Computer

Networks
Basics of
Networking
Data Communication
Digital Communication
Communication Model
 Data transmission Mode

Simplex:
• Transmit data in one direction only
• Device connected to such a circuit are either send only or receive only
• Unidirectional flow of information
• Limitation: no acknowledgment, control or error signal can be sent from destination
to source
• Sender may send the data but will never know whether the receiver has received or
not
Half Duplex:
can transmit data in both the directions but in only one direction at a
time
Can alternately sends and receives the data
Most suitable for voice communication using telephones in which one
person speaks at a time
Suitable for connecting a terminal with computer in which the
terminal transmits the data and then the computer responds with an
acknowledgment
Limitation: needs to switch direction each time the direction of data
transfer reverses which requires a special switching circuit and a delay
of about 150 milliseconds

Full Duplex:
Supports bidirectional data transfer simultaneously
Allows data to flow in both the direction simultaneously
Eliminates direction switching delay of a half duplex system
Transmission Modes
• Simplex
• One direction
• e.g. Television

• Half duplex
• Either direction, but only
one way at a time
• e.g. police radio

• Full duplex
• Both directions at the
same time
• e.g. telephone
Communication Types
• Unicasting (one-to-one)
eg. Internet, Mobile

• Multicasting (one-to-many)
Eg. Tata Sky, Session established, send data, session released

• Broadcasting (one-to-all)
Eg. Radio
 Computer Network
• Interconnection of two or more computers
and peripherals
• Allows user to share and transfer
information
• A collection of computing devices that are
connected in various ways in order to
communicate and share resources
• The computers can be geographically
located anywhere.
• Usually, the connections between
computers in a network are made using
physical wires or cables
• However, some connections are wireless,
using radio waves or infrared signals
Network (Full Definition):
A network is simply a collection of computers or other hardware devices that are connected
together, either physically or logically, using special hardware and software, to allow them to
exchange information and cooperate.
A resource sharable in a computer network may be:
• A file
• A folder
• A printer
• A disk drive
• Or just about anything else that exists on a computer
Network classification

Computer
Networks

Geographical Architecture Topology

Classification of Networks
(1) Geographically (based on coverage)

Computer
Networks

Local Campus Metropolitan Wide

Area Network Area Network Area Network Area Network
(LAN) (CAN) (MAN) (WAN)
 Local Area Network (LAN)
• A network that connects a relatively small number of machines in a
relatively close geographical area
• Contains printers, servers and computers
• Systems are close to each other
• Contained in one office or building
• Organizations often have several LANS
 LAN (contd..)
• Advantages of LAN:
• Improves productivity due
to faster work
• Provides easy maintenance
• New systems can be
installed and configured
easily
• Disadvantages of LAN:
• Limited number of systems
can only be connected
• Cannot cover large area
• Network performance
degrades as number of
users exceeds
 LAN (contd..)
The Local Network (LAN)

Client Client

Client Client

Client Client
Campus Area Networks (CAN)
• A LAN in one large geographic area
• Resources related to the same organization
• Each department shares the LAN
 CAN (contd..)

• Made up of multiple LANs within limited area

• Connects different LANs in a campus
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
• Large network that connects different organizations
• Shares regional resources
• A network provider sells time
•The communication infrastructures that have been developed in and
around large cities
•A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a network that interconnects users
with computer resources in a geographic area or region larger than that
covered by even a large local area network (LAN) but smaller than the area
covered by a wide area network (WAN). The term is applied to the
interconnection of networks in a city into a single larger network
 MAN (contd..)

• Interconnects networks within a city

• Supports data and voice transmission
 Wide Area Networks (WAN)
• Two or more LANs connected , Over a large geographic area
• The Internet is a WAN
• A network that connects local-area networks over a potentially large geographic
distance
• Wide Area Network (WAN) is a computer network that covers a broad area (i.e., any
network whose communications links cross metropolitan, regional, or national
boundaries). Or, less formally, a network that uses routers
• The largest and most well-known example of a WAN is the Internet.
• WANs are used to connect LANs and other types of networks together, so that users
and computers in one location can communicate with users and computers in other
locations
• WANs are networks that are found where computers in different areas or
countries need to communicate.
 WANs

•Covers a wide geographical area which includes multiple computers

or LANs e.g. Internet
 WAN (contd..)

