Introduction to Computer Networks

A computer network is a group of devices connected with each other through a transmission
medium such as wires, cables etc. These devices can be computers, printers, scanners, Fax
machines etc.
The purpose of having computer network is to send and receive data stored in other devices over
the network. These devices are often referred as nodes.

There are five basic components of a computer network

1. Message: It is the data or information which needs to be transferred from one device to another
device over a computer network.
2. Sender: Sender is the device that has the data and needs to send the data to another device
connected to the network.
3. Receiver: A receiver is the device which is expecting the data from another device on the
network.
4. Transmission media: In order to transfer data from one device to another device we need a
transmission media such as wires, cables, radio waves etc.
5. Protocol: A protocol is a set of rules that are agreed by both sender and receiver, without a
protocol two devices can be connected to each other but they cannot communicate. In order to
establish a reliable communication or data sharing between two different devices we need set
of rules that are called protocol. For example, http and https are the two protocols used by web
browsers to get and post the data to internet, similarly smtp protocol is used by email services
connected to the internet.

Computer Network Features

A computer network has following features:
Performance: Performance of a computer network is measured in terms of response time. The
response time of sending and receiving data from one node (computer in a computer network are
often referred as node) to another should be minimal.
Data Sharing: One of the reasons why we use a computer network is to share the data between
different systems connected with each other through a transmission media.
Backup: A computer network must have a central server that keeps the backup of all the data that
is to be shared over a network so that in case of a failure it should be able to recover the data faster.
Software and hardware compatibility: A computer network must not limit all the computers in
a computer network to use same software and hardware, instead it should allow the better
compatibility between the different software and hardware configuration.
Reliability: There should not be any failure in the network or if it occurs the recovery from a
failure should be fast.
Security: A computer network should be secure so that the data transmitting over a network should
be safe from unauthorized access. Also, the sent data should be received as it is at the receiving
node, which means there should not be any loss of data during transmission.
Scalability: A computer network should be scalable which means it should always allow to add
new computers (or nodes) to the already existing computer network. For example, a company runs
100 computers over a computer network for their 100 employees, lets say they hire another 100
employees and want to add new 100 computers to the already existing LAN then in that case the
local area computer network should allow this.
 Computer Network Architecture
A Computer Architecture is a design in which all computers in a computer network are
organized. An architecture defines how the computers should get connected to get the maximum
advantages of a computer network such as better response time, security, scalability etc. The two
most popular computer architectures are P2P (Peer to Peer) and Client-Server architecture.

1. Peer to Peer Architecture

In peer to peer architecture all the computers in a computer network are connected with
every computer in the network. Every computer in the network use the same resources as other
computers. There is no central computer that acts as a server rather all computers act as a server
for the data that is stored in them.
Advantages of a Peer to Peer Architecture
1. Less costly as there is no central server that has to take the backup.
2. In case of a computer failure all other computers in the network are not affected and they will
continue to work as same as before the failure.
3. Installation of peer to peer architecture is quite easy as each computer manages itself.
Disadvantages of a Peer to Peer Architecture
1. Each computer has to take the backup rather than a central computer and the security measures
are to be taken by all the computers separately.
2. Scalability is an issue in a peer to Peer Architecture as connecting each computer to every
computer is a headache on a very large network.
2. Client Server Architecture

In Client Server architecture a central computer acts as a hub and serves all the requests from client
computers. All the shared data is stored in the server computer which is shared with the client
computer when a request is made by the client computer.
All the communication takes place through the server computer, for example if a client computer
wants to share the data with other client computer then it has to send the data to server first and
then the server will send the data to other client.
Advantages of Client Server Architecture
1. Data backup is easy and cost effective as there is no need to manage the backup on each
computer.
2. Performance is better as the response time is greatly improves because the server is more
powerful computer than the other computers in the network.
3. Security is better as unauthorized access are denied by server computer and all the data goes
through the server.
4. Scalability is not an issue in this Architecture as large number of computers can be connected
with server.
Disadvantages of Client Server Architecture
1. In case of server failure entire network is down.
2. Server maintenance cost is high as the server is the main component in this Architecture
3. Cost is high as the server needs more resources to handle that many client requests and to be
able to hold large amount of data.
 Computer Network Components
A computer network is built up from several components. These components together make it
possible to transfer data from one device to another and makes smooth communication between
two different devices. In this guide, we will discuss the main components of a computer network.

