CCN Notes

By Adeel khan Bazai

 Communication Network Basics
Some Common Definitions

• In general, the term network can refer

to any interconnected group or system
• A network is any method of sharing
information between two systems
• A network is a series of points or
nodes interconnected by
communication paths
• Networks can interconnect with other
networks and contain sub-networks
Network Topologies

• Map of a network
• Defines how the nodes of a network are connected Three

basic categories
• Physical topology
• Signal topology
• Logical topology
Physical Topologies

Figure : Physical Topology Types

Signal Topologies

• Describes the mapping of the

actual connections between the
nodes of a network
• Point-to-point (PTP) topology
Logical Topologies

• Describe the mapping of the apparent connections

between the nodes of a network
• Are bound to network protocols and describe how
data is moved across the network
• Are often closely associated with media access
control (MAC) methods
• Are able to be dynamically reconfigured by special
types of equipment such as routers and switches

Note
A network can have one type of ’physical topology and a
completely different logical topology
Classification based on Scale

• Personal Area Network (PAN)

• Local Area Network (LAN)

• Campus Area Network (CAN)

• Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

• Wide Area Network (WAN)

• Global Area Network (GAN)

• Internetwork
• Intranet
• Extranet
• Internet
Classification based on Scale
Local Area Network (LAN)

• Usually privately owned

• Links the devices in a single office, building or campus
of up to few kilometers in size
• Used to share resources (hardware or software) and
to exchange information
Classification based on Scale
Local Area Network (LAN)
Classification based on Scale
Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN)

• Designed to extend over the entire city

• May be a single network as a cable TV
network or it may be connecting a
number of LANs into a larger network
Classification based on Scale
Wide Area Network (WAN)

• Provides long-distance
transmission of data, voice,
image and information over
large geographical areas that
may comprise a country,
continent or even the whole
world
• May utilize public, leased or
private communication
devices
Internet
Internet Service Providers

• End systems access the Internet through Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
• Residential ISPs such as local cable or telephone companies Corporate ISPs
• University ISPs; and
• ISPs that provide Wi-Fi access in airports, hotels, coffee shops, and other public
places

• Each ISP is in itself a network of packet switches and communication links

providing
• Residential broadband access such as cable modem or DSL and 56 kbps dial-
up modem access
• High-speed LAN access, wireless access
• Internet access to content providers, connecting Web sites directly to the
Internet
 Internet
A Services Description

• An infrastructure that provides services to applications

 Electronic mail  Distributed games

 Web surfing  Peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing
 Television over the Internet
 Social networks
Remote login, and . . .
 Instant messaging
 Voice-over-IP (VoIP)
 Video streaming