Introduction to Computers

Lecture 09

Computer Networks

Reference :Understanding Computers

Chapter 7

Dr. Mazen Nabil Elagamy

 What Is a Network?
• Network: A connected system of
objects or people
• Computer network: A collection of
computers and other hardware devices
connected together so users can share
hardware, software, and data, and
electronically communicate
• Computer networks converging with
telephone and other communications
networks
• Networks range from small private
networks to the Internet (largest network
in the world)
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 Networking Applications

• Television and radio broadcasting

• Global positioning system (GPS): Uses
satellites and a receiver to determine the
exact geographic location of the receiver
• Monitoring systems: Monitor status or
location of individuals, vehicles, assets.
• Videoconferencing

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 Network Characteristics
• Wired vs. wireless networks
– Wired: A network in which computers and other
devices are connected to the network via physical
cables
• Found in homes, schools, businesses, and
government facilities.
– Wireless: A network in which computers and other
devices are connected to the network without physical
cables; data is typically sent via radio waves
• Found in homes, schools, and businesses
• Wi-Fi hotspots found in coffeehouses,
businesses, airports, hotels, and libraries.

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 Network Topologies
• Topology: How the devices in the network (called
nodes) are arranged
– Star networks: A network that uses a host
device connected directly to several other
devices
– Bus networks: A network consisting of a central
cable to which all network devices are attached
– Mesh networks: A network in which there are
multiple connections between the devices on the
network so that messages can take any one of
several paths
– Some networks use a combination of topologies

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 Network Topologies

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 Network Architectures
• Architecture: The way networks are designed to
communicate
• Client-server networks
– Client: Computer or other
device on the network
that requests and
utilizes network
resources
– Server: Computer
dedicated to
processing client
requests
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 Network Architectures
• Peer-to-peer (P2P) networks: All
computers at the same level
– Internet P2P computing: Performed via the
Internet

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Data Transmission Characteristics
• Transmission directions:
– Simplex transmission
• Data travels in a single direction only
– Half-duplex transmission
• Data travels in either direction but only one way at
a time
– Full-duplex transmission
• Data travels in both directions, both ways at the
same time

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Data Transmission Characteristics
• Type of connections:
– Circuit-switched: Dedicated path over a
network is established and all data follows
that path
– Packet-switched: Messages are separated
into small units called packets and travel
along the network separately
• Used to send data over the Internet
– Broadcast: Data is sent out to all other nodes
on the network
• Primarily used with LANs
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 Type of Connections

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Network Size and Coverage Area
• Personal area network (PAN): Connects an
individual’s personal devices that are located
close together.
• Local area network (LAN): Connects devices
located in a small geographic area
• Metropolitan area network (MAN): Serves a
metropolitan area
• Wide area network (WAN):
– Large geographic area
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 Ethernet Networks
Ethernet is the traditional technology for connecting
devices in a wired local area network (LAN) or wide
area network (WAN). It enables devices to
communicate with each other via a protocol, which is
a set of rules or common network language.
 Ethernet Cable Categories
Category Max. Data Rate Bandwidth Max. Distance Usage
Category 1 1 Mbps 0.4 MHz Telephone and
modem lines
Category 2 4 Mbps 4 MHz LocalTalk &
Telephone
Category 3 10 Mbps 16 MHz 100 m (328 ft.) 10BaseT Ethernet
Category 4 16 Mbps 20 MHz 100 m (328 ft.) Token Ring
Category 5 100 Mbps 100 MHz 100 m (328 ft.) 100BaseT Ethernet
Category 5e 1 Gbps 100 MHz 100 m (328 ft.) 100BaseT Ethernet,
residential homes
Category 6 1 Gbps 250 MHz 100 m (328 ft.) Gigabit Ethernet,
10Gb at 37 m (121 commercial buildings
ft.)
Category 6a 10 Gbps 500 MHz 100 m (328 ft.) Gigabit Ethernet in
data centers and
commercial buildings