1. Server: Servers are computers that runs operating system and hold data that can be shared over
a computer network.
2. Client: A client is a computer that is connected to other computers in the network and can
receive data sent by other computers.
3. Transmission Media: All computers in a computer network are connected with each other
through a transmission media such as wires, optical fibre cables, coaxial cables etc.
4. Network Interface card: Each system or computer in a computer network must have a card
called network interface card (NIC). The main purpose of NIC is to format the data, send the
data and receive the data at the receiving node.
5. Hub: Hub acts as a device that connects all the computer in a network to each other. Any
request that comes from a client computer first received by Hub and then hub transmit this
request over a network so that the correct server receives and respond to it.
6. Switch: Switch is similar to hub however instead of broadcasting a incoming data request it
uses the physical device address in the incoming request to transfer the request to correct server
computer.
7. Router: Router joins multiple computer networks to each other. For example, let’s say a
company runs 100 computers over a local area network (LAN) and another company runs
another LAN of 150 computers. These both LANs can be connected with each other through
an internet connection which is provided by the router.
8. LAN cable: A wire that is used to connect more than one computer or other devices such as
printers and scanner to each other.
 Computer Network Topology
Geometric representation of how the computers are connected to each other is known as topology.
There are five types of topology – Mesh, Star, Bus, Ring and Hybrid.
Types of Topology
There are five types of topology in computer networks:

1. Mesh Topology
In mesh topology each device is connected to every other device on the network through a
dedicated point-to-point link. When we say dedicated it means that the link only carries data for
the two connected devices only. Let’s say we have n devices in the network then each device must
be connected with (n-1) devices of the network. Number of links in a mesh topology of n devices
would be n(n-1)/2.

Advantages of Mesh topology

1. No data traffic issues as there is a dedicated link between two devices which means the link is
only available for those two devices.
2. Mesh topology is reliable and robust as failure of one link doesn’t affect other links and the
communication between other devices on the network.
3. Mesh topology is secure because there is a point to point link thus unauthorized access is not
possible.
4. Fault detection is easy.
Disadvantages of Mesh topology
1. Amount of wires required to connected each system is tedious and headache.
2. Since each device needs to be connected with other devices, number of I/O ports required must
be huge.
3. Scalability issues because a device cannot be connected with large number of devices with a
dedicated point to point link.
2. Star Topology
In star topology each device in the network is connected to a central device called hub. Unlike
Mesh topology, star topology doesn’t allow direct communication between devices, a device must
have to communicate through hub. If one device wants to send data to other device, it has to first
send the data to hub and then the hub transmits that data to the designated device.

Advantages of Star topology

1. Less expensive because each device only needs one I/O port and needs to be connected with
hub with one link.
2. Easier to install
3. Less amount of cables required because each device needs to be connected with the hub only.
4. Robust, if one link fails, other links will work just fine.
5. Easy fault detection because the link can be easily identified.
Disadvantages of Star topology
1. If hub goes down everything goes down, none of the devices can work without hub.
2. Hub requires more resources and regular maintenance because it is the central system of star
topology.

3. Bus Topology
In bus topology there is a main cable and all the devices are connected to this main cable through
drop lines. There is a device called tap that connects the drop line to the main cable. Since all the
data is transmitted over the main cable, there is a limit of drop lines and the distance a main cable
can have.

Advantages of bus topology

1. Easy installation, each cable needs to be connected with backbone cable.
2. Less cables required than Mesh and star topology
Disadvantages of bus topology
1. Difficultly in fault detection.
2. Not scalable as there is a limit of how many nodes you can connect with backbone cable.

