Introduction to

Computer
Networks
Definition

A computer network is a set of connected computers. Computers on a network are

called nodes. The connection between computers can be done via cabling, most
commonly the Ethernet cable, or wirelessly through radio waves. Connected
computers can share resources, like access to the Internet, printers, file servers,
and others. A network is a multipurpose connection, which allows a single computer
to do more.
Applications

● Sharing of resources such as printers

● Sharing of expenses software and database
● Communication from one computer to another computer
● Exchange of data and information among users via network
● Sharing of information over geographically wide areas
Advantages of CN

● Increased speed
● Reduced cost
● Improved security
● Centralized software managements
● Electronic mail
● Flexible access
Disadvantages of CN

● High cost of installation

● Requires time for administration
● Failure of server
● Cable faults
Types of CN

● PAN
● LAN
● WAN
● MAN
● CAN
Personal Area Network (PAN)

● A personal area network is a computer network organized around an

individual person
● It generally consists of a mobile, a computer, a cell phone or personal
digital assistant. PAN enables the communication among these devices.
● It can also be used for communication among personal devices themselves
for connecting to a digital level network and internet.
● The PANS can be constructed using wireless or cables.
Personal Area Network (PAN)
Local Area Network (LAN)

● LAN is a network which is designed to operate over a small

physical area such as an office, factory or a group of buildings.
● VLANs are easy to design and troubleshoot.
● Exchange of information and sharing of resources becomes easy
because of LAN.
● In LAN all machines are connected to a single cable.
● Different types of topologies such as star, tree, bus, ring, etc Can
be used.
● It is usually a Privately Owned Network
Local Area Network (LAN)
Wide Area Network (WAN)

● When network spans over a large distance or when the

computers to be connected to each other are at widely separated
locations a local area network cannot be used. A wide area
network(WAN) is installed.
● The communication between different users of WAN is
established using leased telephone lines, satellite links and
similar channels.
● It is cheaper and more efficient to use the phone network for the
link
● Most WAN networks are used to transfer large blocks of data
between its users
Wide Area Network (WAN)
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

● It is in between LAN & WAN technology that covers the entire

city.
● It uses similar technology as LAN.
● It can be a single network such as cable TV network, or a measure
of connecting a number of LAN's or a large network so that
resources can be shared LAN to LAN as well as device to device.
Metropolitan Area Network (PAN)
Campus Area Network (CAN)

● The campus area network is made up of an interconnection of

LAN with limited geographical area.

● Network equipments such as switches, routers and the

transmission media i.e. optical fibre etc are almost entirely owned
by the campus owner.
Campus Area Network (CAN)
Network Type Range
LAN vs MAN vs WAN
Components of Computer Network

The Main Components of any Computer Network are:

● Network Adapter OR Network Interface Card (NIC).

● Modem
● Hubs and Repeaters
● Bridges and Switches
● Routers
NIC

● Network adapter works as an interface between a computer or device

and a network
● Network adapter converts a computer message into electrical or
optical signals for transmission across the network
● Internal network adapter is installed inside a computer on an
expansion slot.
● External network adapter is a separate device that is connected to a
computer via serial port, parallel port, and mostly USB port,
NIC
Modem
● You must connect your computer to a modem or install an internal modem inside
your computer when you want to connect to the Internet,
● The type of modem depends on the Internet access method that you choose.
● You may need a voice band modem, a cable modem, an ADSL modem, or a
GPRS modem.
● Your modem will communicate with the corresponding modem at your ISP
during an Internet connection, transmit your computer message to the ISP
(upstream) and receive Internet content forwarded by the ISP (downstream)
MODEM
HUBS
● Hub is the central connection point in a network.
● Hub is used in a network that uses star topology.
● A sending computer transmits its signal to a hub, the hub then re - transmits the
signal to all other computers
● Using a hub, the network bandwidth (capacity) is shared by all available
computers, therefore each computer only use a portion of bandwidth.
● Hub is mostly used in small networks where there are only a few connected
devices or computers.
● However, hub is not required if there are only two computers in a network
● In that case, a direct connection using cable or wireless link can be used to
connect both computers.
HUBS
Repeater

● A Repeater receives signal from a transmitter, amplifies it, and retransmits it to a

receiver
● Repeater is put in a network to extend the network to a longer distance or a
greater area.
● There can be more than one repeater between a transmitter and a receiver,
however the number of repeaters is not unlimited, because additional repeaters
may introduce more interference or noise.
Repeater
Bridges

● Bridges operate at the data link layer of the OSI model

● The function of the bridge is to make intelligent decisions about

whether or not to pass signals on to the next segment of a network.

