CHAPTER FOUR

DATA COMMUNICATION AND COMPUTER

NETWORKING
 Data Transmission
• The need of information has increased from time to
time.
• This leads to the need of sharing of information among
different agents (individual) which may be at different
places or locations.
Data communication is the exchange of information
between two agents.
• For exchange of information the information should be
transmitted from one point to another through a
transmission media called Channel.
 Mode of Transmission
• Transmitting data across media implies sending
bits through the transmission medium.
• Physically, the data is sent as electric signals,
radio waves or as light signals.
• The direction in which data can be transmitted
between any two linked devices is of three
types
Simplex, Half-duplex, and Full-duplex, or duplex.
• Simplex transmission is unidirectional data transmission.
• Of the two linked devices, only one of them can send data
and the other one can only receive data.
• Half-duplex transmission is bi-directional data transmission,
but the linked devices cannot send and receive at the same
time.
• When one device is sending data the other can only receive.
• Full-duplex transmission is bi-directional and the linked
devices can send and receive data simultaneously.
• The linked devices can send data and at the same time
receive data.
 What’s a Network?
• A computer network is an interconnection of two or more
computers that are able to exchange information.
• The computers may be connected via any data communication link, like
copper wires, optical fibers, communication satellites, or radio links.
• Components of a Network: A computer network comprises the
following components:
– A minimum of at least 2 computers
– Cables that connect the computers to each other,
– A network interface device on each computer (this is called a
network interface card or NIC)
– A ‘Switch’ used to switch the data from one point to another. Hubs
are outdated and are little used for new installations.
– Network operating system software
 Benefit of a Computer Network
• Networking of computers provides a
communication link between the users, and
provides access to information.
• Networking of computers has several uses,
listed as follows:
– Resource Sharing
– Sharing of Information
– As a Communication Medium
– For Back-up and Support
Network types
• Computer networks continue to evolve in complexity
of use, and design.
Different types of networks are given different
descriptive names.
• We will discuss here the classification of computer
networks based on:
– The area it serves
– The Way Network resources are
managed. And
– The Network topology
Classification of Computer networks based on the area it serves

• Based on the geographic span of coverage,

computer networks are classified into four
major categories.
• Personal Area Network (PAN)
• Local Area Network (LAN)
• Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
• Wide Area Network (WAN)
 PAN (Personal Area Network)
• It is a computer network used for communication
among computer devices (including telephones
and personal digital assistants (PDAs)) close to
one person.
– The devices may or may not belong to the person in
question.
• It is typically connects devices in few meters.
• It can be used for communication among the
personal devices themselves (intrapersonal
communication), or for connecting to a higher
level network and the Internet (an uplink
 LAN (Local Area Network)

• The basic building block of any computer network.

• It is confined to limited geographical area (< 2km)
like within a building, in lab, in school, etc.
• It allows easy access to other computers or
peripherals (because there is only short distance
between computers).
• It uses higher bandwidth (1 mbps) & cheep cable
media like UTP & coaxial.
• From two computers up to 1000 computers with a
limited distance
 MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

• It is a network that span to city wide

• Network that connects two or more LAN
together but doesn’t extend beyond the
boundaries of the immediate city, town or
metropolitan area.
• Its size (coverage) somewhat between LAN
and WAN
 WAN (Wide Area Network)

• Networks that cover very large geographical areas is

called Wide Area Network (WAN).
• It is usually use combination of several types of
communication media including cables, and
telecommunication infrastructures (microwave,
satellites and telephone lines)
• Data communication network that covers a
relatively broad geographic area & that often uses
transmission facilities provided by common carriers,
such as telephone companies.
• The most common example of a WAN is the Internet
Classification of Computer Networks Based on the Way Resource is Managed

• Computer network can be also classified in to two types based

on the way network resources are managed:
1.Peer to Peer (Workgroup) Networks
All Peer to peer–are client computers which send requests
to each other to access the resources in the network.
2.Client-Server (Server based) Networks
All Client-Server (Server based)–are server computers
which send responses comes from client computers
through network.

 
 Peer-to-Peer Networks
• Peer-to-peer network is also called workgroup
• No hierarchy among computers  all are equal
• No administrator responsible for the network
• No dedicated server among computers
• Each computer functions as both a client and a server.

