WHAT IS DATA

COMMUNICATION?
• Communication means sending • The communication model consists of:
information between one person or – TRANSMITTER (Sending device) -
device and another initiates an instruction to transmit data,
• The term data communication is instructions or information. (E.g.
Computers, Fax machines, Digital
used particularly when the data is cameras)
being sent between a user and a – COMMUNICATIONS
computer or between computers via CHANNEL/MEDIA, over which the
transmission channels. signals are sent. (E.g. Cables,
• Transmission channels are the telephone lines, and airwaves)
different media that can be used to – RECIEVER (Receiving device) that
move data. Some of the commonly accepts the data, instructions, or
used data transmission channels are: information. (E.g. television, computer,
• Telephone lines
telephone)
• Coaxial cables
• Fiber optic cables • Examples: of communication
• Communication satellites 1. Two people speaking on the telephone
• using radio waves 2. A sales department sending a fax to a
customer
3. Using a modem and a terminal to
contact a remote computer

DATA COMMUNICATION 1
DATA COMMUNICATION 2
 NETWORKS
• A network consists of two or more computers
that are linked in order to share resources (such
as printers and scanners), exchange files, or
allow electronic communications.
• The computers on a network may be linked
through cables, telephone lines, radio waves,
satellites, or infrared light beams
• There are two types of networks namely; LAN
(Local area network) & WAN (Wide area
Network)

DATA COMMUNICATION 3
 ADVANTAGES OF HAVING
•
NETWORKS
SPEED - Networks provide a very rapid method for sharing and transferring files. Without a
network, files are shared by copying them to floppy disks, then carrying or sending the disks
from one computer to another. This method of transferring files is very time-consuming.
• COST. - Net workable versions of many popular software programs are available at
considerable savings when compared to buying individually licensed copies. Besides monetary
savings, sharing a program on a network allows for easier upgrading of the program. The
changes have to be done only once, on the file server, instead of on all the individual
workstations.
• SECURITY - Files and programs on a network can be designated as "copy inhibit," so that you
do not have to worry about illegal copying of programs, Also, passwords can be established for
specific directories to restrict access to authorized users.
• CENTRALIZED SOFTWARE MANAGEMENT - One of the greatest benefits of installing a
network is the fact that all of the software can be loaded on one computer (the file server). This
eliminates that need to spend time and energy installing updates and tracking files on
independent computers throughout the building.
• ELECTRONIC MAIL - The presence of a network provides the hardware necessary to install an
e-mail system. E-mail helps in personal and professional communication and it facilitates the
dissemination of general information. A good example would be in a school situation where
electronic mail on a LAN can enable students to communicate with teachers and peers at their
own school. If the LAN is connected to the Internet, students can communicate with others
throughout the world.
• FLEXIBLE ACCESS - School networks allow students to access their files from any computer
in the computer lab. Students can begin an assignment on a particular workstation and then
save their work and then can later retrieve it from a different workstation as long as it is also
connected to the network.
DATA COMMUNICATION 4
 DISADVANTAGES OF HAVING
NETWORKS
• EXPENSIVE TO INSTALL - Although a network will generally save money
over time, the initial costs of installation are still high. Cables, network cards,
and software are expensive, and the installation may require the services of
a technician.
• REQUIRES ADMINISTRATIVE TIME - Proper maintenance of a network
requires considerable time and expertise.
• ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT - File Server May Fail. Although a file server
is no more susceptible to failure than any other computer, when the file
server "goes down," the entire network may come to a halt (standstill).
When this happens, the entire network may lose access to necessary
programs and files.
• SECURITY - File security is a problem in a network. Hackers can get
access to file easily. Spread of virus is quicker in a networked system than
in a stand alone system.
• CABLES MAY BREAK. One broken cable can stop the entire network
communication. In case of a break in a cable there is no communication
between the computers in a network.
• SPREAD OF VIRUSES. Viruses can easily spread through the entire
network.

