This book is compiled for all

BS/ADP disciplines. First 10

chapters (from page 1 to 205)
included in this book are
related to computer concepts
and other chapters are related
to the Windows 7, MS office
2010 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint,
Access), and InPage 2000 with
practical.
 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

Chapter 7
Computer Networks
Contents
• Computer Networks
• Types of Network
• Network Architectures
• Network Topologies
• Data Communication
• Communication Channel
• Communication Devices
Computer Networks
Chapter 7 – Computer Networks
 Computer Networks
• A collection of computers and other devices connected together via
communication devices and communication channels for sharing information
and resources is called a computer network
• Resources may include printers, scanners, and storage devices (such as hard
disks)
• In a computer network, computers or devices are connected together via
communication devices and transmission media
• Examples of transmission media are cables and wirelessly or WiFi
• Connected computers/devices in the network can be in the same room,
building, or at different locations
• A computer network can be simple or very large
• In a large computer network, usually many computer networks are connected
together
• This type of network is called a network of networks
• Internet is the most well-known example of a network of networks
 Uses of Computer Network
• People around the world use computer networks every day in business, at offices,
and homes, etc.
• Uses or benefits of a computer network
Communication
• People can communicate with each other around the world through computer
networks
• They can talk and share information with each other using different network
services such as email, social networking, video conferencing, groupware, blogs,
wikis, and SMS service
Data Sharing
• Different users connected to the computer network can share data among them
• For example, on the Internet, a large number of users can access the same database
Software Sharing
• In a computer network, usually, application software and other software are
installed on the central computer (i.e. server computer)
• These software can be shared over a network instead of purchasing a separate copy
of the software for each user
 Uses of Computer Network
Hardware Sharing
• In a computer network, hardware devices such as printers, scanners, CD-ROM
drives, and hard disks can be shared among different users
• For example, many users can share a single printer connected to a network
• An organization can save a lot of money by sharing different devices over a network
• Without the facility of network, these devices have to be arranged separately for
each user
• It becomes very costly for an organization
Internet Sharing
• In a computer network (i.e. LAN), many users can access the Internet through a
single Internet connection and can use its different services
Centralized Software Management
• All of the software are installed or updated on one computer (server computer)
• This saves time for installing/updating on individual computers in the network
• Users connected to a network can access these software/programs
Uses of Computer Network
Data Security and Management
• Computer network provides centralized data storage
• It means that all data is stored on the central computer
• In a business environment, an administrator manages the company's critical data in a
better way
• Everyone can find the data easily
• Administrator has full control and he/she can read or change critical information
• He/she can take the backup of data very easily
• Similarly, security features can also be implemented on the data very easily
Saving Disk Space
• In a computer network, all computers use the same copy of application programs and data
files
• These are only stored on the hard disk(s) of the server computer
• There is no need to store application programs and data files on individual computers on
the network
• In this way, disk space on each computer is saved
Uses of Computer Network
Performance Enhancement
• A network can be used to improve (enhance) the performance of different
applications by using distributed computing
• In distributed computing, a computation task is divided on various computers
on the network
• In this way, the performance of the application is increased
Entertainment
• Computer network provides many sources of entertainment to the people
• For example, we can play different types of games, see movies, and listen to
music. We can also make new friends on the Internet.
