IICT
Lecture 25,26
(Computer Networks)
Computer Network
Multiple computers that are
connected together to share
information and other resources
Examples of Computer Network Usage
• I can send an eMail message to a remote computer
using the SMTP protocol
• I can browse documents residing on a remote
computer using the HTTP protocol
• I can download or upload files to a remote
computer using the FTP protocol
• I can run a program on a remote computer using
the TELNET protocol
Example of
Computer
Computer
E a Computer
A Network
Computer
D
Hub
Computer
B Computer
C
Components of Conventional Computer Networks
1. Computers
2. Network Interface Cards (NIC)
– I/O device that plugs into the computer
– Enables it to communicate over a network
3. Hub
– The network traffic controller
Components of Conventional Computer Networks
4. Cables
– Are either electrical or optical
– Not required at all for wireless networks
5. Protocol
– Rules governing communications over the network
NIC CARD
How Does a Conventional Network Work?
1. Suppose computer A wants to send a message to
D
2. Computer A sends the message to its NIC
3. The NIC translates the message into electrical
pulses suitable for the computer network in use &
transmits it to the hub through the cable
How Does a Conventional Network Work?
4. The hub receives them and forwards them to all
computers connected to the it
5. The NICs of all computers connected to the hub
receive the forwarded electrical pulses
6. The NIC of computer D decides that the message
is for it, & translates the pulses back to a form
suitable for the computer
Hub (1)
• A device that is used to connect several computers
to form a network
• A hub has several ports. The number generally is 8,
12, 16, 24, 32, or 48
Hub (2)
• Each computer in a network is connected to one of
those ports through a cable
• A computer wanting to send a message to one of
the others in the network sends a message to the
hub, which, in turn, broadcasts the message to all
others connected to it
HUB
Packet (1)
• The smallest unit of data transmitted over a
computer network
• A message to be transferred over the network is
broken up into small packets by the sending
computer
• Each packet contains the following info:
– Sender's address
– Destination address
– Data
– Error-recovery info
Packet (2)
• All packets travel independently
• When all packets are received by the destination
computer, it reassembles them to form the original
message
Types of Computer Networks
according to the network access policy
• Private
• Public
Private Networks (1)
• Organizations having many computers usually
connect them in the form of private networks
• Access to these network is restricted to authorized
computers only
Private Networks (2)
• This allows computers from within the organization
to exchange info, but keeps the info private and
protected from outsiders
• All equipment on a private network is generally for
the exclusive use of that organization
Public Networks
• All networks that are not private, are … public
• Example: Internet
• Communication equipment used in these networks
is generally being used by users belonging to several
(possibly thousands of) organizations as well as
those belonging to no organization
Virtual Private Network
• Suppose that a client sitting at a local branch
network of a company wants to be part of head
office network of the company.
• A VPN provides another option of remote access.
• It is defined as a secure, dedicated point to point
connection over the internet.
• In VPN, we use internet infrastructure for
connection instead of a special telephone line.
• VPN tunnel are managed by Point to Point
Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) which due to
encryption provides secure transport of private
communication over the internet.
• VPN is a cost saving measure as compared to
simple remote access using dial up connection.
Types of Computer Networks
according to the distance between nodes
• LAN: Local Area Network)
• WAN: Wide Area Network)
LAN
• A network of computers located in the same
building or a handful of nearby buildings
• Examples:
– Computer network of a University campus
WAN
• A network in which computers are separated by
great distances, typically across cities or even
continents
• May consist of several interconnected LANs
• Example:
– The network connecting the ATM of a bank located in
various cities
– A network connecting the local and oversea offices of a
SW house
– Internet
Connecting LANs to other Networks
Special-purpose devices are used to link LANs to
other networks
They may belong to one of the following
categories:
– Routers
– Bridges
– Gateways
– Modems
NETWORK APPLICATIONS
• There are number is specific applications that are
only possible over a network.
o Electronic Mail
o Electronic Fund Transfer
o Video Conferencing
o Distributed Systems
o Internet
Router
• A special-purpose computer that directs data traffic
when several paths are available
• A router examines the destination info in each
arriving packet and then routes it through the most
efficient path available
• The router either delivers the packet to the
destination computer across a local network or
forwards the packet to another router that is closer
to the final destination by using Router Information
Protocol.
Type A
header
Payload Type A
header
Payload
ROUTER ROUTER
Significant
geographical
SERVER distance SERVER
Type A
header
Payload
LAN 1 LAN 2
WAN
Bridge
• Used to form a connection between two separate,
but similar networks
• In a way, it creates an extended LAN by passing
information between two or more LANs
Gateway
• A special-purpose computer that connects and
translates between networks that use different
communications protocols
• LAN’s may use a gateway (or router) to connect to
the Internet
A gateway performs the translation
between two different types of networks.
3
Modem (1)
• I/O device used for connecting two computers
over telephone lines
• modem = modulator + demodulator
Modem (2)
• Modulator converts computer messages to
electrical pulses that are suitable for
transmission over the telephone lines
• Demodulator converts electrical pulses
received over telephone lines into messages
that are comprehensible for computers
Network Topologies
• The pattern in which computers are connected to form a
network
• Popular patterns:
– Star
– Bus
– Ring
• There are two different networking structures:
– Peer to Peer
– Client Server
• Networks are also formed by combining 2 or more of these 4
basic patterns
P2P
Computer Computer
A B
P2P
• Inexpensive
• Limited connectivity
• Quite often used for connecting two LANs to form a
WAN
Computer Star
D
Computer Computer
Server
A C
Computer
B
Star (1)
• A computer sends the address of the intended
receiver and the data to the server
• The server then sends the message to the intended
receiver
• This topology allows multiple messages to be sent
simultaneously
Star (2)
• Costly, because it uses an additional computer to
direct the data
• Costly, because each node is individually wired to
the server
• If the server goes down, so does the network
• If any of the nodes goes down, the rest of the
network is not affected
Computer Computer Bus
A C
Bus: A high
speed cable
Computer Computer
B D
Bus (1)
• No server is required
• One computer sends data to another by
broadcasting the address of the receiver and the
data over the bus
• All the computers in the network look at the
address simultaneously, and the intended recipient
accepts the data
Bus (2)
• A bus network, unlike ring or star networks, allows
data to be sent directly from one computer to
another
• However, only one computer at a time can
transmit data. The others must wait to until the bus
gets idle
• If any of the nodes goes down, the rest of the
network is not affected
Computer Ring
D
Computer Computer
A C
Computer
B
Ring (1)
• No server is required
• A computer sends the message to its neighbor. The
neighbor examines the message to determine if it is
the intended recipient
• If the data are not intended for that particular
neighbor, it passes the message to the next
computer in the ring
Ring (2)
• This process is repeated until the data arrive at
their intended recipient
• This topology allows multiple messages to be
carried, simultaneously
• Data transmission is slow since each message is
checked by each computer
Ring (3)
• New nodes are difficult to add
• Messages propagate in one direction only
• The network fails if a single node fails
Computer
A
Combination
Computer
Hub Computer
B
D
Computer
C Computer
Hub
E
Computer
F