in the network.

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2. They are inexpensive to set up because most desktop operating systems have
the software required for the network installed by default.

Disadvantages

1. Peer-To-Peer networks are designed for limited number computers, it will

start creating issues when exceed the number of computers.
2. Peer-to-peer networks are typically less secure than a client -server network
because security is handled by the individual computers and not on the network
as a whole.
3. The resources of the computers in the network can become overburdened as
they have to support not only the workstation user, but also the requests from
network users.
4. Regular training is required for computer users of p2p network. p2p network
is control by computers and computers are controlled by human, small mistake
by one of the user can hold the work for other users on same p2p network.

2. Client-Server Networks

Client/server model has one dedicated computer which is called server. It is

called dedicated server. All computers are connected to hub and hub is
connected to dedicated server. The client computers connect over the network
in order to use the resources. A client-server network involves multiple clients
connecting to a single, central server. Server is responsible to perform according
to the request sent to it by clients.

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Advantages
1. Client-server networks possess faster access speeds since they are designed
to support large number of clients.

2. The clients are allowed to function as workstations without sharing any

resources.
3. It is easier to upgrade software applications and files because they are held
on one single computer.

4. System wide services can be provided through the server software.

5. Security is increased on a client server network because the security is

handled by the server.

Disadvantages
1. The resources of the computers in the network can become overburdened as
they have to support not only the workstation user, but also the requests from
network users.
2. Client-server networks have a higher initial setup cost. They also require a
greater level of expertise to configure and manage the server hardware and
software.

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Types of Peer-to-peer Network

Computer networks for the home and small business can be built using either
wired or wireless technology. Wired Ethernet has been the traditional choice in
homes, but Wi-Fi wireless technologies are becoming popular now. Both wired
and wireless can claim advantages over the other. Both are better options for
home and other LANS

P2P networks are generally classified in to three;

1. Wired Ethernet Networks

2. Wireless Ethernet Networks

3. Power-line Networks

1. Wired Ethernet Networks

Ethernet technology, once reserved for offices and big business, is now the most
common type of home network. The most common home network is Ethernet.
It is a very popular LAN (Local Area Network) technology due to its inexpensive
setup cost and reasonably fast speed. In an Ethernet network, wires and cables
run from computer to computer. It is the ideal network for multiple users who
want to share their Internet connection.
This type of network is fast, with transfer rates up to 100 Mbps, and inexpensive
to install and maintain. The speed (data transfer rate) of an Ethernet can be
10Mbps (Ethernet), 100Mbps (Fast Ethernet) and 1000Mbps (Gigabit Ethernet).
Mbps is called Megabits per seconds.

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Advantages

1. Fast transferring data

2. Less expensive to install than wireless. Ethernet cables, hubs and switches are
very cheap.

3. Not prone to interference

4. Wired connections also do not have the security issues that wireless networks
have.

5. Users are not required to purchase any extra hardware.

6. Ethernet cables, hubs and switches are extremely reliable, mainly because
manufacturers have been continually improving Ethernet technology over
several decades.

2. Wireless Ethernet Networks

Wireless technology is becoming very popular in the home-networking arena. A

wireless network is the easiest to install because it transmits data via radio
frequencies instead of cables. This is a type of network, which works without
wire. The networking within an office or the inside of a house works via a
wireless connection. A wireless connection is useful for the reason, that the
connection of the computer with cables in different locations is unnecessary.

It is the most convenient networking solution to set up network of computers in

different rooms or on different floors. Though not much fast, and little more
expensive than a wired network, it gives users the freedom to work and access
peripherals from practically anywhere in and around our home. Most wireless
networks have a range of up to 150 feet and transfer speeds up to 11 Mbps.