Remote Access
• A network also provides the facility to access data remotely
• A user can access and update data by connecting to the network from
anywhere in the world
Types of Network
Chapter 7 – Computer Networks
Types of Network
• Computer networks are divided into the following types based on the size and
physical area or distance covered by the network:
• Local Area Network
• Wide Area Network
• Metropolitan Area Network
• Personal Area Network (PAN)
Local Area Network (LAN)
• Local Area Network (LAN) is a type of computer network that covers a small area
• It is generally limited to a building or group of adjacent buildings
• It consists of a limited number of computers
• LAN is designed to share different resources (such as printers, scanners, storage devices,
and application programs) between computers
• Network of computers in the computer laboratory of a college and network of computers
in an office building are examples of LANs
• In LAN, nodes (computers and other devices such as printers and scanners) are connected
to each other using cables or wireless transmission medium
• Network Interface Card (NIC) is used in each computer to
connect it to a LAN
• Network card enables computer to share information with
other computers connected to the LAN
• Data transmission rate through LAN is very fast
• It is from 10 Mbps to 1 Gbps
Local Area Network (LAN)
+Resource Sharing
+ For example, many users on network can use a single printer
+ Similarly, storage media and software located in the central server can be shared
between all users on the network
+Inexpensive
+ Small businesses, firms, and educational institutes can afford and easily install the LAN
+Communication
+ Users can easily communicate with each other
+ They can also share data among them
+Centralized Data
+ All data is stored and updated on the central server through nodes
+ So it becomes very easy to take a backup of the database at regular intervals
Local Area Network (LAN)
+Internet Access Sharing
+ Multiple users can access the Internet using a single Internet connection
+ Internet connection is established at the central server
+ In this way, all users can access the Internet
+Data Security
+ Data security can be implemented very easily because users are granted data access
rights
+ Authorized users can connect to the server and can access a specific portion of the data
+Speed
+ Data transmission in a LAN is very fast
+Reliability
+ It is a very reliable network
+ Communication errors are very rare
Local Area Network (LAN)
- If the central server is infected by a virus, then important data and software
stored on the server may be corrupted and entire network may also be
affected
- All nodes depend on central device (or Hub), if it fails, then entire network
will stop working
- A trained and competent network manager is required to run LAN, so a
handsome salary has to be paid to him. Therefore, it becomes very expensive
to run the LAN
- Mostly in a LAN, one or two printers are shared among several users. In this
situation, lengthy print queues are created. So the users have to wait for a
long period of time to take print on the printer.
Wide Area Network (WAN)
• A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a type of computer network that covers a large area such
as different cities of the country or different countries and continents of the world
• Typically, a WAN consists of many LANs connected together across a wide geographical
area
• Suppose an organization has a LAN at each site. The LANs of all sites are connected
together to form a WAN
• Internet is the world’s largest WAN
• It connects many thousands of computers and LANs around the world and making it a web
• WAN is expensive than LAN but its transmission rate is slower than LAN
• In WAN, computers and other devices are often connected through telephone lines
• However, they can also be connected through leased lines, microwave, or satellite systems
• A modem is used in computers to establish communication between computers over a
long distance
• WANs are used in large organizations
• For example, in Pakistan, large organizations like PIA, WAPDA, ARMY, NADRA, and BANKS
use the WAN
Wide Area Network (WAN)
+ Covers Large Area
+ WAN covers a large geographical area so long-distance businesses can connect on the network
+ Users can access the network from any location of the country or world
+ Sharing and Communicating Messages
+ Messages can be shared and communicated all over the world
+ These messages can have text, pictures, and sounds
+ For example, users can communicate and share messages through video conference
+ Centralized Data
+ Data of an organization is stored in a single location even if the organization is spread all over
the world (or different cities of the country)
+ Everyone on the network can use the same data
+ This avoids problems where some users may have older information than others
+ Entertainment
+ WAN provides many sources of entertainment to users
+ For example, users can play different types of games, see movies, and listen to music over
Internet
Wide Area Network (WAN)
- Hardware and Software Costs
- WAN becomes expensive to install
- Devices and software that are required for installing WAN are very costly.
