Chapter : 2

Network Communication

2.0 Objectives
2.1 Networking Transmission
Media
2.2 Comparing Transmission
media
2.3 What is Topology?
2.4 Typer Of TOPOLOGY
2.5 Understanding TCP/IP
2.6 Comparing TCP/IP Suite
with OSI layers
2.7 Summary
2.8

2.0 Objectives
At the end of the chapter you will be able to:
Explain types of networking media
Understand and explain Coaxial cables, Twisted pair cables,
Fiber optic cables
Compare the transmission media
Understand and Explain Topology and it need

Network Communication / 29
 Explain different types of physical topologies used in
networking.
Understand and explain about TCP/IP
Compare OSI Model and TCP/IP Model
Explain Layer in TCP/IP model

2.1 Networking Transmission Media

Network Transmission media is the actual path over which
an electrical signal goes as it moves starting with one part then
onto the next.
There are 2 types of transmission media used in Networking
1. Wired (Cables)
2. Wireless (Air)
In this session we will cover, the wired part of the
transmission media. There are three types of wired transmission
media,
Coaxial cables
Twisted pair cables
Fiber optic cables
2.1.1 Coaxial cables
A Coaxial cable or coax is a cable, is used in the transmission
of audio, video, and communications. Mainly coaxial cables are
used as network and broadband cable. These cables have high
bandwidths and greater transmission capacity. The adjacent
figure is of a commonly used coaxial cable. As shown in the
figure these cables have a metal male connector end that is
screwed onto a female connector.

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The Coaxial cables are two types:
Thicknet (10Base5)
Thinnet (10Base2)
Thicknet, also known as Thick Ethernet or 10Base5 Thinnet
also known as Thin Ethernet or 10Base2, are antiquated
Ethernet networking technologies. Both technologies use coax
that consists of solid copper core surrounded by an insulator.
10Base2 isknown as cheaper net, thin Ethernet, Thinnet, and
thin wire which is a variant of Ethernet that uses thin coaxial
cable, terminated with BNC connectors. Here 10Base2 means
10 Mbps speed,
Baseband signals and
200 metres length (actual usage is 185 metres).
And, 10BASE5 is known as thick Ethernet or Thicknet that
was the first commercially available variant of Ethernet. Here
10Base5 means
10 Mbps speed,
Baseband signals and
500 metres length.
Understanding the Thinnet and Thicknet concepts.
The number 10:
At the front of each identifier, 10 denotes the standard data
transfer speed over these media - ten megabits per second
(10Mbps).
The word Base:
Short for Baseband, this part of the identifier signifies a type
of network that uses only one carrier frequency for signaling and
requires all network stations to share its use.
The segment type or segment length:
This part of the identifier can be a digit or a letter:
Digit:
shorthand for how long (in meters) a cable segment may be
before attenuation sets in. For example, a 10Base5 segment can

Network Communication / 31
 be no more than 500 meters long.
Letter:
identifies a specific physical type of cable. For example, the
T at the end of 10BaseT stands for twisted-pair.

2.1.2 Twisted pair cables

Twisted pair cable is a very important network media. It can
be used for phone communication and cable Ethernet networks.
Twisted pair cabling is a type of wiring in which two conductors
of a single circuit are twisted together for the purposes of
cancelling out electromagnetic interference (EMI) from external
sources. There are two kinds of twisted pair cable, UTP and STP.

UTP:
UTP means Unshielded Twisted Pair, which is the copper
media and inherited from telephony, which can be used for
increasingly higher data rates, and is rapidly becoming the de
facto standard for horizontal wiring, the connection between, and
including, the outlet and the termination in the communication
closet.
The advantage of UTP is that they are a very flexible, low cost
media, and can be used for either voice or data
communications.
And, the main disadvantage with UTP is the bandwidth. We
cannot achieve high bandwidth with UTP cables.

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STP:
STP cable is Shielded Twisted Pair copper conductive netting
or casing, performed with individually or with external conductive
shield around all pairs. It is heavier and more difficult to
manufacture, but it can extraordinarily enhance the signaling rate
in a given transmission plot. Twisting gives cancelation of
magnetically induced fields and currents on a pair of conductors.
The main advantage of STP is that it ensures greater
protection from all types of external interference than
unshielded twisted pair cable.
Advantage And the disadvantage is, it is more expensive than
UTP cable.

