COMPUTER NETWORK
TOPIC 7-8
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COMPUTER NETWORK – DEFINITION
A computer network can be defined as two or more computers connected
together in such a way that they can share resources.
Or
A computer network links multiple computer systems to enable them to share
data and resources.
The purpose of a network is to share resources.
◦ A file / folder.
◦ A printer/disk drive.
◦ Or just about anything else that exists on a computer.
Advantages of networking
Connectivity and Communication
Data Sharing
Hardware Sharing
Internet Access
Internet Access Sharing
Data Security and Management
The Disadvantages of Networking
Network Hardware, Software and Setup Costs
Hardware and Software Management and Administration Costs
Undesirable Sharing , Security threats ,Lack of privacy
Network Fundamentals
The two main categories of computer networks
Local Area Network (LAN)
Wide Area Network (WAN)
A LAN
Is two or more connected computers sharing certain resources in a
relatively small geographic location, often in the same building
Examples -home networks & office networks.
Characteristics of LAN
1) Every computer has the potential to communicate with any other computers
of the network
2) High degree of connection between computers
3) Easy physical connection of computers in a network
4) Cover small area
5) High data transmission rate
Uses of LAN
File transfers and Access
Word and text processing
Electronic message handling (Email)
Remote database access
Personal computing
Digital voice transmission and storage
Wide Area Network
Used to describe a computer network spanning a regional, national or global area.
It connects two or more LANs through satellite links.
WAN – The Need
Sharing of data
Organization to organization
Remote users
Transmission over large distance
The Characteristics of WAN
Communication Facility: For a big company spanning over the country
Video Conferencing: Computer Video conferencing is another use of WAN
where users communicate with each other through their computer system.
Remote Data Entry is possible in WAN.
Centralized Information: This means if the organization is spread over
many cities, they keep their important business data in a single place
INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB
Which came first - Internet or WWW?
Internet is a network of interconnected computers that is now global (Net),
Internet born in 1969 - called Advanced Research Projects Agency Network
(ARPANET)-U.S. Department of Defense project
The Internet is a global network of interconnected computers, servers, phones
and smart appliances that communicate with each other using a transmission
protocol(TPC) standard to enable fast exchange of information ,files and other
services
It includes several high-bandwidth data lines that comprise
the Internet "backbone. “These lines are connected to major Internet hubs
that distribute data to other locations, such as web servers and ISPs.
Internet moves your ideas and information through cyberspace – the space of
electronic movement of ideas and information.
Features of internet
1. Globally available
2. easily to use
3. Affordable
4. Flexible
5. Compactible with other types of media
Types of internet service
1. Communication services
2. File transfer
3. Directory service
4. Ecommerce and online transaction
5. Time service
The uses of the Internet
Send e-mail messages.
Send (upload) or receive (down load) files between computers.
Participate in discussion groups, such as mailing lists and newsgroups.
Surfing the web.
How Does the Internet Work?
Host – A computing device is the one that provides the two-way access to
other computers. A host Computing device must:
◦ Receives requests, and
◦ Replies to those requests
Network service providers (NSPs) Provides and maintain the Internet
networks.
NSPs are Private and public organizations that provide the Internet Access
and Maintain the Internet backbone (the main high-speed routes such
TTCL for Tanzania).
What is Web?
The Web (World Wide Web-WWW) consists of information organized into
Web pages containing text and graphic images.
A collection of linked Web pages that has a common theme or focus is called a
Web site.
The main page that all of the pages on a particular Web site are organized
around and link back to is called the site’s home page.
Internet &Web: What’s the Difference?
Web contains the information.
Internet transports information to and from users.
Internet Service Provider (ISP)
An ISP is a commercial organization with permanent connection to the
Internet that sells temporary connections to subscribers (Internet Uses from
individuals or organizations). E.g. Tanzania ISPs ,TTCL, Raha Liguid Telecom,
UCC, Capital Technologies,
Choosing an Internet Service Provider
• Things to consider as you research ISPs:
– Speed
– Price on usage
– Installation Cost
– Service Record
– Technical Support
– Contract Terms
Internet Protocol (IP) Addresses
An identifier for a computer or device on a Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol network.
Each computer on the internet must have a unique identification number,
called an Internet Protocol (IP) address.
An IP address serves two main functions: network interface identification
and location addressing.
The IP addressing system currently in use on the Internet uses a four-part
number.
Each part of the address is a number ranging from 0 to 255, and each part is
separated from the previous part by period,
How to Access the Web? - Web browsers are used to connect you to
remote computers, open and transfer files, display text and images.
Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
To identify a Web pages exact location, Web browsers rely on URL, URL -
four-part addressing scheme that tells the Web browser:
What transfer protocol to use for transporting the file
The domain name of the computer on which the file resides
The pathname of the folder or directory on the computer on which
the file resides.
Searching for information on the Web-Search engines -Started in early
1990s as relatively simple software programs using keyword indexes
You can find information by two basic means.
Search by Topic and Search by keywords.
