Chapter 1
Introduction
1.1 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
1-1 DATA COMMUNICATIONS
The term telecommunication means communication at a
distance. The word data refers to information presented
in whatever form is agreed upon by the parties creating
and using the data. Data communications are the
exchange of data between two devices via some form of
transmission medium such as a wire cable.
1.2
Figure 1.1 Components of a data communication system
1.3
DATA FLOW
Simplex:
In simplex mode, the communication is unidirectional, as on a
one-way street. Only one of the two devices on a link can
transmit ; the other can only receive.
Keyboards and traditional monitor are examples of simplex
devices.
The keyboard can only introduce input; the monitor can only
accept output. The simplex mode can use the entire capacity of
the channel to send data in one direction.
1.4
DATA FLOW
Half-Duplex:
In half-duplex mode, each station can both transmit and
receive, but not at the same time. When one device is sending,
the other can only receive, and vice versa.
The half-duplex mode is like a one-lane road with traffic allowed
in both directions. When cars are traveling in one directions, cars
going the other way must wait.
Walkie-talkies and CB (citizens band) radios are both half-duplex
systems.
1.5
DATA FLOW
Full-Duplex:
In full-duplex mode (also called duplex), both stations can
transmit and receive simultaneously.
The full-duplex mode is like a two-way street with traffic flowing
in both directions at the same time. In full-duplex mode, signals
going in one direction share the capacity of the link with signals
going in the other direction.
One common example of full-duplex communication is the
telephone network.
1.6
1-2 NETWORKS
A network is a set of devices (often referred to as nodes)
connected by communication links. A node can be a
computer, printer, or any other device capable of sending
and/or receiving data generated by other nodes on the
network. A link can be a cable, air, optical fiber, or any
medium which can transport a signal carrying
information.
1.7
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
1.8
TYPE OF CONNECTIONS
Point-to-Point:
A point-to-point connection provides a dedicated link between
two devices.
The entire capacity of the link is reserved for transmission
between those two devices.
Most point-to-point connections use an actual length of wire or
cable to connect the two ends, but other options, such as
microwave or satellite links, are also possible.
When you change television channels by infrared remote control,
you are establishing a point-to-point connection between the
remote control and the television’s control system.
1.9
TYPE OF CONNECTIONS
MultiPoint:
A Multipoint connection (also called multidrop) connection is
one in which more than specific devices share a single link.
In a multipoint environment, the capacity of the channel is shared,
either spatially or temporally. If several devices can use the link
simultaneously, it is a spatially shares connection. If users must
take turns, it is a timeshared connection.
1.10
PHYSICAL TOPOLOGY
The term physical topology refers to the
way in which a network is laid out
physically.
Two or more devices connect to a link ; two
or more links form a topology.
The topology of a network is the geometric
representation of the relationship of all the
links and linking devices (usually called
nodes) to one another.
There are four basic topologies possible:
mesh, star, bus , ring.
1.11
CATAGORIES OF TOPOLOGIES
1.12
MESH TOPOLGY
Every device has dedicated point-to-point
link to every other device.
The term dedicated means that the link
carries traffic only between the two
devices it connects.
To find the number of physical links in a
fully connected mesh network.
Formula: n(n-1)/2
1.13
MESH TOPOLGY
1.14
MESH TOPOLGY
Advantages:
1. The use of dedicated links guarantees that each connection can
carry its own data load, thus eliminating the traffic problems that
can occur when links must be shared by multiple devices.
2. Mesh topology is robust. If one link becomes unusable, it does
not incapacitate the entire system.
3. There is the advantage of privacy or security. When every
message travels along a dedicated line, only the intended
recipient sees it.
Disadvantages:
1. Large amount of cabling and the number of I/O ports required,
because every device must be connected to every other device,
installation and reconnection are difficult.
2. The sheer bulk of the wiring can be greater than the available
space (in walls, ceilings, or floors) can accommodate.
3. The hardware required to connect each link(I/O ports and cable)
can be prohibitively expensive.
1.15
STAR TOPOLOGY
In a star topology, each device has a
dedicated point-to-point link only to a
central controller, usually called a hub.
The devices are not directly linked to one
another.
Unlike a mesh topology, a star topology
does not allow direct traffic between
devices.
The controller acts as an exchange: if one
device wants to send data to another, it
sends the data to the controller, which
then relays the data to the other
1.16 connected device.
STAR TOPOLOGY
1.17
STAR TOPOLOGY
Advantage:
1. A star topology is less expensive than a mesh topology.
2. In a star, each device need only one link and one I/O port to
connect it to any number of others. This factor also makes it easy
to install and reconfigure.
3. Far less cabling needs to be housed and additions, moves and
deletions involves only one connection: between that device and
the hub.
4. Easy fault identification and fault isolation.
Disadvantage:
1. The dependency of the whole topology on one single point, the
hub. If the hub goes down, the whole system is dead.
The star topology is used in local-area networks(LANs).
High-speed LANs often use a star topology with a central
hub.
1.18
BUS TOPOLOGY
A bus topology, on the other hand, is multipoint.
One long cable acts a as backbone to link all the devices in
a network.
Nodes are connected to the bus cable by drop lines and
taps.
A drop line is a connection running between the device and
the main cable.
A tap is a connector that either splices into the main cable
or punctures the sheathing of a cable to create a contact
with the metallic core.
As a signal travels along the backbone, some of its energy
is transformed into heat. Therefore , it becomes weaker and
weaker as it travels farther and farther.
For this reason there is limit on the number of taps a bus
can support and on the distance between those taps.
1.19
BUS TOPOLOGY
1.20
BUS TOPOLOGY
Advantage:
Ease of installation. Backbone cable can laid along the most
efficient path, then connected to the nodes by drop lines of
various length. In this way, bus uses less cabling than mesh and
star topologies.
Disadvantage:
Difficult reconnection and fault isolation.
1.21
Figure 1.8 A ring topology connecting six stations
1.22
Figure 1.9 A hybrid topology: a star backbone with three bus networks
1.23
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, a campus
1.24
1-3 THE INTERNET
The Internet has revolutionized many aspects of our daily
lives. It has affected the way we do business as well as the
way we spend our leisure time. The Internet is a
communication system that has brought a wealth of
information to our fingertips and organized it for our use.
1.25
Figure 1.13 Hierarchical organization of the Internet
1.26