INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

NETWORKS

Quick Revision Notes

w.

1. Anetwork is any collection

ofindependent computers that communicate with one another over ashared
network medium.
2 Data, Hardware resources (Modem, Hard Disk, DVD Drive, Scanner etc) and Software resources (Application
Software, Anti-Virus tools etc.) can be easily shared on computer networks.
3. Sharing of resources in computer networking leads to cost saving
4. A computer network enables fast, reliable and easy communication among its users through email,
video conferencing or chatting through networking.
5. Network takes negligible time to send and receive messages, audio, video and images on a computer
network.
6. On a computer network, same data can be replicated on multiple computers to ensure the availability
of data in case of some computer getting faulty. Mostly the data is kept on servers and is
shared with
legitimate users. This ensures data security and reliability.
7. Personal Area Network (PAN): A Personal Area Network is a computer network organized around an
individual person. Personal area networks typically involve a mobile computer, a cell phone and/or a
hand held computing device such as a PDA and are used to transfer files including email and calendar
appointments, digital photos and music, etc.
8. Local Area Network (LAN): In a LAN, network devices are connected over a relatively shortdistance.
They are generally privately owned networks within a single building or campus, ofupto afew kilometres
in size. Home WiFi networks and small business networks are common examples of LANs.

Router
Internet

9. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN): This is a network which spans a physical areaviz. in the rangeot
5 and 50 km diameter It might cover few buildingsin a city.
10. Wide Area Network (WAN): WAN spans a large geographical area, often a country or a continentiu
a wa
uses various commercial and private communication lines to connect computers. Typically,
bines multiple LANs that are geographicallyseparated.
 WAN network
LAN network

Internet

Networktopologies: Topolo opology is the pattern of interconnection of nodes in a ocal area network (LAN)
.ed helps tto select the communication medium and the other network devices.
u s e dhelps
topology

The topology: Bus topology is also known as Linear Topology. In this type of topolog each node
Bus
attaches directh
dy to a common cable which acts as the backbone and therefore functions as a shared
cation medium onto which various nodes are attached.

Bus TopologY
Advantages
of Bus Topology

.
Cable length is short.
Additional nodes can be easily connected to the existing bus network at any point along the
medium.
length of the transmission
Disadvantages of Bus topology
fault may have
Fault detection and isolation is difñcult. Ifa node is faulty on the bus, detection of
on the network
to be performed at many points

The use of repeaters becomes mandatory to amplify the signal if the central bus length becomes
toolong
Since each node is directly connected to the central .

bus, so there has to be some way of deciding who

can use the network at any given time.

Star topology: A star network features a central

connection point called a hub/switch to which all other
nodes are connected by a single path. Each node has a
dedicated set of wires connecting it to a central network
b and all the traffic passes through the hub.

Advantages of Star Topology

Failure of a single connection does not affect the
entire network Star Topology
Fault detection is easie g
Disadvantages of Star Topology
Since every node is directly connected to the centre, so large amount of ca
cableis needed w
increases the installation cost of the network.
The entire network is dependent on the central node. If the central node faile
fails the
goes down entire nete
Tee Topology: Tree topology is a combination of bus and star topology. The.
netw lodks
an inverted tree with the central root branching and sub-branching down too the nork
the nodes. So, it it
known as hierarchical topology It integrates multiple star topologies together onto al
bus.

AENRER2E

Tree TopologY

Advantages of Tree Topology

Failure of one node never affects the rest of the network.

Node expansion is fast and easy.

Detection of error is an easy process.
Disadvantages of Tree Topology
It is heavily cabled topology.
If more nodes are added, then its maintenance is difñicult.
I f the hub or concentrator fails, attached nodes are also disabled.
Mesh Topology: The mesh topology has a unique network design
in which each computer on the network connects to every other.
It develops a P2P (point-to-point) connection between all the
devices of the network. It offers a high level of redundancy, so
if one network cable fails, still data has alternative path
even
reach its destination.
an
to
Advantages of Mesh Topology
The network can be expanded without disrupting current users. Mesh Topology

It has multiple links, so if any single route is blocked, then other routes can beused for da
communication.