- Management and Staff Training Costs
- Once WAN is setup, maintaining a network is a full-time job
- Managing WAN is complicated
- Trained and competent network managers/supervisors and technicians are required to
run the WAN
- So handsome salaries have to be paid to them
- Therefore, it becomes very expensive to run the WAN
- Training for users to use the WAN is also required
- Training is required at all levels, including network managers/administrators
- Organization has to pay a lot of amount on the training of staff to run the network
Wide Area Network (WAN)
- Slow for Data Transmission
- Its data transmission rate is from 56 Kbps to 50 Mbps
- Usually, database applications perform their functions very slowly over WAN
- Security Issue
- Security is a real issue when many different people have the ability to use information
from other computers
- Protection against hackers and viruses adds more complexity
- It needs a good firewall to restrict outsiders from entering and disrupting the network
- Firewall is a security system consisting of hardware and/or software to prevent unauthorized access
of a network or computer
- Viruses can also spread very quickly and easily through WAN
- Failure of Server and Communication Line
- If a server fails, entire network is affected
- Similarly, a failure in communication line may also stop the working of WAN
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
• A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is a network system that covers the area of a
city or town
• Usually, MAN consists of two or more LANs in a city or town which are connected
together
• For example, a company may design a MAN by connecting all the LANs in all its
office throughout the city
• The cable television companies, telephone companies, and Internet Service
Providers use MAN
• Mobile phones (cellular) systems often use a MAN
• MAN is larger than LAN and smaller than WAN
• It covers an area of between 5 to 50 km diameter
• A MAN uses different transmission media (wired or wireless) and devices for
communication
• In most of MANs, fiber optic cables are used as transmission media
• So it is a very high-speed network
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
+It covers a larger area than LAN
+It requires fewer resources as compared to WAN. This saves implementation cost
+It provides high-speed communication
+Resources can be shared among different users all over the city
+Its installation and maintenance is less expensive than WAN
+It provides higher security as compared to WAN
+Like LAN and MAN, it also provides centralized data management
- It is more expensive than LAN
- It becomes difficult to manage if the network becomes large
- It is difficult to make the system secure from hackers and industrial spying
- Network installation requires skilled technicians and network administrators. This
increases the overall installation and management costs
Personal Area Network (PAN)
• A personal area network (PAN) is a network that connects personal computers
and devices using wired and wireless technology
• Computers/devices are typically located within a range of about 30 feet
• Devices may include smartphones, digital cameras, printers, telephones,
tablets, and PDAs
• A PAN may connect devices through a router using network cables or directly
using special USB cables
• PANs also may use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi technology
 LAN WAN
• It covers a small geographical area • It covers a large geographical area
• Computers are directly connected through • Computers are connected through a
physical cable or wireless connection telephone line or microwave system
• In LAN, connection is permanent using • In WAN, connection is not permanent
cables • Modem or router is used in each computer
• A network card is used in each computer for data transmission between computers
for data transmission between computers • Its data transmission speed is slower than
• Its data transmission speed is faster than LAN
WAN • Its installation and configuration cost is
• Its installation and configuration cost is less greater than LAN
than WAN • It has a higher possibility of data
• It has less possibility of data transmission transmission errors
errors • In WAN, normally problems occur due to
• In LAN, normally problems occur due to telephone lines, or other wireless media
cable disturbance • In WAN, computers can be connected
• In LAN, computers can be connected in a anywhere in the world
limited area
Network Architectures
Chapter 7 – Computer Networks
Network Architectures
• Network architecture is the design or layout of computers, devices, and media
in a computer network
• Computer network can be designed using different ways
• Most popular network architectures are:
• Client-server network
• Peer-to-peer (P2P) network
• Hybrid network
Client-Server Network
• A network architecture in which one or more computers act as servers and
other computers act as clients is called a client-server network
• In this network, servers are not used as clients and clients never act as servers
• Both wired and wireless networks can be configured as a client-server
network
• The server is a powerful computer
• It is also called a host computer
• It controls the whole network and provides services to the clients
• It also provides a centralized storage area for data & software and centralized
security to ensure that resources are not accessed by unauthorized users
Client-Server Network
• A client-server network may consist of two or more servers
• Each server performs only one specific task
• A server that performs only a specific task in the network is called a dedicated
server
• File Server → Stores and manages files
• Print Server → Manages printers and print jobs
• Database Server → Stores and manages databases. It also provides access to databases
• Application Server → Stores and distributes application software on the network
• Network Server → Manages network activity (or network traffic)
• Web Server → Stores web pages. It also receives requests from clients, processes the
requests, and sends the results of requests to clients
• Email Server → Stores and handles incoming and outgoing email messages
• Authentication Server → It keeps track of the users who log on the network. It also
keeps track of different services available to each user on the network.
Client-Server Network
• All computers and mobile devices other than the server(s) in the client-server
network are called clients
• They can be PCs and laptops or other mobile computers or devices
• Users run applications on the clients
• For example, users send requests to the server through clients
• Server receives requests from clients and takes proper actions on these
requests
• The results of the requests are sent to the clients
• Clients depend on the server for different resources like centralized storage,
printing, and data processing, etc.