2.1.3 Fiber optic cables

Fiber optic cable is a fast information transmission medium.
Fiber optic cables carry communication signals using pulses of
light generated by small lasers or light- emitting diodes (LEDs).

UTP Category Data Rate Max. Length Application

CAT1 Up to 1Mbps
CAT2 Up to 4Mbps -
CAT3 Up to 10Mbps 100m Token Ring and

CAT4 Up to 16Mbps 100m Token Ring

Network
CAT5 Up to 100Mbps 100m

CAT5e Up to 1Gbps 100m Ethernet, Fast

Ethernet, Gigabit
Ethernet
CAT6 Up to 10Gbps 100m Gigabit Ethernet,
10G Ethernet
CAT6a Up to 10Gbps 100m Gigabit Ethernet,
10G Ethernet
CAT7 Up to 10Gbps 100m Gigabit Ethernet,
10G Ethernet
CAT8 Up to 40Gbps 30m 40G Ethernet

Network Communication / 33
 It contains minor glass or plastic fibers, which carry light
beams and the coating helps preserve the fibers from heat, cold,
electromagnetic delay from distinct types of wiring, as readily as
some protection from ultraviolet rays from the sun. Fiber optics
manages for an essentially faster data transmission than
standard copper wires. And the fiber optic cables bandwidth is
much higher than other cables.

Advantages of Fiber Optic Cables:

Fiber cables offer several advantages over traditional long-
distance copper cabling.
Fiber optics have a higher capacity. The amount of network
bandwidth a fiber cable can carry easily
exceeds that of a copper cable with similar thickness. Fiber
cables rated at 10 Gbps, 40 Gbps and even 100 Gbps are
standard. Since light can travel much longer distances down
a fiber cable without losing its strength, it lessens the need
for signal boosters.
Fiber is less susceptible to interference. A traditional network
cable requires special shielding (like in STP) to protect it from
electromagnetic interference. While this shielding helps, it is not
sufficient to prevent interference when many cables are strung

34 / Networking
 together in close proximity to each other. The physical
properties of glass and fiber cables avoid most of these
issues.
There are two types of Fiber optic Cables they are:
1. Single mode Fiber Optic Cable

2. Multi-mode Fiber Optic Cable

2.2 Comparing Transmission media

Bandwidth and application differences, between copper,
twisted pair and fiber optic cabling:

Network Communication / 35
 The table below describes the differences between single mode
and multi-mode fiber optic cables.

Network Topology

2.1,2.2,2.3 Check Your Progress

1. -------- offer several advantages over traditional long-
distance copper cabling
2. ____________cable is Shielded Twisted Pair copper
conductive netting or casing, performed with individually
or with external conductive shield around all pairs
3. -------------means Unshielded Twisted Pair

2.3 What is Topology?

Network topology is the arrangement of the various elements
(links, nodes, etc.) of a computer network. Essentially, it is the
topological structure of a network and may be depicted physically
or logically.
Topologies are divided into two types. One is called physical
topology & another one is logical topology.
Physical topology is the placement of the various

36 / Networking
components of a network, including device location and cable
installation, while logical topology illustrates how data flows within
a network, regardless of its physical design.
Distances between nodes, physical interconnections,
transmission rates, or signal types may differ between two
networks, yet their topologies may be identical.

The network topology impacts performance

The network topology is a factor in determining the media type
used to cable the network
The networking topology impacts the cost of cabling the
network.
Some access methods works only with specific topologies.
Knowledge of network layout / topology helps to optimize the
network performance and troubleshoot network performance
issues.
The table shows the cable types associated with each
topology.

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 Topology Cable Type

Linear bus Thin coaxial Thick coaxial

Star bus Unshielded twisted pair (UTP)

Ring Shielded twisted pair (STP) Unshielded twisted pair

(UTP) Fiber optic (FDDI rings)

2.4 Types of Topologies

There are 6 different types of physical topologies. They are:
BUS topology
RING topology
STAR topology
MESH topology
TREE topology
HYBRID topology

2.4.1 BUS topology

Bus topology is a network where all the nodes are connected
with each other with a single common cable. When one node
wants to access another node on the network then it puts a
message addressed to that device on the bus network.