4. Ring Topology
In ring topology each device is connected with the two devices on either side of it. There are two
dedicated point to point links a device has with the devices on the either side of it. This structure
forms a ring thus it is known as ring topology. If a device wants to send data to another device
then it sends the data in one direction, each device in ring topology has a repeater, if the received
data is intended for other device then repeater forwards this data until the intended device receives
it.
Advantages of Ring Topology
1. Easy to install.
2. Managing is easier as to add or remove a device from the topology only two links are required
to be changed.
Disadvantages of Ring Topology
1. A link failure can fail the entire network as the signal will not travel forward due to failure.
2. Data traffic issues, since all the data is circulating in a ring.

5. Hybrid Topology
A combination of two or more topologies is known as hybrid topology. For example, a
combination of star and mesh topology is known as hybrid topology.

Advantages of Hybrid topology

1. We can choose the topology based on the requirement for example, scalability is our concern
then we can use star topology instead of bus technology.
2. Scalable as we can further connect other computer networks with the existing networks with
different topologies.
Disadvantages of Hybrid topology
1. Fault detection is difficult.
2. Installation is difficult.
3. Design is complex so maintenance is high thus expensive.
 Types of Computer Network: LAN, MAN and WAN
A computer network is a group of computers connected with each other through a
transmission medium such as cable, wire etc. In this guide, we will discuss the types of computer
networks in detail.

Types of Computer Network

There are mainly three types of computer networks based on their size:
1. Local Area Network (LAN)
2. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
3. Wide area network (WAN)

1. Local Area Network (LAN)

1. Local area network is a group of computers connected with each other in small places such as
school, hospital, apartment etc.
2. LAN is secure because there is no outside connection with the local area network thus the data
which is shared is safe on the local area network and can’t be accessed outside.
3. LAN due to their small size are considerably faster, their speed can range anywhere from 100
to 100Mbps.
4. LANs are not limited to wire connection, there is a new evolution to the LANs that allows local
area network to work on a wireless connection.

2. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

MAN network covers larger area by connections LANs to a larger network of computers.
In Metropolitan area network various Local area networks are connected with each other through
telephone lines. The size of the Metropolitan area network is larger than LANs and smaller than
WANs (wide area networks), a MANs covers the larger area of a city or town.

3. Wide area network (WAN)

Wide area network provides long distance transmission of data. The size of the WAN is
larger than LAN and MAN. A WAN can cover country, continent or even a whole world. Internet
connection is an example of WAN. Other examples of WAN are mobile broadband connections
such as 3G, 4G etc.
Advantages of WAN:

Centralized infrastructure: One of the main advantages of WAN is the that we do not need to
maintain the backup and store data on local system as everything is stored online on a data center,
from where we can access the data through WAN.

Privacy: We can setup the WAN in such a way that it encrypts the data that we share online that
way the data is secure and minimizes the risk of unauthorized access.

Increased Bandwidth: With the WAN we get to choose the bandwidth based on the need, a large
organization can have larger bandwidth that can carry large amount of data faster and efficiently.

Area: A WAN can cover a large area or even a whole world though internet connection thus we
can connect with the person in another country through WAN which is not possible is other type
of computer networks.

Disadvantages of WAN:

Antivirus: Since our systems are connected with the large amount of systems, there is possibility
that we may unknowingly download the virus that can affect our system and become threat to our
privacy and may lead to data loss.

Expensive: Cost of installation is very high.

Issue resolution: Issue resolution takes time as the WAN covers large area, it is really difficult to
pin point the exact location where the issues raised and causing the problem.

Interconnection of Networks:

We have read LAN, MAN and WAN above, we also talked about internet. You can say
that an internet is a combination of LAN, MAN and WAN.