Client-Server Network
+It reduces the volume of data traffic on the network
+It provides faster responses to the clients
+It allows using less expensive computers as clients because most of the work
is done by the server
+It provides centralized security/management
+It provides the facility to easy backup of data
- More powerful computer is required to install as server
- So it becomes very costly
- The entire network may be affected if there is any problem on the server
Peer-to-Peer Network
• A network architecture in which all computers on the network have equal status and no
one has control over others is called a peer-to-peer network (or simply P2P network)
• In this network architecture, each computer or mobile device is called a peer
• Each peer can act as both a server and client at the same time
• Both wired and wireless networks can be configured as a peer-to-peer network
• In peer-to-peer network architecture, there is no central computer to control other
computers on the network
• Each computer can share data and devices (or resources) of other computers in the
network
• For example, a printer attached to any computer can be used by all computers connected to the network
• Each computer stores its data and program files because P2P does not have a common file
server
• Peer-to-peer network is a simple and low-cost network
• It normally consists of less than 10 computers
• This type of network architecture is ideal for small businesses and home users
• Some operating systems include a P2P networking tool that can be used to set up a peer-
to-peer network
Peer-to-Peer Network
+It is useful in small offices
+It is easy to design and to maintain
+It does not require any powerful computer
- It becomes slow under heavy use
- There is no central place for storing data and software
- In this network, data is not stored on a central computer
- So it provides less security
Hybrid Network
• Hybrid network has combined features of both client-server and peer-to-peer
networks
• It also has one or more servers
• Users can share data and software
• Similarly, each node can store its own data files and programs and has its own
peripheral devices
• Users can also share each other’s data and devices
 Client – Server Network Peer – to – Peer Network
• Each computer is called either a server • Each computer is called a peer
or a client • No computer act as a server
• One or more computers act as servers • There is no dedicated server or central
• There is one or more dedicated servers computer to control other computers
that control the other computers on the on the network
network • It consists of less than ten computers
• It may consist of many computers • Each computer stores its data and
• Mostly data and program files are program files
stored on the dedicated server • Data cannot be managed easily because
• Data can be managed very easily data is stored on different computers
because all data is stored on a • It is useful in small offices/businesses
dedicated server
• Data is not stored on a central
• It is used in large organizations computer. So it does not provide proper
• Data is stored on a central computer. So data security
it provides the best security
Network Topologies
Chapter 7 – Computer Networks
Network Topologies
• In networking, term topology is the way of connecting computers or nodes on
a network
• There are many ways in which computers can be connected together in a
computer network
• Way in which computers or other devices are connected in a network is called
network topology
• Shortly term network topology refers to the physical layout or shape of
network
• Commonly used network topologies
• Bus topology
• Star topology
• Ring topology
• Tree topology
• Mesh topology
Bus Topology
• In a Bus topology, all nodes are connected to a common communication
medium
• Usually, a central cable is used as a communication medium
• This cable is called Bus
• This cable is the backbone of the topology
• Nodes are connected to the Bus through an interface connector
• Both ends of the cable are closed with terminators
• A terminator is a special small device that absorbs data signals (or prevents
data signals)
• It is also known as terminating resistance
• Bus topology is suitable for small networks
Bus Topology
Working of Bus Topology
• When a sending computer wants to send a message, it has to determine
whether the media is in use or free
• If no other device is transmitting the data, it sends a message to the
destination computer
• Address of the destination computer is also attached to the message
• This message moves from one computer to another through the bus
• Each computer connected to the network receives the message, checks the
attached address
• If the attached message matches with the address of the computer, then it
accepts the message
• Otherwise, the message moves toward the next computer
• When message reaches the destination computer, it accepts the message
Bus Topology
+Very simple network
+Easy to install and to maintain
+Less expensive because it requires a single cable to connect devices
+When nodes are added and removed in the network, network is not affected
+If one node fails in the network, other nodes are not affected
- Entire network fails if there is any problem with the bus (central cable)
- It supports only a small number of nodes. So it is not suitable for a large
network
Star Topology
• In a star network, all nodes are directly connected to a central device, called Hub or Switch
• This central device controls all the traffic
• Usually, nodes are connected to the Hub with unshielded twisted pair (UTP)
• Shape of the Star network looks like a star
• Star topology is most commonly used in LAN

Working of Star Topology

• Computers communicate with each other through a central device i.e. hub
• Sending computer sends data to the central device
• Central device sends data to the receiving computer
• In this way, data is transferred from one computer to another in the Star network
Star Topology
+Easy to install and to maintain
+Nodes can easily be added or removed without affecting the network
+If any node or cable fails then the rest of the network is not affected
+It is easy to detect and remove faults in the network
+It is suitable for small and large networks

- This type of network depends upon the central device. If this device fails,
whole network breaks down
- It requires more cables than any other networks. So it becomes more costly.