Advantages of BUS network:

It is very easy to connect a node or peripheral in this network.
Bus network requires less cable length than any other
topologies.
Disadvantages of BUS network:
As the total network is depended on a single cable so if any

38 / Networking
 problem occurs in the main cable, the entire network shuts
down.
At the start & the end point of the main cable terminators are
required to build up the network.
This network cannot be used as a stand-alone solution in a
large building.

2.4.2 RING TOPOLOGY

When each device is serially connected in a closed ring
pattern with a single cable then the network system is called ring
topology. As a train crosses all the platforms to reach its
destination, ring topology does the same to pass a message from
one node to another node.

Advantages of ring topology:

The network does not do anything without order. It needs to
access the token & the opportunity to transmit.
In this network each & every node has equal access to
resources.
The performance does not get interrupted by any additional
components.

Network Communication / 39
 Network server is not needed to control the connection
between nodes.
Disadvantages of ring topology:
In this ring network if any node breaks down then the entire
network system stops working.
The speed of transferring data is slower than any other
topologies just because a packet of data passes through all
the nodes between sender & receiver node.
1. The entire network could be affected by moving, adding &
changing of devices.

2.4.3 STAR TOPOLOGY

In this configuration all nodes are connected to a central Hub
with separated cables. Here the central node or hub acts like the
main server & the other nodes which are connected to the central
node, act like client devices.

Advantages of star topology:

In this type of network it is very easy to add or remove a node
to the network system.
Here if any fault occurs it is very easy to find out & fix it up.
I f anyone node faces problem, the rest nodes performs

40 / Networking
 smoothly without effecting the whole network.
Disadvantages of star topology:
I t is more expensive than any other topologies to build up the
network because it requires excessive length of cable.
The entire network goes down if the central node (hub) does
not work properly & also if the other important nodes are
disconnected from the network, example file server node
stops working
The central hub is expensive which makes the network more
expensive.

2.4.4 MESH TOPOLOGY

Here each & every network is interconnected with each other.
It works independently.

Advantages of Mesh topology:

Adding or removing nodes in this network could be done
easily without interrupting the other nodes & the network.
Here the transmission of data is very easy because it transfers
data from different nodes simultaneously.
In this configuration transfer of data does not get affected by

Network Communication / 41
 any peripherals because if one node fails there is always an
alternative one.
Disadvantages of Mesh topology:
It is very hard to configure the network & also very difficult to
maintain.
Mesh topology is comparatively expensive when compared
with other topologies like ring or star topology.

2.4.5 TREE TOPOLOGY

A tree topology looks like the branches of the tree where each
& every nodes are connected with its parent’s node. It is also
called by the name star+bus topology.

Advantages of tree topology:

Here finding out any fault is very easy & not too hard to
maintain.
If one of the any nodes get damaged the other hierarchical
nodes are not affected.
It is very easy to extend the network as much as administrator
wants.
Disadvantages of tree topology:
The network requires high maintenance.
A lot of cable is required to establish the network system.
Troubleshooting of problems is highly difficult.

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2.4.6 HYBRID TOPOLOGY
Hybrid topology is the combination of two or more different
network topologies.
This network is a mixture of both peer-to-peer & client-server
network. It can be either wired or wireless network.

Advantages of hybrid topology:

Here in this network the troubleshooting is far better than any
other topologies.
This type of network is very easy to expand.
Disadvantages of hybrid topology:
The structure of the network is hard to understand.
It is very expensive to build up the entire network because of
the requirement of cables & other peripherals.
Multi-station Access Unit MAU is required

2.4 Check Your Progress

1. ------------ is the combination of two or more different
network topologies
2. A --------------topology looks like the branches of the tree
where each & every nodes are connected with its parent’s
node
3. The ----------hub is expensive which makes the network
more expensive

Network Communication / 43
 2.5 Understanding TCP/IP
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol
(IP) are two separate computer network protocols that define a
set of rules to govern communications among all devices
connected to the Internet. TCP transport is often used to transfer
data across IP networks.