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Advantages

1. Cable-free networking

2. Freedom and mobility to work anywhere in the house-even outside

3. Easy to install

4. Compatible with Ethernet networks

5. Ideal for notebook users

3. Power-line Network

Power-line networks use the wires that already exist inside the walls to connect
computers in the network. In a power-line network, any already installed
electrical outlet can be used for network connection. Wireless networks work
well in some cases, but there are some venues where Wi -Fi simply doesn't reach
far enough to provide reliable service across our entire home. Thick or heavily
insulated walls act as a block for free data transfer.

USE OF COMPUTER NETWORK

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1. Information Sharing:

2. Sharing Hardware

3. Sharing Software and Application

4. Centralized Administration

5. Email

6. Internet Relay Chat -IRC

7. Audio/Video Conferencing

8. Internet Phone

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN VARIOUS AREAS OF BUSINESS

1. Production

2. Scheduling

3. Accounting

a. Invoicing:

b. Accounts receivable

c. Account payable

d. General ledger:

e. Payroll

4. Inventory Management

5. Capital budgeting

6. Budgeting and Forecasting

7. Marketing

8. Prepare marketing documents

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10. Marketing and advertising

11. Websites and advertising

12. Customer Interaction

13. Customer Relationship Management

14. Communication

15. Networking

16. Research

17. Data Mining

18. Human resource management

INTERNET
Internet is the world's largest computer network. The word 'Internet' was
coined from the word "Inter connection" and "Network". The Internet is a
network or more precisely "Inter-network of hundreds of connecting networks
made up of different types of computers all over the world that can share
messages and information with one another. It is described as the network of
networks. The Internet, a group of worldwide information highways and
resources, is enabling the world to truly become an information society.

History of Internet
The Internet is not a new phenomenon. In 1973, the U.S. Defence Advanced
Research Projects Agency (DARPA) initiated a research program to investigate
techniques and technologies for interlinking packet networks of various kinds.
The objective was to develop communication protocols which would allow
networked computers to communicate transparently across multiple, linked
packet networks. This was called the Internetting project and the system of
networks which emerged from the research was known as the "Internet." Its

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origin can be traced to an experimental network established with funding from
the Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA) of the U.S. Department of
Defence, to enable the scientists engaged on various military projects to
communicate with one another.
Starting in 1965 with four sites in the US, it soon grew to ten widely dispersed
sites including those in the U.K and Norway. This network was called ARPANET.
Electronic mail over the ARPANET was a great success. This has given birth to
the INTERNET. The National Science Foundation (NSF) took over the academic
community network project in the mid 1980's after defence traffic was moved
away from the ARPANET to MILNET (Military Network). After that the NSF, the
agency of the U.S. Government and other government entities controlled access
to the Internet. In its early days, the internet was not used for commercial
purposes mainly because it was funded through research grants from the NSF
and other government agencies. It was mainly used for technical, academic and
scientific research. The main turning point in the history of internet was in 1991,
when NSF removed restrictions and allowed commercial traffic into internet.
In April 1995, the U.S. Government further relaxed control of the internet to
independent government further relaxed control of the internet to independent
governing bodies, which taken away the restrictions for Internet access. Ever
since commercial use of internet was allowed, the growth in subscribers and
traffic has been phenomenal.
According to Internet Society estimates, the internet now has 30 million users
on 10 million computers connected to over 24000 networks in over 100
countries. It is often said that there has been no other technology or inno vation
in the modern history that comes close to the internet in terms of speed of
adoption, significance and impact.

Features of Internet
1. This global network is not owned by any single individual, company or
country.

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2. It has no central controlling body.

3. Information is available in different format such as text, graphical, audio-

visual etc.

4. It is fully capable of handling an increase in the number of users and an

increase in the volume of traffic

5. It is the only way to connect globally.

6. Internet as a most important source of information

7. TCP/IP is a standard protocol suite for internet

NTERNET ACCESS
Access to Internet is possible in one of two basic ways namely dialling into an
Internet Service Provider's (ISP) Computer or with a direct connection to an
Internet Service Provider. The difference between these two types of access is
mainly the speed and cost. The minimum hardware and software required to
get an Internet connection is a personal computer, a modem a telephone
connection and communication software.

