Chapter 9 Network Fundamentals

Chapter 9: NETWORK
FUNDAMENTALS
Defining Computer Networks
Communications system connecting two or more computers and their
peripheral devices to exchange information and share resources is
known as a computer network. It is a group of devices such as
computers and printers connected together or to a hub or switch in
order to share information or tasks. Networks also include software and
cables so that they can communicate with each other and share
information, software, peripheral devices, and processing power.
A computer network may also be referred to as an arrangement consisting
of a group of computers linked in such a way so they can send
information back and forth between themselves. It is a system for data
communication among two or more computers that interconnects
computer systems at different sites. These networks may be fixed i.e.
connected through cables permanently or temporary i.e. connected as
via modems.
Thus, a computer network may be
defined as a collection of two or
more computers and related
devices, connected through some
communication channel in such a
way that allows them to share
data, hardware, and software.
Why Computer Networks?
• 1.The first and foremost need of computer
networks is to enable people to share information
or tasks and that can be achieved by sharing all
programs, equipment, and especially data
available to anyone on the network without regard
to the physical location of the resource and the
user.
• 2.Secondly, to provide high reliability by having
alternative sources of supply such as having
replicated files on two or three machines, so if one
of them is unavailable due to a hardware failure,
the other copies could be used.
• 3.Thirdly, the organizations have a tendency to limit
their resources but have a desire to share these
resources so as it may result in cost reduction.
• 4.Another need may be scalability i.e. the ability to
increase system performance gradually as the
workload grows just by adding new processors.
• 5.Lastly, a powerful communication medium among
widely spread people can be a computer network
Uses of Computer Networks
• Share resources, such as hard drives, printers, scanners, etc., to get more use
out of office equipment.
• Share data on a central server, where all data is collected.
• Share files in electronic form to reduce printing costs and paper waste.
• Share software with multi-user licenses.
• Perform data backups quicker and easier with files on shared drives.
• Exchange information via an internal network.
• Allow access to the Internet.
• Use the network and the Internet to allow access to data from anywhere in
the world
• Integrate the whole operations of business organizations into a networked
operation, including sales activity, stock holding, quotations, ordering raw
materials, control the production process, process invoices, process all the
accounts, analyze business performance, quality control.
Benefits and Limitations of Computer
Networks
Benefits Limitations
• Increase employee productivity • A network's sharing capabilities can
• Reduce office equipment costs be difficult to configure initially
• Backup and protect your data • Network cabling can be difficult to
• Communicate better with customers manage
• Provide access to your data 24-hours a day • Shared Internet access may not
• Cost-Effective Resource Sharing perform satisfactorily
• Streamlined Business Processes • Network connections drop
• Freedom to Choose the Right Tool unexpectedly
• Powerful, Flexible Collaboration between
• Network is too insecure
Companies
• Improved Customer Relations
• Secure Management of Sensitive
Information
• Worldwide, Instantaneous Access to
Information
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:
• LAN(Local Area Network)
• PAN(Personal Area Network)
• MAN(Metropolitan Area Network)
• WAN(Wide Area Network)
LAN(Local Area Network)
• Local Area Network is a group of computers connected

to each other in a small area such as building, office.
• LAN is used for connecting two or more personal
computers through a communication medium such as
twisted pair, coaxial cable, etc.
• It is less costly as it is built with inexpensive hardware
such as hubs, network adapters, and ethernet cables.
• The data is transferred at an extremely faster rate in
Local Area Network.
• Local Area Network provides higher security.
PAN(Personal Area Network)
• Personal Area Network is a network arranged within an

individual person, typically within a range of 10 meters.
• Personal Area Network is used for connecting the
computer devices of personal use is known as Personal
Area Network.
• Thomas Zimmerman was the first research scientist to
bring the idea of the Personal Area Network.
• Personal Area Network covers an area of 30 feet.
• 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:
• Wired Personal Area Network
• 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.
Wired Personal Area Network: Wired Personal Area Network is created by
using the USB.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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)
• A metropolitan area network is a network that covers

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

large geographical area such as states or countries.
• A Wide Area Network is quite bigger network than the
LAN.
• A Wide Area Network is not limited to a single location,
but it spans over a large geographical area through a
telephone line, fiber optic cable or satellite links.
• The internet is one of the biggest WAN in the world.
• A Wide Area Network is widely used in the field of
Business, government, and education.
• Examples Of Wide Area Network:
• Mobile Broadband: A 4G network is widely used across a region or country.
• 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.
• 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:
• 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.
• Centralized data: In case of WAN network, data is centralized. Therefore, we do
not need to buy the emails, files or back up servers.
• Get updated files: Software companies work on the live server. Therefore, the
programmers get the updated files within seconds.
• Exchange messages: In a WAN network, messages are transmitted fast. The web
application like Facebook, Whatsapp, Skype allows you to communicate with
friends.
• Sharing of software and resources: In WAN network, we can share the
software and other resources like a hard drive, RAM.
• Global business: We can do the business over the internet globally.
• 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:
• 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.
• 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.
• High Setup cost: An installation cost of the WAN network is high as it
involves the purchasing of routers, switches.
• Troubleshooting problems: It covers a large area so fixing the problem
is difficult.

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Chapter 9: NETWORK

• Local Area Network is a group of computers connected

• Personal Area Network is a network arranged within an

• A metropolitan area network is a network that covers

• A Wide Area Network is a network that extends over a

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