Chapter 1

Introduction to Computer
Networking

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Objectives
• To identify the four basic elements of networks.
• To distinguish different types of networks (LAN,
WAN, Internet, and Intranet).
• To describe the differences among hubs, switches,
and routers.
• To describe different models of Distributed
Computing.

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Outline
• Basic Elements of Networks
• Devices, media, messages, rules
• Types of Networks
• LAN, WAN, Internet, Intranet
• Networking Devices
• Hubs, switches, routers
• Models of Distributed Computing
• Client-server, peer-to-peer

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What are Computer Networks?
Data
cable
Network storage
Desktop
computer
Laptop
Printer

• Computer networks connect computers, printers and

other peripherals together, allowing people to
communicate or share resources.
• We use computer networks for learning, working,
playing, etc.
• Computer networks carry voice, video streams, text,
and graphics between many different types of devices.

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Basic Elements of Networks
Message
Rules:

Network • Max. length of

Medium message=?
• Must start with …
Device Device • What if fails to send…

• All networks have four basic elements in common:

• Devices
• Used for exchange messages with each other.
• Media
• A means of interconnecting devices.
• Messages
• Information that travels from one device to another.
• Rules
• How messages are sent, directed, received and interpreted.

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Devices (1)
• Two types: End Devices and Intermediary Devices.
• End Devices
• Devices that often originate/consume messages in our
communication.
• Also referred to as “hosts”.
• A host device is either the source or destination
• Examples: computers, servers, IP phones, network
printers, IP cameras.

Computer Server IP Phone Network

printer IP Camera
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Devices (2)
• Intermediary Devices
• Devices used for directing and managing messages
across the network.
• Examples: Switches, routers, firewall devices, modems.

Intermediary devices from Cisco

Switch
Firewall device

Router Modem

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Media
• The medium that interconnects devices can be
wired or wireless.
• Wired media can be copper cables or optical fibres.
• Copper cables carry electrical signals.
• Optical fibres carry light signals.

Optical fibre
Copper cables

• Wireless media can be the Earth's atmosphere or

space.
• The signals are microwaves.
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Messages
• “Messages” include:
• web pages
• e-mail
• instant messages
• telephone calls
• other forms of
communication enabled by
the Internet.

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Rules (Protocols)
• Devices interconnected by medium to provide
services must be governed by rules.
• Protocols are the rules that the networked devices
use to communicate with each other.
• Example: TCP/IP (Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol).
• TCP/IP protocols specify the formatting, addressing
and routing mechanisms that ensure the delivery of
our messages to the correct recipient.

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Types of Networks
• 2 main types of networks:
• Local Area Network (LAN)
• Wide Area Network (WAN)
• LANs and WANs differ in
• geographic area
• installation & equipment costs
• Support/maintenance costs

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Local Area Networks (LANs) (1)
• Used within small areas (e.g. within an office,
building).
• Provide services and applications to people within a
common organizational structure, such as a single
business, campus or region.

File server
An example
of LAN Laptop

Network
printer Desktop
computer
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Local Area Networks (LANs) (2)
• A LAN is usually administered by a single
organization.
• The administrative control that governs the security
and access control policies are enforced on the
network level.
• Offer high-speed communication, e.g. 1 Gbps.
• Use LAN-specific equipment (e.g. hubs or switches).

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Wide Area Networks (WANs) (1)
• If a company or organization has locations that are
separated by large geographical distances, it may
be necessary to use a telecommunications service
provider (TSP) to interconnect the LANs at the
different locations.
• The networks that connect geographically
separated LANs are referred to as Wide Area
Networks (WANs).
• WANs use specifically designed network devices to
make the interconnections between LANs.

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Wide Area Networks (WANs) (2)
• Span very large geographic area (e.g. country).
• Connects 2 or more LANs/MANs together using
relatively slow-speed connections .
• May use satellite, routers, modem or WAN switches
for communications.
satellite
router

LAN
WAN
modem
MAN
LAN City x

LAN

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The Internet (1)
• Besides using a LAN or WAN for communication
within own organization, users also need to
communicate with a resource on another network
outside the organization.
• Examples of outside communication needs:
• E-mail a friend in another country.
• Access news or products on a website.
• Download a file from a company web-site.
• Send instant messages with a relative in another city.