1. Dial-up Connection

Under the method, individual users dial into a local Internet Service Provider
through their PC and modem along the telephone lines. This provides
connection to Internet through a dial-up terminal connection. The computer,
which provides Internet access, is known as 'Host' and the computer that
receives the access, is 'Client' or 'Terminal'. The client computer uses modem to
access a "host" and acts as if it is a terminal directly connected to that host. In
dial-up connection to Internet, Host carries all the command that is typed on a
client machine and forward them to Internet. It also receives the data or
information from the Internet on behalf of the Client' and passes it to them. The
signals are received by a modem at the point of ISP and then to their computers.
Then user can surf or browse the Internet.

To access any of these dial-up accounts you need the followings;

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 Computer
 Modem
 Telephone Connection
 Shell or TCP/IP/ISDN account from the ISP
 Internet client software such as Internet browser

2. Broadband

Direct connection is the secure, dedicated and most expensive, level of Internet
connection. With leased connection, computer is dedicatedly and directly
connected to the Internet using high speed transmission lines. It is on-line
twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. If the dedicated telephone line is
used, no modem is needed to connect the computer to the internet but only a
router is sufficient. DSL, Cable and fiber optics are in this category.

DSL: Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is the technology being used for Internet
access. DSL offers much faster speeds than those available with dial-up
modems. However, there are a wide range of speeds available from different
providers. DSL connects our home or office to the Internet through the same
telephone wire. With DSL, user can make and receive telephone calls while
connected simultaneously to the Internet. To use DSL we need a DSL modem
(also called a router), a Network Interface Card (NIC), and a telephone line.

Cable Modem Connection: The connection speed can be up to 10 times that of

a dial-up and the cost is about twice that of an ISP's dial -up account, with no
phone company charges. Many people who have cable TV can now get a high-

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speed connection to the internet from their cable provider. To use cable
modems you will need a cable splitter, a cable modem, and the service from a
cable company.
Fiber optics; Fiber optics, allows speed even greater than DSL or Cable. Fiber
optic connections are more expensive than DSL and Broadband, and are not
available in all areas.

3. Wi-Fi

It is even possible to connect to the internet wirelessly from home or while we

are moving. Wireless technology allows users to have mobile connections,
accessing the web where and when they need to. Wi-Fi networks can be found
at many businesses, restaurants, and other public areas or a home connection
can be set up through your ISP. These technologies vary in terms of connectivity.
reliability, and cost, but they all allow users to connect whether they are at
home, school, work, or on the road.

Internet Service Provider (ISP)

Internet Service Providers are companies that connect you to the Internet-for a
fee. ISPs are available on a local, state, and national level. Large communication
companies control access to the main lines of the Internet structure. They, in
turn, supply Internet access to the smaller ISPs, who pass this along to the
consumer.

INTERNET PROTOCOLS

A communication protocol allows different kinds of computes using different

operating systems to communicate with one another. It is highly essential
because Internet is not made up of any single type of computer system. Instead
there are great diversities found in the computers used on the internet. The
user connected on any network on the Internet can communicate with others or
software located on any other network connected to the internet using
common set of protocols.

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A Internet Protocol is a set of standards or rules for exchanging information
between computer systems in a network. The most commonly used protocols
are: Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), File Transfer
Protocol (FTP), Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) etc.

FACILITIES AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET

Internet provides several software tools to take maximum benefits from the net.
It is possible to communicate with people all around the world. Information on
various subjects can be accessed very easily. A user can navigate from one topic
to another and download any information required by him. Friendship can be
built with people of related interest from around the world. Further business
can be done and product can be advertised on the Internet. The following are
some of the services that can be exploited by an Internet user.