Ring Topology
• In a ring topology, each node is connected to next node and last node is connected
to first
• Thus, shape of the network is formed just like a ring
Working of Ring Topology
• In Ring topology, a token is passed around the network
• Computer that has control of the token can transmit data/message
• When a computer sends a message to another computer on the network, message
flows from one computer to the next computer
• Every computer receives a message from previous computer and retransmits it to
the next computer until the destination computer receives the message
• Destination computer sends an acknowledgment of receiving a message to the
sender computer
• Sender computer then releases the token back to the network
• This method of controlling access to shared network cable is called token passing
Ring Topology
+Less expensive to implement
+Easy to install and to maintain
+All computers have equal access to the network
+Every computer regenerates/refreshes the data signal that’s why it can travel
over a longer distance

- If one node fails (or the ring is broken at any point), the entire network stops
functioning.
- Adding or removing a computer in the network affects the whole network.
Tree Topology
• Tree topology has combined features of both bus
and star topologies
• Whole network is divided into segments
• Each segment represents a Star topology
• All segments (i.e. Star topologies) are combined
through central cable or bus
• Thus, Bus topology works as the backbone of the
Tree network
• Tree network looks like a tree structure
• In Tree topology network, usually, multiple hubs
are used
• Each hub controls the nodes directly connected to
it and exchanges data among them
• It also exchanges data to other devices connected
to the other hubs
Tree Topology
• Example → cable TV network
• In this network, main cable is divided into
branches and each branch is further divided
into smaller branches, and so on
• Hub is used when a new branch is created
+ Its existing network can be expanded very
easily (i.e. easily scalable)
+ Each segment of the network can be easily
managed and maintained
+ If one segment fails, other segments are not
affected
+ Errors detection and correction is easy
- More expensive because more hubs are
required to be installed in the network
- It relies on the central cable or bus. If it breaks,
the whole network is affected.
Mesh Topology
• In the Mesh topology, each node is directly connected
to every other node on the network
• This type of network involves the concept of routes
• Mesh topology is rarely used in LAN
• It is mostly used in WANs like the Internet use mesh
topology
• In Mesh topology, each node can send a message to
the destination through multiple paths
• It means that each node of the Mesh network has
several possible paths to send or to receive a message,
but in Bus, Star, and Ring topologies each node has
only one path
• Data always travels through the best-suited path
Mesh Topology
+It provides multiple routes. If one route is blocked,
then another suitable route can be used for data
communication.
+Its performance is not affected by the heavy load of
data transmission
+It ensures data privacy or security
+Troubleshooting of this topology is easy as compared
with other networks

- It becomes very expensive because a large number of

cabling and I/O ports are required
- It is difficult to install and configure. Its maintenance is
also difficult.