Peer-to-peer

14
 • Advantages of peer-to-peer networks:
• Low cost. And also Simple to configure
• User has full accessibility of the computer
• Disadvantages of peer-to-peer networks:
• May have duplication in resources
• Difficult to maintain security policy
• Difficult to handle irregular loading
• Where peer-to-peer network is appropriate:
• 10 or less users
• No specialized services required
• Security is not an issue
• Only limited growth in the fore seeable future
• don’t require networks software’s as the same standard
of dedicated servers. 15
Client-Server (Server based)Network
• Network Clients (Workstation)
• Computers that request network resources or services
• Network Servers
• Computers that manage and provide network
resources and services to clients
• Usually have more processing power, memory and
hard disk space than clients
• Run Network Operating System that can manage not
only data, but also users, groups, security, and
applications on the network.
• Servers often have a more strict requirement on its
performance and reliability
16
• Advantages of client/server networks
• Facilitate resource sharing – centrally administrate and
control
• Facilitate system backup and improve fault tolerance. It
has dedicated server
• Enhance security – only administrator can have access
to Server
• Support more users – difficult to achieve with peer-to-
peer networks

• Disadvantages of client/server networks

• High cost for Servers
• Need expert to configure the network
• Introduce a single point of failure to the system
17
Network Topology
• Network topology generally classified into two:
• physical and
• logical topology.
• Physical topology: The physical layout in which
wires can be run to connect computers in the
network.
• Logical Topology: Represents a method in
which information is communicated between
computers.
 Physical topology
• The most common types of physical
topologies are four, and we can have various
derivatives based on these four topologies:
• Bus
• Ring
• Star
• Mesh
Topology ― 4 basic types
• How so many computers are connected together?
Bus Topology Ring Topology

Star Topology

Hub
• Mesh Topology
20
• Bus Topology
• Simple and low-cost
• The linear network consists of a number of nodes
that are attached to a common cable. This common
cable is called a trunk line (backbone, segment)
liner-bus.
• Only one computer can send messages at a time
• Passive topology - computer only listen for, not
regenerate data.
• Each end of the trunk line terminated so that when
network traffic reaches the end of the cable it is
removed the network.

21
• Ring Topology
• A ring network consists of all computers and other
devices that are connected in a loop.
• In a ring network, each node connects directly to the
neighboring nodes.
• If the device on a ring network fails, all the devices
before the failed device are unaffected but those
after the failed device will not function.

22
 Star Topology
• Each computer has a cable connected to a
single point hub.
• All signals transmission through the hub; if
down, entire network down
• Depending on the intelligence of hub, two or
more computers may send message at the
same time

Hub
Hub
 The mesh topology
– every node connected to every other node
– no center of network

• Note: To calculate the number of cables required for n

number of computers (nodes) use a formula

• Example: for N= 6 find the number of wires?

