Overview of Data Communications

and
Networking

11DATACOMMUNICATIONS
The term telecommunication means communication at a distance. The word
data refers to information presented in whatever form is agreed upon by the
parties creating and using the data. Data communications are the exchange
of data between two devices via some form of transmission medium such as
a wire cable.

Topics discussed in this section:

Components
Data Representation
Data Flow

Figure 1.1

Five components of data communication

Figure 1.2 Data flow (simplex, half-duplex, and full-duplex)

12NETWORKS
A network is a set of devices (often referred to as nodes)
connected by communication links. A node can be a computer,
printer, or any other device capable of sending and/or receiving
data generated by other nodes on the network.

Topics discussed in this section:

Distributed Processing
Network Criteria
Physical Structures
Network Models
Categories of Networks
Interconnection of Networks: Internetwork

Figure 1.3 Types of connections: point-to-point and multipoint

Figure 1.4 Categories of topology

Categories of networks

An isolated LAN connecting 12

computers to a hub in a closet

MAN

Figure 1.11 WANs: a switched WAN and a point-to-point WAN

13THEINTERNET

The Internet has

revolutionized many
aspects of our daily lives.
It has affected the way we
do business as well as the
way we spend our leisure
time. The Internet is a
communication system
that has brought a wealth
of information to our
fingertips and organized it
for our use.

Internet today

Figure 1.12 A heterogeneous network made of four WANs and two LANs

Figure 1.13 Hierarchical organization of the Internet

14PROTOCOLSANDSTANDARDS
Protocols
First, we define protocol, which is synonymous with
rule
Standards
which are agreed-upon rules.
Topics discussed in this section:
Protocols
Standards
Standards Organizations
Internet Standards

1.4 Protocols and Standards

Protocols
Standards
Standards Organizations
Internet Standards

Computer communications
and standards

Why standards?
Required to allow for interoperability between equipment
Advantages

Disadvantages

Ensures a large market for equipment and software

Allows products from different vendors to communicate
Freeze technology
May be multiple standards for the same thing

Defacto and Dejure standards

Key Organizations

Standards organizations provide forums for

discussion, help turn discussion into formal
specifications
Most standards organizations have specific processes
for turning ideas into formal standards.
They all iterate through several rounds of organizing
ideas, discussing the ideas, developing draft
standards, voting on all or certain aspects of the
standards, and finally formally releasing the completed
standard to the public.

Key Organizations (cont)

Some of the better-known standards organizations

follow:
International Organization for Standardization
(ISO)An international standards organization
responsible for a wide range of standards,
including those relevant to networking. This
organization is responsible for the OSI reference
model and the OSI protocol suite.

Key Organizations (cont)

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)The
coordinating body for voluntary standards groups within
the United States. ANSI is a member of ISO. ANSIs bestknown communications standard is FDDI.

Electronic Industries Association (EIA)A group that

specifies electrical transmission standards. EIAs bestknown standard is EIA/TIA-232 (formerly RS-232).

Key Organizations (cont)

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
A professional organization that defines
network standards. IEEE LAN standards (including IEEE
802.3 and IEEE 802.5) are the best-known IEEE
communications standards and are the predominant LAN
standards in the world today.

Key Organizations (cont)

International Telecommunication Union
Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T)
(formerly the Committee for International Telegraph and
Telephone [CCITT])An international organization that
develops communication standards. The best-known ITUT standard is X.25.

Key Organizations
(cont)
Internet Activities Board (IAB)A group of internetwork

researchers who meet regularly to discuss issues pertinent to

the Internet. This board sets much of the policy for the Internet
through decisions and assignment of task forces to various
issues.
Some Request for Comments (RFC) documents are designated
by the IAB as Internet standards, including Transmission
Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and the Simple
Network Management Protocol (SNMP).