HiLCoE

School of Computer Science and Technology

Course Title: Computer Networks
Course Code: CS461
Credit Hours: 5
Contact Hours: Lecture: 4 hrs. ; Lab: 2hrs.
Prerequisite: CS222 (Computer Programming II)
Instructor: Fantahun B. (PhD) [email protected]
Office: 3rd floor staff pool

Feb-2024, AA
Introduction

Agenda:
 Terminology
 Communications Model
 Communication Tasks
 Types of Networks
 Network Topology
 Internetworking
 Transmission Media
 Transmission mode
 Applications of Networking

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 2

Introduction
Objectives:
After completing this chapter, students will be able to:
 Present an overview of data communications traffic volume
trends.
 Define some basic terms
 Identify the key elements of a data communications system.
 Summarize the types of data communications networks.
 Present an overview of the overall architecture of the Internet.

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 3

Introduction: Terminology
 Data?
 Information: is collection of well organized facts from which
conclusions may be drawn and it is an important resource.
 The need of information has increased from time to time. This
leads to the need of sharing of information among different
agents
 Communication ?
 Data communication: is the exchange of information
between two agents.

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 4

Introduction: Terminology
 Network
 Computer network
 Networking
 Sharing
 Protocol
 Network resource

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 5

Introduction: Pros and Cons of Networking
 Pros
– Sharing of data
– Sharing of hardware
– Sharing of software
– Centralized administration and support
 Cons
– Security issues
– Privacy Issues
– Malicious software
– Hackers /crackers

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Introduction: Communication Model
 Source: This device generates the data to be transmitted; examples are
telephones and personal computers.
 Transmitter: Usually, the data generated by a source system are not
transmitted directly in the form in which they were generated. Rather, a
transmitter transforms and encodes the information in such a way as to
produce electromagnetic signals that can be transmitted across some
sort of transmission system.
– For example, a modem takes a digital bit stream from an attached device such as
a personal computer and transforms that bit stream into an analog signal that can
be handled by the telephone network.
 Transmission system: This can be a single transmission line or a complex
network connecting source and destination.
 Receiver: The receiver accepts the signal from the transmission system
and converts it into a form that can be handled by the destination
device. For example, a modem will accept an analog signal coming
from a network or transmission line and convert it into a digital bit
stream. Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 7
Introduction: Communication Model

Source: Data and Computer Communications, William Stallings, page-40

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 8
Introduction: Communication Model
 Destination: Takes the incoming data from the receiver.

 A data communication model can also be views as a five component

system.

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Introduction: Communication Model

 Message: the information to be communicated (text, numbers, pictures,

sound, video - or combinations)
 Sender: the device - computer, video camera, …
 Receiver: still the device
 Medium: the physical path by which a message travels from sender to
receiver
 Protocol: the set of rules that govern data communications; an
agreement between the communicating devices

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 10

Introduction: Communication Tasks
 Transmission System Utilization
 the need to make efficient use of transmission facilities that are
typically shared among a number of communicating devices
– Multiplexing
– Congestion control techniques
 Signal Generation
 The properties of the signal
– capable of being propagated through the transmission system
– Interpretable as data at the receiver
 Error detection and correction
– In all communications systems, there is a potential for error that
should be detected and corrected
Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 11
Introduction: Communication Tasks
 Addressing and routing
– a source system must somehow indicate the identity of the intended
destination
– A specific route must be chosen from many alternative routes
 Flow control
– required to assure that the source does not overwhelm the destination
by sending data faster than they can be processed and absorbed
 Message formatting
– Both sides must use the same binary code for characters
 Security
– Authentication
– Message integrity

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 12

Introduction: Types of Networks
 Networks can be categorized based on different criteria.
– Based on size, ownership, the distance it covers
– Based on the configuration of computers /network architecture
– Based on the communication media they use

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Introduction: Types of Networks
 Based on size, ownership, the distance it covers
– Local Area Network (LAN): usually privately owned and links devices in a
single office, building or campus

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 14

Introduction: Types of Networks
 Based on size, ownership, the distance it covers
– Metropolitan Area Network (MAN): designed to extend over an entire
city; it may be a single network or interconnected LANs

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Introduction: Types of Networks
 Based on size, ownership, the distance it covers
– Wide Area Network (WAN): covering large geographic area; may utilize
public, leased, or private communications equipment

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Introduction: Types of Networks
 Based on size, ownership, the distance it covers
– Personal Area Network (PAN): meant for one person; e.g. a wireless
network connecting a computer with its mouse, keyboard and printer

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Introduction: Types of Networks
 Based on size, ownership, the distance it covers
– Summary example

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Introduction: Types of Networks
Based on network architecture:
 Network Architecture : includes the type of computers on the
network and determines how network resources are handled
– Peer-to-peer architecture
– Client server architecture

