Computer Networks

BCSE308L

Introduction to Computer Networks

Dr. Bhuvaneswari Amma N.G.

Assistant Professor (Sr.)
SCOPE, VIT Chennai
 Overview
• Data Communications
• What is Computer Networks?
• Why Computer Networks?
• Line Configuration
• Data Flow
• LAN, MAN, PAN, and WAN
• Applications of Networks
• Network Topology
• Network Components
• Practice Questions
•
27 April 2023
Summary BCSE308L-M1-L2 2
 Data Communications
• Data communications are the exchange of data between two devices
via some form of transmission medium such as a wire cable.

Components of Data Communication

• Message
• Sender
• Receiver
• Transmission Medium
• Protocol
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 Data Communications … Contd.
Characteristics
• Delivery – Deliver data to the correct destination
• Accuracy – Deliver the data accurately
• Timeliness – Deliver data in a timely manner
• Jitter – Variation in the packet arrival time, i.e., uneven delay in the delivery
of audio or video packets

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 What is Computer Networks?
• Computer network connects two or more autonomous computers.
• The computers can be geographically located anywhere.
• A network is a set of devices (often referred to as nodes) connected
by communication links.
• A node can be a computer, printer, or any other device capable of
sending and/or receiving data generated by other nodes on the
network.
• A link can be a cable, air, optical fiber, or any medium which can
transport a signal carrying information.

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 Why Computer Networks?
Network Criteria
• Performance
• Reliability
• Security

Network Benefits: SHARING RESOURCES

Types of resources are:
• Hardware: A network allows users to share many hardware devices such as
printers, modems, fax machines, CD ROM, player, etc.
• Software: sharing software resources reduces the cost of software installation,
saves space on hard disk.
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 Why Computer Networks? … Contd.
Characteristics of Network
• Topology : The geometric arrangement of a computer system.
• Protocol : The protocol defines a common set of rules and signals that
computers on the network use to communicate. One of the most
popular protocols for LANs is called Ethernet.
• Architecture : Networks can be broadly classified as using either a peer
to peer or client/server architecture.

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 Why Computer Networks? … Contd.
Pros and Cons of Network
▪ Increased speed ▪ High cost of installation
▪ Reduced cost ▪ Requires time for administration
▪ Improved security ▪ Failure of server
▪ Centralized software managements ▪ Cable/Media faults
▪ Electronic mail
▪ Flexible access

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 Line Configuration

• A point-to-point connection provides a dedicated link between two devices.

• A multipoint connection is one in which more than two specific devices
share a single link.
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 Data Flow

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 Data Flow … Contd.

• Simplex: Data flows in only one direction

• E.g., Radio and Television broadcasts.
• They go from the TV station to your home television.

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 Data Flow … Contd.

• Half duplex: Data flows in both directions but only one direction at a
time on the data communication line.
• E.g., Conversation on walkie-talkies

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 Data Flow … Contd.

• Full duplex: Data flows in both directions simultaneously at the

same time.
• E.g., Phone communication

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 LAN, MAN, PAN, and WAN
• Network in small geographical area (Room, Building, or Campus) is
called LAN (Local Area Network)
– Short distances
– Designed to provide local interconnectivity
• Network in a City is called MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
– Designed to provide connectivity over areas such as a city
• Network that enables communication between computer devices near
a person is called PAN (Personal Area Network)
– cell phone headsets, wireless keyboards, wireless mice, printers, bar code
scanners and game consoles
• Network spread geographically (Country or across Globe) is called
WAN (Wide Area Network)
– Long distances
– Designed to provide connectivity over large areas
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 Applications of Networks
• Resource Sharing
• Hardware (computing resources, disks, printers)
• Software (application software)
• Information Sharing
• Easy accessibility from anywhere (files, databases)
• Search Capability (WWW)
• Communication
• Email
• Message broadcast
• Remote computing
• Distributed processing (GRID Computing)
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 Network Topology
• Defines the way in which computers, printers, and other devices are
connected.
• Describes the layout of the wire and devices as well as the paths used
by data transmissions.

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 Network Topology … Contd.
Bus Topology
• Commonly referred to as a linear bus.
• All the devices on a bus topology are connected by one single cable.

