Data Communication and Networks

Course: BBA
Subject: Introduction to Computer
Unit: 4
 What is data Communication?
• Exchange of digital information between two digital
devices is data communication.
• Data Communications is the transfer of data or
information between a source and a receiver. The
source transmits the data and the receiver receives it.
• The actual generation of the information is not part of
Data Communications nor is the resulting action of the
information at the receiver. Data Communication is
interested in the transfer of data, the method of transfer
and the preservation of the data during the transfer
process.
 Types Of Data Communication
• Simplex
• Half Duplex
• Full Duplex
• Serial
 Simplex
• A simplex communication system sends a message in only
one direction. The message source works as the transmitter.
• It sends the message over the data channel to the receiver.
The receiver is the destination of the message.
• Examples of simplex data communication include radio
stations and TV broadcasts. With the simplex channel, there
is no ability by the receiver to respond to the message.
• For example, a radio station plays a song on your car radio.
The data transferred is the song. You do not have the
opportunity to send a message back via your car radio to the
station.
 half-duplex
• A data communication system provides messages in both
directions but only allows transfer in one direction at a
time.
• Once a party begins sending a transmission, the receiver
must wait until the signal stops before responding.
• If the two data transfers attempt to send at the same time,
they both fail.
• For instance, if you talk on a CB radio, you press a button
and speak. If the receiver attempts to press the button and
speak at the same time, neither one of you hear either
message. The system is not capable of sending both ways
simultaneously.
 full duplex
• A full duplex is a communication that works both ways
at the same time.
• Essentially, full duplex data communication is a set of
two simplex channels, one works as a forward channel
and the other as a reserve channel. The two channels
link together at some point.
• An example of a full duplex communication system is a
landline telephone. When talking on a telephone, both
parties have the ability to speak at the same time. The
data, carried both ways through the telephone line, runs
simultaneously.
 Serial communication
• Serial communication takes a data communication,
breaks it up into small pieces, and sends the message
one bit at a time through a channel.
• The receiver collects the small bits and reassembles
them to compose the original message.
• Serial communication is the most common type of
communication between electronic devices. \
• One example of serial communication in action is the
data sent from a modem to the service provider.
 Communication Media
• Magnetic Media
• Twisted Pair Cable
• Coaxial Cable
• Power Lines
• Fiber Optics
 Magnetic Media
• One of the most convenient way to transfer data from one
computer to another,
• For an example, say a Bank has Gigs of bytes of their
customers’ data which stores a backup copy of it at some
geographically far place for security and uncertain reasons
like war or tsunami. If the Bank needs to store its copy of
data which is Hundreds of GBs, transfer through Internet is
not feasible way. Even WAN links may not support such
high speed or if they do cost will be too high to afford.
• In these kinds of cases, data backup is stored onto magnetic
tapes or magnetic discs and then shifted physically at
remote places.
 Twisted pair cable
• A twisted pair cable is made of two plastic insulated copper wires twisted together to form a single
media. Out of these two wires only one carries actual signal and another is used for ground reference.
The twists between wires is helpful in reducing noise (electro-magnetic interference) and crosstalk.
• It has two type
• Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable
• Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable

• STP cables comes with twisted wire pair covered in metal foil. This makes it more indifferent to noise
and crosstalk.
• UTP has seven categories, each suitable for specific use. In computer networks, Cat-5, Cat-5e and Cat-
6 cables are mostly used. UTP cables are connected by RJ45 connectors.
 Coaxial Cable
• Coaxial cables has two wires of copper. The core wire lies in center and is made of
solid conductor. Core is enclosed in an insulating sheath. Over the sheath the
second wire is wrapped around and that too in turn encased by insulator sheath.
This all is covered by plastic cover.
• Because of its structure coaxial cables are capable of carrying high frequency
signals than that of twisted pair cables. The wrapped structure provides it a good
shield against noise and cross talk. Coaxial cables provide high bandwidth rates of
up to 450 mbps.
• There are three categories of Coax cables namely, RG-59 (Cable TV), RG-58 (Thin
Ethernet) and RG-11 (Thick Ethernet. RG stands for Radio Government.
 Fiber Optics
• Fiber Optic works on the properties of
light. When light ray hits at critical
angle it tends to refracts at 90 degree.
This property has been used in fiber
optic.
• The core of fiber optic cable is made of
high quality glass or plastic. From one
end of it light is emitted, it travels
through it and at the other end light
detector detects light stream and
converts it to electric data form.
• Fiber Optic provides the highest mode
of speed.
• It comes in two modes,
– single mode fiber and
– second is multimode fiber..
Network Topology
 CONTENT