4. Personal Area Network (PAN)

PAN network stand for personal area network. In this network all the personal devices are
connects to form network. Its range is 10 meters to 33 meters. All devices should be in this range
to form network. This is not different from what is WAN network? But devices, node, range make
it different form WAN, LAN, MAN network.
Some personal devices are, laptop computer, mobile phone, cellphone, PDAs, printer etc. It is
also called WPAN (wireless personal network). It is always uses to communicate all personal
device with each other. But some it is use to connects with higher level network. But they need
gateway to connect.
A personal area networks are wireless or wire interfaces.

Technologies Use to Build a PAN:

This network can be wireless or form by cables. Mostly U.S.B and Fire-wire are link together to
form PAN network. While WPANs use Bluetooth or infrared connections.
1. Bluetooth WPAN:

Bluetooth is uses for short-range radio waves. Uses in a WPAN include, such as pointing
devices, keyboards, audio and video head-sets, printers, cell phones and computers. A Bluetooth
WPAN is also known as piconet. This is composing of eight (8) active devices and these devices
are connecting with master slave device. In this network first piconet will be in master slave
relationship.
The range of piconet 33ft or 10 meters, but range can be increase up-to 330 ft. or 100ft. Long range
Bluetooth routers have large range up-to 1000ft. We can also use this network in mesh network.
In this way you can send data from one place to another. There is no need of master slave device
in this network.

2. Infrared Data Association (IrDA):

In Infrared Data Association we use infrared light. Infrared is generally uses in remote
controls. Many other devices use IrDA such as printers, keyboards etc. The reach limit of a WPAN
varies from centimeters to few meters. IEEE 802.15 has produce standards for PANs operating
system.

Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN):

This is a type of PAN carry over a low-power. This network is short distance wireless network.
Some examples of PAN are:
 Wireless keyboards
 Wireless mice
 Smartphones
 TV remotes
 Wireless printers
 Gaming consoles
 Bluetooth
 Fire-wire
 ZigBee
 Ultrawideband
 Wibree
 wireless USB
Advantages of personal area network:
As PANs are for personal use, so benefits are more easily understandable than LAN, WAN, and
MAN.
1. In PAN no extra space requires.
2. No need of extra cable and wire.
3. Easy connect to many devices at a time.
4. Affordable Cost.
5. PAN is easy to use.
6. It is very reliable.
7. This Network is fully Secure.
8. We can use in office meetings.
9. It is use in TV remotes, AC remotes etc.
10. Data can Synchronize between different devices.
11. Portable

Disadvantages of personal area network:

1. Its range is less.
2. Its interfere is with radio signals.
3. Transfer of data is slow.
4. It creates Health problem.
5. Cost is high in terms of communication devices.
6. Infrared signals travel only in a straight line
 Network Type: Wired and Wireless Network
1. Wired Network
As we know "wired" is the term refers to any physical medium consisting of cables. The cables
can be copper wire, twisted pair or fiber optic. Wired network is used to carry different forms of
electrical signals from one end to the other. Mostly in wired network one internet connection is
being taken using T1 line, cable modem or using any other means. This connection is shared among
multiple devices using wired network concept.
EXAMPLEs of wired network: LAN (Local Area Network): This network consists of Ethernet
cards housed in PCs or laptops. These cards are connected using Ethernet cables. The data flows
between these cards. For small wired network router is used to connect few number of desktop or
laptop computers. In order to increase the network coverage for more number of systems multiple
switches and routers are used.

2. Wireless Network
As we know "Wireless" is the term refers to medium made of electromagnetic waves (i.e. EM
Waves) or infrared waves. All the wireless devices will have antenna or sensors. Typical wireless
devices include cellular mobile, wireless sensors, TV remote, satellite disc receiver, laptops with
WLAN card etc. Wireless network does not use wires for data or voice communication; it uses
radio frequency waves as mentioned above. The other examples are fiber optic communication
link and broadband ADSL etc.

