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Introduction
Data Communication: movements of the computer information from one point to another by means of
electrical or optical transmission systems called networks.
Networks also allow their user to interact using e-mail, chat and video streaming.
Communications or telecommunication, refer to the transfer of data from a transmitter- also called a
sender or a source-to a receiver-also called a sink-across a distance (tele from ancient Greek) meaning
“for-off”. Some form of electromagnetic energy-electricity, radio or light is used to represent the data
which transmitted through physical medium – for example, wire, cable or the atmosphere.
Additionally, some number of intermediate devices is often involved to set up a path for the data
transfer and to maintain adequate signal strength. The data transmitted can be voice, text, images,
sound or a combination of these (multimedia).
We also can define data communications as the subset of telecommunications involving the
transmission of data to and from computer and components of computer systems. More specifically,
data communications is the transmission of data through a conducted medium such as wire/cable or
by the use radiated electromagnetic waves such as broadcast radio, infrared light and microwaves.
In addition, the message should be understandable and there should be some means of error detection.
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Signal and their Characteristics
Data is transmitted by two types of signals, each required different kind of communication techniques.
Analog Digital
The normal way to transmit information through a medium is to vary an electromagnetic or electrical
signal at transmitting end by some means, and detect these varying signals at the receiver end.
Telephone, radio, and television- the older forms of communication technique were designer to work
with analog signals.
Period = t = 1/f
2 characteristics of analog carrier waves that can be altered are frequency and amplitude.
Frequency: no. of times a wave repeats during a specific time interval that is, how many times it
completes a cycle in a second. Frequency measured in hertz (Hz).
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Amplitude: the height of a wave within a given period time. It is actually the strength or volume- the
loudness of a signal. Amplitude is measured in volts
We know that a digital signal uses on/off or present/absent electrical pushes in a discontinuous or
discrete, rather than a continuous waves.
Period = t = 1/f
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Computer Networking
What is computer Network?
The purposes of network vary as much as the uses of networks. In general, networks are created to
share resources including
1. File sharing
Computer networks allow file sharing and remote file access. It is a method of distribution of digital
stored information like multimedia, computer programs, documents, etc.
2. Resources Sharing
Resources sharing are another benefit of a computer network. For example, 20 computers can be
interconnected, using a network, and just with one modem and one printer can efficiently provide the
services to all 20 members
A standalone computer might fall short of storage memory, but when many computers are on a
network, memory of different computers can be used in such case. One can also design a storage
server on the network in order to have a huge storage capacity.
There is much software available in the market which is costly and takes time for installation.
Computer networks resolve this issue as the software can be stored or installed on a server and can be
used by the different workstation.
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Following are some major disadvantages od computer networks
1. Security issues
One of the major downside of computer networks is the security issues involved
If a computer is a standalone, physical access becomes necessary for any kind of data theft.
If a computer is on a network, a computer hacker can get authorised access by using different tools.
In case of big organisations, various network security software are used to prevent the theft of any
confidential and classified data.
If any computer system in a network gets affected by computer virus, there is a possible threat of
other systems getting affected too. Viruses get spread on a network easily because of the
interconnectivity of workstation. Such spread can be dangerous if the computer have important
database which can get corrupted by the virus.
3. Expensive Set Up
The initial set up cost of a computer networks can be high depending on the number of computers to
be connected. Additional devices like routers, switches, hubs, etc. can be very pricey.
In case the main File Server of a computer network breaks down, the system becomes useless. In case
of big networks, the File Server should be a powerful computer, which often makes it expensive
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Components of a network
There are three basic hardware components for a computer network:
The server stores data or software that can be access by the clients.
The client is the input/output device at the user’s end of communication circuit. It typically provides
users with access to the network and the data and software on the server
The circuit is the pathway through which the messages travel. It is typically a copper wire, although
fiber optic cable and wireless transmission are becoming more common
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More commonly, organisations use public data networks provided by common carriers.
LAN CATEGORIES
In LAN systems, there are two main types of network categories which are:
Server based
Peer-to-peer
Computers (servers) set up to be primary providers of services such as file service or mail
service
Need to use a network operating system of NOS. Network operating system provide
management and security features that are not found in desktop system
Various computer on the network can act both as clients and servers
Many Microsoft Windows based computer allow file and print sharing. These computers can
act both as a client and a server and are also referred to as peers.
Lacks the security and management features that server provide
Many networks are combination peer-to-peer and server based networks
The internet has become a major communication highway for millions of users
It is a decentralised system of link networks that are worldwide in scope
It facilitates data communication services such as remote log-in, file transfer, electronic mail,
the World Wide Web and newsgroups
Internet websites now provide personal, educational, political and economic resources to
virtually any point on the planet
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Intranet
With advancements in browser-based software for the internet, many private organisation
have implemented intranets
An intranet is a private network utilizing internet-type tools, but available only within that
organisation
For large organisation, an intranet provides easy access to corporate information for
designated employees.
Extranet
While an intranet is used to disseminate information within a corporation, an extranet id
commonly used by companies to share data in a secure fashion with their business partner
Internet-type tolls are used by content providers to update the extranet
Encryption and user authentication means are provided to protect the information, and to
ensure that designated people with the proper access privileges are allowed to view it.
Ethernet
The term Ethernet refers to the family local-area network (LAN) products covered by the
IEEE 802.3 standard
Ethernet features high speeds, robustness (i.e., high reliability), low cost and adaptability to
new technologies. These features have helped it maintain its popularity despite being one of
the oldest of the LAN technologies
A key feature of Ethernet is the breaking data into packets, also referred to as frames, which
are then transmitted using the CSMA/CD (carrier sense multiple access/collision detection)
protocol until they arrive at the destination without colliding with any other packets.
Ethernet media
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An important part of designing and installing an Ethernet is selecting the appropriate Ethernet
medium
Ethernet media
This wide variety of media reflects the evolution of Ethernet and also points to the technology’s
flexibility
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It is important to note that each type of Ethernet, fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, 10 Gigabit Ethernet,
has its own preferred media type
Ethernet LANs consists of network codes and interconnecting media. The network nodes fall into two
major classes:
Device that is either the source or the destination of data frames. DTEs are typically devices such as
PCs, workstations, fileserver, or print server that, as a group, are all often referred to as end stations
Intermediate network is a device that receive and forward frames across the network. DCEs may be
either standalone devices such as repeaters, network switches and routers, or communication interface
units such as interface cards and modems.
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