• Wide Area Network (WAN)

• A network that uses long-range telecommunication links to connect 2 or more
LANs/computers housed in different places far apart.
• Towns, states, countries
• Examples:
• Internet
Your home

USA
WAN
Student Computer
Centre
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• Example of WAN: Broadband Cable Network
• Cable TV services have been extensively developed in most modern cities
• Cable TV companies try to make use of their coaxial cable installed (that are
supposed to carry TV signals) to deliver broadband data services
• Many cable network wiring has been replaced with hybrid fiber-coax (HFC) ― i.e.
use of fiber-optic cable to connect to the subscribers’ buildings, and then the
original coaxial cable to connect to each household

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Network Classification
(2) By Architecture/ Structure / Functional Relationship
• Client / Server
• Peer to Peer (P2PN)
Peer-to-Peer Networks
• Peer-to-peer network is also called workgroup
• No hierarchy among computers  all are equal
• No administrator responsible for the network

Peer-to-peer

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Peer-to peer network (cont..)
• A peer-to-peer network is a network where the computers act as both
workstations and servers.
• great for small, simple, and inexpensive networks.
• 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.
• There is no assigned role for any particular device, and each of the devices
usually runs similar software. Any device can send requests to any other.
Peer-to peer network
(cont..)
Peer-to peer network
(cont..)
• Advantages of peer-to-peer networks:
• Low cost
• Simple to configure
• User has full accessibility of the computer

• Disadvantages of peer-to-peer networks:

• May have duplication in resources
• Difficult to uphold security policy
• Difficult to handle uneven loading

• Peer-to-peer network is appropriate:

• Where there are 10 or less users
• Where No specialized services required
• Where the Security is not an issue
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Client/Server network
• Nodes and servers share data roles
• Nodes are called clients
• Servers are used to control access
• Database software
• Access to data controlled by server
• Server is the most important computer
Clients and Servers
• Network Clients (Workstation)
• Computers that request network resources or services
• Network Servers
• Computers that manage and provide network resources and services to clients
• Usually have more processing power, memory and hard disk space than
clients
• Run Network Operating System that can manage not only data, but also
users, groups, security, and applications on the network

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Client and Server computer role in
networking
• Server computer is a core component of the network, providing a link to the
resources necessary to perform any task.
• A server computer provides a link to the resources necessary to perform any task.
• The link it provides could be to a resource existing on the server itself or a
resource on a client computer.
• Client computers also depends primarily on the central server for processing
activities
Client/Server Networking
• In this design, a small number of computers are designated as
centralized servers and given the task of providing services to a larger
number of user machines called clients
Client/Server Networking (cont..)
Computer Network based on Clients and Servers
In a client/server network arrangement, network services are located in
a dedicated computer (server) whose only function is to respond to the
requests of clients.
The server contains the file, print, application, security, and other
services in a central computer that is continuously available to respond
to client requests.
• File server A computer that stores and manages files for multiple users
on a network
• Web server A computer dedicated to responding to requests (from the
browser client) for web pages
• Advantages of client/server networks
• Facilitate resource sharing – centrally administrate and control
• Facilitate system backup
• Enhance security – only administrator can have access to Server
• Support more users – difficult to achieve with peer-to-peer networks

• Disadvantages of client/server networks

• High cost for Servers
• Need expert to configure the network
• Introduce a single point of failure to the system

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Network Topology
• Network can also be classified based on their topology
or physical connectivity
• Logical layout of wires and equipment
• Choice affects
• Network performance
• Network size
• Network collision detection
• Network classification by Topology / Physical
Connectivity
• BUS
• STAR
• RING
• MESH
• TREE
Network topology
• A topology is a way of “laying out” the network. Topologies can be
either physical or logical.
• Physical topologies describe how the cables are run.
• Logical topologies describe how the network messages travel
BUS • Bus Topology
• Simple and low-cost
• A single cable called
a trunk (backbone,
segment)
• Only one computer
can send messages
at a time
• Passive topology -
computer only listen
for, not regenerate
data
• Also called linear bus
• One wire connects all nodes
• Terminator ends the wires
• Bus topology nodes are connected to a single communication line that carries
messages in both directions
• Advantages
• Easy to setup
• Small amount of wire
• Disadvantages
• Slow
• Easy to crash
Network topology (cont.)
Bus
• A bus is the simplest physical topology. It consists of a single cable that runs to
every workstation
• This topology uses the least amount of cabling, but also covers the shortest
amount of distance.
• Each computer shares the same data and address path. With a logical bus
topology, messages pass through the trunk, and each workstation checks to see if
the message is addressed to itself. If the address of the message matches the
workstation’s address, the network adapter copies the message to the card’s on-
board memory.
Network topology (cont.)
• it is difficult to add a workstation
• have to completely reroute the cable and possibly run two additional
lengths of it.
• if any one of the cables breaks, the entire network is disrupted.
Therefore, it is very expensive to maintain.
Network topology (cont.)
• Bus topology
 STAR
• Star Topology
• Each computer has a cable connected to a single point
• More cabling, hence higher cost
• All signals transmission through the hub; if down, entire network down
• Depending on the intelligence of hub, two or more computers may send
message at the same time

