Unit 2

Network Infrastructure for

E-Commerce - I

Structure
2.1 Introduction
Objectives
2.2 Local Area Network (LAN)
2.3 Ethernet: IEEE 802.3: Local Area Network (LAN) Protocols
2.4 Wide Area Network (WAN)
2.5 The Internet
2.6 TCP/IP Reference Model
2.7 Domain Names
2.8 Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML)
2.9 Simple Exercises in HTML
2.10 Summary
2.11 Glossary
2.12 Terminal Questions
2.13 Answers
References

2.1 Introduction
In the previous unit, you learnt about the definition and origin of e-commerce,
the history of the Internet, and the difference between e-commerce and traditional
business, among other topics. In this unit, you will be learning about the network
infrastructure for e-commerce, including topics such as Local Area Network
(LAN), Ethernet, Wide Area Network (WAN), the Internet, TCP/IP Reference
Model, Domain Names, and Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML).
You may know by now that that all the services of e-commerce work on
the Internet which is known as the network of networks. Computer network is
a collection of more than two computers, which are connected together to share
information and computer peripherals. The key word in the definition is sharing,
the main function of computer networking. The ability to share information
efficiently is what gives computer networking its power and appeal. Through
the efforts of all major factors involvedthe sharing of time, talent, and
resourcethe primary goal of computer networking is to reduce resources.

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Objectives
After studying this unit, you should be able to:
Give examples of the importance of Local Area Network (LAN)
Generalize the workings of Ethernet (IEEE 802.3)
Demonstrate the working of Wide Area Network (WAN)
Summarize the importance of the Internet
Evaluate the TCP/IP Reference Model
Discuss the functioning of domain names
Summarize the highlights of Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML)

2.2 Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN (refer to Figure 2.1) covers only a limited geographically area ranging
from 0 to 2 Km, such as organizations, home, buildings. In a local area network,
nodes are connected in a network and operating systems are installed on them.
In this type of networking, generally, Cat 5 cable (8 wires) is used, meaning the
connection is done through wire. However, there is another option of connecting
LAN, which is WLAN, where connection is possible without wires. LAN stores
the system and application software that can be shared by the computers to
other computers and peripherals. Most LANs connect nodes and computers.
They have their own CPU for executing programs. The importance of LAN in an
organization is very high because users can easily communicate to each other
through LAN and they can share resources such as printers, memories, database
and other peripherals of network.

Figure 2.1 Local Area Network

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Metropolitan Area Network (MAN): Metropolitan Area Network or MAN (refer

to Figure 2.2) occupies a larger area compared to LAN, such as a town or a
university/organization premises (which is spread between 05 km to 20 km). It
incorporates a number of LANs to form a network. This bulky network comprises
of an optical fibre setup. MAN connects the computer system, other resources
and some times local area network to a range from 5 to 50 km, meaning it can
effectively cover a town. It uses high speed data transfer mediums like fibre
optic, coaxial cable, etc.
SOHO
Customer
Residential
Customer

Multi-tenant Basestation
Customers
Core
Network
Repeater
Basestation

SME
Customer

Figure 2.2 Metropolitan Area Network

Self-Assessment Questions
1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.
(a) With ______ it is possible for the connections to take place without
wires.
(b) Metropolitan Area Network connects the computer system, other
resources and some times local area network to a range from 5 to
______ km.

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2.3 Ethernet: IEEE 802.3: Local Area Network (LAN) Protocols

IEEE 802.3 is covered by a small area (Local Area Network). It refers to the
family of Ethernet Protocols. There are two methods of process in Ethernet
standard: first is half-duplex and second is a full-duplex mode. In the half duplex
mode, data are transmitted using the popular Carrier-Sense Multiple Access/
Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) protocol on a shared medium. The main
disadvantages of the half-duplex are effectiveness and space limitation, in which
the link distance is limited by the minimum MAC frame size. This restriction
reduces the effectiveness drastically for high-rate transmission. Therefore, the
carrier extension technique is used to make sure that the minimum frame size
of 512 bytes in Gigabit Ethernet gets a reasonable link distance.
Four data rates are currently defined for operation over optical fiber and
twisted-pair cables. These are:
(i) 10 Mbps - 10Base-T Ethernet (IEEE 802.3)
(ii) 100 Mbps - Fast Ethernet (IEEE 802.3u)
(iii) 1000 Mbps - Gigabit Ethernet (IEEE 802.3z)
(iv) 10-Gigabit - 10 Gbps Ethernet (IEEE 802.3ae)

Self-Assessment Questions
2. State whether the following statements are true or false.
(a) IEEE 802.3 is covered by small area (Local Area Network).
(b) The main disadvantages of the half-duplex are effectiveness and
space limitation.