1. E-mail

2. FTP

3. Usenet

4. Telnet

5. Internet Relay Chat (IRC)

6. World Wide Web

1. Electronic Mail (E-mail)

E-mail or Electronic mail is a paperless method of sending messages, notes or
letters from one person to another or even many people at the same time via
Internet. E-mail is very fast compared to the normal post. E-mail messages
usually take only few seconds to reach at the destination. One can send
messages anytime of the day or night and it will get delivered immediately. It
works 24 hours a day and seven days a week. The copy of the message sent will
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be available for future reference. It is also possible to send something extra such
as a file, graphics, images etc. along with e-mail. The biggest advantage of using
e-mail is that it is cheap, especially when sending messages to other states or
countries and at the same time it can be delivered to a number of people
around the world.

Working of e-mail

Working of e-mail is quite simple. The sender has to type the message first and
then type the e-mail address of the recipient. Proper care should be taken while
typing e-mail address. If address is not correct, the message will not be received
by the recipient. After that, press the 'Send' button of the e-mail program.
Immediately on processing the send button, the message passes to the modem
and then coded analog signals are sent over the telephone line. The e -mail
message then arrives at the server of our ISP. If it recognizes the e -mail address,
the mail will be sent. The mail is then sent through Internet. The message will be
received by the recipients ISP and server where it will be delivered to the
recipient's mail box. Finally, the recipient modem and computer decode the
data and the message now can be read by him.

E-mail Address
As in the case of normal mail system, e-mail is also based upon the concept of a
recipient address. The email address provides all of the information required to
get a message to the recipient from anywhere in the world. Electronic messages
are delivered to the recipient at his e-mail address. E-mail address is a series of
characters that precisely identifies the location of a person's electronic mail box.

Email addresses are made up of the following.

 the user name (sometimes only 8 characters)

 then the @ symbol
 then the name of the user's ISP

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 the last 2 or 3 characters describe the type of service called the top level
domain name. For [Link] stand for commercial site, .org stands for
organization, edu. stands for educational institutions, .net-network etc...

2. File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

This is another facility available in the Internet. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is the
simplest and most secure way to exchange files over the Internet. File Transfer
Protocol, is an Internet utility software used to upload and download files. It
gives access to directories or folders on remote computers and allows software,
data and text files to be transferred between different kinds of computers. FTP
works on the basis of same principle as that of Client/Server. FTP Client is a
program running on the computer that enables you to talk to, and get material
from, remote computers. The FTP client takes FTP commands and sends them as
requests for information from the remote computer or known as FTP servers. To
access remote FTP server it is required but not necessary to have an account in
the FTP server. When the FTP client gets connected, FTP server asks for the
identification in-terms of User Login name and password of the FTP client. If one
does not have an account in the remote FTP server, still he can connect to the
server using anonymous login.

To gain access to the other computers, user has to supply a login name and
password. An exception to this is anonymous FTP, which allows any user to
access internet even without supplying login name. In response to the
authentication prompts, user has to simply enter 'anonymous' rather than:
supplying login name and then he is required to supply his electronic mail
address as a password.

3. Usenet
Usenet or 'User's Network' is not a computer network. In the physical sense, it is
a vast body of news group that are distributed all around the world by
computers called 'news servers'. These news servers exchange information so

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that each one carries a copy of the most recent messages. It is a leading
distributed bulletin board consists of more than 1500 news groups. That means
use net provides separate news group (discussion group) on different topics.
Each news group focuses on a particular subject such as education, politics,
economics, religion, sports cinema etc. Usenet users can read these bulletin
boards and may post their views. In short, Usenet is acting like a huge bulletin
board with thousands of news groups and subgroups.

4. Telnet
This is another important facility available in Internet. Telnet allows internet
users to access another computer linked to the internet. Telnet or remote
computing is telecommunication utility software, which uses available
telecommunication facility and allows to become a user on a remote computer.
The user's computer is called local computer and the computers to which
connection is established is known as remote computer. Once connection is
established between the computers, the local computer can give commands to
the remote computer and all the commands are executed by remote
computers. The users monitor displays what is taking place on the remote
computer during the communication session.

