INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER NETWORKS

 Computer network: a collection of autonomous computers interconnected

 The computers can be geographically located anywhere.

 Two computers are said to be interconnected if they are able to exchange

 Networks come in many sizes, shapes and forms. Although it may sound
strange to some people, neither the Internet nor the World Wide Web is a
computer network.

 The Internet is not a single network but a network of networks and the
Web is a distributed system that runs on top of the Internet.

CLASSIFICATION OF NETWORK:
3 Broad categories:

LAN :

Network in small geographical Area (Room, Building or a Campus) is called LAN (Local Area Network)

MAN :

Network in a City is call MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

WAN :

Network spread geographically (Country or across Globe) is called WAN (Wide Area Network)

Applications of Networks:
1. Resource Sharing

 Hardware (computing resources, disks, printers)

 Software (application software)

2. Information Sharing

 Easy accessibility from anywhere (files, databases)

 Search Capability (WWW)

3. Communication

 Email

 Message broadcast
 4. Remote computing

5. Distributed processing (GRID Computing)

Network Topology:
The network topology defines the way in which computers, printers, and other devices are connected. A
network topology describes the layout of the wire and devices as well as the paths used by data
transmissions.

Bus Topology:

Commonly referred to as a linear bus, all the devices on a bus topology are connected by one single
cable.

Star Topology:

The star topology is the most commonly used architecture in Ethernet LANs.

When installed, the star topology resembles spokes in a bicycle wheel.

Tree Topology:

Larger networks use the extended star topology also called tree topology. When it is used with network
devices that filter frames or packets, like bridges, switches, and routers, this topology significantly
reduces the traffic on the wires by sending packets only to the wires of the destination host.

Ring Topology:

A frame travels around the ring, stopping at each node. If a node wants to transmit data, it adds the
data as well as the destination address to the frame.

The frame then continues around the ring until it finds the destination node, which takes the data out of
the frame.

Two types:

 Single ring – All the devices on the network share a single cable

 Dual ring – The dual ring topology allows data to be sent in both directions.
Mesh Topology:

The mesh topology connects all devices (nodes) to each other for redundancy and fault tolerance.

It is used in WANs to interconnect LANs and for mission critical networks like those used by banks and
financial institutions.

Implementing the mesh topology is expensive and difficult.

Network Components:
 Physical Media
 Interconnecting Devices
 Computers
 Networking Software
 Applications

Network Physical Media:

Networking media can be defined simply as the means by which signals (data) are sent from one
computer to another (either by cable or wireless means).

Networking Devices:
HUB, Switches, Routers, Wireless Access Points, Modems etc.

Computers: Clients and Servers

 The server contains the file, print, application, security, and other services in a central computer
that is continuously available to respond to client requests.
  Networking Protocol: TCP/IP

Applications:
 E-mail
 Searchable Data (Web Sites)
 E-Commerce
 News Groups
 Internet Telephony (VoIP)
 Video Conferencing
 Chat Groups
 Instant Messengers
 Internet Radio

Uses of Computer Networks:

Business Applications:
First goal:
o Resource sharing/Information sharing
Client-server model
In client-server model, two processes are involved, one on the client machine and one on the
server machine. Communication takes the form of the client process sending a message over
the network to the server process.

The client process then waits for a reply message. When the server process gets the request, it performs
the requested work or looks up the requested data and sends back a reply.

Second goal:
A computer network has to do with people i;e. a computer network can provide a powerful
communication medium among employees.

Third goal:
Many companies is doing business electronically with other companies, especially suppliers and
customers.

Fourth goal:
Doing business with consumers over the Internet. It is called e-commerce (electronic commerce).

Home Applications:
• Some of the more popular uses of the Internet for home users are as follows:
• Access to remote information.
• Person-to-person communication.
• Interactive entertainment.
• Electronic commerce.
Access to remote information:
It comes in many forms. It can be surfing the World Wide Web for information or just for fun.
Information available includes the arts, business, cooking, government, health, history, hobbies,
recreation, science, sports, travel, and many others.
Person-to-Person communication:
• It is the second broad category of network use for person-to-person communication.
E.g. E-mail.
• Another name of this communication is peer-to-peer communication. E.g. client-server
model where, every person can, in principle, communicate with one or more other
people.
• In a peer-to-peer system there are no fixed clients and servers

Interactive entertainment:

• It is a huge and growing industry.

e.g. live gaming, live acting, dance, singing, exploration of hidden talents…etc

Electronic commerce:
Mobile Users:
• Mobile computers, such as notebook computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs),
are one of the fastest- growing segments of the computer industry.
• Many people love to access office desktop from home even when away from home via
PDAs.
• Since having a wired connection is impossible in cars and airplanes, there is a lot of
interest in wireless networks.