Thus, the two protocols are used together so often that they
are commonly referred to as TCP/IP TCP/ IP is actually a whole
suite of protocols which includes TCP, IP, UDP, ARP, DNS, HTTP
and ICMP. The TCP/IP standards are maintained by the Internet
Engineering Task Force (IETF) and are listed through its Request
for Comments (RFC) publications.
The TCP/IP reference model covers most of the popular
protocols used in network communications. Due to its simplicity,
it is still being widely adopted instead of the OSI model.

44 / Networking
Layers of TCP/IP Reference Model

2.6 Comparing TCP/IP Suite with OSI layers

The TCP/IP reference model, also known as the DARPA
(Defense Advanced Research Project Agency) model after the
U.S. government agency that initially developed it, consists of
four layers as opposed to the seven-layer Open Systems
Interconnection (OSI) model. The four layers of the TCP/ IP
reference model are:
A. Application Layer
B. Transport Layer
C. Internet Layer
D. Network Interface Layer.
Each of these four layers corresponds with one or more
layers of the OSI system, as shown in the following diagram:

2.6.1 TCP/IP Layer Properties

In this section, we will look into the four layers of the TCP/IP
reference model in detail, including their functions, core
protocols, and relationship to the OSI model.
1. Network Interface Layer
The Network Interface layer or the Network Access layer is
responsible for transferring TCP/ IP packets on and off the
network medium. TCP/IP, which can transfer data irrespective of

Network Communication / 45
 the network access method, frame format, or medium, can be
used to communicate among different network types. It can work
with LAN technologies such as Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, etc.
and WAN technologies like X.25 (old), Frame Relay, etc. This
also allows it to be compatible with new technologies such as
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM).
On most TCP/IP networks, none of the core IP protocols run
on this layer as that is not necessary.
facilitate communications with the physical layer.
The Network Interface layer corresponds with the Data Link
and Physical layers of the OSI model.

2. Internet Layer
The Internet layer is responsible for accepting, routing and
delivering data packages.
The core protocols of the Internet layer include Internet
protocol (IP), Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) protocol,
Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) protocol and Internet
Group Management Protocol (IGMP).
This layer of the TCP/IP reference model is the equivalent of

46 / Networking
the Network layer of the OSI model. The image shows the
protocol effective on the Internetwork layer of the TCP/IP protocol
stack.

3. Transport Layer
The Transport layer provides “end-to-end” communication to
ensure that packets arrive in sequence and without error. It does
so by acknowledging reception of data and retransmitting lost
packets.
This layer uses Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and
User Datagram Protocol (UDP) as its core protocols.
TCP enables applications to reliably communicate with each
other “one-to-one”. Data transmitted over TCP contains a
header which helps in establishing an end-to-end connection
between sending and receiving machines in order to confirm
data transfer.
UDP provides datagram delivery service without the option to
verify connection between sending and receiving machines.
As such, it is used for small amounts of data transfer. It is
faster when compared to TCP, but less reliable.
This layer of the TCP/IP reference model is directly
comparable to the Transport layer of the OSI model, but also
includes some functions of the Session layer.

4. Application Layer
This layer makes the services of the other layers available to
applications that everyone can use.
This layer also defines the protocols that applications use for

Network Communication / 47
 data transfer. While many new Application layer protocols are
being developed continuously, some of the protocols that are
currently in use are:
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is used to transfer files
from websites.
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is used for interactive file transfer.
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is used for the transfer
of email messages and attachments.
Telnet, means a terminal emulation protocol. It will be used
for logging on remotely to network hosts.
The Domain Name System (DNS) is used to resolve a host
name to an IP address.
RIP stands for Routing Information Protocol; it is a routing
protocol that routers use to exchange routing information on
an IP internetwork.
The Application layer of the TCP/IP reference model
corresponds with the Application layer of the OSI model. The
image shows the communication flow by using TCP/IP topology
model.