● When a bridge sees a frame on the network, it looks at the destination

MAC address and compares it to the forwarding table to determine
whether to filter, flood, or copy the frame onto another segment.
Bridges
Switches

● Like hub, switch works as the central connection point in a network.

● Switches learn certain information about the data packets that they
receive from computers on the network.

● They use this to build forwarding tables to determine the destination

of data being sent by one computer to another on the network.

● They help segment a network and reduce network traffic congestion

by limiting each port to its own collision domain.
Switches
Routers

● Routers operate at the Network layer of the OSI model.

● They are slower than bridges and switches but make

● "smart" decisions on how to route packets received on one port to a

network on another port.

● Routers are capable of segmenting the network.

● Routers are capable of segmenting a network into multiple collision

domains as well as into multiple broadcast domains.
Routers

● Routers can be computers with special network software installed on

them or they can be other devices built by network equipment
manufacturers

● Routers contain tables of network addresses along with optimal

destination routes to other networks.
Routers
Topology
Topology refers to the layout of connected devices on a network.

Here, some logical layout of topology :

● Mesh
● Star
● Bus
● Ring
● Tree
● Hybrid
Topology Types
Mesh Topology

● Here every device has a point to point link to every other device.
● Node 1 node must be connected with n-1 nodes.
● A fully connected mesh can have n(n-1)/2 physical channels to
link n devices.
● It must have n-1 I/O ports.
● Applications:
○ Telephone Regional Office
○ WAN (Wide Area Network)
Mesh Topology Advantages

● They use dedicated links so each link can only carry its own
data load. So traffic problem can be avoided.
● It is robust. If any one link get damaged it cannot affect others.
● It gives privacy and security (Message travels along a
dedicated link)
● Fault identification and fault isolation are easy.
Mesh Topology Disadvantages

● The amount of cabling and the number of I/O ports required

are very large. Since every device is connected to each devices
through dedicated links.
● The sheer bulk of wiring is larger than the available space.
● Hardware required to connected each device is highly
expensive.
Mesh Topology
Star Topology

● Here each device has a dedicated point-to-point link to the

central controller called "Hub"(Act as a Exchange).
● There is no direct traffic between devices.
● The transmission are occurred only through the central "hub".
● When device 1 wants to send data to device 2: First sends the
data to hub. Which then relays the data to the other
connected device.
● Applications:
○ LAN
Star Topology
Star Topology Advantages

● Less expensive then mesh since each device is connected only

to the hub.
● Installation and configuration are easy.
● Less cabling is need then mesh
● Robustness.(if one link fails, only that links is affected. All
other links remain active)
● Easy to fault identification & to remove parts.
● No disruption to the network then connecting(or) removing
devices.
Star Topology Disadvantages

● Even it requires less cabling then mesh when compared with

other topologies it still large.(Ring or bus).

● Dependency(whole n/w dependent on one single point(hub).

When it goes down. The whole system is dead.
Bus Topology

● A bus topology is multipoint.

● Here one long cable act as a backbone to link all the
devices are connected to the backbone by drop lines and
taps.
● Drop line- is the connection b/w the devices and the cable.
● Tap- is the splitter that cut the main link.
● This allows only one device to transmit at a time.
● Application:
○ Mostly Computer Motherboard
Bus Topology
Bus Topology

● A device want to communicate with other device on the news

sends a broadcast message onto the wire all other devices
see.
● But only the intended devices accepts and process the
message.
Bus Topology

Advantages:

● Ease of installation
● Less cabling

Disadvantages:

● Difficult reconfiguration and fault isolation.

