What is a network?

 Two or more computers and/or devices

that are linked in order to:
– share resources (such as printers and
CDs - hardware; applications),
– exchange files/data, or
– allow electronic communications.

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 … What is a network?

 Devices are linked through cables,

telephone lines, radio waves, satellites,
or infrared light beams.
 Networks are built with a mix of
computer hardware,
hardware computer software,
software
and protocols.
protocols

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 … network

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 Network Components

 Include:
 Network hardware;
 Network Software;
 Packets;
 Protocols

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 … Network Hardware

Hosts & Nodes:

 Computer on the
network – servers and
clients.
 Other devices
connected to a network.

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 … Network Hardware

Network Interface (usu. NIC):

 A NIC is an add-on card that's
plugged into a motherboard
expansion slot and provides a
connection between the
computer and the network.

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 … Network hardware
Network (transmission) Medium:
 A cable that plugs into the NIC and makes the
connection between a computer and the rest of
the network. Network media can also be the air
waves, as in wireless networks.

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 … Network hardware
… Network (transmission) Medium:
 Wired connections use twisted pair, coaxial, or
fibre optic cables.
 Wireless ones are infrared, microwave
(bluetooth), broadcast radio (WiFi), or satellite.

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 … Network Concepts

Interconnecting devices:
 Hubs, switches, routers.
 Allow two or more computers to communicate on the network
without having to be connected directly to one another.
 (see next slide)

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A typical network
… Network Components

 Software Components
– Network clients and servers—Network client
software requests information that's stored on
another network computer or device. Network
server software allows a computer to share its
resources by fielding resource requests generated
by network clients.

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 … Network Concepts

Example:

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 … Software Components
– Protocols—Network protocols define the rules and
formats a computer must use when sending
information across the network. Think of it as a
language that all devices on a network understand.
– NIC drivers—NIC drivers receive data from
protocols and then forward this data to the physical
NIC, which transmits data onto the medium.

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 … Packets

 Message (packets):
 Networks facilitate exchange of
messages – in digital format.
 Electronic messages are sent as
packets – fixed-length block of data.

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 Why Network?

 Sharing of Peripheral Devices:

 Connected to a network serving many
users.
 Examples:
– Laser printers;
– Disk drives;
– Scanners;
– Etc.
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 … Why Network?

 Sharing of Programs & Data:

 To reduce expenses, organizations may
have one copy of a program centrally
installed and accessed by many users;
same applies to data.
 Enforcement of data standards is
possible; collaboratively working on
projects is easier.
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 … Why Network?

 Better Communications:
 Networks facilitate communication –
thru email, IM, etc – fast, easily and
cheaply.
 Exchange of ideas is better; increased
productivity.

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 … Why Network?

 Security of Information:
 Networked storage devices enhances
security of information – unlike
standalone computers.
 Online storage (cloud) is more secure
than local disks.

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 … Why Network?

 Access to databases:
 Networks enable users to tap into many
databases.
 Many online – through the internet.
 Access to huge amounts of information.

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 … Why Network?

Other benefits are:

 Cost reduction (due to foregoing +no
need to buy mainframes, use PCs).
 Enhance reliability – multiple sources of
information, data backups.
 Interoperability – flexibility to connect
devices from many vendors.
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 … Why Network?

 Share connection to other networks,

networks
including the internet.
 Facilitate collaboration – working
together (WWW invented for this).

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 Types of Computer Networks
There are mainly five types of Computer Networks

Personal Area Network (PAN)

Local Area Network (LAN)
Campus Area Network (CAN)
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Wide Area Network (WAN)

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 Personal Area Network (PAN)
 PAN is the most basic type of computer network. This network is
restrained to a single person, that is, communication between the
computer devices is centered only on an individual’s workspace. PAN
offers a network range of 1 to 100 meters from person to device providing
communication. Its transmission speed is very high with very easy
maintenance and very low cost.
 This uses Bluetooth as technology.
 Examples of PAN are USB, computer, phone, tablet, printer, PDA, etc.

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 Local Area Network (LAN)
 LAN is the most frequently used network. A LAN is a computer network
that connects computers through a common communication path,
contained within a limited area, that is, locally. A LAN encompasses two
or more computers connected over a server. The two important
technologies involved in this network are Ethernet and Wi-fi. It ranges up
to 2km & transmission speed is very high with easy maintenance and low
cost.
 Examples of LAN are networking in a home, school, library, laboratory,
college, office, etc.

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 Campus Area Network (CAN)
 CAN is bigger than a LAN but smaller
than a MAN. This is a type of computer
network that is usually used in places
like a school or colleges. This network
covers a limited geographical area that
is, it spreads across several buildings
within the campus. CAN mainly use
Ethernet technology with a range from
1km to 5km.
 Its transmission speed is very high with
a moderate maintenance cost and
moderate cost.
 Examples of CAN are networks that
cover schools, colleges, buildings, etc.
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 Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
 A MAN is larger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN. This is the type of
computer network that connects computers over a geographical distance
through a shared communication path over a city, town, or metropolitan
area. This network mainly uses FDDI, CDDI, and ATM as the technology
with a range from 5km to 50km. Its transmission speed is average. It is
difficult to maintain and it comes with a high cost.

