Computer Networks

Computer Networks: Introduction

• A number of computers connected to one
another is called a computer network

• A network is a set of technologies including H/W,

S/W and media- that can be used to connect
computer systems together for

– Communicating with each other (email, instant

messaging etc.)
– Exchanging information
– Sharing Resources
 Uses of Networks
• Simultaneous Access

• Shared Peripheral devices- color laser printers (either

directly to network or through Print Server), scanners, fax
etc.

• Personal Communications- email, instant messaging,

teleconferencing, audio conferencing, video conferencing
etc.

• Easier Backup- Keep backup on shared storage devices

 Network processing strategies
Distributed processing. Network architecture
that divides processing work between two or
more computers, linked together in a network.
Client/ server computing. Form of distributed
processing in which some machines (servers)
perform computing functions for end –user
PCs (clients).
Peer- to–peer processing. A type of client/
server distributed processing that allows two
or more computers to pool their resources,
making each computer both a client and a
server
 Client Server Architecture
• The client-server software architecture model distinguishes
client systems from server systems, which communicate over a
computer network.

• Characteristics of a client
– Initiates requests
– Waits for and receives replies
– Usually connects to a small number of servers at one time
– Typically interacts directly with end-users using a graphical user
interface

• Characteristics of a server
– Never initiates requests or activities
– Listens to network and responds only to requests from connected,
authorized clients
– Waits for and replies to requests from connected clients
– A server can remotely install/uninstall applications and transfer data to
clients
Client Server Model
(Centralized Architecture)
 Peer to Peer Network
(Decentralized Architecture)
 Types of computer networks
Local area network (LAN).
Network that connects communications devices in a
limited geographical region within 2000’ (e.g., a
building), so that every user device on the network
can communicate with every other device.
Advantages of LAN
Shared Peripherals
Technology flexibility
Improved Communication
Better Control
Controlled Security
Data Sharing
Disadvantages of
LAN

Less Computer
memory
available
High cost
Greater
Complexity
Less user control
 LAN Technology
File server. A repository of various software and data
files for the network, which determines who gets access
to what and in what sequence
Network interface card. Hardware that specifics the
data transmission rate, the size of message units,
the addressing information attached to each
message and network topology.
Gateway. A communications processor that connects
dissimilar networks by translating from one set of
protocols to another
Bridge. A communications processor that connects two
networks of the same type.
Router. A communications processor that routes
message through several connected LANs or to a wide
area network.
 LAN Technology- contd.

• LANs employ
– Base Band technology or
– Broad Band Technology
• In base band entire cable capacity used
to transmit a single digitally coded signal
• In broad band, several signals can be
carried by the cable at the same time at
different frequencies
 Wireless local area networks (WLANs)
• WLANs: Technologies (e.g., Bluetooth and
wifi) that provide LAN connectivity over
short distance, typically limited to less than
150 meters.
– Bluetooth. A wireless technology that enables
temporary, short-range connection between
wireless devices and enables these devices to
communicate with each other via low-power radio
frequencies. Max transmission speed 720Kbps
– Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity). A wireless technology
that can transmit information at a range up to 300
feet; another name for the 802.11b standard on
which most WLANs run.
 MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
• Bigger version of a LAN

• It evolved primarily to permit LAN’s to interconnect across a

metropolis or a country.

• It may cover a group of nearby corporate offices or a city

and could be either private or public.

• A MAN can support both data and voice, and might even be
related to the local cable television network.

• One of the important characteristics of MAN is that there

is a broadcast medium to which all the computers are
attached. This makes the design simpler, as compared to
other kinds of networks.
 Wide area networks (WAN)
A WAN could cover a large geographic area,
generally a country or a continent. It consists
of a collection of systems intended for
running user programs.

These systems are called hosts and they are

connected by a communication subnet.

The job of the subnet is to carry messages

from host to host, just as the telephone
system carries words from the speaker to the
listeners.
Wide area networks (WAN) cont…
Virtual private network (VPN). A
WAN operated by a common carrier;
provides a gateway between a
corporate LAN and the Internet.

Tunnelling. The process of sending

data over the Internet in encrypted
form.
 Enterprise Networking
• Interconnected multiple LANs and
WANs.
 NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
. The physical layout and connectivity of a
network
Bus Topology
Star Topology
Ring Topology
Mesh Topology
Hierarchical Topology
Hybrid Topology
 Bus Topology
• One common cable with terminators at the ends is used
• Advantage- uses least amount of cabling

Server
Computer n

Laser Printer Scanner

Common Bus
Computer 1 Computer 2 Computer 3

Disadvantages
Over Dependence on installed cabling i.e. broken connection
can bring down all or part of network
 Star Topology
Most common topology
Server
All nodes connected
Comp1 Comp4
through hub

Some hubs- intelligent Hub

hubs can monitor traffic
and prevent collisions
Broken connection affects Comp2 Comp3
node only

