DATA COMMUNICATION
AND COMPUTER
NETWORKING
UNIT - I
INTRODUCTION OF NETWORKS
Uses of computer networks - Network hardware - Network software - Reference models -
Physical Layer: Theoretical basis for data communication - Guided transmission media:
Twisted pairs - Coaxial cable - Fiber Optics - Unguided transmission: The
Electromagnetic spectrum - Radio wave transmission- Micro wave transmission -Infrared
transmission.
INTRODUCTION OF NETWORKS
What is 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.
Components Of Computer Network
Uses of computer networks
It allows you to share resources such as printers, scanners, etc.
You can share expensive software and database among network users.
It facilitates communications from one computer to another computer.
It allows the exchange of data and information among users through a network.
Uses of computer networks
Communication: Through computer networks individuals and
organizations can collaborate using communicational channels that
may include email, chat, and video conferencing.
Resource sharing: These bags are a boon to users since they
provide a way to share the printer, scanner, and files, which will help
to improve work activities and reduce costs.
Remote access: Network technologies bring the power of
information and assistance by making it accessible from anywhere on
the globe. Hence, this enables users to operate with more freedom
and comfort.
Collaboration: Networks function to make collaboration gin and
tonic by offering the opportunities to work jointly on something, share
thoughts, and critique in the biggest way.
E-commerce: Online sales and payments processing are empowered
with the computer networks, that enable businesses to sell products
online and execute secure payments.
Education: From their use in the educational setting they are
employed to provide a basis for distance learning, access to
resources of higher education and give opportunity for collaboration
among students and teachers.
Entertainment: Networks are applied to matters of entertainment
like online gaming, online film and music streaming, and social
networking.
Network Hardware
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,
Brouter, and NIC, etc.
Network Hardware
•Routers: Direct packets between different networks and manage traffic.
•Switches: Connect devices within the same network and manage data traffic.
•Hubs: Basic devices that connect multiple computers in a network, sending data
to all connected devices.
•Modems: Convert digital data from a computer to analog signals for
transmission over phone lines or vice versa.
•Access Points: Provide wireless connectivity to a wired network.
•Network Interface Cards (NICs): Allow computers to connect to a network.
•Repeaters: Amplify or regenerate signals to extend the transmission distance.
•Bridges: Connect and filter traffic between two network segments.
Network Software
Network software is an umbrella term used to describe a wide range
of software that streamlines the operations, design, monitoring, and
implementation of computer networks.
• User management allows administrators to add or remove users
from the network. This is particularly useful when hiring or relieving
• File management lets administrators decide the location of data
storage and control user access to that data.
• Access enables users to enjoy uninterrupted access to network
resources.
• Network security systems assist administrators in looking after
security and preventing data breaches.
Network Software
•Operating Systems: Manage network resources and services (e.g.,
Windows Server, Linux).
•Network Management Software: Tools for monitoring, managing, and
configuring network resources (e.g., SolarWinds, Nagios).
•Network Security Software: Includes firewalls, antivirus, and intrusion
detection systems (e.g., Cisco ASA, Norton Security).
•Network Protocols: Software that defines rules for data communication
(e.g., TCP/IP, HTTP, FTP).
•Applications: Programs that utilize the network for various functions
(e.g., email clients, web browsers).
Reference Models
In computer networks, reference models give a
conceptual framework that standardizes communication
between heterogeneous networks.
The two popular reference models are −
OSI Model
TCP/IP Protocol Suite
OSI Model
OSI or Open System Interconnection model was developed by
International Standards Organization (ISO). It gives a layered
networking framework that conceptualizes how communication
should be done between heterogeneous systems. It has seven
interconnected layers.
OSI Model
TCP / IP PROTOCOL SUITE
TCP stands for Transmission Control Protocol, while IP stands for
Internet Protocol. It is a suite of protocols for communication
structured in four layers. It can be used for communication over the
internet as well as for private networks.
The four layers are
Physical Layer
The physical Layer is the bottom-most layer in the
Open System Interconnection (OSI) Model which is a physical
and electrical representation of the system.
It consists of various network components such as power plugs,
connectors, receivers, cable types, etc.
The physical layer sends data bits from one device(s) (like a
computer) to another device(s).
The physical Layer defines the types of encoding (that is how the
0’s and 1’s are encoded in a signal).
The physical Layer is responsible for the communication of the
unstructured raw data streams over a physical medium.
The Theoretical Basis for Data
Communication
Information can be transmitted on wires by varying some physical
property such as voltage or current.
By representing the value of this voltage or current as a single-valued
function of time, f(t), we can model the behavior of the signal and analyze
it mathematically.
Fourier Analysis
Bandwidth-Limited Signals
Maximum Data Rate of a Channel
Fourier Analysis
Fourier analysis is a method of representing general functions by
approximate sum of simple trigonometric functions.
The method is named after mathematician Jean Baptiste Joseph
Fourier who formulated and proved the Fourier series.
Fourier analysis is used in electronics, communications and
acoustics.
Bandwidth-Limited Signals
Bandwidth-limited signals are signals that are constrained to a
specific frequency range.
In other words, these signals do not contain frequency
components beyond a certain upper limit.
This concept is important in various fields such as
telecommunications, signal processing, and electronics.
Maximum Data Rate of a Channel
The maximum data rate of a channel, often referred to as the channel
capacity, represents the highest rate at which data can be transmitted
over a communication channel without error.
This concept is central in information theory and
telecommunications.
The maximum data rate depends on several factors, including
bandwidth, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and channel characteristics.
