Networks and

Communication
Prepared By:Mazhar Javed Awan

Networks

Is the series of computer systems that are linked

together so that they are able to share computing power
or storage facilities.
A network is connected with one another through
cables or telephone wires.
The link way be between computers in the same
building or between computers in different parts of the
country.
Network may be in form of
Terminal computer
Server Computer

Examples

Computer network can be used in offices or

computers Lab
Internet is an example of network in which
million of people are connected with phone
lines

Advantages of networking

Information and resource sharing by using printer or

scanners
Money saving by using the same software
Easy communication with others using large network
like internet.
Internet Access Sharing by using one high speed
connection instead of many slower one.
Avoid duplicate information by using to share same file
Data Security and Management
Entertainment through playing multi-player game
Maintain and backup data easily because these are
stored in center

Disadvantages of networking

Hardware, software & Setup Costs by designing and

implementing the network
Hardware & Software Management Costs by hiring a network
administrator
Undesirable sharing by spreading viruses over networks
Illegal or Undesirable Behavior by downloading
Data Security Concerns by unauthorized access through
hackers
Whole network becomes unusable if server breaks down

Types of computer networks

LAN ( LOCAL AREA NETWORK )

WAN (WIDE AREA NETWROK )
MAN ( MANIPULATION AREA
NETWROK)

LAN

It covers small area

Most LANs are used to connect computer in a single building or group of
buildings
LANs can be found in industrial plants , office buildings ,colleges or
universities
Capable of transmitting data at very fast rate
It is much faster than data transmission over a telephone line

LAN CHARACTERISTICS
Size

Restricted in
Size

Transmission Technology

Single Cable
10 to 100 Mbps
Low delay (ms)
Very few Errors

Topology

BUS (Ethernet)
Ring (Token ring)

Uses of LAN

Sharing of one copy by all users

System resources can be share
like printer
Easy to manage data store
Data is more secure from being
copied or destroyed
It may be in form of
Peer-to-peer Network
Client Server Network

WAN

It covers the large area

WAN connects computer in different cities and countries
Normally a WAN consists of two or more interconnected
LANs
Connected through telephone lines or satellites
WAN is expensive than LAN
Speed depends on the speed provided by the company
Use in banks or in air ticketing system

MAN

Is the communication network that covers a

geographical area of the size of city
A MAN include one or more LANs but covers a
small geographical area than WAN
It act as a high speed network
Mobile phone system often use MAN

Network Topologies

The physical layout or the way in which network connections

connection are made is called topology
It refers especially to the locations of the computer and how
the cable runs between them
It may be
Bus or Line Topology
Star Topology
Ring Topology
Tree Topology

Bus or Line Topology

All computers or network nodes are connected to a common communication

medium
In a local network this medium is often a central wire called bus
Working
If a computer wants to send data to the other computer in the network ,it sends
the data via the bus
The data and address move from one computer to other and checks the address
if it matches then it goes to other computer

Advantages

Simple easy and suitable for small network

Least amount of cable is required
Easy to extend a bus

Disadvantages

Heavy network traffic can slow a network

A cable breaks or loose connector will disconnect the entire
network
No of computer increase then speed of network will be slow

Star Topology

Is one in which all the cables run

from the computers to a central
location
Connected with the device called
hub
Used in client server network

Working

If two computers want to share

data the sender computer sends
data to the hub and hub sends it to
the receiving computer

Advantages

Hub can accommodate multiple cable types

Easy to modify
Finding faults becomes easy
Single computer failure cannot break the network
Disadvantages
If central hubs fails the entire network fails
It is more expensive because all network cables must
be pulled to a central point

Ring Topology

Each computer is connected to the

next computer with the last one
connected to the first
Data flow around the circle from
device to device in one direction only
Working
Each computer retransmits what it
receives from the previous computer
The message flow in one direction

Advantages

There is no signal loss problem

Every computer has a equal access to the token

Disadvantages

Failure of one computer on ring effect the whole

network
Difficult to troubleshoot
Adding or removing computers disrupts the network

Hierarchical networks

In some networks one or more computers are

more powerful than the others.
These networks are called hierarchical
networks.
These more powerful computers usually look
after specific functions on the network and
are called servers (e.g. file servers, printer
servers).
File servers manage all the files stored on the
network, including program and data files.
File servers are also used to store program
and data files.
Printer servers manage all the printing
requests on the network.

Network software and

hardware

Networks require specific software and hardware

in order to work including:

A network operating system.

Network cabling (e.g. metal or fibre optic cables) and
connectors or wireless media (e.g. radio, microwave, or
infra-red).
Network cards.

The quality of the software and hardware used

will determine the speed at which data is
transferred (i.e. the data transfer speed).
The data transfer speed is the speed at which
data is transferred from the server to a
workstation/terminal.
Download time is the time this data transfer
takes.

Communications links

Twisted pair (copper cable):

Two wires twisted together.

Makes them less susceptible to acting like an antenna and picking up radio
frequency information

Telephone company uses twisted-pair copper wires to link telephones.