Broken hub affects all

 Ring Topology
•Nodes are connected in
circular chain
•Each node examines Server
data as it travels through
ring
•A small packet called
token is circulated in the comp1
ring comp4

•If token is not

addressed to the node
examining it, it passes to
the next node comp3
comp2
•No danger of collisions
as only one packet of
data travels at a time in
the ring
 Mesh Topology
•Least used topology
•Most expensive to
implement
Comp1 comp2
•A cable runs from
every computer to
other computers
•Advantage- data
can never fail to be
delivered as there
are alternate paths
comp3
comp4
 Hierarchical Topology

Main Frame

Mini1 Mini2 Mini3

comp1 comp2 compn

 Hybrid Topology

comp1 Star
Server

Printer

Ring Hierarchical Main frame

Mini Mini
Printer
 Basic Elements of a
Communication System
• A Sender (Source), which creates the message
to be transmitted.

• A medium, which carries the message.

• A receiver (sink) , which receives the message.

Medium
Sender Receiver

Carries the message

 Basic Communications Channel
Characteristics
• DATA Transmission Mode
– Simplex channel
Sender Receiver

– Half-duplex
Sender Receiver
(or Receiver) OR (or Sender)

– Full-duplex channel

Sender Receiver
(and Receiver) AND (and Sender)
Communication media and
channels
Communication channel. Pathway for
communicating data form one location to
another.

Cable Media

Broadcast Media
Cable media: Communications channels that use
physical wires or cables to transmit data and
information.
1. Twisted pair wire – strands of copper wire
twisted in pairs –inexpensive, widely available,
easy to work with, unobtrusive – slow (low
bandwidth- 10Mbps), subject to interference,
easily tapped (low security)
Coaxial Cable – insulated and shielded
copper wire – higher bandwidth(100Mbps),
less susceptible to interference- expensive,
easily tapped , medium security), difficult to
work with
Fibre optic cable- Thousand of very thin
filaments of glass fibbers, surround by cladding,
that transmit information via light pulses
generated by lasers – high bandwidth (6 Tbps) ,
theoretically up to 25Tbps– difficult to work with.
Broadcast ( wireless) media: Communication
channels that use electromagnetic media (the
‘’airwaves’’) to transmit data.
1. Microwave transmission. Communication channel
that uses towers to send wireless signals; used for
high-volume, long-distance, point-to-point
communication on line of sight (every 30 miles you
need towers to receive , amplify and retransmit)
2. Satellite transmission. Communications channel
that uses orbiting satellites to send digital
transmission point-to-point.
Geostationary satellites at 22,300miles above. Three
satellites sufficient to give global coverage. GEO-
Geostationary earth orbit
Medium earth orbit (MEO) satellites- 6000 miles above,
orbits inclined to equator.
Low earth orbit (LEO) satellites – 400-700 miles above-
require less power- cellular telephones- low battery power
reqd to reach
3. Radio transmission (R.F) Communications
channel that uses radio wave frequencies to
send data directly between transmitters and
receivers over short distances.

4. Satellite radio (digital radio). Form of radio

transmission that offers uninterrupted, near CD-
quality music beamed to your radio from space.

5. Infrared. Red light not commonly visible to

human eyes; can be modulated or pulsed for
conveying information.
 Network operating system
• A network operating system (or also named NOS) is a piece of
software that controls a network and its message (e.g. packet) traffic
and queues, controls access by multiple users to network resources
such as files, and provides for certain administrative functions,
including security.

• It is most frequently used with local area networks and wide area
networks, but could also have application to larger network systems.

• The upper 5 layers of the OSI Reference Model provide the

foundation upon which many network operating systems are based.
•
• It is an operating system that includes special functions for
connecting computers and devices into a local-area network (LAN)
or Inter-networking. Some popular NOSs for DOS and Windows
systems include Novell NetWare, Windows NT, 2000, 2003, 2008
Server, Sun Solaris and IBM OS/2. The Cisco IOS (Internet
Operating System) is also a network operating system with a focus
on the Internetworking capabilities of network devices.
 Features of Network Operating System
• Basic support for Ethernet ports

• Provides basic operating system features such as

support for processors, protocols, automatic
hardware detection and support multi-processing
of applications

• Security features such as authentication,

authorization, logon restrictions and access
control

• Provide name and directory services

• Provide file, print, web services, back-up and

replication services
• Support Internetworking such as routing
and WAN ports
– User management and support for logon and
logoff, remote access; system management,
administration and auditing tools with graphic
interfaces
– Clustering capabilities; fault tolerant and high
availability systems
– Provides the ability to share files, devices and
hardware throughout the network
• Misconception
– A NOS is not the same as the networking
tools provided by some existing OSs,
Windows XP for instance. A NOS is an OS
that has been specifically written to keep
networks running at optimal performance.
(Although Novell Netware is an exception. It
runs on top of MSDOS which is an operating
system in and of itself and can be networked
without Novell Netware.)