Fault identification isolation and process is easy

.Dedicated links help to
eliminate the traffic problem.
Disadvantages of Mesh Topolog
Installation is complex because every node is connected to every other node.
Need extra cable compared with other LAN topologies.
It is expensive due to the use of more cables.
N e t w o r kd e v l c e s ;

M o d e mA:
A modem (Modulator- Demodulator)
mode

is a
peripheral device that enables
uit da
data over telephone or cable lines. a computer
transmit
Modulation /Demodulation

Computer
Modem
Modem Compiter
Telephoneline
SUUn
Digital signal ww Analog signal Digital signa
ater: A repeater is an electronic device that receives a signal, amplifies it and then retransm

e t w o r ksso that the signal can cover longer distances.

he nnetwork
the
it on

2
Repeater

Routers: A router is a hardware device that connects several computers and other devices to a single
Internet connection. It connects a modem to other devices to allow communícation between those
devices and the internet.
Most routers have several network ports to connect numerous devices to the internetsimultaneously.
LAN1: Sales Department LAN2: Accounts Department

Client Client
Client
dient

Switch/ Switch/\
Printer Hub
Hub Printer

Server Server
Router
In this example, a router has been used to raised
2 networks together.
The router also connects both LANs to the
Internet same intermet connecüon

Gateway: A gateway is a network device that establishes an intelligent connection between a local
network and external networks with completely different structures ie., it connects two dissimilar
networks.
 tternet

iatewy

Auter
Swthes intAN

lAN and lnternet

ateway between a

ubs: A hub is a networking device which is used

to connect multiple devicee
Seneralty used to connect computers in a LAN. A hub has many ports in it. When
When a network t
data
port it is broadeast to every other port. arrlvey a

Hub ANANMTECA
Sender

- ---.

AUILAUIECEIE

Receivers
Broadcasting by a Hub

Switches: A switch isa data link layer networking device which connects devices in a network and
uSes
packet switching to send and receive data over the network. When a data arrives at any portofanethwm
rork
switch, it examines the destination address and sends the frame to thecorresponding devicefs)

Switch

-- Sender

Receivers

Multicasting by a Switch
 systemof linked networka that are worldwidein Cope andfac ilitate datacomnunieaton,
format
I text string used to ldentily a network resource on the Internet. The text string ofa
URL Isa followinglormat:
U R Lh a st h e

col://server/path/resource

when
re the Internet to fetch the
to go on
the
b r o w s e r

desired information.
tells
It be
ined
define as a hypertext information retrieval system on the Internet. It is a collection o
can
wW
duiflerent which
websites which can be accessed through the lnternet.

of w w w
oplications

16
ronic mail (email or e-mall) s a method of exchanglng mesages ("mail"') between people
o Electronic

electronic devices across the Internet.

using
ting: A
A chat
chat program Is software which is used to send and read short messages in real time.
Chatting:

o
AOL Instant
nt Messenger, Campfire, Internet Mesenger, MSN Messenger are some common used

chat programs,

stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. By using VOIP software, phone calls can be done
o VOIP:VOIP
standard internet connection.
using
17. A
hite Is a collection of web pages that is identifled by a common domain name and published on
websit

one web sserver. Notable examples are wikipedia.org google.com, and amazon.com.iAll publicly
at least
essible
websites ollectively constitute the World Wide Web.
computer
that hosts a websit on the lInternet is known as a web server.
18. A
wech Dage is document a which be displayed in webbrowsersuch
can a Pirefox, Google Chrome, as
19. uea, Microsoft Internet Explorer or Edge, or Apple's Safari. They are of two types: Static web pages
web pages:
and Dynamic
the web
Satic Web Pages: The content of static pages is pre built and remains the same every time
page is loaded.

Dynamic Web Pages: The content of dynamic pages changes regularly. The pages contain server-
side code and allows the server to generate unique content each time the page is reloaded.

Static Webpages

SERVER CLIENT/BROWSER

DATA BASE SERVER CUENT/BROWsER

Dynamic Webpages

20.
Hosting of a website
Web
hosting is a service that allows anyone (organizations/ individuals) to post a website or web page
nto the Internet so that it is available online and is accessible by everyone.A web host, or web hosting
Service provider provides the technologies and services needed for the website or webpage to
in the Internet. be viewed
 How to host a website?
To host a website, follow the steps given below
oBuya domain name

Select
hosting provider
a

Publishyour welbsíte
21. Abrowser is a software application that helps to explore, retrieve, and display the
on the World Wide Web. Some of the
information availabile
commonly used web browsers are Googde Chrome, InternetExplorer
Mozilla Firefox, Opera, ete. A web browser essentially displays the TMI documents vwhich
may indude
text, images, audio, video and hyperlinks that help to navigate from one weh
page to another
22. Plugins are external pieces of software that work in tandem with browsers to offer additional fundion
Eg, ash player which works with the browser to render flash content,
They ertend the capability da
browser
23 Addons are small
pieces ofsoftware installed to work within the browser to allow it to
additional functionalitjes and features not pertorm certan
24. A c00kie is a tezt
already available in the browser
file, containing a string of information, hich is
browser when we browse it. The transferyed by tthe website tw the
computer stores it in a file located inside the web browser