1.

3 Network Category network and is figured

as followsS.
V I t is simply the
scale or extent of reach ofa
Network

LAN
MAN WAN

Figure-1.11: Network Category

1.3.3.1 Local Area Network (LAN)
ALAN is basically defined within a small physical area i.e. in a single office, building
or campus.

Depending on the needs of an organization and type of technology used, a LAN

can be as simple as two PCS and a printer in a small office or can be extended
throughout a company with other peripheral devices.

LAN

Figure-1.12: Local Area Network using Star Topology

In the modern trend LAN size is limited toa few kilometers.
LANs are mostly used to allow resources to be shared
among personal computers or
work stations.
 The resources to be shared may include
data, hardware (printer) and software (an
applicaticn program)
e.g. In engineering workstations, accounting PCs are
examples of LAN.
In LAN, one of the computers may be
given a
large capacity disk drive and may
become server to others i.e. the clients.
LANs are distinguished from other
types of network by their transmission media and
the topology used.
general, a given LAN uses only one type of transmission medium.
In
The most common LAN
topologies are bus, ring, star. LANs have data rates in the
range from 4 to 16 megabits per second.
1.3.3.2 Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
AMAN is designed to extend over an entire
city.
It may be single network such as cable television network or it may be a means of
a

connecting a number of LANs into a large network so that resources can be shared
from LAN to LAN as well as device to device.

D LAN2
AN1
LAN3
FH

NETWORK

LAN4

Figure-1.13: Metropolitan Area Network

A MAN may be exclusively owned and operated by a private company or it
may be a service provided by a public company such as local telephone company.
Many television companies provide a popular MAN service called Switched
Multi-megabit data service (SMDS).
Example: ACable TVNetwork within a city
1.3.3.3 Wide Area Network (WAN)
The WAN provides A long distance transmission of data, voice, images and vide
eos
information over a large geographical area, that may comprise a country, a contincn
ent
or even the whole world.

Nodes
Links

Figure-1.14: Wide Area Network

In contrast to LAN, WAN may utilize public leased or private communication
equipments. Usually in combinations, WAN can be expanded to span an unlimited
number of miles.
Example: Connecting two offices at two different metropolitans. Internet etc.
 Chapter-2

Classification of Computers
u Computers can be classified many different ways -- by size, by function,

or by processing capacity.

Functionality wise 4 types

a) Micro computer
b) Mini Computer
c) Mainframe Computer
a) Super Computer

Microcomputers
Microcomputers are connected to networks of other computers.
n e price ot a microconputer varies irom cach other depending on the

MierocomDuters make up the vast majority of computers.

Single user can interact with this computer at a time.
t is a small and general purpose computer.

Mini Computer
Mini Computer is a small and general purpose computer.
I t is more expensive than a micro computer.
OIt has more storage capacity and speed.
o lt designed to simultaneously handle the needs of multiple users.

Mainframe Computer
Large computers are called Mainframes.
Mainframe computers process data at very high rates of speed,
neasured in the millions of instructions per second.
n e y are very expensive than micro computer and mini computer.
Mainframes are designed for multiple users and process vast amounts of
data quickly.
Examples: - Banks, insurance companies, manufacturers, mail-order

companies, and airines are tYpical users.

Super Computers
The largest computers are Super Computers.
h e y are the most powerful, the most expensive, and the fastest.
They are capable of processing trillions of instructions per second.

t uses governmental agencies, such as

Chemical analysis in laboratory

Space exploration
National Detense Agency
National Weather Service
Bio-Medical research
Design of many other machines

Limitations of Computer
Computer cannot take over all activities simply because they are less
lexible than humans.
t does not hold intelligence of its own. Its 1Q level is zero, till date
They have to be told what to do. It has to be instructed on what it must
do and in what sequence.
Computer cannot take decisions on its own.
Human beings can make certain judgments in our day to day life based

on our ieelings, taste, knowledge and experience. It also lack of emotions,

so it will not make certain judgments ike human.

They cannot perform anything outside the defined scope.

If any unexpected situation arise, computer will either produce erroneous
result or discard the task altogether.
 S w i C h i n g

Coitchin 'S e c n poin4-to- Point

coonecchionbetue en 4he se
ndi9 and
twing device
A Sutched ne4wosk Consicts of a e
siterlinted nodes called Sutche
Switthe aTe hardare and So4wave
Aevites Capable of
Creading tempora
Connection bettween t0o r move deice
Itnked each Othes through a witch
There aTe 3 types of Swtthing 4echnau
(a) Ciscat Suoltching
(b) menage switchhg
c) Packet sutchi
a) Circait Soitching
It takes pldce at phyical laye
Circuit SuoHching akes plae aal
layesCTeates a oirect phical pat
oetuween two de vices Suth af telephones
OT Compuers
Features Of cirtult switching

establichment Teauives Come

time and if acedicadod Poath is not
tad iched end-0-end o data can be
oarnefesred
Once ciscuit is establC hed the channe
beco mes tranparet qno data f low

intantly coCoithout any delay

 Packet Suitching
Tn Patke Serd.Suditthing he
breas ino
the hole metage a
cf patke4s of suitable legth and
n0.
Consicting Sequential Patkot
Sendes Serds patket
The to the
node sequentially
Patket Suditching is two types

Datagram aPrDach
tt) vituol circuit appsach
d Datag3am appa0ach
T+is a data trancmiion mehod
in which each clata unit S independent
6f OtheSS
1) Virtua Ciruit approack
A Packe+ S0itthing me4hod in ohin
os semon
all packeS OF a mesaHe
Same TOute.
follou 4he exact

Mesae Sitching
h e Combina
meKage Switching is
Susitchin & Patket Cwithing
Of Ciscut
eirit Switching
In 4his Case, like
is not boken into packe
the mesaGe node as
sent fo +he next
Tathes
itis

a whole
Basis for
Synchronous Transmission Asynchronous Transmission
Comparison
Clock pulse Transmitter and receive shares a A common clock pulse is not shared by
common clock pulse transmitter and receive.

Speed of Fast Compara tively slow.

tansmission

Form of data Data is sentin the form of frames Data is tansmited in the form of byte or
transmission
blocks character

Time in terval Cons tant Variable

Cost Expensive Comparatively less expensive

Efficiency More efficient Less efficient

Need of ex ternal Exist Do not exist

clock

Need of start Not exist Exist

and stop bit

Circuit Complex Comparitvely less complex

 means of electricale
Data is transmitted from one point to another point by al signals
DLeeNethat may be in digital and analog form. So one should know the fundamental differeno

Between between analog and digital signals.

varies over a continuous range with resne.
Digital
Dist &
ta&In analog signal the transmission power pect
sound, light and radio waves. On the other hand, a digital signal may assume
cSiGn
Anale,
SiGna to s
only
discrete set of values within a given range.

Analog signal is measured in Volts and its frequency is in Hertz (Hz). A digital siana
nal
is a sequence of voltage represented in binary form. When digital data are to be nt
over an analog form the digital signal must be converted to analog form. So the

technique by which a digital signal is converted to analog form is known as

modulation. And the reverse process, that is the conversion of analog signal to its

digital form, is known as demodulation. The device, which converts digital signai
into analog, and the reverse, is known as modem.

Digital Signals

0 1

Analog Signals

AAAF