Intoduction To Computer Networks

Intoduction to computer networks
We are living in a connected world. Information is being produced,

exchanged, and traced across the globe in real time. It's possible as
almost everyone and everything in the digital world is interconnected
through one way or the other.
A group of two or more similar things or people interconnected with

each other is called network (Figure 10.1). Some of the examples of
network in our everyday life includes:+
• Social network
•Mobile network
• Network of computers
• Airlines, railway, banks, hospitals networks
A computer network (Figure 10.2) is an interconnection among two or

more computers or computing devices. Such interconnection allows
computers to share data and resources among each other. A basic
network may connect a few computers placed in a room.
The network size may vary from small to large depending on the
number of computers it connects. A computer network can include
different types of hosts (also called nodes) like server, desktop, laptop,
cellular phones.
Apart from computers, networks include networking devices like

switch, router, modem, etc. Networking devices are used to connect
multiple computers in different settings. For communication, data in a
network is divided into smaller chunks called packets. These packets
are then carried over a network. Devices in a network can be connected
either through wired media like cables or wireless media like air. In a
communication network, each device that is a part of a network and
that can receive, create, store or send data to different network routes
is called a node. In the context of data communication, a node can be a
device such as a modem, hub, bridge, switch, router, digital telephone
handset, a printer, a computer or a server.
Types of Networks
There are various types of computer networks ranging from network of
handheld devices (like mobile phones or tablets) connected through
Wi-Fi or Bluetooth within a single room to the millions of computers
spread across the globe. Some are connected wireless while others are
connected through wires. Based on the geographical area covered and
data transfer rate, computer networks are broadly categorised as:
• PAN ( Personal Area Network)
• LAN (Local Area Network)
• MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
• WAN (Wide Area Network)
Computer Network Types

A computer network is a group of computers linked to each other that enables the
computer to communicate with another computer and share their resources, data, and
applications.
A computer network can be categorized by their size. A computer network is mainly

of four types:
o LAN(Local Area Network)

o PAN(Personal Area Network)
o MAN(Metropolitan Area Network)
o WAN(Wide Area Network)
LAN(Local Area Network)

o Local Area Network is a group of computers connected to each other in a small
area such as building, office.
o LAN is used for connecting two or more personal computers through a
communication medium such as twisted pair, coaxial cable, etc.
o It is less costly as it is built with inexpensive hardware such as hubs, network
adapters, and ethernet cables.
o The data is transferred at an extremely faster rate in Local Area Network.
o Local Area Network provides higher security.
PAN(Personal Area Network)
o Personal Area Network is a network arranged within an individual person,
typically within a range of 10 meters.
o Personal Area Network is used for connecting the computer devices of personal
use is known as Personal Area Network.
o Thomas Zimmerman was the first research scientist to bring the idea of the
Personal Area Network.
o Personal Area Network covers an area of 30 feet.
o Personal computer devices that are used to develop the personal area network
are the laptop, mobile phones, media player and play stations.
There are two types of Personal Area Network:
o Wired Personal Area Network

o Wireless Personal Area Network
Wireless Personal Area Network: Wireless Personal Area Network is developed by

simply using wireless technologies such as WiFi, Bluetooth. It is a low range network.
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Wired Personal Area Network: Wired Personal Area Network is created by using the
USB.
Examples Of Personal Area Network:
o Body Area Network: Body Area Network is a network that moves with a

person. For example, a mobile network moves with a person. Suppose a person
establishes a network connection and then creates a connection with another
device to share the information.
o Offline Network: An offline network can be created inside the home, so it is also
known as a home network. A home network is designed to integrate the devices
such as printers, computer, television but they are not connected to the internet.
o Small Home Office: It is used to connect a variety of devices to the internet and
to a corporate network using a VPN
MAN(Metropolitan Area Network)

o A metropolitan area network is a network that covers a larger geographic area by
interconnecting a different LAN to form a larger network.
o Government agencies use MAN to connect to the citizens and private industries.
o In MAN, various LANs are connected to each other through a telephone
exchange line.
o The most widely used protocols in MAN are RS-232, Frame Relay, ATM, ISDN,
OC-3, ADSL, etc.
o It has a higher range than Local Area Network(LAN).
Uses Of Metropolitan Area Network:
o MAN is used in communication between the banks in a city.

o It can be used in an Airline Reservation.
o It can be used in a college within a city.
o It can also be used for communication in the military.
WAN(Wide Area Network)

o A Wide Area Network is a network that extends over a large geographical area
such as states or countries.
o A Wide Area Network is quite bigger network than the LAN.
o A Wide Area Network is not limited to a single location, but it spans over a large
geographical area through a telephone line, fibre optic cable or satellite links.
o The internet is one of the biggest WAN in the world.
o A Wide Area Network is widely used in the field of Business, government, and
education.
Examples Of Wide Area Network:
o Mobile Broadband: A 4G network is widely used across a region or country.

o Last mile: A telecom company is used to provide the internet services to the
customers in hundreds of cities by connecting their home with fiber.
o Private network: A bank provides a private network that connects the 44 offices.
This network is made by using the telephone leased line provided by the telecom
company.
Advantages Of Wide Area Network:

Following are the advantages of the Wide Area Network:
o Geographical area: A Wide Area Network provides a large geographical area.

Suppose if the branch of our office is in a different city then we can connect with
them through WAN. The internet provides a leased line through which we can
connect with another branch.
o Centralized data: In case of WAN network, data is centralized. Therefore, we do
not need to buy the emails, files or back up servers.
o Get updated files: Software companies work on the live server. Therefore, the
programmers get the updated files within seconds.
o Exchange messages: In a WAN network, messages are transmitted fast. The web
application like Facebook, Whatsapp, Skype allows you to communicate with
friends.
o Sharing of software and resources: In WAN network, we can share the software
and other resources like a hard drive, RAM.
o Global business: We can do the business over the internet globally.
o High bandwidth: If we use the leased lines for our company then this gives the
high bandwidth. The high bandwidth increases the data transfer rate which in
turn increases the productivity of our company.
Disadvantages of Wide Area Network:

The following are the disadvantages of the Wide Area Network:
o Security issue: A WAN network has more security issues as compared to LAN
and MAN network as all the technologies are combined together that creates the
security problem.
o Needs Firewall & antivirus software: The data is transferred on the internet
which can be changed or hacked by the hackers, so the firewall needs to be used.
Some people can inject the virus in our system so antivirus is needed to protect
from such a virus.
o High Setup cost: An installation cost of the WAN network is high as it involves
the purchasing of routers, switches.
o Troubleshooting problems: It covers a large area so fixing the problem is
difficult.

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Intoduction to computer networks

We are living in a connected world. Information is being produced,

A group of two or more similar things or people interconnected with

• Airlines, railway, banks, hospitals networks

A computer network (Figure 10.2) is an interconnection among two or

Apart from computers, networks include networking devices like

• PAN ( Personal Area Network)

• LAN (Local Area Network)

• MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

• WAN (Wide Area Network)

Computer Network Types

A computer network can be categorized by their size. A computer network is mainly

o LAN(Local Area Network)

LAN(Local Area Network)

o Wired Personal Area Network

Wireless Personal Area Network: Wireless Personal Area Network is developed by

o Body Area Network: Body Area Network is a network that moves with a

MAN(Metropolitan Area Network)

o MAN is used in communication between the banks in a city.

WAN(Wide Area Network)

Examples Of Wide Area Network:

o Mobile Broadband: A 4G network is widely used across a region or country.

Advantages Of Wide Area Network:

o Geographical area: A Wide Area Network provides a large geographical area.

Disadvantages of Wide Area Network:

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