DATA COMMUNICATION 5
 LOCAL AREA NETWORK (LAN)
• A LAN is a network covering a small area
such as one building e.g. in a school or a • EXAMPLE OF A LAN
college. It consists of a collection of – Network of computers in a school
microcomputers, for example in a building,
department or school, which can share
peripheral, share information and
communicate with each other on the
network. Each of these microcomputers
can work both as an independent personal
computer running its own software, and as
a workstation on the network that accesses
information from the network server. The
server runs the networking operating
system, which allows resources to be
shared with the other computer (called
clients/nodes/terminals/workstation) on the
network. The devices shared by a LAN
may include printers, hard drives, disk
drives, CD-ROM drives, modems and fax
machine.

DATA COMMUNICATION 6
 CHARACTERISTICS OF A LAN
• The workstations are normally microcomputers.
• The communication between workstations is usually along cables.
• The network contains peripherals such as hard disc units and
printers to which all users have access via the network.
• To use a program, the user loads it into his/her own workstation
and runs it there. This contrasts with many wide area networks
where the user has only a terminal and all the programs run in a
central 'host' computer.
• The network has special computers called servers to control the
main disc units and printers.
• A server, a computer on a network dedicated to controlling a hard
disc and handling users' files.

DATA COMMUNICATION 7
 ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES OF LAN
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
• The stations can share • If the file server for a
peripherals network breaks down, the
• Users do not need to use users may have no data
floppy discs for data files. to work on as there will
• A user’s files cannot be be communication break
accessed by other down
people. • It is expensive to run as
• A user can use any the server has to be quite
software from any station. a powerful computer and
cannot usually be used
• The stations can for anything else while
communicate with one the network is running.
another either directly or • Only covers a small area.
via the server.
DATA COMMUNICATION 8
 WIDE AREA NETWORK (WAN)
• A WAN is a Wide Area Network • EXAMPLES OF WAN
covering a large geographical area. – Government data networks in
Botswana
It can connect networks across a – A chain of banks with terminals
large geographical area such as a connected to the bank’s
city, a state or a country. headquarters
Information can be transmitted
using special high-speed telephone
lines, microwave links, satellite
links or a combination of all three.
WAN’s are used mainly by
universities, research centers,
companies and banks, so that
information can be shared across a
country or across many countries.
Internet is an example of WAN is
used in the web world web.

DATA COMMUNICATION 9
 CHARACTERISTICS OF WAN
• Computing power for the network is usually provided by one
or more 'host' computers. These may be remote from one
another, connected by high-speed data links.
• The workstations are terminals or microcomputers. Often the
host computers run the programs and the stations simply act
as a means of communication.
• The network may be nationwide or even -worldwide.
• Users usually connect to a point on the network near to
them. A user connected by telephone will often be able to
make a local call.

DATA COMMUNICATION 10
 ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES OF WAN
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
• The network may be • High cost of maintenance
nationwide or even - • More technical people are
worldwide. needed to support the
• Allows easy distribution network.
of services to other • Encourages piracy
branches • There is too much
• It allows world wide hacking.
communication at low
cost.

DATA COMMUNICATION 11
 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LAN
AND WAN
1. LAN
– A local area network (LAN) is a network which is all on one
site, such as a school or block of offices.
– The work stations in a local area network are usually
connected directly by cables.
– Consist of one or more of the network topologies
2. WAN
– A wide area network (WAN) is a network which connects large
numbers of computers and terminals over geographically
dispersed locations.
– The work stations in a wide area network are connected by
telephone, satellite, microwave tower and wireless.

DATA COMMUNICATION 12
 WHAT IS NETWORKING
HARDWARE?
• Networking hardware includes all computers,
peripherals, interface cards and other
equipment needed to perform data-processing
and communications within the network.
• This section provides information on the
following components:
– File Servers
– Workstations
– Modem
– Network interface card.