Coaxial cable

Also two wires:

One of the wires is woven of fine strands of copper forming a tube.

The wire mesh surrounds a solid copper wire that runs down the center.
Space between has a non-conducting material.
Makes them more impervious to outside noise.

Fiber-optic cable

Light is electromagnetic.
Can transmit more
information down a
single strand.

It can send a wider set of

frequencies.

Each cable can send

several thousand phone
conversations or
computer
communications.

Infrared

Commonly used in TV
and VCR remote controls.
Use infrared frequencies
of electromagnetic
radiation that behave
much like visible light.
Must be in the line of
sight.
Often used to connect
keyboards, mice,
and printers.

Microwave

Often used to communicate

with distant locations.
Must be line of sight.
Satellite communications use
microwaves.

Radio frequency
Uses radio frequencies.
Function even though line of sight is
interrupted.
Not commonly used because of the possible
interference from other sources of
electromagnetic radiation such as old electric
drills and furnace motors.

Network security

Keeping networks secure is very

important.
This is usually done by giving all
users a:

User ID a unique name or number that

identifies each individual network user
and allocates each users file access.
Password a string of letters and/or
numbers that is only known by each
individual user.

Modem
To do this the computer must be equipped with a

modem

(Modulator Demodulator).
The modem converts digital signals into analogue
signals that can be sent along telephone lines.
It can also convert analogue signals it receives
back into digital signals the computer can use.

Dial up Connection
Telephone line
One Tone
represents
Binary 1

Digital signal
1
MODEM
0
Disadvantages

A different Tone
represents
Binary 0

Dial up ties up your telephone line and so it cannot be used

for anything else.
It takes a while for the computer to set up a connection i.e
many seconds.
Internet Service Providers may charge you by the minute
and so a slow link means you pay more.

Integrated Services Digital Network

You do not need a modem but instead need a device called an ISDN terminal adapter.
In this network sending voice, video and computer data and user can receive telephone
calls using the one line.
Conduct videoconferencing easily.
Designed to replace public telecom system
Wide variety of services
Entirely digital domain
First generation ( narrowband ISDN )
64 kbps channel is the basic unit
Circuit-switching orientation
Contributed to frame relay
Second generation ( broadband ISDN )
100s of mbps
Packet-switching orientation
Contributed to ATM ( cell relay )

Disadvantages

Your main telephone socket has to be changed to an ISDN box

by an engineer.
Your computer has to be fitted with an ISDN modem which is
more expensive than a standard modem.
It is more expensive than Dial-up on a monthly basis.
Should you move house, you have to pay for your telephone
line to be converted back again to a normal line.

Message Sending

Sending data down a communication line is

not just a question of sending the streams of
bits that represent each character.
The problem is that each computer
manufacturer has its own standards for
encoding data.

Protocols

Used for communications between entities in a system

An agreed-upon format or set of rules for transmitting data
between two devices.
Must speak the same language
Entities

User applications
E-mail facilities
Terminals

Systems

Computer
Terminal
Remote sensor

Key Elements of a Protocol

Syntax

Semantics

Data formats
Signal levels
Control information
Error handling

Timing

Speed matching
Sequencing

Handshaking

Handshaking is the exchange of signals between devices to establish their

readiness to send or receive data.
E.g. Between Computer and Printer
It is one method of ensuring that both the sender and receiver are ready
before transmission begins.
The conversation between the two devices is along the lines of following
Device 1
Device 2
Are you ready to receive data
Yes go ahead
Sends data
Message received thanks

File Compression

File compression is the process of condensing

repetitive information.
It is used when sending a data through
telecommunications link.
Since the smaller the file, the cheaper the file
transfer will be.
File compression may be performed by
software before the data is sent or by the
modem itself as the data is being sent.

Access Speed

The speed with which you can surf the web or view
data over a wide area network depends on a couple of
factors.
The speed of your modem will determine how fast the
pulses are sent and the speed of the receivers modem
will determine the speed with which they can arrive.
The speed of the slowest modem will determine the
speed of the over link.
Different types of cables also influence the speed.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth is a measure of how much data can be carried

at one time, measured in Megabits per second (Mbps).
The bandwidth is determined by the transmission media
(cabling) and the protection around it to lessen
interference.
Bandwidth: Digital
Number of bits per second (bps) that can be sent over
a link.
The wider the bandwidth, the more diverse kinds of
information can be sent.
Simplest is voice, most sophisticated is moving
videos.
Bandwidth: Analog
The difference between the highest and lowest
frequencies that can be sent over an analog link (like
phone lines).
Measurement is given in hertz (Hz).
For both: The wider the bandwidth, the more information
can flow over the channel.

Cost of installation

Terminal costs
Servers costs
Cabling costs
Network cards
Software
Back up devices
The cost of modem or ISDN
Cost of ISP
Telephone or other communication charges.

Electronic data interchange (EDI)

EDI is the electronic transmission of business data,

such as purchase orders and invoices from one firm
to another.
Speed and reliability are major advantages of EDI.
Data such as O level result are now commonly
transmitted direct to schools and colleges rather then
being sent by mail.