● Difficult to add new devices.
● Signal reflection at top can degradation in quality.
● If any fault in backbone can stops all transmission.
Ring Topology
● Here each device has a dedicated connection with two devices on
either side.
● The signal is passed in one direction from device to device until it
reaches the destination and each device have repeater
● When one device received signals instead of intended another
device, its repeater then regenerates the data and passes them
along.
● To add or delete a device requires changing only two connections.
● Applications:
○ Ring topologies are found in some office buildings or school
campuses.
○ Today high speed LANs made this topology less popular.
Ring Topology
Ring Topology

Advantages:

● Easy to install
● Easy to Reconfigure
● Fault Identification is easy

Disadvantages:

● Unidirectional Traffic
● Break in a single ring can break entire network
Tree Topology

● Alternatively referred to as a star bus topology.

● Tree topology is one of the most common network setups that
is similar to a bus topology and a star topology.
● A tree topology connects multiple star networks to other star
networks. Below is a visual example of a simple computer
setup on å network using the star topology.
Tree Topology
Hybrid Topology

● A network which contains all types of physical structure

and connected under a single backbone channel
Hybrid Topology
Considerations for choosing topology

● Money-Bus n/w may be the least expensive way to install a

n/w.

● Length-of cable needed- the linear bus n/w uses shorter

lengths of cable.

● Future growth-with star topology, expending a n/w is easily

done by adding another devices.

● Cable type-most common used cable in commercial

organization is twisted pair. Which often used with star
topology.
My Views

● Full mesh topology is theoretically the best since every device

is connected to every other device.(thus maximizing speed and
security, however, it quite expensive to install)

● Next best would be tree topology, which is basically a

connection of star.
Transmission Modes

● The term Transmission Mode defines the direction of the flow

of information between two communication devices [Link] tells
the direction of signal flow between the two devices.

● There are three ways or modes of data transmission: Simplex,

Half Duplex (HDX), Full Duplex (FDX)
Simplex Mode

● Simplex: In Communication Networks, Communication can

take place in one direction connected to such a circuit are
either a send only or receive only device. There is no
mechanism for information to be transmitted back to the
sender. Communication is unidirectional. TV broadcasting is an
example, Simplex transmission generally involves dedicated
circuits.

● Simplex circuits are analogous to escalators, doorbells, fire

alarms and security systems.
Simplex Mode Applications

● A Communication between a Computer and a keyboard

involves simplex duplex transmission. A television broadcast
is an example of simplex duplex transmission

● Another example of simplex transmission is loudspeaker

system. An announcer speaks into a microphone and his/her
voice is sent through an amplifier and then to all the speakers.
Half Duplex Mode

● A half duplex system can transmit data in both directions, but

only in one direction at a time that mean half duplex modes
support two-way traffic but in only one direction at a time.
The interactive transmission of data within a time sharing
system may be best suited to half-duplex lines. Both the
connected devices can transmit and receive but not
simultaneously. When one device is sending the other can
only receive and vice-versa. Data is transmitted in one
direction at a time, for example, a walkie-talkie.
Half Duplex Mode Applications

● A walkie-talkie operates in half duplex mode. It can only send

or receive a transmission at any given time. It cannot do both
at the same time.
Full Duplex Mode
● A full duplex system can transmit data simultaneously in both
directions on transmission path. Full-duplex method is used to
transmit the data over a serial communication link. Two wires
needed to send data over a serial communication link layer.
Full-duplex transmission, the channel capacity is shared by
both communicating devices at all times.

● Both the connected devices can transmit and receive at the

same time. Therefore it represents truly bi-directional system.
The link may contain two separate transmission paths one for
sending and another for receiving.
Full Duplex Mode Applications

● Telephone networks operate in full duplex mode when two

persons talk on telephone line, both can listen and speak
simultaneously
Layered Models

● OSI Layered Model

● TCP / IP Layered Model

OSI Layered Model

● Open Systems Interconnection Basic Reference Model (OSI

Reference Model or OSI Model) is an abstract description for
layered communications and computer network protocol
design. It was developed as part of the Open Systems
Interconnection (OSI) initiative.

● In its most basic form, it divides network architecture into

seven layers which, from top to bottom, are the Application,
Presentation, Session, Transport, Network, Data-Link, and
Physical Layers. It is therefore often referred to as the OSI
Seven Layer Model.
OSI Layered Model
OSI Layered Model
OSI Layered Model Activities
Layered Models

● OSI Layered Model

● TCP / IP Layered Model