DATA COMMUNICATION 13
 FILE SERVER
• A file server stands at the heart of most networks. It is a
very fast computer with a large amount of RAM and
storage space, along with a fast network interface card.
The network operating system software resides on this
computer, along with any software applications and data
files that need to be shared.
• The file server controls the communication of information
between the nodes/workstations on a network. For
example, it may be asked to send a word processor
program to one workstation, receive a database file from
another workstation, and store an e-mail message during
the same time period.

DATA COMMUNICATION 14
 WORKSTATIONS
• All computers connected to the file server on a
network are called workstations.
• A typical workstation is a computer that is
configured with a network interface card,
networking software, and the appropriate cables.
• Workstations do not necessarily need floppy disk
drives or hard drives because files can be saved
on the file server.
• Almost any computer can serve as a network
workstation.

DATA COMMUNICATION 15
 MODEM (MODULATOR
DEMODULATOR)

• It is a device which allows a computer or a terminal to use the

telephone line for communication
• The link between a computer and the phone which converts
computer signals to phone line signals and vice versa. The
diagram above illustrates how the signals are changed.
• It comes as either INTERNAL modem (which is connected inside
the computer in a port on the motherboard of the computer) and
EXTERNAL modem (which is connected via cables to the CPU
of the computer.

DATA COMMUNICATION 16
NETWORK INTERFACE CARDS
• The network interface card (NIC) provides the physical
connection between the network and the computer
workstation. Most NICs are internal, with the card
fitting into an expansion slot inside the computer.
• Network interface cards are a major factor in
determining the speed and performance of a network.
• It is a good idea to use the fastest network card
available for the type of workstation you are using.

DATA COMMUNICATION 17
 HUBS/SWITCHES
• A concentrator is a device that provides a central connection point for
cables from workstations, servers, and peripherals. In a star topology,
twisted-pair wire is run from each workstation to a central concentrator.
Hubs are multi-slot concentrators into which can be plugged a number of
multi-port cards to provide additional access as the network grows in
size.
• Some concentrators are passive, that is they allow the signal to pass
from one computer to another without any change. Most concentrators
are active, that is they electrically amplify the signal as it moves from one
device to another. Active concentrators are used like repeaters to extend
the length of a network. Concentrators are:
– Usually configured with 8, 12, or 24 RJ-45 ports
– Often used in a star or star-wired ring topology
– Sold with specialized software for port management
– Also called hubs
– Usually installed in a standardized metal rack that also may store netmodems,
bridges, or routers

DATA COMMUNICATION 18
 FIBER OPTIC CABLE
• Fiber optic Cables: The core Advantages of fiber optic cable:
of the fiber optic cable consists • Capability of carrying significantly
of dozens or hundreds of thin more signals than wire cables.
glass or plastic that use light to • Faster data transmission because of
transmit signals. It can transmit the larger bandwidth.
far more data than wire cable
but is expensive and not so • Less susceptible to noise
flexible. (Interference) from other devices.
• Each strand is called an optic • Better security for signals during
fiber, is as thin as hair. Inside transmission because they are less
the fiber optic cable, an susceptible to noise.
insulating glass cladding and a • Smaller size.
protective coating surround Disadvantages of fiber optic cable:
each optical fiber. • There are expensive to purchase.
• It is difficult to install and modify

DATA COMMUNICATION 19
 WHAT IS NETWORK
TOPOLOGY?
• There are many different devices that may be connected to a
network such as CPUs, disk drives, printers, point of sale
terminals etc. All of these need to be brought together in some
way. Most often, cables will be used to connect the terminal and
other equipment together although radio communication links can
be used. When a diagram of a network is drawn lines are used to
show the communication links between devices. Devices in a
network called nodes, can be connected in a variety of different
ways or topologies
• TOPOLOGY is the way workstations are connected in a network
OR the arrangement of different components in a network. There
are mainly three types of network topologies, namely ring, star
and bus.