2.4 Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN (refer to Figure 2.3) crosses almost whole geographic areas, such as
nations. WANs often connect n number of smaller networks. Communication
medium of this networks are telephone line, satellite links, microwave, etc. In
other words, a Wide Area Network (WAN) is a bulky communication of network
that consists of a group of LANs and other different networks (refer to Table
2.1). WAN generally crosses a big geographical area, and can be used to connect
cities, states, or even countries.
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Figure 2.3 Wide Area Network

Table 2.1 Wide Area Network
Parameter

LAN

MAN

WAN

Area covered

Covers small area

i.e. within the
building

Covers large area.

But smaller than
WAN

Covers large
geographical area

Error rates

Lowest

Moderate

Highest

Transmission
speed

High speed

Moderate speed

Low speed

Equipment cost

Uses inexpensive
equipment

Uses moderately
expensive
equipment

Uses most expensive

equipment

Self-Assessment Questions
3. State whether the following statements are true or false.
(a) With MAN, the error rates are highest.
(b) LAN has low transmission speed.

2.5 The Internet

The Internet is the network of networks or a means of connecting a computer or
network to any other computer or network in the world, through specific network
components and servers. When two computers are connected over the Internet,
they can exchange all types of information, such as video, computer programs,
text, graphics and voice.
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It is not possible for one to make an Internet. Still, organizations around

the world over collaborate in its functioning and development. The high-speed,
fibre-optic cables (called backbones) through which the bulk of the Internet
data travels are owned by telephone companies in their respective countries.
The Internet grew out of the Advanced Research Projects Agencys Wide Area
Network (then called ARPANET) recognized by the US Department Of Defense
in 1960s for collaboration in military research among business and government
laboratories. Later universities and other US institutions connected to it. This
resulted in ARPANET growing beyond everyones expectations and acquiring
the name Internet. The development of hypertext based technology (called
World Wide web, WWW, or just the Web) provided means of displaying text,
graphics, and animations, and easy search and navigation tools that has triggered
the Internets explosive worldwide growth.
Activity 1
What is the biggest contribution of the Internet to human society? Write a
500 word essay on the topic.

Self-Assessment Questions
4. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.
(a) When two computers are connected over the ________, they can
exchange all types of information.
(b) The high-speed, fibre-optic cables (called backbones) through which
the bulk of the Internet data travels are owned by __________
companies.

2.6 TCP/IP Reference Model

The builder of the TCP/IP protocol group created their own architectural model
to help describe its components and functions. This model goes by different
names, including the TCP/IP model, the DARPA model (after the agency that
was largely responsible for developing TCP/IP) and the DOD model (after the
United States Department of Defense, the D in DARPA).
In spite of the model you use to represent the function of a networkand
regardless of what you call that modelthe functions that the model represents
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are pretty much the same. This means that the TCP/IP and the OSI models are
relatively same in nature even if they do not carve up the network functionality
pie in precisely the same way. There is a fairly natural correspondence between
the TCP/IP and OSI layers; it just isnt always a one-to-one relationship. Since
the OSI model is used so widely, it is common to explain the TCP/IP architecture
both in terms of the TCP/IP layers and the corresponding OSI layers.
Client

Gateway/(Internet)

Host

Application layer

Application layer

Presentation layer
Session layer
Transport layer
Network layer
Data link layer
Physical layer

Presentation layer
Session layer
Transport layer
Network layer
Data link layer
Physical layer

Figure 2.4 TCP/IP Layer Communications

Characteristics of Gateways

Gateway routers are used to connect dissimilar LANs and perform all the
functions of bridges and routers. It operates as all seven layers of the
OSI Reference Model.
Gateways provide full protocol conversion from one proprietary LAN
technology to another.
Gateway uses higher layers of the OSI model, perhaps through layer 7,
the application layer.
1. Application

Represents data to the user plus encoding

and dialog control.

2. Transport

Support communication between diverse

devices across diverse networks (using
TCP/IP).

3. Internet

4. Network Layer

Determines the best path through the

Network (using gateway).
Controls the hardware devices and media
that make up the network.

Figure 2.5 TCP/IP Reference Model for Communication

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The TCP/IP model (refer to Figure 2.5) has four layers that match six of
the seven layers in the OSI Reference Model. The TCP/IP model does not
address the physical layer, which is where network component and hardware
devices reside. The next three layersnetwork interface, the Internet and (hostto-host) transportcorrespond to layers 2, 3 and 4 of the OSI model. The TCP/
IP application layer conceptually blurs the top three OSI layers. It is important
to note that some people consider certain aspects of the OSI session layer to
be possibly part of the TCP/IP host-to-host transport layer.