5. Internet Relay Chat (IRC)

Internet Relay Chat is a real time internet based chat service, in which one can
find 'live' participants from the world over. It is a multi user chat system that
allows many people to communicate simultaneously across the Internet.
Developed in 1988 by [Link] in Finland, the IRC offering a unique type of
talking experience on the net has been used extensively for live coverage of
world events, news and sports commentary. The IRC network on the internet
consists of multiple interconnected servers. The IRC service provides a number
of channels; public, private, secret or invisible. A user can select a channel of his

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choice and be part of a particular conference on the internet. The user's
interaction with his fellow people is achieved through specially designed
software namely the IRC client

6. World Wide Web (WWW)

World Wide Web or simply web is one of the main reasons for the growing
popularity of the Internet. Information can be accessed on the internet through
World Wide Web. Web is a system of organising, linking and providing access to
related internet files, resources and services. Files can be accessed at the click of
the mouse. This is mainly due to the arrangement of files based a hyper - text or
hyper media approach. The web is an internet based navigational system, an
information distribution and management system with vast potential of trade
and commerce.

WORLD WIDE WEB

WWW is the acronym for the World Wide Web. It is also commonly known as
'The Web'. The WWW is hypertext based information retrieval tool. One can
easily surf the Web by jumping from one document to another using the links in
those documents. These documents can be in many formats, such as text,
graphics, animation, sound and latest is video. They may also be a combination
of all these. All the information on Internet are presented to the user as a
document or more popularly known as Web Page. All these Web Pages are link
computer other or even to section within a Web Page and these links are known
as Hyper Links. Then user can 'surf from one page to another by pointing and
clicking on the hyper links in text or graphics.

Web Pages and HTML

The web presents information as a series of documents. These documents are

known Web Pages that are prepared using Hyper Text Mark-up Language
(HTML). A web page can be longer than computer screen and may require more
than one piece of paper when it is printed. here are different kinds of Web
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Pages. They are static pages and dynamic pages. Static pages contain static
information. Only simple text is included in such web pages. Web technology
also provides a mechanism for dynamic information to be included in pages.
These pages are highly colourful, containing animation, sound and interactive
elements. User can download pictures and sounds of a web page or their future
use.

Hyper Text Markup Language

A web page is created using HTML. HTML stands for Hyper Text Mark-up
Language. HTML is a representation language used to create hyper text
documents containing text, list boxes and graphic information. Users can easily
create pages containing text combined with multimedia elements like graphic,
audio and video. It also creates hyper text links. These hyper text links allow the
user to jump from one text to another at a click of the mouse.

Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

A web page is transferred to a user's computer through hyper text transfer
protocol (HTTP). It provides the language that allows servers and browsers to
communicate, HTTP is the method through which web pages are transferred
over the internet. HTTP is a client server based internet standards or set of rules.
HTTP works in the following way.

1. A user makes a request for a web page through web browser.

2. The browser issues a request to the server. 3. The server then sends the
requested page to the user's computer

Web Browsing

Internet browsing also called net surfing is the process of accessing different
web sites on the internet hosted by various companies, organizations,
educational institutions etc. Any information relating any topic is available on
the internet and this can be exploited effectively through the process of
browsing. A user can visit from one site to another site until he gets the needed
web site. The process of searching these different web sites using web browsers
is also known as surfing.
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Web Browsers

Web browser is a program that runs on internet connected computer and

provides access to web pages. The tool used to view these Web Pages on
Internet is known as Internet browser or simply browser. It is a software
program specifically developed to extract information on user request from the
Internet and presents them as a Web Page to the viewer. There are several
browsers available in the market. However the most popular are Internet
Explorer from Microsoft and Netscape from Netscape. Other popular web
browsers are Mosaic, Opera, and Hot Java etc.