Category 7 10 Gbps 600 MHz 100 m (328 ft.) 10 Gbps Core

Infrastructure
Category 7a 10 Gbps 1000 MHz 100 m (328 ft.) 10 Gbps Core
40Gb at 50 m (164 Infrastructure
ft.)
Category 8 25 Gbps (Cat8.1) 2000 MHz 30 m (98 ft.) 25 Gbps/40 Gbps
40 Gbps (Cat8.2) Core Infrastructure
 Communications Protocols and
Networking Standards

• Protocol: A set of rules for a particular

situation
– Communications protocol: A set of rules that
determine how devices on a network
communicate
• Standard: A set of criteria or requirements
approved by a recognized standards
organization.

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 TCP/IP
• TCP/IP: The most
widely used
communications
protocol
‒ Used with the
Internet
‒ TCP: responsible
for delivery of data
‒ IP: provides
addresses and
routing information
‒ Uses packet
switching
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 UDP
UDP: User Datagram Protocol (UDP) is a
communications protocol that is primarily used to
establish low-latency and loss-tolerating connections
between applications on the internet.
UDP speeds up transmissions by enabling the transfer
of data before an agreement is provided by the
receiving party.

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 TCP vs. UDP
TCP is connection-oriented while UDP is connectionless
The connection is established via a three-way
handshake. The client sends a synchronization request,
the server sends back an acknowledgment, and the
client returns a synchronization acknowledgment in
response. Comparatively, UDP is a connectionless
protocol.

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 Bit Rate

A bit (binary digit) is the smallest unit of data that a

computer can process and store. A bit is always in one
of two physical states, similar to an on/off light switch.
The state is represented by a single binary value,
usually a 0 or 1. However, the state might also be
represented by yes/no, on/off or true/false.
 Baud Rate

The baud rate is the rate at which information is

transferred in a communication channel. In the serial
port context, "9600 baud" means that the serial port is
capable of transferring a maximum of 9600 bits per
second. If the information unit is one baud (one bit),
then the bit rate and the baud rate are identical.
 Parity Bit

The parity bit is the method to append binary bits to

ensure that the total count of 1's in the original data
is either even or odd. Used for error detection in
the original data at the receiver side and correcting
the data.
 Start and Stop Bits
A stop bit is a character in asynchronous communication that lets a receiver
know that the byte being transmitted has ended. This is vital to the way
most information is transmitted over the Internet. Without a stop bit, it is
possible that a receiver's computer would likely prompt an error message
and make further communication with the sending computer problematic.

Asynchronous communication means that data is transmitted without any

external clock. As such, a receiving computer requires knowing when the
byte ends in order to get "ready" to receive the next byte. In addition to a
stop bit, the other piece of the puzzle is the start bit, which signals the
beginning of a new piece of information.

Information transmitted over the Internet is broken down into blocks of data,
known as bytes, for transmission. Bytes normally include eight bits of data,
plus a start bit and stop bit for a 10-bit character frame. These bytes are
then assembled to present the data in its original context. Bytes can be
parts of a computer program, or something as simple as words in an e-mail.
 Networking Hardware
– Network adapter: Used to connect a computer to
a network or the Internet
• Also called network interface card (NIC) when in the
form of an expansion card
• Available in a variety of formats
– Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) and PCIe
– USB
– ExpressCard
• Adapter must match the type of network being used
(Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.)
• Are often built into portable computers

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 Network Adapters

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 Networking Hardware
• Modem: Device that connects a computer
to the Internet or to another computer
• Term used for Internet connection device, even if
not connecting via a phone line
• Type of modem needed depends on the type of
Internet access being used
– Cable
– Wi-Fi or WiMAX
– DSL

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 Networking Hardware for Connecting
Devices and Networks

• Hub: Central device that connects all of the

devices on the network
• Switch: Connects devices in a network like a
hub but only sends data to the device for
which the data is intended
• Wireless access point: Used to grant
network access to wireless client devices
• Wireless router: Typically connects both
wired and wireless devices in a network

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 Wireless Routers

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 Summary & Discussion

Dr. Mazen Nabil Elagamy