Data Communication
Chapter 7 – Computer Networks
Data Communication
• Process of transferring data from one location to another in a networking
environment is called data communication
• In this process, data is transmitted from one location to another by using
transmission media and communication devices such as transmitter and
receiver
• Today, computer networks are commonly used for data communication
Components of Data Communication
• Message
• Sender
• Receiver
• Communication media or channel
• Protocol
Components of Data Communication
Message
• Information or data to be communicated
• It may consist of text, numbers, pictures, sounds, videos, or a combination of
these
Sender
• A device that is used for sending messages (or data) over a network is called a
sender
• It is also called a transmitter or sending device or source
• Sender can be a desktop computer, laptop, smartphone, camera, and fax machine
Receiver
• A device that is used for receiving messages from sending device on the network
is called a receiver
• It is also called a receiving device or sink
• Receiver can be a desktop computer, laptop, television set, smartphone, printer,
and fax machine
• GPS receiver also serves as a receiving device (receiver)
Components of Data Communication
Communication Media or Channel
• Path through which message is transmitted from one location to another (source to
destination) is called communication media
• It is also called a communication channel
• It can be a twisted pair cable or telephone cable, coaxial cable, and fiber optic cable
• It can also be a wireless media such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, microwave, radio wave, and
satellite
• If the sender and receiver are within a building, a wire may be used as the medium
• If they are located at different locations, then a medium may be a telephone line, fiber
optics, microwave, or satellite system
Protocol
• A network protocol is a set of rules that defines a procedure for communication between
a sender and a receiver
• Without a protocol, two devices may be connected but not communicating
• A protocol defines
• How the communication channel is established?
• How data/message is transmitted?
• How errors are detected and corrected during data communication?
Communication Channel
Chapter 7 – Computer Networks
Communication Channel
• A path through which data is transmitted from one place to another is called a
communication channel
• It is also known as communication media or transmission media
• Examples → standard telephone line, twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable, fiber optic
cable, microwave, and satellite
• In a communication channel, data is transmitted in the form of signals
• Amount of data that can be transmitted through the communication medium in a
unit of time is called bandwidth
• Bandwidth of analog signals is measured in cycles per second or Hertz (Hz)
• Bandwidth of digital signals is measured in bits per second (bps)
• Different transmission media have different bandwidths
• Higher the bandwidth of transmission media, more information can be
transmitted at a time
Types of Communication Channel
• Guided Media
• Unguided Media
Communication Channel
Guided Media
• The type of communication media in which communication devices are
directly linked with each other via cables or physical media is called guided
media
• Guided communication media is also known as physical transmission media
• Data signals are bounded to a cabling media
• Therefore, guided media is also called bounded media
• Guided media are usually used in LAN
• Examples of guided or bounded media are twisted pair cable, coaxial cable,
and fiber optic cable
Guided Media
Twisted Pair Cable
• Twisted pair cable is one of the most commonly used communication media
• It is used for short-distance digital data transmission
• Its data transmission speed is about 9600 bits per second at a distance of
100 meters
• It is commonly used in local area network (LAN)
• It is also used in telephone lines to carry voice and data signals
• Twisted pair cable consists of a pair of copper wires
• These wires are covered by insulating material (such as plastic)
• Wires are twisted together in pairs
• Twisting of wires protects them from interference by external
electromagnetic waves
Guided Media
Coaxial Cable
• Coaxial cable is also called Coax
• Coaxial cables are mostly used for long-distance transmission
• These cables are mainly used for cable TV, telephone network, and local
area network
• These cables provide very high-quality data transmission without distortion
or loss of data
• These cables can transfer data with very high frequency
• Bandwidth of the coaxial cable is 80 times greater than that of twisted pair
cable
• These cables can transmit data with 10 to 100 megabits per second (Mbps)
• Coaxial cables are more expensive than twisted-pair cables
Guided Media
Coaxial Cable
• Coaxial cable consists of a single solid copper wire, which is called the inner
conductor
• Usually, inner conductor is surrounded by three layers
• Inner Insulating layer → It covers the inner conductor
• Copper Mesh → Mesh means net. It is a net of wire. It serves as ground. It reduces
electromagnetic interference.
