Computer Networks

Contents
• Computer Networks
• Types of Network
• Network Architectures
 Computer Networks
• A collection of computers and other devices connected together
via communication devices and communication channels for
sharing information and resources is called a computer network
• Resources may include printers, scanners, and storage devices
(such as hard disks)
• In a computer network, computers or devices are connected
together via communication devices and transmission media
• Examples of transmission media are cables and wirelessly or WiFi
• Connected computers/devices in the network can be in the same
room, building, or at different locations
• A computer network can be simple or very large
• In a large computer network, usually many computer networks are
connected together
– This type of network is called a network of networks
– Internet is the most well-known example of a network of networks
 Uses of Computer Network
• People around the world use computer networks every day in business, at
offices, and homes, etc.
• Uses or benefits of a computer network
Communication
• People can communicate with each other around the world through computer
networks
• They can talk and share information with each other using different network
services such as email, social networking, video conferencing, groupware, blogs,
wikis, and SMS service
Data Sharing
• Different users connected to the computer network can share data among them
• For example, on the Internet, a large number of users can access the same
database
Software Sharing
• In a computer network, usually, application software and other software are
installed on the central computer (i.e. server computer)
• These software can be shared over a network instead of purchasing a separate
copy of the software for each user
 Uses of Computer Network
Hardware Sharing
• In a computer network, hardware devices such as printers, scanners, CD-ROM
drives, and hard disks can be shared among different users
• For example, many users can share a single printer connected to a network
• An organization can save a lot of money by sharing different devices over a
network
• Without the facility of network, these devices have to be arranged separately
for each user
• It becomes very costly for an organization
Internet Sharing
• In a computer network (i.e. LAN), many users can access the Internet through
a single Internet connection and can use its different services
Centralized Software Management
• All of the software are installed or updated on one computer (server
computer)
• This saves time for installing/updating on individual computers in the network
 Uses of Computer Network
Data Security and Management
• Computer network provides centralized data storage
• It means that all data is stored on the central computer
• In a business environment, an administrator manages the company's critical
data in a better way
• Everyone can find the data easily
• Administrator has full control and he/she can read or change critical
information
• He/she can take the backup of data very easily
• Similarly, security features can also be implemented on the data very easily
Saving Disk Space
• In a computer network, all computers use the same copy of application
programs and data files
• These are only stored on the hard disk(s) of the server computer
• There is no need to store application programs and data files on individual
computers on the network
 Uses of Computer Network
Performance Enhancement
• A network can be used to improve (enhance) the performance of
different applications by using distributed computing
• In distributed computing, a computation task is divided on various
computers on the network
• In this way, the performance of the application is increased
Entertainment
• Computer network provides many sources of entertainment to the
people
• For example, we can play different types of games, see movies, and
listen to music. We can also make new friends on the Internet.
Remote Access
• A network also provides the facility to access data remotely
• A user can access and update data by connecting to the network from
anywhere in the world
Chapter 7 – Computer Networks