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Introduction: Types of Networks
Based on network architecture:
 Peer-to-peer Architecture
– Each node considered as equal in terms of resource sharing and
responsibilities

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Introduction: Types of Networks
Based on network architecture:
 Peer-to-peer Architecture
o Pros
– Easy to set up
– Less expensive
– Demands moderate level of skill to administer
– User is able to control their own resources
o Cons
– Only < 10 nodes
– Very low level of security
– Performance suffers when a computer is accessed

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Introduction: Types of Networks
Based on network architecture:
 Peer-to-peer Architecture
o Peer-to-peer networks are good choices for environments where:
– There are 10 users or fewer
– Users share resources, such as printers, but no specialized servers exist
– Security is not an issue
– The organization and the network will experience only limited growth
within the foreseeable future

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Introduction: Types of Networks
Based on network architecture:
 Client Server Architecture
– Consists of a group clients
connected to a server
– Server: a computer with more
RAM, larger hard disk, more
processing power, etc.

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Introduction: Types of Networks
Based on network architecture:
 Client Server Architecture
o Pros
– Sharing Resources
– Security
– Number of Users - A server-based network can support thousands of users
– Scalable
o Cons
– more complex to install, configure, and manage
– Needs a specialized personnel for network management
– Expensive

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 24

Introduction: Types of Networks
Based on network architecture:
 Client Server Architecture
o Pros
– One of the benefits of client server architecture is that it is well scalable
– Servers can be specialized so that number of users can be increased and
performance also boosted

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Introduction: Types of Networks
Based on network media:
– Wired networks
– Wireless networks

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 26

Introduction: Types of Networks
Server types /specializations
 File and Print Servers
– File and Print Servers
– manage user access and use of file and printer resources.
 Application Servers
– make the server side of client/server applications, as well as the data,
available to clients.
– an application server differs from a file and print server.
– With a file and print server, the data or file is downloaded to the
computer making the request.
– With an application server, the database stays on the server and only
the results of a request are downloaded to the computer making the
request.
Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 27
Introduction: Types of Networks
Server types /specializations
 Mail Servers
– operate like application servers in that there are separate server and
client applications, with data selectively downloaded from the server
to the client.
 Fax Servers
– manage fax traffic into and out of the network by sharing one or more
fax modem boards.
 Directory Services Servers
– enable users to locate, store, and secure information on the network.

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 28

Introduction: Types of Networks
Server types /specializations

 Qs _________________________________________________________
 Is a server a software or a hardware?
 Can you add more server types on the previous list?

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 29

Introduction: Network Topology
 Topology refers to the way in which multiple devices are
interconnected via communication links.
 There are two types of topology:
1. physical topology and
2. Logical topology.
Physical Topology
– Refers to the way in which a network is laid out physically
– Refers to the arrangement or physical layout of computers, cables,
and other components on the network
– Can be referred as Physical layout, Design, Diagram, Map
– Two or more devices connect to a link; two or more links form a
topology

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 30

Introduction: Network Topology
Logical topology
– is bound to network protocols and describe how data is moved across
the network
– It is not necessarily related to the physical layout of devices

 Qs _________________________________________________________
 Do you think a topology will have an impact on networking?
 If yes, in what factors could it affect?
 What possible ways can you suggest to arrange/layout computers in
a network?

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 31

Introduction: Network Topology
 A network's topology affects its capabilities
 The choice of one topology over another will have an impact
on the
– Types of equipment that the network needs
– Growth of the network – scalability
– Way the network gets managed
 Four basic topologies are possible:
1. Bus topology
2. Star topology
3. Ring topology and
4. Mesh topology

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 32

Introduction: Network Topology
Bus topology
 multipoint (one long cable acts as a backbone to link all the
devices in the network)

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Introduction: Network Topology
Bus topology
 Advantages
– ease of installation;
– less cabling than star or mesh
 Disadvantages
– signal reflection at the taps can cause degradation in quality (soln:
limit the number and spacing of devices connected to a given length
of cable)
– difficult reconnection (adding new devices) and fault isolation
– a fault in the bus cable stops all transmission

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 34

Introduction: Network Topology
Star topology
 In a star topology, each device has a dedicated point-to-
point link only to a central controller, usually called a
concentrator

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 35

Introduction: Network Topology
Star topology
 Advantages
– robust; a failure of a link has no effect on others
– fault identification and isolation are easy
– less expensive than mesh (but more expensive than others)
 Disadvantage
– Single point of failure
– Requires more cable length than a linear topology
– More expensive than linear bus topologies because of the cost of the
concentrators.