• Outer Insulating layer → It covers the copper mesh
• These layers protect the cable from interference by external electromagnetic
waves
• Whole cable is protected by a plastic cover
Guided Media
Fiber Optic Cable
• Fiber optic cable is a very fast communication medium
• It consists of hundreds or thousands of thin strands (threads) of glass or
plastic
• Each strand is called optical fiber or core
• It is as thin as a human hair
• Each optical fiber or core is surrounded by a layer of glass called cladding
• Cladding is further protected by a plastic coating called Jacket
• An important characteristic (or property) of fiber optic is refraction
• Refraction is the characteristic of a material to either pass or reflect light
Guided Media
Fiber Optic Cable
• Fiber optic cable transmits data in the form of light waves
• In fiber optics communication, converters are used on both sides
• Converter at transmitter side converts data from digital signals into light waves
and transmits over the fiber optics
• Converter at the receiver side receives data in the form of light waves and
converts back into digital form
• Fiber optic cable provides high-quality transmission at a very high speed
• It is up to billions of bits per second (usually 1Gbps to 2Gbps)
• Fiber optic transmission is not affected by electromagnetic waves
• Both analog and digital signals (i.e. both voice and digital data) can be transmitted
through fiber optic cable
• It is more reliable and has lower data transmission errors
• However, it is costly and difficult to install
• Today, many telephone and cable TV companies are using fiber optic cables in
their networks
• In the near future, all communication systems will use fiber optic cables
Unguided Media
• The type of communication media in which communication devices send
and receive data signals through air or space is called unguided media
• It is also called wireless transmission media
• In this type of communication media data is communicated between
communication devices in the form of a wave
• Unguided media provide means to transmit data signals but does not guide
them along a specific path
• The data signals are not bounded to a cabling media
• Therefore, unguided media is also called unbounded media
• Unguided transmission medium is used when it is impossible to install the
cables
• Data can be transmitted all over the world through this medium
• Examples of unguided or wireless transmission media are microwave
transmission, a communication satellite, broadcast radio, and cellular radio
Unguided Media
Microwave Transmission
• Microwaves are radio waves that provide very high-speed transmission
• Data is transmitted through air or space (like radio signals), instead of
through cables or wires
• A microwave uses line-of-sight transmission through space
• Line-of-sight means that data signals (or waves) can only travel in straight lines and
cannot bend
Unguided Media
Microwave Transmission
• In microwave system, data is transmitted and received through microwave
stations
• A microwave station is also called a relay station or booster
• Each relay station consists of an antenna, transmitter, receiver, and other
equipments that are necessary for microwave transmission
• Antennas are usually installed on the high towers or buildings usually 40 to 50 feet
above the earth
• These are placed within a distance of 20 to 30 miles to each other
• There may be many relay stations (boosters) between the sender and receiver
• Data is transmitted from one relay station to another
• Each relay station receives data signals from the previous relay station, amplifies
these signals, and retransmits to the next relay station
• In this way, data is transmitted over larger distances
• Today, microwave transmission system is used by telephone companies, and cable
television providers
Unguided Media
Communication Satellite
• Satellite communication is mostly used for long-distance communication
• It has a very fast data transmission speed
• Satellite communication system consists of satellites and
many earth-based stations
• Communication satellites are space stations
• They serve as relay stations for the transmission of information
• They are approximately 22,300 miles above the earth
• Each earth station consists of a dish antenna
• Earth station can send and receive data signals
• Satellite receives microwave signals (or messages) from the earth station
• It amplifies the signals and retransmits them to another earth station which can
be located thousands of miles away
• This entire process takes only a few seconds
• In this way, data is transmitted from one location to another
Unguided Media
Communication Satellite
• Transmitting a signal from the ground or earth station to a satellite station in
space is called up-linking
• Transmitting a signal from a satellite station in space to a ground or earth
station is called the down-linking
• Main advantage of a satellite communication system is that a large amount
of data can be communicated at once
• Disadvantage of satellite communication is that bad weather can affect the
quality of satellite transmission
• This communication system is also very costly to install and to maintain
• Nowadays, different communication satellites are used for different kinds of
applications such as telephone calls, television, and radio broadcasting,
military communication, collecting weather data, global positioning systems,
and Internet connections
Unguided Media
Broadcast Radio
• Broadcast radio is a wireless transmission medium
• It is used to communicate information through radio signals in the air, over a long
and short distances such as between cities, countries, within an office or home
• In this medium, a transmitter is required to send messages (signals) and a receiver
to receive them