Self-Assessment Questions
5. State whether the following statements are true or false.
(a) The builder of the TCP/IP protocol group created their own
architectural model to help describe its components and functions.
(b) The TCP/IP model has two layers that match six of the seven layers
in the OSI Reference Model.

2.7 Domain Names

As numeric strings are hard to remember, which make up the IP address, all
servers on the Internet also have human-readable names, called domain names.
For instance, it is easier for us to remember www.sriram.ac.in than
134.45.56.178. An organization might block all access to certain domain names
or allow access only to specific domain names. A domain name always contains
two or more components separated by dots; for example microsoft.com,
tcs.co.in, etc. The last portion of the domain name is the top label domain name
and describes the type of organization. The major types of top label domain
names are:
com
:
represents commercial entities
org
:
represents miscellaneous organizations that do not fit any other
category, such as non-profit group.
edu
:
represents educational institutions
net
:
represents organizations directly involved in Internet operations
gov
:
represents the United States Federal Government Entities
mil
:
represents the military of the United States

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Country Codes: This is a two-letter abbreviation for a particular country; for

example in represents India, uk represents the United Kingdom, and fr
represents France.

Self-Assessment Questions
6. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.
(a) A domain name always contains_______ or more components.
(b) _______ represents educational intuitions.

2.8 Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML)

HTML is a method where ordinary text can be converted into hypertext. It is a
set of special codes included to control the layout and appearance of the text.
Technically, HTML is not a programming language. It combines instruction within
data to tell a display program called browser, how to render the data that the
document contains.
The following is the structure of HTML:
<html>
<head> about authors </head>
<title> First Page </title>
<body>
<h1> Hello this my Home page!
</body>
</html>
< HTML>: This tag defines the top most elements, identifying it as an HTML
document.
<Head>: This tag contains information about your HTML file.
<Title>: This tag is nested within the head tag. It identifies your page to the
rest of the world. Output of tag is displayed on your browsers title bar but does
not appear as part of the page.
<body>:This is a body part of your HTML web page. Within this tag all the
various tag is used. Every tag has prespecified attributes and there possible
values.

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Levels of Heading: Six different levels up to <h1>,<h2>,<h3>,<h4>,

<h5>,<h6>
Adding a comments:<! - -

and ends with

>

Creating List: There are two types of list : ordered list and unordered list.
Ordered List:
<ol>
<li> MS-Windows
<li> MS-Excel
<li> MS-Word
</ol>
Unordered List:
<ul>
<li> MS-Windows
<li> MS-Excel
<li> MS-Word
</ol>
Creating Definition Lists:
A glossary consists of three tag elements:
<dl>: Define the List
<dt>: Define term
<dd>: Define the definition
Inserting Images:
To insert images in your page use <img> tag as follows:
<img src=flower.gif height=100" width=100" border=1">
Linking the HTML page:
To link one HTML to another use anchor tag as follows:
<a href = first.html > Click me </a>
Setting font size:
We can set font of text by using font tag as follows:
<font face=Arial size=4" color=red>
Marquee tag:
This tag offers some movement from up, down, left, right of given text:
<marquee direction=up bgColor=red behavior=scroll> MY Moving Text
is displayed here </marquee>
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Table tag:
Page layout on the web has to be set by using tables because HTML has no
method to set margin or columns.
Example:
<table border=1" cellspacing=6" cellpadding=6"
width=80%>
<tr> <th> Roll no
</th>
<th> Name </th>
</tr>
<tr> <td> 34 </td>
<td> Pooja </td>
</tr>
<tr> <td> 35 </td>
<td> Priya </td>
</tr>
</table>
Form tag:
Form tag is an important element for doing online business. Forms are necessary
for gathering user information, conducting surveys, or even providing interactive
services. Forms are supported by both client and server for successful
implementation. A number of features are available for building forms, including
text boxes, check boxes, radio buttons, submit buttons and text area. A user
can enter text, selects items from a list, check boxes, and then submit the
information to the server. A program on the server then interprets the data acts
on it appropriately, either by returning information in hypertext form, downloading
a file, or electronically notifying the company of your order.
Item Name:
Item ID:
Number of Quantity:
(Submit)

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The corresponding coding of above HTML form is given below:

<form method=post action=/cgi-bin/purchase.asp>
Item Name:

<input type=text name= item_name value= CD

> <br>

Item Code:

<input type=text name=code value=

CD_Mos_2" > <br>

Number of Quantity:

<input type=text name= Qty value=4" > <br>

<input type=submit value=submit>

Generating forms in HTML is only half the task. The harder part is to
decode the input data submitted from the form. All the programs use data
submitted from the form. All the programs that use data submitted from an
HTML form must conform to the specification called Common Gateway Interface
(CGI).
The important aspect of web server development is application gateway,
more specifically, CGI, which is a specification for communicating data between
an information server, in this case, Web server, and another application. CGI is
used wherever the web server needs to send or receive data from another
application, such as a database. A CGI script is a program that negotiates the
movement of data between the Web server and an outside application.
Use of CGI is to pass data, filled in by a user in an HTML form, from the
web server to a database. Data also can be returned to the users browser via
CGI. CGI scripts may be written in high level language such as C and Perl,
because they can run so many platforms.