Definition of
Network Topology

Types of
Network Topology

Differentiation Between the

Types of Network Topology
 DEFINITION

What is a Topology ?

The physical topology of a network

refers to the configuration of cables,
computers and other peripherals.
TYPES OF NETWORK TOPOLOGY

Bus network.

Ring network.

Star network.
 BUS TOPOLOGY
All computers and devices
connected to central cable or bus.
Consists of a main run of cable
with a terminator at each end.

Popular on LANs because they

are inexpensive and easy to
install.
 RING TOPOLOGY
Cable forms closed ring or loop,
with all computers and devices
arranged along ring.
Data travels from device to
device around entire ring, in
one direction.

Primarily is used for LANs,

but also is used in WANs.
RING TOPOLOGY
 STAR TOPOLOGY
All devices connect to a
central device, called
hub.

All data transferred

from one computer to
another passes through
hub.
STAR TOPOLOGY
 DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN THE THREE
TYPES OF NETWORK TOPOLOGY
BUS
ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

1) Easy to connect computer or 1) Entire network shuts down if

peripheral to a linear bus.
2) Requires less cable length
than a star topology.
there is a break in the main
cable.
2) Terminators are required at
both ends of the backbone
cable.

3) Difficult to identify the

problem if the entire network
shuts down.
 DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN THE THREE
TYPES OF NETWORK TOPOLOGY
RING
ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE
1) Data is quickly transferred. 1) Data packets must pass
through every computer
between the sender and
recipient therefore, this makes
it slower.
2) The transmission of data is 2) If any of the nodes fail then the
relatively simple as packets ring is broken and data cannot be
travel in one direction only. transmitted successfully.
3) It is difficult to troubleshoot
the ring.
 DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN THE THREE
TYPES OF NETWORK TOPOLOGY
STAR
ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

1) Easy to install and wire. 1) Requires more cable length

than a linear topology.

2) Security can be implemented 2) If the hub or concentrator

in the hub/switch. fails, nodes attached are
disabled.

3) Easy to detect faults and to 3) More expensive than linear

remove parts. bus topologies because of the
cost of the concentrators.
 SUMMARY
BUS TOPOLOGY

DEFINITION ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

•All computers •Easy to connect a •Entire network shuts
and devices computer or down if
connected to peripheral to a linear there is a break in the
central cable bus. main cable.
•Requires less cable •Terminators are
length than required at both
a star topology. ends of the backbone
cable.
•Difficult to identify the
problem
if the entire network
shuts down.
 SUMMARY
RING TOPOLOGY

DEFINITION ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

•Cable forms closed •Data is quickly •Data packets must pass
ring or loop, with transferred without a through every computer
all computers and ‘bottle neck’. between the sender and
devices arranged •The transmission of recipient therefore, this
along ring. data is relatively makes it slower.
simple as packets travel •If any of the nodes fail then
in one direction only. the ring is broken and data
cannot be transmitted
successfully.
•It is difficult to
troubleshoot
the ring.
 SUMMARY
STAR TOPOLOGY

DEFINITION ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

•Requires more cable
•All devices •Easy to install and wire. length
connect to a than a linear topology.
central device,
called hub. •Security can be If the hub or
implemented concentrator fails,
in the hub/switch. nodes attached are
disabled.
•Easy to detect faults and
to More expensive than
remove parts linear bus topologies
because of the cost of the
concentrators.