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 36

Introduction: Network Topology
Ring topology
 In a ring topology, each device has a dedicated point-to-
point connection only with the two devices on either side of it
 a signal is passed along the ring in one direction, from device
to device, until it reaches its destination
 each device incorporates a repeater (to regenerate bits
received before passing it)

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 37

Introduction: Network Topology
Ring topology
 Advantages
– Equal access for all users
– Each workstation has full access speed to the ring
– As workstation numbers increase performance diminishes slightly
 Disadvantages
– Costly Wiring
– Difficult Connections
– Expensive Adaptor Cards

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 38

Introduction: Network Topology
Mesh topology
 In a mesh topology, every device has a dedicated point-to-
point link to every other device
 Every device must have n-1 I/O ports

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 39

Introduction: Network Topology
Mesh topology
 Advantages
– no traffic problem
– robust/redundant paths; a failure of a link has no effect on others
– privacy or security
– fault identification and isolation are easy
 Disadvantages
– Expensive to construct, the amount of cabling and I/O ports needed

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 40

Introduction: Network Topology
Mesh topology

 Qs _________________________________________________________
– What is the number of total cable segments in a mesh topology
containing N number of computers?

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 41

Introduction: Network Topology
Hybrid topology
 A combination of two network topologies.
– E.g. star-bus

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 42

Introduction: Internetworking
 Internetworking refers to interconnection among or between
public, private, commercial, industrial, or governmental
networks
 Also called internet
 Three variants
1) Intranet
2) Extranet
3) Internet

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 43

Introduction: Internetworking
 Intranet
– a set of networks that is under the control of a single administrative
entity
 Internet
– worldwide interconnection of networks
 Extranet
– internetwork that is limited in scope to a single organization or entity
but which also has limited connections to the networks of one or more
other usually, but not necessarily, trusted organizations or entities

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 44

Introduction: Modes of Transmission
 Mode of transmission refers to the direction of signal flow
between two linked devices
 It can be
 Simplex: unidirectional, only one of the devices can transmit
– E.g. TV transmission

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Introduction: Modes of Transmission
 Half-duplex: both can transmit and receive, but not at the
same time
– E.g. wireless handset (walkie-Talkie)

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Introduction: Modes of Transmission
 Duplex/Full-duplex: both can transmit and receive at the same
time
– E.g. Telephone transmission

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 47

Introduction: Transmission Media
 Is a physical media that carries a signal from the transmitter to
the receiver
 The information or signal transmitted from one device to another
is through electromagnetic signals. What else?
 Electromagnetic signals include power, voice, radio, waves,
infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, X-rays, and gamma
rays.
 These signals can travel trough vacuum, air or any other
transmission medium
 The measurement of the quantity of data that can be passed
down (transmitted) a communication link in a given time is done
in terms of bandwidth
 In digital circuits, bandwidth is measured in bits per second (bps)
Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 48
Introduction: Transmission Media
 Two basic categories of transmission media
1) Guided media
2) Unguided media
 Guided media – uses a cabling system that guides the signals
along a specific path
– E.g. Fiber Optics, Twisted Pair, Coaxial Cable etc…
 Unguided media – consists of a means for the data signals to
travel but nothing to guide them along a specific path - wireless
– Example: Radio wave, Satellite, etc.

[ Details in the last chapter ]

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 49

Introduction: Transmission Media
Types of connection
 Point-to-point: provides a dedicated link between two devices

 Multipoint: more than two devices share (spatially -

simultaneously - or temporally by taking turns) a single link

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Introduction: Transmission Media
 Types of connection
 Direct link: signals propagate directly from transmitter to receiver
– No intermediate devices other than amplifiers or repeaters
– This can apply to both guided and unguided medium
 Indirect link:
– Systems connected through a switched communication network

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 51

Introduction: Applications of Computer Networks
Business applications
 for resource sharing including programs, equipment, data
(mostly databases on central servers), …
 a communication medium – e-mail, writing a report together by
making changes on an online document
 videoconferencing – to hold meetings by hearing and seeing
each other
 electronic business
– business to business - placing orders, …
– business with consumers, usually called e-commerce – home shopping

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 52

Introduction: Applications of Computer Networks
Home applications
 Access to remote information – newspapers, radio, on-line digital
libraries (ACM, IEEE, …), …
 Person-to-person communication
 e-mail (audio, video, pictures, …)
 newsgroups (not in real time)
 instant messaging (between two people in real time, e.g., Yahoo
Messenger),
 chat room (for a group of people in real time)
 Internet for telephone calls, video phone, and Internet radio
 Interactive entertainment: video on demand, interactive television,
games (virtual reality – with photographic-quality moving images)
 Electronic commerce – with online manuals
Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 53
Introduction: Applications of Computer Networks
 Mobile Users:
 using mobile computers - Laptop (notebook), Palmtop (PDAs), and
handheld computers - and wireless networks in cars and airplanes

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 54

Bibliography
 Andrew S. Tanenbaum, “Computer Networks”, Prentice Hall, 2011
(5th ed.)
 William Stallings, “Data and Computer Communications”, 10th Ed.
Pearson, 2014

Computer Networks Fantahun B. (PhD) 55