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The Internet (2)
• The most well-known and widely used publicly-
accessible internetwork is the Internet.
• The Internet is created by the interconnection of
networks belonging to Internet Service Providers
(ISPs).
• These ISP networks connect to each other to
provide access for millions of users all over the
world.

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Intranet
• The term intranet is often used to refer to a private
connection of LANs and WANs that belongs to an
organization.
• An Intranet is designed to be accessible only by the
organization's members, employees, or others with
authorization.

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Networking Devices
• A minimum network has two hosts.
Direct connection

• When there are more than two hosts, we need

networking devices to provide the connection.
• Examples of networking devices:
• Hubs
• Switches Switch
• Routers

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Hubs (1)
• Simple star topology network consists of hosts
connected to single hub.
• Performance is slow because data is sent to all
computers connected to the hub (bandwidth is
shared).

Symbol

hub

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Hubs (2)
• To increase number of available nodes, can cascade
hubs; also known as daisy-chaining (connecting a
port on one hub to a port on another hub).

hub hub

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Switches (1)
• Switches send data only to the intended recipient,
not all computers connected to it.
• Bandwidth is not shared.
• Improves network performance.
• Switches connect multiple segments of a LAN
together, thus reduces total LAN traffic.
• Switches allow different speeds (e.g. 100 Mbps, 1
Gbps) on different ports.
A Cisco switch: Symbol

Catalyst 2924
(24 ports)

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Switches (2)
• Example: A Local Area Network (LAN) comprising of
two segments connected by a switch.
Switch

hub hub

Segment 1
Segment 2

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 Routers (1)
• Used to route messages among sub-networks on a
computer network.
• Find the best path for data packets from the source
to the destination network.
• Also used to connect computer network to the
Internet.
A Cisco 2900-series router
Symbol
Front view

Rear view

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Routers (2)
• Example of a router routing messages among sub-
networks on a computer network:

router

Sub-network #1: Sub-network #2:

192.168.1.x 201.37.5.x

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Routers (3)
• Example of routers finding the best path for data
packets from the source to the destination
network:

Source
Destination
routers

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Routers (4)
• Example of using router to connect computer
network to the Internet:

Internet
router
modem

Yahoo
Web
Server

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Models of Distributed Computing
• Two models:
• Client-server model
• Peer-to-peer model

Client-server Model Peer-to-peer Model

The lines connecting the computers represent flow

of information, not physical wirings.
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Client-server Model (1)
• In Client-server model, a number of client computers request for
resources (e.g. data, video stream, …etc) from the central server.
• Example:
• Server: A web server that hosts the web-site for SP.
• Clients: Student laptops that are browsing the web-page of SEEE.

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Client-server Model (2)
• Dedicated computer running Server OS.
• Centralized management and control.
• Centralized servers provide data, services and
applications to client computers.
• Scalable – can support a large network up to
thousands of users.
• High level of security based on access permissions.

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Peer-to-peer Model (1)
• In Peer-to-Peer model, each node is a client as well
as a server.
• All peers provide resource to other nodes.

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Peer-to-peer Model (2)
• Meant for small networks < 15 users.
• Low cost.
• All computers in network are considered equal.
• No centralization - user files are not stored in a
central location.
• No need for network administrator. Users manage
their own resources.

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Comparison between Client-server
model and Peer-to-peer model
Client-server model Peer-to-peer model
• Advantages: • Advantages:
• Centralized control & • Simple to setup.
management. • Minimal additional
• More efficient file hardware/software required.
management. • Printers & files can be easily
• Better security. shared .
• Excellent logging facilities. • Disadvantages:
• Disadvantages: • Lack of centralized control.
• If server goes down, • Inconsistent availability.
resources are unavailable. • Uneven performance.
• More difficult to configure & • Poor security.
manage.
• Requires additional
hardware & software.

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