TYPES OF NETWORK
 Types of Network
• Computer networks are divided into the following
types based on the size and physical area or
distance covered by the network:
– Local Area Network
– Wide Area Network
– Metropolitan Area Network
– Personal Area Network (PAN)
 Local Area Network (LAN)
• Local Area Network (LAN) is a type of computer network that
covers a small area
• It is generally limited to a building or group of adjacent buildings
• It consists of a limited number of computers
• LAN is designed to share different resources (such as printers,
scanners, storage devices, and application programs) between
computers
• Network of computers in the computer laboratory of a college and
network Interface
• Network of computers
Cardin(NIC)
an office building
is used in eachare examples of LANs
• computer
In LAN, nodes (computers
to connect it to a and
LAN other devices such as printers and
scanners)card
• Network areenables
connected to each
computer other using cables or wireless
to share
transmissionwith
information medium
other computers
connected to the LAN
• Data transmission rate through LAN is very
 Local Area Network (LAN)
+ Resource Sharing
+ For example, many users on network can use a single printer
+ Similarly, storage media and software located in the central server
can be shared between all users on the network
+ Inexpensive
+ Small businesses, firms, and educational institutes can afford and
easily install the LAN
+ Communication
+ Users can easily communicate with each other
+ They can also share data among them
+ Centralized Data
+ All data is stored and updated on the central server through nodes
+ So it becomes very easy to take a backup of the database at
regular intervals
 Local Area Network (LAN)
+ Internet Access Sharing
+ Multiple users can access the Internet using a single Internet
connection
+ Internet connection is established at the central server
+ In this way, all users can access the Internet
+ Data Security
+ Data security can be implemented very easily because users are
granted data access rights
+ Authorized users can connect to the server and can access a specific
portion of the data
+ Speed
+ Data transmission in a LAN is very fast
+ Reliability
+ It is a very reliable network
 Local Area Network (LAN)
- If the central server is infected by a virus, then
important data and software stored on the server may
be corrupted and entire network may also be affected
- All nodes depend on central device (or Hub), if it fails,
then entire network will stop working
- A trained and competent network manager is required
to run LAN, so a handsome salary has to be paid to
him. Therefore, it becomes very expensive to run the
LAN
- Mostly in a LAN, one or two printers are shared
among several users. In this situation, lengthy print
queues are created. So the users have to wait for a
 Wide Area Network (WAN)
• A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a type of computer network that covers a large
area such as different cities of the country or different countries and continents of
the world
• Typically, a WAN consists of many LANs connected together across a wide
geographical area
• Suppose an organization has a LAN at each site. The LANs of all sites are connected
together to form a WAN
• Internet is the world’s largest WAN
– It connects many thousands of computers and LANs around the world and making it a web
• WAN is expensive than LAN but its transmission rate is slower than LAN
• In WAN, computers and other devices are often connected through telephone lines
• However, they can also be connected through leased lines, microwave, or satellite
systems
• A modem is used in computers to establish communication between computers
over a long distance
• WANs are used in large organizations
• For example, in Pakistan, large organizations like PIA, WAPDA, ARMY, NADRA, and
BANKS use the WAN
 Wide Area Network (WAN)
+ Covers Large Area
+ WAN covers a large geographical area so long-distance businesses can connect on
the network
+ Users can access the network from any location of the country or world
+ Sharing and Communicating Messages
+ Messages can be shared and communicated all over the world
+ These messages can have text, pictures, and sounds
+ For example, users can communicate and share messages through video
conference
+ Centralized Data
+ Data of an organization is stored in a single location even if the organization is
spread all over the world (or different cities of the country)
+ Everyone on the network can use the same data
+ This avoids problems where some users may have older information than others
+ Entertainment
+ WAN provides many sources of entertainment to users
+ For example, users can play different types of games, see movies, and listen to
music over Internet
 Wide Area Network (WAN)
- Hardware and Software Costs
- WAN becomes expensive to install
- Devices and software that are required for installing WAN are very
costly.
- Management and Staff Training Costs
- Once WAN is setup, maintaining a network is a full-time job
- Managing WAN is complicated
- Trained and competent network managers/supervisors and technicians
are required to run the WAN
- So handsome salaries have to be paid to them
- Therefore, it becomes very expensive to run the WAN
- Training for users to use the WAN is also required
- Training is required at all levels, including network
managers/administrators
- Organization has to pay a lot of amount on the training of staff to run
 Wide Area Network (WAN)
- Slow for Data Transmission
- Its data transmission rate is from 56 Kbps to 50 Mbps
- Usually, database applications perform their functions very slowly over
WAN
- Security Issue
- Security is a real issue when many different people have the ability to use
information from other computers
- Protection against hackers and viruses adds more complexity
- It needs a good firewall to restrict outsiders from entering and disrupting
the network
- Firewall is a security system consisting of hardware and/or software to prevent
unauthorized access of a network or computer
- Viruses can also spread very quickly and easily through WAN
- Failure of Server and Communication Line
- If a server fails, entire network is affected
- Similarly, a failure in communication line may also stop the working of
 Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
• A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is a network system that
covers the area of a city or town
• Usually, MAN consists of two or more LANs in a city or town which
are connected together
• For example, a company may design a MAN by connecting all the
LANs in all its office throughout the city
• The cable television companies, telephone companies, and
Internet Service Providers use MAN
• Mobile phones (cellular) systems often use a MAN
• MAN is larger than LAN and smaller than WAN
• It covers an area of between 5 to 50 km diameter
• A MAN uses different transmission media (wired or wireless) and
devices for communication
• In most of MANs, fiber optic cables are used as transmission media
 Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
+ It covers a larger area than LAN
+ It requires fewer resources as compared to WAN. This saves
implementation cost
+ It provides high-speed communication
+ Resources can be shared among different users all over the city
+ Its installation and maintenance is less expensive than WAN
+ It provides higher security as compared to WAN
+ Like LAN and MAN, it also provides centralized data management