Self-Assessment Questions
7. State whether the following statements are true or false.
(a) HTML is a method where ordinary text can be converted into
hypertext.
(b) The important aspect of web server development is application
gateway, more specifically, CGI.

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2.9 Simple Exercises in HTML

Basic exercises
1. Create a webpage that prints a name Vijay to the screen.
Solution:
<html>
<body>
<! print name to the screen >
Vijay
</body>
</html>
On Screen: Vijay
2. Create a webpage and set its title to It is good to be home to the screen, and
set the title of the page to the current date.
Solution:
<html>
<head>
<!set the title of the page to the current date>
<title>October 15, 2011</title>
</head>
<body>
<!print a message>
It is good to be home.
</body>
</html>
On screen: It is good to be home.
HTML Text exercise
3. Prints the name Vijay in Tahoma font.
Solution:
<html>
<body>
<font face=Tahoma>Vijay</font>

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</body>
</html>

On screen: Vijay
Would the World Wide Web function without HTML? Research the Internet
and give reasons to support your answer.

2.10 Summary
Let us recapitulate the important concepts discussed in this unit:
Computer network is a collection of more than two computers, which are
connected together to share information and computer peripherals.
A LAN covers only a limited geographically area ranging from 0 to 2 Km,
such as organizations, home, buildings.
MAN occupies a larger area compared to LAN, such as a town or a
university/organization premises (which is spread between 05 km to 20
km) is termed as Metropolitan Area Network or MAN.
IEEE 802.3 is covered by small area (Local Area Network). It refers to the
family of Ethernet Protocols. We have two methods of process in Ethernet
standard: first is half-duplex and second is a full-duplex mode.
A Wide Area Network (WAN) crosses almost whole geographic areas,
such as nations. Communication medium of this networks are telephone
line, satellite links, microwaves, etc.
The Internet is the network of networks and a means of connecting a
computer or network to any other computer or network in world through
specific network components and servers.
The builder of the TCP/IP protocol group created their own architectural
model to help describe its components and functions. This model goes
by different names, including the TCP/IP model, the DARPA model (after
the agency that was largely responsible for developing TCP/IP) and the
DOD model (after the United States Department of Defense, the D in
DARPA).
HTML is a method where ordinary text can be converted into hypertext. It
is a set of special codes included to control the layout and appearance of
the text. Technically, HTML is not a programming language.

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2.11 Glossary
Computer network: Collection of more than two computers, which are
connected together to share information and computer peripherals
LAN: Supplies networking capability to a group of computers in close
proximity to each other such as in an office building, a school, or a home
MAN: Metropolitan Area Network; covers a wider area than LAN
WAN: Network that crosses almost whole geographic area, such as nation
and all over world; WANs often connect n number of smaller networks
The Internet: Network of networks and a means of connecting a computer
or network to any other computer or network in the world through specific
network components and servers
HTML: Method where ordinary text can be converted into hypertext; it is
a set of special codes included to control the layout and appearance of
the text
Protocol: A set of rules that control the way data is sent between
computers
Architecture: The design and structure of a computer system

2.12 Terminal Questions

1. Discuss the importance of LAN.
2. What is Ethernet (IEEE 802.3)?
3. Explain the term Wide Area Network. How is it different from LAN?
4. What is the Internet?
5. Discuss the main features of the TCP/IP Reference Model.
6. What are domain names? Explain.
7. Why is Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) important? Discuss.

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2.13 Answers
Answers to Self-Assessment Questions
1. (a) WLAN; (b) 50
2. (a) True; (b) True
3. (a) False; (b) False
4. (a) Internet; (b) Telephone
5. (a) True; (b) False
6. (a) Two; (b) Edu
7. (a) True; (b) True

Answers to Terminal Questions

1. Refer to Section 2.2
2. Refer to Section 2.3
3. Refer to Section 2.4
4. Refer to Section 2.5
5. Refer to Section 2.6
6. Refer to Section 2.7
7. Refer to Section 2.8

References
1. Turban, Efraim, Jae Kuy Lee and Michael Chung. 1999. Electronic
Commerce: A Managerial Perspective. Prentice Hall.
2. Whitley, David. 1998. E-commerce: Strategy, Technologies and
Applications. Tata McGraw-Hill.

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