What is a Computer Network

• Computer Network is a group of computers connected with

each other through wires, optical fibres or optical links so that
various devices can interact with each other through a
network.
• The aim of the computer network is the sharing of resources
among various devices.
• In the case of computer network technology, there are several
types of networks that vary from simple to complex level.
 Network Devices

Network devices, also known as networking hardware, are

physical devices that allow hardware on a computer network
to communicate and interact with one another. For example
Repeater, Hub, Bridge, Switch, Routers, Gateway,, etc.
 1. Repeater
A repeater operates at the physical layer. Its job is to
regenerate the signal over the same network before
the signal becomes too weak or corrupted to extend
the length to which the signal can be transmitted over
the same network. An important point to be noted
about repeaters is that they not only amplify the
signal but also regenerate it. When the signal
becomes weak, they copy it bit by bit and regenerate
it .
 2. Hub

Hub is a central device that splits the network

connection into multiple devices. When computer
requests for information from a computer, it sends the
request to the Hub. Hub distributes this request to all
the interconnected computers.
 3. Bridge

A bridge operates at the data link layer. A bridge is a

repeater, with add on the functionality of filtering
content by reading the MAC addresses of the source
and destination. It is also used for interconnecting
two LANs working on the same protocol. It has a
single input and single output port, thus making it a 2
port device.
 4. Switch
• A switch is a bridge with a buffer and a design that can boost its
efficiency and performance. A switch is a data link layer
device. The switch can perform error checking before forwarding
data, which makes it very efficient as it does not forward packets
that have errors and forward good packets selectively to the correct
port only. Switch is a networking device that groups all the devices
over the network to transfer the data to another device. A switch is
better than Hub as it does not broadcast the message over the
network, i.e., it sends the message to the device for which it belongs
to. Therefore, we can say that switch sends the message directly
from source to the destination.
 5. Routers
A router is a device like a switch that routes data packets based
on their IP addresses. Router is a device that connects the
LAN to the internet. The router is mainly used to connect the
distinct networks or connect the internet to multiple
computers.
 6. Gateway
A gateway, as the name suggests, is a passage to connect two
networks that may work upon different networking models.
They work as messenger agents that take data from one
system, interpret it, and transfer it to another system.
Gateways are also called protocol converters and can operate
at any network layer. Gateways are generally more complex
than switches or routers. A gateway is also called a protocol
converter.
 7. Cables and connectors

• Cable is a transmission media that transmits the

communication signals. There are three types of cables:
• Twisted pair cable: It is a high-speed cable that transmits the
data over 1Gbps or more.
• Coaxial cable: Coaxial cable resembles like a TV installation
cable. Coaxial cable is more expensive than twisted pair cable,
but it provides the high data transmission speed.
• Fibre optic cable: Fibre optic cable is a high-speed cable that
transmits the data using light beams. It provides high data
transmission speed as compared to other cables. It is more
expensive as compared to other cables, so it is installed at the
government level.
 8. Modem

• Modem connects the computer to the internet over the existing

telephone line. A modem is not integrated with the computer
motherboard. A modem is a separate part on the PC slot found
on the motherboard.
 Network software
Network software encompasses a broad range of software used for
the design, implementation, and operation and monitoring of
computer networks
• Functions of Network Software
• Helps to set up and install computer networks
• Enables users to have access to network resources in a seamless
manner
• Allows administrations to add or remove users from the network
• Helps to define locations of data storage and allows users to access
that data
• Helps administrators and security system to protect the network
from data breaches, unauthorized access and attacks on a network
 Types of Area Networks

• LAN stands for local area network. It is a group of network devices

that allow communication between various connected devices. Private
ownership has control over the local area network rather than the
public. LAN has a short propagation delay than MAN as well as WAN.
It covers smaller areas such as colleges, schools, hospitals, and so on.
• MAN stands for metropolitan area network. It covers a larger area than
LAN such as small towns, cities, etc. MAN connects two or more
computers that reside within the same or completely different cities.
MAN is expensive and should or might not be owned by one
organization.
• WAN stands for wide area network. It covers a large area than LAN as
well as a MAN such as country/continent etc. WAN is expensive and
should or might not be owned by one organization. PSTN or satellite
medium is used for wide area networks.
 Features Of Computer network

• Communication speed
• File sharing
• Back up is easy
• Software and Hardware sharing
• Security
• Scalability
• Reliability
 Computer Network Architecture
The two types of network architectures are used:
1) Peer-To-Peer network :
• Peer-To-Peer network is a network in which all the computers are linked together
with equal privilege and responsibilities for processing the data.
• Peer-To-Peer network is useful for small environments, usually up to 10 computers.

