Computer Networks Introduction
Alok Jhaldiyal
Assistant Professor
SoCS, UPES
Course Description
• Course Name: Data Communication & Networks
• Credits: 4
• Operational Mode: Offline [3 lectures/week]
• Associated Software: Packet Tracer
• Reference Books:
– “Computer Networking: A Top Down Approach”, 6th
edition, Jim Kurose & Keith Ross, Addison-Wesley
– Computer Networks, 5th Edition, Tanenbaum &
Wetherall, Prentice Hall
– Data Communications and Networking, Fourth Edition,
Behrouz A. Forouzan.
Do’s & Don'ts
• Punch your card regularly and on time, you only
will be held accountable for your attendance.
• No indiscipline and mobile phones in class
• Make submissions for all Class
Activities/Assignments before deadline expires.
• Ensure your presence on the Assessment Day, they
won’t be redone and substituted.
• All communications will be via email, no
unnecessary phone calls and text messages.
– My email: ajhaldiyal@[Link]
– My Seating: IT Tower First Floor; Seat no. 11
Computer Networks
• Computer networks form the backbone of modern
digital communication, enabling computers and devices
to connect, communicate, and collaborate.
• Links systems through wired or wireless technologies
and standardized protocols, networks allow seamless
sharing of data, resources, and services
• Making everything from internet browsing and cloud
computing to social media and online learning possible.
What is Internet?
• millions of connected computing mobile network
PC devices:
server
– hosts = end systems global ISP
– running network apps
wireless
laptop
smartphone home
communication links network
regional ISP
fiber, copper, radio,
wireless satellite
links
transmission rate:
wired
links bandwidth
Packetswitches: forward
router packets (chunks of data) institutional
network
routers and switches
What’s the Internet: “nuts and bolts” view
mobile network
• Internet: “network of networks”
– Interconnected ISPs
global ISP
• protocols control sending,
receiving of msgs
home
– e.g., TCP, IP, HTTP, 802.11 network
regional ISP
• Internet standards
– RFC: Request for comments
– IETF: Internet Engineering Task Force
institutional
network
What’s the Internet: a service view
mobile network
• Infrastructure that provides
services to applications: global ISP
– Web, VoIP, email, games, e-
commerce, social nets, … home
network
regional ISP
• provides programming
interface to apps
– hooks that allow sending and
receiving app programs to
“connect” to Internet
– provides service options, institutional
network
analogous to postal service
What’s a protocol?
human protocols:
• “what’s the time?”
• “I have a question”
• introductions
… specific msgs sent
… specific actions taken when msgs received, or other events
network protocols:
– machines rather than humans
– all communication activity in Internet governed by protocols
• protocols define format, order of msgs sent and received
among network entities, and actions taken on msg
transmission, receipt
What’s a protocol?
a human protocol and a computer network protocol:
Network structure
• network edge: mobile network
hosts: clients and servers
servers often in data centers global ISP
• access networks, physical
home
media: wired, wireless network
regional ISP
communication links
• network core:
interconnected routers
network of networks
institutional
network
Wireless access networks
• shared wireless access network connects end system to router
– via base station aka “access point”
wireless LANs: wide-area wireless access
within building (100 ft) provided by telco (cellular)
802.11b/g (WiFi): 11, 54 operator, 10’s km
Mbps transmission rate between 1 and 10 Mbps
3G, 4G: LTE
to Internet
to Internet
Types of networks
• Based on the geographical area covered and data
transfer rate, computer networks are broadly
categorised as
– PAN ( Personal Area Network)
• few personal devices like computers, laptops, mobile phones,
smart phones, printers etc
• approximate range of 10 metres
– LAN (Local Area Network)
• connects computers, mobile phones, tablet, mouse, printer,
• These types of networks can be extended up to 1 km.
• connectivity is done by means of wires, Ethernet cables, fibre
optics, or Wi-Fi
Types of networks
• MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
– larger geographical area like a city or a town
– Cable TV network or cable based broadband internet
services are examples of MAN
– can be extended up to 30-40 km
• WAN (Wide Area Network)
– LANs and MANs, which are spread across different
geographical locations of a country or in different
countries or continents
– Large business, educational and government
organisations connect their different branches in
different locations across the world through WAN
Data Flow – Communication Channels
• Data in
communication
channels can flow in
three ways:
– Simplex
• Radio Station
– Half Duplex
• Ex. Walkie Talkie
– Full Duplex
• Mobile
Phones/Telephones
Network Criteria
• Variety of parameters are used to assess a
communication network:
– Performance
• Depends on Network Elements
• Measured in terms of Delay and Throughput
– Reliability
• Failure rate of network components
• Measured in terms of availability/robustness
– Security
• Data protection against corruption/loss of data due to:
– Errors
– Malicious users
Physical Structures
• Type of Connection
– Point to Point - single transmitter and receiver
– Multipoint - multiple recipients of single transmission
• Physical Topology
– Connection of devices
– Type of transmission - unicast, mulitcast, broadcast
Network Topologies
Mesh Star
Bus
Network Topologies
Ring
Extended Star
Hybrid
Categories of Networks
• Local Area Networks (LANs)
– Short distances
– Designed to provide local interconnectivity
• Wide Area Networks (WANs)
– Long distances
– Provide connectivity over large areas
• Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs)
– Provide connectivity over areas such as a city.
ISO/OSI reference model
Seven Layers of OSI Model
ISO/OSI reference model (cont.)
ISO/OSI reference model (cont.)
ISO/OSI reference model (cont.)
ISO/OSI reference model (cont.)
Class Activity I
• Elaborate how you will establish a computer network
of 20 devices. Discussion must highlight the below
mentioned points:
– Physically establishing a network. Give details of hardware,
physical media, etc.
– Logically establishing a network
– Topology to be used and its justification
– If this network needs to communicate outside, explain
how that can be done.
– Draw a layout of this complete network that is connected
to internet, labelling each respective component.
Note: You need to scan and upload this document using
the LMS link.