DATA COMMUNICATION 20
 BUS/LINEAR TOPOLOGY
• This is whereby all the networked
computers and devices are linked by a
common network cable called a
network bus.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
• Data is sent to all nodes at the • If main cable (network bus) fails it
same time. will affect the whole network
• Easy to maintain network
• Inexpensive because of less cable • Speed of communication becomes
required slower when adding more users.
• Adding and removing • Not effective if many computers
nodes/workstations is easy and devices try communicating at
• If one of the nodes goes down, the the same time.
rest of the network can continue to • Only one computer can send a
function normally. message at a given time.
• Each computer has equal status,
because there is no central
computer.

DATA COMMUNICATION 21
 RING TOPOLOGY
• This is whereby a circular
arrangement of devices & each is
capable of communicating directly with
its neighbour

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
• Faster communication and higher • If one of the node fails it will affect
data transmission the whole network
• Less cables required for network • Installation and Maintenance is
hence less expensive difficult compared to the bus
• Communication can be topology
unidirectional or bidirectional
• To find the problem in network is
difficult
• Adding and removing nodes is
complex

DATA COMMUNICATION 22
 STAR TOPOLOGY SERVER
• This is whereby computers and other
devices are linked to a central host
computer. All communication between
the computers is routed through the
host computer.
ADVANTAGES
• Communication is faster (each
computer has individual cable to the DISADVANTAGES
server) • Expensive because it requires a
• Performance don’t affect by number lot of cables.
of other computer on the network • Installation is complex
being used
• Failure of server affects the whole
• Communication is in all direction
network.
• Cable failure doesn’t affect the
whole network • Require a HUB to control all
clients/workstations/terminals/nodes cables.
have direct and immediate access to
the file server.

DATA COMMUNICATION 23
 PROTOCOL
• A protocol is a set of rules that governs the communications
between computers on a network. These rules include guidelines
that control the following characteristics of a network: access
method, allowed physical topologies, types of cabling, and speed
of data transfer.
The most common protocols are:
• TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)
• HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)
• SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
• FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

DATA COMMUNICATION 24
 THE NEED FOR PROTOCOLS
• They are needed to connect to the Internet and access
information or other services on it you need an
implementation of TCP/IP (transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol).
• We have protocols in telecommunications.
• Protocols ensure that each computer behaves
predictably and provides information in an
understandable way.
• A gateway translates the protocols between computers
so that different computers are able to communicate
with each other. Before sending data a computer
performs what is called handshake. The hand shake is
an exchange of signals which establishes the
communication between devices.

DATA COMMUNICATION 25
 TYPES OF PROTOCOLS
1. TCP /IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)
• It is a set of rules that defines how computers interact or communicate
with each other to transfer data from one computer to another over the
Internet. TCP/IP enables hardware and operating systems software from
different computers to communicate.
• TCP/IP is Transmission control protocol/Internet protocol. It is widely use
in the Internet. It is used to manage the transmission of data by breaking
it up into packets. It defines how to break the message into packets,
provides routing information for message delivery, and reassembles the
message at the receiving end. It establishes a connection between 2
computers so they can send message back and forth for a period of time.
2. HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol)
• The communications protocol used to transfer pages on the Web. You
access and view web pages using a software program called a web
browser

DATA COMMUNICATION 26
 TYPES OF PROTOCOLS Cont..
3. SMTP (Simple Mail transfer Protocol)
• It is a communications protocol. The mail server uses SMTP to determine how to
route the message through the Internet and then sends the message. When the
message arrives at the recipient’s mail server, the message is transferred to a POP
server (Post Office Protocol). POP is a communication protocol used to retrieve e-
mail from a mail server. The POP server holds the messages until the recipient
retrieves it with his e-mail software.

4. FTP (File transfer Protocol)

• It is an internet standard that allows you to exchange files with other computers on
the internet.
• Data in the form of files can be transferred across the internet from one site to
another by using FTP (File Transfer Protocol). FTP software is needed at both ends
to handle the transfer. It is through FTP that the two pieces of software manage to
‘understand’ each other. Some web browsers also handle FTP
• For example. If you click a link on a web page that begins to download a file to your
computer, you probably are using FTP.
• An FTP server is a computer that allows users to upload and download files using
FTP.

DATA COMMUNICATION 27