Transmission Media
Various physical media can be used for the actual transmission.
Each one has its own niche in terms of bandwidth, delay, cost,
and ease of installation and maintenance.
There are two groups of transmission media:
1) Guided Transmission media (copper wire, fiber optics,
etc.)
2) Unguided Transmission media or wireless (terrestrial
radio, lasers through the air, satellite, etc.)
Transmission Media
Guided Transmission Data
Guided Transmission is also referred to as Wired or
Bounded transmission media. Signals being
transmitted are directed and confined in a narrow
pathway by using physical links.
Features:
• High Speed
• Secure
• Used for comparatively shorter distances
Twisted Pair Cable
Twisted pair cable is a type of electrical wiring used extensively
in telecommunications and computer networks.
It consists of pairs of insulated copper wires twisted together.
The twisting helps to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI)
from external sources and crosstalk between adjacent pairs of
wires.
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)
Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP): UTP consists of two insulated copper wires
twisted around one another. This type of cable has the ability to block
interference and does not depend on a physical shield for this purpose. It is
used for telephonic applications.
Advantages of Unshielded Twisted Pair
Least expensive
•Easy to install
•High-speed capacity
Disadvantages of Unshielded Twisted Pair
Susceptible to external interference
•Lower capacity and performance in comparison to STP
•Short distance transmission due to attenuation
Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)
Shielded Twisted Pair (STP): This type of cable consists of a special jacket (a
copper braid covering or a foil shield) to block external interference. It is used
in fast-data-rate Ethernet and in voice and data channels of telephone lines.
Advantages of Shielded Twisted Pair
• Better performance at a higher data rate in comparison to UTP
• Eliminates crosstalk
• Comparatively faster
Disadvantages of Shielded Twisted Pair
• Comparatively difficult to install and manufacture
• More expensive
• Bulky
Coaxial Cable
It has an outer plastic covering containing an insulation layer made of
PVC or Teflon and 2 parallel conductors each having a separate
insulated protection cover.
The coaxial cable transmits information in two modes:
Baseband mode(dedicated cable bandwidth) and
Broadband mode(cable bandwidth is split into separate
ranges).
Cable TVs and analog television networks widely use Coaxial cables.
Advantages of Coaxial Cable
• Coaxial cables support high bandwidth.
• It is easy to install coaxial cables.
• Coaxial cables have better cut-through resistance so they are more
reliable and durable.
• Less affected by noise or cross-talk or electromagnetic inference.
• Coaxial cables support multiple channels
Disadvantages of Coaxial Cable
• Coaxial cables are expensive.
• The coaxial cable must be grounded in order to prevent any crosstalk.
• As a Coaxial cable has multiple layers it is very bulky.
• There is a chance of breaking the coaxial cable and attaching a “t-
joint” by hackers, this compromises the security of the data.
Optical Fiber Cable
Optical Fibre Cable uses the concept of refraction of light through
a core made up of glass or plastic.
The core is surrounded by a less dense glass or plastic covering
called the cladding.
It is used for the transmission of large volumes of data. The cable
can be unidirectional or bidirectional.
The WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexer) supports two
modes, namely unidirectional and bidirectional mode.
Stripline
Stripline is a transverse electromagnetic (TEM) transmission line
medium invented by Robert M. Barrett of the Air Force Cambridge
Research Centre in the 1950s.
Stripline is the earliest form of the planar transmission line. It uses a
conducting material to transmit high-frequency waves it is also called
a waveguide.
This conducting material is sandwiched between two layers of the
ground plane which are usually shorted to provide EMI immunity.
Micro Stripline
A microstrip line is a type of transmission line used in electronic
circuits, especially for high-frequency applications. It is
characterized by a conductor on the surface of a dielectric
substrate, which is also backed by a ground plane.
Microstrip lines are crucial for maintaining signal integrity and
minimizing losses in high-speed digital and RF (radio frequency)
designs.
Unguided Transmission
Unguided Transmission, also known as wireless media, refers to
communication methods where signals are transmitted through
free space without the use of physical conduits like cables or
fibers.
Features of Unguided Transmission
• The signal is broadcasted through air
• Less Secure
• Used for larger distances
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
The “radio, microwave, infrared, and visible light portions of the
spectrum can of the spectrum can all be used for transmitting information
by modulating the amplitude, frequency, or phase of waves.
Ultraviolet light, X-rays, and gamma rays would be even better, due to
their higher frequencies, but they are hard to produce and modulate, do
not propagate well through buildings, and are dangerous to living things.
The amount of information that an electromagnetic wave can carry is
related to its bandwidth.
With current technology, it is possible to encode a few bits per Herts at
low frequencies, but often as many as 8 at high frequencies, so a coaxial
cable with a 750 MHz bandwidth can carry several gigabits/sec.
Radio Waves
Radio waves are easy to generate and can penetrate through
buildings. The sending and receiving antennas need not be
aligned. Frequency Range:3KHz – 1GHz. AM and FM radios and
cordless phones use Radio waves for transmission.
Microwaves
It is a line of sight transmission i.e. the sending and receiving
antennas need to be properly aligned with each other. The
distance covered by the signal is directly proportional to the
height of the antenna.
Frequency Range:1GHz – 300GHz. Micro waves are majorly
used for mobile phone communication and television
distribution.
Infrared
Infrared waves are used for very short distance communication.
They cannot penetrate through obstacles. This prevents
interference between systems. Frequency Range:300GHz –
400THz. It is used in TV remotes, wireless mouse, keyboard,
printer, etc.