• 2) Client/Server network : Client/Server network is a network model designed for

the end users called clients, to access the resources such as songs, video, etc. from
a central computer known as Server.
• The central controller is known as a server while all other computers in the
network are called clients.
• A server performs all the major operations such as security and network
management.
• A server is responsible for managing all the resources such as files, directories,
printer, etc.
• All the clients communicate with each other through a server. For example, if
client1 wants to send some data to client 2, then it first sends the request to the
server for the permission. The server sends the response to the client 1 to initiate
its communication with the client 2.
Modes of Communication
 1. Simplex Mode

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. The simplex mode can use the entire
capacity of the channel to send data in one direction.
Example: Keyboard and traditional monitors. The
keyboard can only introduce input, the monitor can
only give the output.
Advantages:
•Simplex mode is the easiest and most reliable mode of communication.
•It is the most cost-effective mode, as it only requires one communication
channel.
•There is no need for coordination between the transmitting and receiving
devices, which simplifies the communication process.
•Simplex mode is particularly useful in situations where feedback or response
is not required, such as broadcasting or surveillance.
Disadvantages:
•Only one-way communication is possible.
•There is no way to verify if the transmitted data has been received correctly.
•Simplex mode is not suitable for applications that require bidirectional
communication.
 Half-Duplex Mode

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 used in cases where
there is no need for communication in both directions
at the same time. The entire capacity of the channel
can be utilized for each direction.
Example: Walkie-talkie in which message is sent one
at a time and messages are sent in both directions.
Advantages:
• Half-duplex mode allows for bidirectional communication, which is useful
in situations where devices need to send and receive data.
• It is a more efficient mode of communication than simplex mode, as the
channel can be used for both transmission and reception.
• Half-duplex mode is less expensive than full-duplex mode, as it only
requires one communication channel.
Disadvantages:
• Half-duplex mode is less reliable than Full-Duplex mode, as both devices
cannot transmit at the same time.
• There is a delay between transmission and reception, which can cause
problems in some applications.
• There is a need for coordination between the transmitting and receiving
devices, which can complicate the communication process.
 Full-Duplex Mode
In full-duplex mode, both stations can transmit and receive simultaneously. In
full_duplex mode, signals going in one direction share the capacity of the link
with signals going in another direction, this sharing can occur in two ways:
• Either the link must contain two physically separate transmission paths, one
for sending and the other for receiving.
• Or the capacity is divided between signals traveling in both directions.

• Full-duplex mode is used when communication in both directions is required

all the time. The capacity of the channel, however, must be divided between
the two directions.
Example: Telephone Network in which there is communication between two
persons by a telephone line, through which both can talk and listen at the same
time.
Advantages:
• Full-duplex mode allows for simultaneous bidirectional
communication, which is ideal for real-time applications such as video
conferencing or online gaming.
• It is the most efficient mode of communication, as both devices can
transmit and receive data simultaneously.
• Full-duplex mode provides a high level of reliability and accuracy, as
there is no need for error correction mechanisms.
Disadvantages:
• Full-duplex mode is the most expensive mode, as it requires two
communication channels.
• It is more complex than simplex and half-duplex modes, as it requires
two physically separate transmission paths or a division of channel
capacity.
• Full-duplex mode may not be suitable for all applications, as it requires
a high level of bandwidth and may not be necessary for some types of
communication.
 Network Topology

• Topology defines the structure of the network of how

all the components are interconnected to each other.
• Physical topology is the geometric representation of
all the nodes in a network. There are six types of
network topology which are Bus Topology, Ring
Topology, Tree Topology, Star Topology, Mesh
Topology, and Hybrid Topology.
Ring Topology