Web Servers
Web servers are a combination of software and hardware that store document
and other content. It is a program that accepts requests for information,
prepared according to the Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP). The server
processes these requests and sends the requested documents. Web servers are
not only useful in accessing web sites but also it is used for giving information to
outsiders on request. To make information available on the Internet, the
organization has to set up a web server. These web servers have suitable
software which allows production of web pages and its accessibility over the
Internet. The organization's web server then becomes one of the millions of web
servers that are available on the Internet for users to access through their web
browsers. Web Site is a place in the computer system that runs a web server
and has been set up for publishing documents on the web. Web servers are
available for wide range of platforms such as IBM PCs, Apple computers and
UNIX platforms. The most widely used web servers are Microsoft's Internet
Information Server and Netscape's Communications Server.

INTERNET ADDRESSING
Internet address is used to identify people computers and information related
with internet.

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IP Address

IP Address is required to communicate with other computers in the net. One

must know the address of the computer to transfer files, send e-mail messages
etc.

An IP (Internet Protocol) address is an identifier for a particular computer on a

particular network. A 32-bit binary number that uniquely and precisely identifies
the location of a particular computer on the Internet. Every computer that is
directly connected to the internet must have an IP address. An IP address
consists of four sections separated by periods. Each section contains a number
ranging from 0 to 255. Example, 128, 43. 7. 12. The IP address has the following
common characteristic.

1. IP address is unique numbers

2. No two computers can have the same IP number.

3. IP addresses are also global and standardised.

Domain Name
A domain name is a name used to Identify and locate computers connected to
the Internet. No two organisations can have the same domain name. A domain
name always contains two or more components separated by periods called
'dots'. Some examples of domain names are [Link], [Link],
[Link], [Link], [Link], etc., The last portion of the domain name is
the top level domain name and describes the type of organisation holding that
name. The important types of top level domain names are the following.

.com - Commercial Institutions

.edu -Educational Institutions

.org - Miscellaneous organisations not included above.

Country codes - A two letter abbreviation for a particular country. For example
"in" for India, "uk" for United Kingdom. or "fr" for France, etc.,

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Each domain name is an English Version of an IP Address. An IP Address consists
of four sections separated by periods. The Internet uses the numeric IP address
to send data. A user is using a domain name, but a net work is connecting to the
web server with IP address related with that domain name. The domain name
like [Link] is easy to remember than IP address like 204-28.12.5. Domain
name and corresponding IP addresses must be unique. Domain name system
servers are software that translates domain names to IP addresses.

Uniform Resource Locator (URL)

Each web page has its own unique address called a Uniform Resource Locator
(URL). Web browsers make use of URL address to find web servers. URL
represent addressing scheme to locate the resources in the internet. It consists
of letters, numbers and punctuation. The basic structure of a URL is hierarchical
and the hierarchy scans from left to right.

A typical Internet address or URL would look like;

http//[Link]/computers/internet/[Link]
The URL locates a particular web Page, among all the computers connected to
the Internet. The URL contains the components that specify the protocol, server,
and pathname of an item. Let us examine the URL given above.
The protocol is followed by a colon (http:), the server is preceded by two slashes
(//[Link]), and each segment of the pathname is preceded by a
single slash (/computers/internet/ [Link]). A protocol is set of rules that tells
the computer know how to interpret the information at that address.
The first component, the protocol, defines the manner for interpreting
computer information. Many Internet pages use HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer
Protocol). Other common Internet protocols that one might come across are FTP
(File Transfer Protocol), and NEWS (Usenet news groups protocol. Some
examples are:

[Link] to access HTML documents, or web pages.

[Link] to connect to an FTP site or download a particular file via FTP.

telnet://-Used to connect to a remote Internet site using Telnet.

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The second component, the server ([Link]), identifies the
computer system that stores the information you seek and is always preceded
by two slashes. A server is a computer that has information stored on it and
sends it to the client, when a request is made. Each server on the Internet has a
unique address name whose text refers to the organization maintaining the
server.
The last component (/computers/internet/), defines the path within the Server
where the requested item ([Link]) will be found. Most of the Web page will
have .htm or .html as their secondary or extension name.