- It is more expensive than LAN

- It becomes difficult to manage if the network becomes large
- It is difficult to make the system secure from hackers and industrial
spying
- Network installation requires skilled technicians and network
administrators. This increases the overall installation and management
 Personal Area Network (PAN)
• A personal area network (PAN) is a network that
connects personal computers and devices using
wired and wireless technology
• Computers/devices are typically located within a
range of about 30 feet
• Devices may include smartphones, digital
cameras, printers, telephones, tablets, and PDAs
• A PAN may connect devices through a router
using network cables or directly using special USB
cables
• PANs also may use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi technology
 LAN WAN
• It covers a small geographical area • It covers a large geographical area
• Computers are directly connected • Computers are connected through a
through physical cable or wireless telephone line or microwave system
connection • In WAN, connection is not permanent
• In LAN, connection is permanent • Modem or router is used in each
using cables computer for data transmission
• A network card is used in each between computers
computer for data transmission • Its data transmission speed is slower
between computers than LAN
• Its data transmission speed is faster • Its installation and configuration cost
than WAN is greater than LAN
• Its installation and configuration cost • It has a higher possibility of data
is less than WAN transmission errors
• It has less possibility of data
• In WAN, normally problems occur
transmission errors
due to telephone lines, or other
• In LAN, normally problems occur due wireless media
to cable disturbance
• In WAN, computers can be connected
• In LAN, computers can be connected anywhere in the world
Chapter 7 – Computer Networks

NETWORK ARCHITECTURES
 Network Architectures
• Network architecture is the design or layout of
computers, devices, and media in a computer
network
• Computer network can be designed using
different ways
• Most popular network architectures are:
– Client-server network
– Peer-to-peer (P2P) network
– Hybrid network
 Client-Server Network
• A network architecture in which one or more computers act
as servers and other computers act as clients is called a
client-server network
• In this network, servers are not used as clients and clients
never act as servers
• Both wired and wireless networks can be configured as a
client-server network
• The server is a powerful computer
– It is also called a host computer
• It controls the whole network and provides services to the
clients
• It also provides a centralized storage area for data &
software and centralized security to ensure that resources
 Client-Server Network
• A client-server network may consist of two or more servers
• Each server performs only one specific task
• A server that performs only a specific task in the network is called a
dedicated server
– File Server  Stores and manages files
– Print Server  Manages printers and print jobs
– Database Server  Stores and manages databases. It also provides access
to databases
– Application Server  Stores and distributes application software on the
network
– Network Server  Manages network activity (or network traffic)
– Web Server  Stores web pages. It also receives requests from clients,
processes the requests, and sends the results of requests to clients
– Email Server  Stores and handles incoming and outgoing email messages
– Authentication Server  It keeps track of the users who log on the network.
It also keeps track of different services available to each user on the
 Client-Server Network
• All computers and mobile devices other than the
server(s) in the client-server network are called clients
• They can be PCs and laptops or other mobile
computers or devices
• Users run applications on the clients
• For example, users send requests to the server through
clients
• Server receives requests from clients and takes proper
actions on these requests
• The results of the requests are sent to the clients
• Clients depend on the server for different resources like
centralized storage, printing, and data processing, etc.
 Client-Server Network
+ It reduces the volume of data traffic on the network
+ It provides faster responses to the clients
+ It allows using less expensive computers as clients
because most of the work is done by the server
+ It provides centralized security/management
+ It provides the facility to easy backup of data

- More powerful computer is required to install as

server
- So it becomes very costly
- The entire network may be affected if there is any
 Peer-to-Peer Network
• A network architecture in which all computers on the network have equal status
and no one has control over others is called a peer-to-peer network (or simply P2P
network)
• In this network architecture, each computer or mobile device is called a peer
• Each peer can act as both a server and client at the same time
• Both wired and wireless networks can be configured as a peer-to-peer network
• In peer-to-peer network architecture, there is no central computer to control other
computers on the network
• Each computer can share data and devices (or resources) of other computers in
the network
– For example, a printer attached to any computer can be used by all computers connected
to the network
• Each computer stores its data and program files because P2P does not have a
common file server
• Peer-to-peer network is a simple and low-cost network
• It normally consists of less than 10 computers
• This type of network architecture is ideal for small businesses and home users
• Some operating systems include a P2P networking tool that can be used to set up
 Peer-to-Peer Network
+ It is useful in small offices
+ It is easy to design and to maintain
+ It does not require any powerful computer

- It becomes slow under heavy use

- There is no central place for storing data and
software
- In this network, data is not stored on a central
computer
- So it provides less security
 Hybrid Network
• Hybrid network has combined features of both
client-server and peer-to-peer networks
• It also has one or more servers
• Users can share data and software
• Similarly, each node can store its own data files
and programs and has its own peripheral devices
• Users can also share each other’s data and
devices
 Client – Server Network Peer – to – Peer Network
• Each computer is called either a • Each computer is called a peer
server or a client • No computer act as a server
• One or more computers act as • There is no dedicated server or
servers central computer to control other
• There is one or more dedicated computers on the network
servers that control the other • It consists of less than ten
computers on the network computers
• It may consist of many computers • Each computer stores its data and
• Mostly data and program files are program files
stored on the dedicated server • Data cannot be managed easily
• Data can be managed very easily because data is stored on different
because all data is stored on a computers
dedicated server • It is useful in small
• It is used in large organizations offices/businesses
• Data is stored on a central • Data is not stored on a central
computer. So it provides the best computer. So it does not provide
security