Advantages Disadvantages
• Ease of installation • Difficult reconnection and fault isolation
• Less cabling • Fault or break in the bus cable stops all transmission
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 Network Topology … Contd.
Star Topology
• The most commonly used architecture in Ethernet LANs.
• When installed, the star topology resembles spokes in a bicycle
wheel.

Advantages Disadvantages
• Less expensive • Dependency of the whole topology on one
• Robustness – one link fails, only that single point, hub
link is affected. • More cabling, each node must be linked to
• Fault identification and fault isolation a central hub
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 Network Topology … Contd.
Tree Topology
• Larger networks use the extended star topology also called tree topology.
• Used with network devices that filter frames or packets, like bridges, switches,
and routers.
• This topology significantly reduces the traffic on the wires by sending packets
only to the wires of the destination host.
Advantages
• Easy maintenance and fault identification
• Secure Disadvantages
• Reliable • Configuration is difficult
• Performance is slow due to the large
number of nodes
• Requires a large number of cables
compared to ring and star
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 Network Topology … Contd.
Ring Topology
• A frame travels around the ring, stopping at each node.
• If a node wants to transmit data, it adds the data as well as the
destination address to the frame.
• The frame then continues around the ring until it finds the destination
node, which takes the data out of the frame.
✓ Single ring – All the devices on the network share a single cable.
✓ Dual ring – The dual ring topology allows data to be sent in both
directions.
Advantages Disadvantages
• Easy to install and reconfigure • Unidirectional traffic
• Simple fault isolation, one device does not receive a • Break in a ring disable entire network
signal within a specified period, issue an alarm
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 Network Topology … Contd.
Mesh Topology
• Connects all devices (nodes) to each other for redundancy and fault tolerance.
• Used in WANs to interconnect LANs and for mission-critical networks like those
used by banks and financial institutions.
• Implementing the mesh topology is expensive and difficult.
n(n-1)/2 duplex mode links are needed.
Every device on the network must have n-1 input/output ports.
Advantages Disadvantages
• Eliminate traffic problems • Installation and
• Robust reconnection are difficult
• Privacy and security • Cabling and I/O ports
• Fault identification and fault • Expensive hardware
isolation easy
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 Network Components
• Physical/Networking Media
• Interconnecting Devices
• Computers
• Networking Software
• Applications

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 Network Components … Contd.
Physical/Networking Media
• Networking the means by which signals (data) are sent from one
computer to another (either by cable or wireless means).

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 Network Components … Contd.

Networking Devices
• Hubs, Switches, Routers, Wireless Access Points, Modems etc.

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 Network Components … Contd.
Computers: Clients and Servers
• In a client/server network arrangement, network services are located
in a dedicated computer whose only function is to respond to the
requests of clients.
• The server contains the file, print, application, security, and other
services in a central computer that is continuously available to
respond to client requests.

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 Network Components … Contd.
Networking Protocol: TCP/IP

Elements of Protocol
• Syntax
– Structure or format of the data
– Indicates how to read the bits - field delineation
• Semantics
– Interprets the meaning of the bits
– Knows which fields define what action
• Timing
– When data should be sent and what
– Speed at which data should be sent or speed at which it is being received.
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 Network Components … Contd.
Applications
• E-mail
• Searchable Data (Web Sites)
• E-Commerce
• News Groups
• Internet Telephony (VoIP)
• Video Conferencing
• Chat Groups
• Instant Messengers
• Internet Radio

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 Practice Questions
1) Assume, you are going to design a new network for the School of Computer Science
with the following requirements:
• 5 Admin nodes
• 10 Researcher nodes
• 2 Network servers
• 12 Client nodes
Design a network with suitable topology models; discuss the pros and cons of your model.
2) Assume four devices are arranged in a mesh topology. How many cables are needed?
How many ports are needed for each device?
3) For each of the following networks, discuss the consequences if a connection fails:
a) Six devices arranged in a bus topology
b) Four devices arranged in a ring topology
c) Five devices arranged in a mesh topology
d) Seven devices arranged in a star topology
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 Summary
Discussed about
• Data Communications
• What is Computer Networks?
• Why Computer Networks?
• Line Configuration
• Data Flow
• LAN, MAN, PAN, and WAN
• Applications of Networks
• Network Topology
• Network Components
• Practice Questions
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 Thank You!

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