48 / Networking
2.5,2.6,2.7 Check Your Progress
1. A ------------ is a cable, is used in the transmission of
audio
2. ----------------- is used to transfer files from websites
(Hypertext Transfer Protocol
3. -------------- is used for interactive file transfer

2.7 Summary
The electrical signal goes through network media and there
are three types of network media to be specific Coaxial
cables, Twisted pair cables, and Fiber optic cables.
A Coaxial cable or coax is a cable, is used in the transmission
of audio, video, and communications.
Mainly coaxial cables are used as network and broadband
cable.
Thicknet, also known as Thick Ethernet or 10Base5, and
Thinnet also known as Thin Ethernet or 10Base2, are
outdated Ethernet networking technologies.
UTP means Unshielded Twisted Pair, which is the copper
media and inherited from telephony, which can be used for
increasingly higher data rates
STP cable is Shielded Twisted Pair copper conductive netting
or casing, performed with individually or with external
conductive shield around all pairs.
Fiber optic cable is a fast information transmission medium.
Fiber optic cables carry communication signals using pulses
of light generated by small lasers or light-emitting diodes
(LEDs).
Six physical topologies are there, BUS topology, RING
topology, STAR topology, MESH topology, TREE topology,
and HYBRID topology.

Network Communication / 49
 In Bus topology all the nodes are connected with each other
with a single common cable.

In Ring topology each device is serially connected in a closed

ring pattern with a single cable.

In Star topology all nodes are connected to a central Hub with

separated cables.

In Mesh topology each & every network is interconnected

with each other.

In Tree topology each & every nodes are connected with its
parent’s node.

Hybrid topology is the combination of two or more different

network topologies.

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is a computer network

protocols just as Internet protocol that defines a set of rules
to govern communications among all devices connected to
the Internet.

There are four layers of TCP/IP, Application Layer, Transport

Layer, Internet Layer, and Network Interface Layer.

The application layer makes the services of the other layers

available to applications that everyone can use.

The Transport layer provides “end-to-end” communication to

ensure that packets arrive in sequence and without error.

The Internet layer is responsible for accepting, routing and

delivering data packages.

The Network Interface layer or the Network Access layer is

responsible for transferring TCP/IP packets on and off the
network medium.

The seven layers of OSI model are divided in four layers of

TCP/IP model.

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 2.8 Check your Progress Answer
2.1,2.2, 2.3 Check Your Progress Answer
1) Fiber Cabler
2) STP
3) UTP
2.4 Check Your Progress Answer
1) Hybrid Topology
2) Tree
3) Cenrral
2.5,2.6, 2.7 Check Your Progress Answer
1) Co-axial Cable
2) HTTP
3) FTP

2.9 Questins for Self Study

1. What are the transmission media in Wired LAN?
a) _________________________________
b) _________________________________
c) _________________________________

2. Two types of coaxial cables are ___________________ and

3. Optical fibers use ______________ as the medium of data

transmission

4. Which of the following is used in Cable TV connection?

A. Satellite
B. Coaxial cable
C. Modem
D. Fiber optic
5. supports data rate up to 100 Mbps Gigabyte Ethernet.

6. What are the types of cables in Twisted Pair?

7. Physical or logical arrangement of network is. a central

Network Communication / 51
 controller or hub.

8. topology requires multipoint connection.

9. FDDI used which type of physical topology?

10. Which technology use Ethernet system?

12. Which of the following services use TCP? (Any 3)

A. SMTP
B. HTTP
C. FTP
D. TFTP

13. What layer in the TCP/IP stack is equivalent to the Transport

layer of the OSI model?

14. You want to implement a mechanism that automates the IP

configuration, including IP address, subnet mask, default
gateway, and DNS information. Which protocol will you use to
accomplish this?

15. Which of the following are layers in the TCP/IP model?

(Any 3)
A. Application
B. Transport
C. Internet
D. Data Link
E. Which of the following are TCP/IP protocols used at the
Application layer of the OSI model? (Any 3)
F. TCP
G. Telnet
H. FTP
I. TFTP

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Answers
1. a) Coaxial cable
b) Twisted Pair
c) Optical Fiber

2. Thinnet, Thicknet

3. Light

4. B. Coaxial Cable

5. CAT5e

6. UTP and STP

7. Topology

8. Star

9. Bus

10. Ring

11. Bus

12. Bus

13. A. SMTP

B. HTTP

C. FTP

14. Host-to-Host

15. DHCP

16. A. Application
B. Transport
C. Internet

17. B. Telnet
C. FTP
D. TFTP

Network Communication / 53
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