 Examples of MAN are networking in towns, cities, a single large city, a

large area within multiple buildings, etc.

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 Wide Area Network (WAN)
 WAN is a type of computer network that connects computers over a large
geographical distance through a shared communication path. It is not
restrained to a single location but extends over many locations. WAN can
also be defined as a group of local area networks that communicate with
each other with a range above 50km.

 Here we use Leased-Line & Dial-up technology. Its transmission speed is

very low and it comes with very high maintenance and very high cost.

 The most common example of WAN is the Internet.

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 Types of Network Topology
 The arrangement of a network that comprises nodes and connecting lines
via sender and receiver is referred to as Network Topology. The various
network topologies are:

 Point to Point Topology

 Mesh Topology
 Star Topology
 Bus Topology
 Ring Topology

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 Point to Point Topology
 Point-to-Point Topology is a type of topology that works on the
functionality of the sender and receiver. It is the simplest communication
between two nodes, in which one is the sender and the other one is the
receiver. Point-to-Point provides high bandwidth.

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 Mesh Topology
 In a mesh topology, every
device is connected to
another device via a
particular channel. In Mesh
Topology, the protocols used
are AHCP (Ad Hoc
Configuration Protocols),
DHCP (Dynamic Host
Configuration Protocol), etc.

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 Advantages of Mesh Topology
Communication is very fast between the nodes.
Mesh Topology is robust.
The fault is diagnosed easily. Data is reliable because data is transferred
among the devices through dedicated channels or links.
Provides security and privacy.

Drawbacks of Mesh Topology

Installation and configuration are difficult.
The cost of cables is high as bulk wiring is required, hence suitable for less
number of devices.
The cost of maintenance is high.

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 Star Topology
 In Star Topology, all the devices are
connected to a single hub through a cable.
This hub is the central node and all other
nodes are connected to the central node.
The hub can be passive in nature i.e., not an
intelligent hub such as broadcasting
devices, at the same time the hub can be
intelligent known as an active hub. Active
hubs have repeaters in them. Coaxial cables
or RJ-45 cables are used to connect the
computers. In Star Topology, many popular
Ethernet LAN protocols are used as
CD(Collision Detection), CSMA (Carrier
Sense Multiple Access), etc.

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 Advantages of Star Topology
If N devices are connected to each other in a star topology, then the number of
cables required to connect them is N. So, it is easy to set up.
Each device requires only 1 port i.e. to connect to the hub, therefore the total number
of ports required is N.
It is Robust. If one link fails only that link will affect and not other than that.
Easy to fault identification and fault isolation.
Star topology is cost-effective as it uses inexpensive coaxial cable.

Drawbacks of Star Topology

If the concentrator (hub) on which the whole topology relies fails, the whole system
will crash down.
The cost of installation is high.
Performance is based on the single concentrator i.e. hub.

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 Bus Topology
 Bus Topology is a network type in which every computer and network
device is connected to a single cable. It is bi-directional. It is a multi-point
connection and a non-robust topology because if the backbone fails the
topology crashes. In Bus Topology, various MAC (Media Access Control)
protocols are followed by LAN ethernet connections like TDMA, Pure
Aloha, CDMA, Slotted Aloha, etc.

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 Advantages of Bus Topology
If N devices are connected to each other in a bus topology, then the number of cables required to
connect them is 1, known as backbone cable, and N drop lines are required.
Coaxial or twisted pair cables are mainly used in bus-based networks that support up to 10 Mbps.
The cost of the cable is less compared to other topologies, but it is used to build small networks.
Bus topology is familiar technology as installation and troubleshooting techniques are well known.
CSMA is the most common method for this type of topology.

Drawbacks of Bus Topology

A bus topology is quite simpler, but still, it requires a lot of cabling.
If the common cable fails, then the whole system will crash down.
If the network traffic is heavy, it increases collisions in the network. To avoid this, various
protocols are used in the MAC layer known as Pure Aloha, Slotted Aloha, CSMA/CD, etc.
Adding new devices to the network would slow down networks.
Security is very low.

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 Ring Topology
 In a Ring Topology, it forms a ring connecting
devices with exactly two neighboring devices. A
number of repeaters are used for Ring topology
with a large number of nodes, because if
someone wants to send some data to the last
node in the ring topology with 100 nodes, then
the data will have to pass through 99 nodes to
reach the 100th node. Hence to prevent data
loss repeaters are used in the network.
 The data flows in one direction, i.e. it is
unidirectional, but it can be made bidirectional
by having 2 connections between each Network
Node, it is called Dual Ring Topology. In-Ring
Topology, the Token Ring Passing protocol is
used by the workstations to transmit the data.

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 Advantages of Ring Topology
The data transmission is high-speed.
The possibility of collision is minimum in this type of topology.
Cheap to install and expand.
It is less costly than a star topology.

Drawbacks of Ring Topology

The failure of a single node in the network can cause the entire network to fail.
Troubleshooting is difficult in this topology.
The addition of stations in between or the removal of stations can disturb the whole
topology.
Less secure.

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