• The number of wires required is

= 15
 Hybrid Topology

• To get the best use of advantages of those

mentioned topologies, we may be forced to
combine any of them. The network topology
which results from combining any of the basic
physical topology is known as hybrid topology.
• Note: The combination of a star and bus
topology is the most common one, and it is
known as a Tree Topology.
 Network Media
• The data is sent from one computer to
another over a transmission medium.
• The transmission media can be grouped into
guided media, and unguided media.
Guided media, the data signals are sent along
a specific path, through a wire or a cable.
• Copper wire, Twisted-pair cable and optical
fibers are the most commonly used guided
media.
• Copper wire
– transmits data as electric signals.
– offer low resistance to current signal,
– facilitating signals to travel longer distances.
• Optical fibers transmit data as light signals.
 Unguided media , transport electromagnetic waves
without using a physical conductor. This type of
communication is often referred to as wireless
communication.
 Unguided media includes: infrared rays, radio
frequencies, microwaves, etc.
• Network media can be summarized as follows:
• Data signals travel through something i.e.
Network Media
 Networking Equipment
Network Interface Card
• Network interface card (NICs,) also known as network
adapters provide the interface between cables, and
computers.
• The cards are installed in an expansion slot in each
computer and server on the network.
• After the NIC has been installed, the network cable is
attached to the card’s port to make the actual physical
connection between the computer and the rest of the
network.
• The network adapter (NIC) performs the
following functions:
– Interface between Network wire & PC
– Without it no PC logon to the network
– Prepare data from the computer for the network
cable.
– Send the data to another computer.
– Control the flow of data between the computer and
the cabling system.
– Receive incoming data from the cable and translate it
into bytes that can be understood by the computer's
central processing unit (CPU).
• You cannot make networks larger just by adding new
computers and more cable. Each network topology
or architecture has limits. You can, however, install
components to increase the size of the network
within its existing environment.
• Components that enable you to expand the network
include:
– Modem
– Repeaters and Hubs
– Bridges
– Switches
– Routers
 Intranets, extranets and the Internet
Intranet
• Connections of networks, communicating
using (TCP/IP) the protocols of the Internet,
within an organization where by the
organization have an overall authority
(control) of the media is called an Intranet.
• Intranets have become very common in
universities and organizations, commercial
enterprises etc.
Extranet
• An extranet is a controlled private network allowing
customers, partners, vendors, suppliers and other
businesses to gain information, typically about a
specific company or educational institution and do so
without granting access to the organization’s entire
network. An extranet is often a private part of a
website. 
• Extranets are the connection of Intranets, based on
an agreement between organizations for the purpose
of sharing resources.
 Internet
• It is a term, which is also known as the Net, used to
describe a worldwide network.
• It is one of the largest, most widely used networks
(in fact, a network of networks) that has evolved and
grown overtime.
Internet Connectivity
includes:
 dial-up (through telephone line),
 landline broadband (over fiber optic or copper wires),
 Wi-Fi, satellite and cell phones.
Advantages of the Internet
✓ Send or receive E-mail
✓ Share your opinions and your knowledge on a
variety of topics through various new groups.
✓ Down load useful programs such as virus
detectors, file compression, decompression utility
✓ Chat with other people anywhere in the world
✓ View interesting video‘s listen to music or wander
through a 3-D world.
 Internet Services
World Wide Web (WWW)
• It is an Internet service that provides a
network of interactive documents and the
software to access them.
There are various terminologies go with a web:
• Hypertext: that is the ability in a computer to
move from one part of a document to another
or from one document to another through
internal connections (called "hyperlinks");
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)
• HTML is a language used for writing hyperlinked
documents, which is a basis for web site
development.
• Web page - is a resource on the Web, usually in
HTML/XHTML format (the file extensions are
typically htm or html) and with hypertext links to
enable navigation from one page or section to
another. Web pages often use associated graphic files
to provide illustration, and these too can be clickable
links.
 Continued…
• Home page- refers to the main page of a website.
• Web Sites - A collection of Web pages, typically common to a
particular domain name or sub-domain on the Web on the
Internet.
• Download--To copy data from a remote computer to a local
computer.
• Upload To send data from a local computer to a remote
computer.
• URL (Uniform Resource Locator): it is less formally known as
a Web address, is a sequence of characters, conforming to a
standardized format that is used for referring to resources,
such as documents and images on the Internet, by their
location.
 HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is a protocol or a
method used to transfer or convey information on the
Web. The original purpose was to provide a way to
publish and receive HTML pages.
• An HTTP URL combines into one simple address the four
basic items are:
• the protocol to use to communicate,
• the host (server) to communicate with, the network
port on the server to connect to.
• The path to the resource on the server (for example,
its file name
• file Name-which you want to access
 A typical URL can look like: http://
www.osu.edu.et/mgt/home.html
 Web browsers
• a software application that enables a user too quickly
and easily access information provided on many web
pages at many websites by traversing these links.
• Popular browsers available include:
• Microsoft Internet Explorer
• Netscape
• Mozilla Firefox
• Opera
• Google chrome--etc
 Electronic Mail (E-Mail)

• E-mail (Electronic mail) is the most popular application

of computer communication system.
• definition of E-mail is as follows:
• It allows computer users locally and worldwide to
exchange messages. Each user of e-mail has a mailbox
address to which messages are sent. Messages sent
through e-mail can arrive within a matter of seconds.
• It is a method of composing, sending, and receiving
messages over electronic communication systems.
• A typical e-mail address is a string of the form
student@osu.edu.et.
• It should be read as "student at osudot edu dot et".
 Search Engine
• Search engines provide access to a fairly large portion of
the publicly available pages on the Web, which itself is
growing exponentially. They are the best means devised
yet for searching the web.
• It is a program designed to help find information stored on
a computer system such as the World Wide Web, or a
personal computer.
• A currently known search engine includes: -
o Yahoo
oGoogle
o MSN search
o AltaVista
o Lycos and others