SEARCH ENGINES
A search engine is an internet based interactive search device that enable a user
to search for information on the Internet. Web search engines are actually
database that contain references to thousands of resources. To use a search
engine, user has to type one or more key words; the result is a list of documents
or files that contain one or more of these words in their titles, descriptions or
texts. The databases of most Internet Search engines contain web documents. A
web Search engine provides an interface between the user and database. Since
the engine is interactive, it ask the user to type a search string, which may be a
word, a phrase, a date or some other relevant item associated with the
information. The search engine begins the searching operation with these key
words and continues searching it comes across a list of resources that matches
the keyword. Many search engines also include instructions and tips to search
the database more effectively. 'Yahoo' is again is a good example of a search
engine.

BUSINESS USE OF INTERNET

1. Access to databases: Internet is highly useful to a business to access complex
databases. For example with the help of internet, a company can access
financial databases.

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2. Electronic Commerce: Now a days, commerce on internet is becoming
popular. Buying and selling products and services on internet is called electronic
commerce. Companies can carry out electronic commerce including advertising,
selling, buying, distributing products and providing after sales service.
3. Electronic Mail: A major use of internet in the field of business is for speedy
communication. The electronic mail (E-mail) is widely used by companies to
communicate faster between companies, customers, workers and outsiders.

4. Conferencing: Companies are also making use of internet to conduct both

audio and video conferencing to discuss important issues by executives locating
at distant places.

5. Worldwide audience: The Internet is a worldwide network allowing the

business to reach people all over the world. It helps to capture the attention of
customers even very expensive advertising could not achieve.
6. Provide product information: Internet gives customers direct access to
information about products and services. Some people prefer to collect
information about products by themselves. The Internet has a great ability to
provide information about company's products or services available to potential
customers.
7. Save on literature costs: Providing the information online reduces the need to
print and mail product literature, thereby resulting in significant cost reductions.
8. Easy access to customer service representatives: Human interaction cannot
be totally replaced by even the best graphical interface. When customers have a
question, or would like to speak with a person, provide a list of contacts and
phone numbers or allow them to send e-mail directly to a customer service
representative, requesting that they be contacted.
9. Recruit new employees: Many companies provide current information about
job openings and attract talented people from places they could not reach
otherwise.
10. Provide on-line service: Many products and services can be delivered over
the Internet. Online services will become an even brighter option for many
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businesses. Since the transaction is electronic, billing and inventory control can
be automated, increasing accuracy and reducing your accounting and product
storage costs.
11. Eliminate the middleman: Middlemen exist in some industries where there
are barriers to direct contact between producers and consumers. The Internet is
a vehicle for removing these barriers. This lowers prices for consumers and
increases profits for producers.

12. Entertainment programs: Media and entertainment companies use the

internet to broadcast audio and video, including live radio and television
programs.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Communication technologies help to increase and strengthen social
connections. Social media is an internet-based form of communication. Social
media platforms allow users to make conversations, share information and
create web content. There are many forms of social media, including blogs,
wikis, social networking sites, photo-sharing sites, instant messaging, video-
sharing sites, podcasts and virtual worlds.
Online social networks facilitate connections between people based on shared
interests, values, membership in particular groups like friends or professional
colleagues. It is easy for people to find and communicate with individuals who
are in their networks using the web as the interface. Social media is the
collective of online communications channels dedicated to community-based
input, interaction, content-sharing and collaboration.
Social media is becoming an integral part of business as well. In business, social
media is used to market products, promote brands, and connect to current
customers and foster new business. Since their introduction, social network
sites have attracted millions of [Link] technological features of all social
networks are almost the same. However, there are some little variations about
its functioning. Most sites support the maintenance of pre-existing social
networks. But some other sites allow strangers to make connection based on
shared interests, political views, or activities. Certain sit es attract different
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audiences, while others attract people based on common language or shared
racial, sexual, religious, or nationality -based identities. Sites also incorporate
new information and communication tools, such as mobile connectivity,
blogging, and photo/video-sharing.
Social network sites can be defined as web-based services that allow individuals
to (1) construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, (2)
articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and (3) view
and pass through their list of connections and those made by others within the
system. The nature and classification of these connections may vary from site to
site.

