Computer Networks
COMPUTER NETWORKS
An Introduction
Dola Das
Assistant Professor, CSE, KUET
Modified by
Md. Badiuzzaman Shuvo
Lecturer, CSE, KUET
Computer Networks
A computer network is a collection of computers and
devices connected in various ways in order to
communicate and share resources
Usually, connected by physical wires or cables
some connections are wireless, using radio waves or
infrared signals
Computer Networks
The purpose is to share resources. A resource may
be:
A file, folder, printer, disk drive
Or just about anything else that exists on a computer.
The computers can be geographically located
anywhere.
Networking is the term that describes the processes
involved in designing, implementing, upgrading,
managing and otherwise working with networks and
network technologies.
Applications of Networks
Resource Sharing
Hardware (computing resources, disks, printers)
Software (application software)
Information Sharing
Easy accessibility from anywhere (files, databases)
Search Capability (WWW)
Communication
Email
Message broadcast
Remote computing
Distributed processing (GRID Computing)
Network Topology
A network topology describes the layout of the wire
and devices as well as the paths used by data
transmissions.
Types of Networks
Local-area network (LAN) A network that connects a
relatively small number of machines in a relatively close geographical
area (Room, Building or a Campus)
Types of Networks
Metropolitan-area network (MAN) The
communication infrastructures that have been
developed in and around large cities
Types of Networks
Wide-area network (WAN) A network that connects
LANs and other types of networks over a potentially large
geographic distance (Country or across Globe)
The Internet, as we know it today, is essentially the
ultimate wide-area network, spanning the entire globe
Communication between networks is called
internetworking
Internetwork
Connection of two or more distinct
computer networks or network segments
via a common routing technology
three variants, depending on who
administers and who participates in them:
Internet
Intranet
Extranet
Internet
A worldwide system of computer networks - a
network of networks in which users at any one
computer can, if they have permission, get
information from any other computer
That uses the standard Internet Protocol Suit (TCP/IP) to
serve billions of users worldwide.
Consists of millions of
private and public,
academic,
business, and
government networks of local to global scope
Internet
Internet carries vast information
resources and services,
most notably the inter-linked hypertext
documents of the World Wide Web
(WWW)
and the infrastructure to support electronic
mail
Intranet & Extranet
Intranet: An intranet is a private network that
is contained within an enterprise.
May consist of many interlinked local area networks
and also use leased lines in the wide area network.
An intranet uses TCP/IP, HTTP, and other Internet
protocols and in general looks like a private version of
the Internet.
With tunneling, companies can send private messages
through the public network, using the public network
with special encryption/decryption and other security
safeguards to connect one part of their intranet to
another.
Intranet & Extranet (contd.)
Extranet - internetwork that is limited in
scope to a single organization and also has
limited connections to the networks of one or
more other trusted organizations
Computers Role: Clients and Servers
In a client/server network arrangement, network services
are located in a dedicated computer whose only function
is to respond to the requests of clients.
Server computer is a core component of the network,
providing a link to the resources necessary to perform any
task.
The server contains the file, print, application, security, and
other services in a central computer that is continuously
available to respond to client requests.
Client computers normally
request and receive information
over the network
Computers Role: Peer to Peer
A peer-to-peer network is a network where the computers
act as both workstations and servers.
In a strict peer-to-peer networking setup, every computer is
an equal, a peer in the network.
Each machine can have resources that are shared with any
other machine.
Protocol
A set of rules which is used by computers to communicate
with each other across a network.
Protocol achieves:
What is communicated between computers?
How it is communicated?
When it is communicated?
What conformance (bit sequence) between computers?
Key elements of a protocol are:
SYNTAC: Data format and signal levels
SEMANTICS: Control information for coordination and error
handling
TIMING: Synchronization, speed matching, and sequencing
Examples of protocols: TCP/IP
Protocols may be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination
of the two.
Open Systems
Proprietary system: A system that uses
technologies kept private by a particular
commercial vendor
One system couldn’t communicate with another,
leading to the need for
Interoperability: The ability of software and
hardware on multiple machines and from
multiple commercial vendors to communicate
Open systems: Systems based on a common
model of network architecture and a suite of
protocols used in its implementation
OSI Model
Open System Interconnection Model is description for
layered communications and computer network protocol
design
7 Layers
1. Physical Layer - defines the relationship between a device
and a physical medium. This includes layout of pins,
voltages, cable specifications, and more
2. Data Link Layer - provides the functional and procedural
means to transfer data between network entities and to
detect and possibly correct errors
3. Network Layer – determine logical path for transferring
data sequences from a source to a destination via one or
more networks
OSI Model
4. Transport Layer - The Transport Layer controls the
reliability of a given link through flow control,
segmentation/desegmentation, and error control
5. Session Layer - controls the connections between
computers. It establishes, manages and terminates the
connections between the local and remote application
6. Presentation Layer - provides independence from
differences in data representation (e.g., encryption) by
translating from application to network format, and vice
versa
7. Application Layer - interacts with software applications
that implement a communicating component
OSI Reference Model: 7 Layers
TCP/IP
TCP stands for Transmission Control
Protocol
TCP software breaks messages into packets, hands them off to the IP
software for delivery, and then orders and reassembles the packets at
their destination
IP stands for Internet Protocol
IP software deals with the routing of packets through the maze of
interconnected networks to their final destination
OSI & TCP/IP Models
Reference Books
Computer Networking A Top-Down Approach Featuring the
Internet
J F Kurose, K W Ross
Data Communications and Networking
B A Forouzan
Computer Networks
A S Tanenbaum
Computer Networks A Systems Approach
L L Peterson, B S Davie