• All nodes connect to a hub

• Packets sent to hub
• Hub sends packet to destination
Star topology centers around one node to which all others
are connected and through which all messages are sent
• Advantages
• Easy to setup
• One cable can not crash network
• Disadvantages
• One hub crashing downs entire network
• Uses lots of cable
• Most common topology
Network topology (cont.)
Star Topology
• A physical star topology branches each network device off a central device called
a hub, making it very easy to add a new workstation.
• Also, if any workstation goes down it does not affect the entire network. (But, as
you might expect, if the central device goes down, the entire network goes
down.)
• Some types of Ethernet and ARCNet use a physical star topology. Figure 8.7 gives
an example of the organization of the star network.
Network topology (cont.)
• Star topologies are easy to install. A cable is run from each
workstation to the hub. The hub is placed in a central location in the
office.
• Star topologies are more expensive to install than bus networks,
because there are several more cables that need to be installed, plus
the cost of the hubs that are needed.
Network topology (cont.)
• Star Topology
RING
• Nodes connected in a circle
• Ring topology connects all nodes in a closed
loop on which messages travel in one direction

• Tokens used to transmit data

• Nodes must wait for token to send

• Advantages
• Time to send data is known
• No data collisions

• Disadvantages
• Slow
• Lots of cable
Network topology (cont.)
Ring
• Each computer connects to two other computers, joining them in a
circle creating a unidirectional path where messages move
workstation to workstation.
• Each entity participating in the ring reads a message, then
regenerates it and hands it to its neighbor on a different network
cable.
Network topology (cont.)
• The ring makes it difficult to add new computers.
• Unlike a star topology network, the ring topology network will go
down if one entity is removed from the ring.
• Physical ring topology systems don’t exist much anymore, mainly
because the hardware involved was fairly expensive and the fault
tolerance was very low.
Network topology (cont.)
• Ring Topology
• Ring Topology
• Every computer serves as Ack T T
a repeater to boost signals T
• Typical way to send data:
• Token passing T dat T dat
• only the computer who a a
gets the token can send T
data T
• Disadvantages T Ack
T dat
Ack
• Difficult to add computers a
• More expensive T
• If one computer fails, whole network fails
T Ack

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MESH
 All computers connected together

 Internet is a mesh network

 Advantage
 Data will always be delivered

 Disadvantages
 Lots of cable

 Hard to setup
Network topology (cont.)
Mesh
• The mesh topology is the simplest logical topology in terms of data flow, but it is the most
complex in terms of physical design.
• In this physical topology, each device is connected to every other device
• This topology is rarely found in LANs, mainly because of the complexity of the cabling.
• If there are x computers, there will be (x × (x–1)) ÷ 2 cables in the network. For example, if you
have five computers in a mesh network, it will use 5 × (5 – 1) ÷ 2, which equals 10 cables. This
complexity is compounded when you add another workstation.
• For example, your five-computer, 10-cable network will jump to 15 cables just by adding one
more computer. Imagine how the person doing the cabling would feel if you told them you had to
cable 50 computers in a mesh network—they’d have to come up with 50 × (50 – 1) ÷ 2 = 1225
cables!
Network topology (cont.)
• Because of its design, the physical mesh topology is very expensive to install and maintain.
• Cables must be run from each device to every other device. The advantage you gain from it is its
high fault tolerance.
• With a logical mesh topology, however, there will always be a way of getting the data from source
to destination.
• It may not be able to take the direct route, but it can take an alternate, indirect route. It is for this
reason that the mesh topology is still found in WANs to connect multiple sites across WAN links. It
uses devices called routers to search multiple routes through the mesh and determine the best
path.
• However, the mesh topology does become inefficient with five or more entities.
Network topology (cont.)
• Mesh Topology
TREE
• Hierarchal Model

• Advantages
• Scaleable
• Easy Implementation
• Easy Troubleshooting
Types of Networks

Ethernet
Figure 15.2 Various network topologies
The industry standard bus technology for local-
area networks
Network topology (cont.)
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Network Topologies

Topology Advantages Disadvantages

Bus Cheap. Easy to install. Difficult to reconfigure.

Break in bus disables
entire network.

Star Cheap. Easy to install. More expensive than bus.

Easy to reconfigure.
Fault tolerant.

Ring Efficient. Easy to install. Reconfiguration difficult.

Very expensive.

Mesh Simplest. Most fault tolerant. Reconfiguration extremely difficult.

Extremely expensive.
Very complex.