Social network sites are unique because they not only allow individuals to meet
strangers, but they also enable users to articulate and make visible their social
networks. This can result in connections between individuals that would not
otherwise be made. Many of the large social network sites participants are not
necessarily "networking" or looking to meet new people; instead, they are
primarily communicating with people who are already a part of their extended
social network.

The backbone of these sites consists of visible profiles that display along with list
of friends who are also users of the system. When joining an SNS (Social
Network Site), an individual is asked to fill out forms containing a series of
questions. The profile is generated using the answers to these questions, which
typically include descriptors such as age, location, interests, and an "about me"
section. Most sites also encourage users to upload a profile photo. Some sites
allow users to enhance their profiles by adding multimedia content or modifying
their profile's appearance.

After joining a social network site, users are prompted to identify others whom
they have a relationship. The label for these relationships is known by names
such as "Friends,""Contacts," and "Fans." Most SNSS require bi -directional
confirmation for Friendship, but some do not. These one-directional
connections are sometimes known as "Fans" or "Followers," but many sites call

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these Friends as well. The public display of connections is an important
component of SNSS. The Friends list contains links to each Friend's profile,
enabling viewers to navigate the network graph by clicking through the Friends
lists. On most sites, the list of Friends is visible to anyone who is permitted to
view the profile.
Most SNSS also provide opportunity for users to leave messages on their
Friends' profiles. This feature typically involves leaving "comments," although
sites employ various labels for this feature. In addition, SNSS often have a
private messaging feature similar to webmail. While both private messages and
comments arepopular on most of the major SNSS, they are not universally
available. In addition to profiles, friends, comments, and private messaging,
SNSS have some other features like photo-sharing or video-sharing capabilities;
others have built-in blogging and instant messaging technology.

Features of Social Networks

1. Profile page

2. Find and link to "friends" or connections

3. Privacy Controls

4. The ability to send public and private messages

5. Ability to share various digital objects and information

TYPES OF SOCIAL NETWORK

1) Facebook

The most popular social media, Facebook provides facilities for users to build
connections and share information with people and organizations they choose
to interact with online.

2) Twitter

Twitter is useful to share our thoughts and keep up with others via this real-time
information network.
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3) Google+

This is relatively new entrant to the social connection marketplace. It is designed

to allow users to build circles of contacts that they are able to interact with and
that is integrated with other Google products.

4) MySpace
Though it initially began as a general social media site, MySpace has evolved to
focus on social entertainment, providing a venue for social connections related
to movies, music games and more.

5) YouTube

YouTube is a social media platform that allows users to share and view video
content.

6) Flickr
This site provides a powerful option for managing digital photographs online, as
well as for sharing them with others.

7) Picasa

Similar to Flickr, Picasa provides a way to organize and share photos. It is a

Google product and so offers integrated tagging and sharing with Google+.

8) Linkedin
Linkedin is the largest online professional network. Participants have an
opportunity to build relationships by making connections and joining relevant
groups.

9) Instagram

Instagram is a photo and video sharing social networking service owned by

American company Meta Platforms. The app allows users to upload media that
can be edited with filters and organized by hashtags and geographical tagging.
Posts can be shared publicly or with preapproved followers.

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SOCIAL MEDIA AND ITS USES IN BUSINESS

1. Revenue

2. Gain valuable customer information

3. Attracting customers

4. Brand development

5. Customer acquisition

6. Run targeted ads with real-time results

7. Direct customer interaction

8. Generate more leads/sales

9. Provide rich customer experiences

10. Increase website traffic and search ranking

11. Information about competitors

12. Networking.

13. Geo-target content

14. Build relationships

15. Recruitment

16. Effective and inexpensive.

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