• To receive radio signal, receiver has an antenna that is located in the range of the
signal
• Some networks use a special device called a transceiver that can both send and
receive messages in the form of radio signals
• Bluetooth is an example of short-range broadcast radio communication
• It uses short-range radio waves to transmit data among Bluetooth-enabled
devices
• It can transmit data at a rate of 1 Mbps
• Bluetooth is used in personal computers and mobile devices
Unguided Media
Cellular Radio
• Cellular radio is a form of radio broadcast that is used for mobile
communications such as cell phones and wireless modems
• A cell phone is a telephone device that uses high-frequency radio waves to
transmit voice and digital messages
• Some mobile users connect their laptop computer or other mobile devices
to a cell phone to access the web, send, and receive e-mail
Communication Devices
Chapter 7 – Computer Networks
Communication Devices
• An electronic device that is used for sending and receiving data between the
sending device and receiving device is called a communication device
• Most of the communication devices have the ability to convert the digital
signal of the computer into an analog signal so that the signals can be
transmitted on the communication line to another end
• The reverse is also true
NIC
• NIC stands for Network-Interface Card
• NIC is a communication device that is used to connect a computer to a LAN
• It is also called a LAN card
• NIC is a circuit board which is installed on the motherboard
• A computer must have a network card (NIC) to connect to the LAN
• Nowadays, most computer systems have built-in network card into the
motherboard
HUB & Switch
• Hub and Switch are communication devices
• Both provide a central connection point for connecting computers/nodes
together in a computer network
• They have multiple ports to which computers are connected
• Typically, Hub does not manage any of the traffic that comes through it
• It broadcast data packets to every computer/node
• Only the receiver computer/node accepts the message and other
computers/nodes ignore the message
• A switch is like a Hub but it is more intelligent than the Hub
• It records the addresses of the computers connected to it in a table
• It sends a message to the receiver computer/node only
Modem
• Modem stands for modulator and demodulator
• It is a commonly used communication device that converts digital signals into
analog signals and vice versa
• It is used to send and receive data between two computers through the telephone
line
• Both sending and receiving computers must have modems
• Data is stored inside the digital computers in digital form
• However, data is transmitted over the telephone line in the form of analog signals
• Sending computer sends data to the receiving computer as follows:
• Dialup modem of sending a computer converts digital signals into analog signals and sends it
to the receiving computer through a telephone line. The process of converting digital signals
into analog signals is called modulation
• Modem of receiving computer receives data from the telephone line in the form of analog
signals. It converts these signals into digital signals and enters in the computer. The process of
converting the analog signals into digital form is called demodulation
Modem
• A dialup modem can be fixed inside the system unit
• It can also be a separate device outside the system unit
• Modem which is fixed inside the system unit is called an internal modem
• Modem which is outside the system unit is called an external modem
• External modem is very easy to set up and can easily be moved from one
computer to another
• It is also very fast and has advanced features than an internal modem
• However, it is more expensive than an internal modem
Router
• A router is a communication device that connects
multiple computers/devices or other routers
together and transmits data to its correct destination
on a network
• Typically, routers are used to connect two or more
different or similar networks and transfers data
packets from one network to another
• Networks can be LANs or WANs
• Router stores addressing information (routing
information) of each computer on the connected
networks
• When a router receives a packet of data, it looks at
the address attached with the data packet where the
packet of data is to be sent
• It determines the best route (path) to forward the
data packet at its destination and then sends it
accordingly
Gateway
• A gateway is a communication device (or networking device)
• It is used to connect two different types of networks (i.e. networks that use
different protocols)
• It is an intelligent device
• It translates data from one format to the other
• Different networks may have different types of data and of different formats
• Gateway receives a data packet from one type of network
• It reads the address of the computer on the networks where the data packet
is to be sent
• It converts the data packet into a format that the destination computer can
understand
• For example, computers connected to a LAN require a gateway to access the
Internet
Bridge
• A bridge is a communication electronic device that is used to connect two
similar network segments
• A segment is a part of a network
• It also controls the data flow between them
• When a bridge receives a message, it reads the addresses of both the sender
and receiver
• If the sender and receiver are in the same network segment, the bridge does
not pass the message to the other network segment
• The message is directly sent to the receiver
• The bridge, therefore, reduces network traffic
• So the performance of the network is increased
For more details, refers to

PM Series

Introduction to Computer

by
CM Aslam, Aqsa Aslam, Mussadiq Fida, & Mudassir
Ahmad

Publisher:Majeed Sons
22- Urdu Bazar, Lahore