EXAMPLES of wireless network:

1. Outdoor cellular technologies such as GSM, CDMA, WiMAX, LTE, Satellite etc.
2. Indoor wireless technologies such as Wireless LAN (or WiFi), Bluetooth, IrDA, Zigbee, Zwave
etc.
Difference between Wired network and Wireless network

S. No. Specifications Wired network Wireless network

Lower compare to wired
networks, But advanced
1. Speed of operation Higher wireless technologies such as
LTE, LTE-A and WLAN-11ad
will make it possible to achieve
 speed par equivalent to wired
network
Low, as Frequency Spectrum is
2. System Bandwidth High
very scares resource
More as wireless subscriber
Less as cables are not stations, wireless routers,
3. Cost
expensive wireless access points and
adapters are expensive
Wired network
installation is Wireless network installation is
4. Installation
cumbersome and it easy and it requires less time
requires more time
Limited, as it operates
Not limited, as it operates in the
in the area covered by
5. Mobility entire wireless network
connected systems with
coverage
the wired network
copper wires, optical EM waves or radio waves or
6. Transmission medium
fiber cables, Ethernet infrared
requires hubs and
More area is covered by wireless
Network coverage switches for network
7. base stations which are
extension coverage limit
connected to one another.
extension
WLAN, WPAN(ZigBee,
8. Applications LAN (Ethernet), MAN Bluetooth), Infrared,
Cellular(GSM,CDMA, LTE)
Interference is higher due to
Interference is less as obstacles between wireless
Channel Interference
9. one wired network will transmitter and receiver e.g.
and signal power loss
not affect the other weather conditions, reflection
from walls, etc.
QoS (Quality of Poor due to high value of jitter
10. Better
Service) and delay in connection setup
High compare to
wireless counterpart, as
manufactured cables Reasonably high, This is due to
11. Reliability have higher failure of router will affect the
performance due to entire network.
existence of wired
technology since years.
 Computer Network Transmission Modes

The data is transmitted from one device to another device through a transmission mode. The
transmission mode decides the direction of data in which the data needs to travel to reach the
receiver system or node. The transmission mode is divided in three categories:
1. Simplex
2. Half-Duplex
3. Full-Duplex

1. Simplex Mode

1. In simplex mode the data transmits in one direction only, from one system to another system.
2. The sender device that sends data can only send data and cannot receive it. On the other hand
the receiver device can only receive the data and cannot send it.
3. Television is an example of simplex mode transmission as the broadcast sends signals to our
TV but never receives signals back from our TV. This is a unidirectional transmission.
Advantages of Simplex Mode:
The full capacity of the transmission medium is utilized as the transmission is one way and cannot
have traffic issues.
Disadvantages of Simplex Mode:
No bidirectional communication is possible. Two devices cannot communicate with each other
using simplex mode of transmission.
2. Half-Duplex Mode

1. In half duplex mode transmission can be done both ways which means if two systems are
connected with half-duplex mode of transmission, they both can send and receive data but not at
the same time.
2. If one device is sending data then other device cannot send data until it receives the data which
is already in transmission. You can say that the communication is not simultaneous.
3. The radio communication device that our soldiers use at the battle fields are the examples of
half duplex mode transmission as they send message and then say over and then the person on
other hand send his message and this way they communicate but not simultaneously like we used
to do on mobile.
Advantages of Half-Duplex mode:
Both devices can send and receive data.
Whole bandwidth can be utilized as at a time only one signal transmits.
Disadvantages of Half-Duplex mode:
The disadvantage in half duplex mode is that the other device cannot send data until it receives the
data which is already in transmission, this can cause delays to the communication.

3. Full Duplex Mode

1. In full duplex mode both the connected devices can send and receive data simultaneously. The
mobile phone we use is an example of full duplex mode where we can communicate
simultaneously.
2. Both the devices can send and receive the data at the same time.
Advantages of Full Duplex mode:
No delays in communication as both can send and receive data simultaneously.
Disadvantages of Full Duplex mode:
No proper bandwidth utilization as the same line is used for sending and receiving data at the same
time.