Networks
Networks
A
AAAAAAAAAA
n e t w o r Is an interconnection Chapter Focus
are able to
c o m p u t e r
A
ow
l arr
oo more computers that Advantages and Types of Computer
information. The computers linked Networks
can share resources such as NetworkTopologies
netwo Protocols-HTTP.TCP/I. FTP POP, IMAP
exchange iles, and also
rinters and
SMTP and PPP
mmunicate electronically) The computers Network Devices
nnected
to may bepersonal
the network Internet Terms
or large main frames. Computer Cloud Computing
c o m p u t e r s
Shared Drives
n e t w o r k s
form thecore of communication. It Web 2.0 Tools
has extended the power of a computer beyond
the four
walls of a room. The| Intermet is an
fworldwide network of computers that is growing at a rapid rate.
example
Sender:The sender sends a request for communication which may be like, to access
a
radia links.
be copper wires, optical fibres, communication satellites, or
ADVANTAGES OF COMPUIERNETWORKS
vital of any organisation. They have various
NOwadays, computer networks are a part
advantages. Some of them are
Resource sharing-All thecomputers in a network can share resources such
of resourees results in
as
printers, fax machines, modems and scanners. Sharing
location of
availability of the resource to different users regardless of physical
the
the resource or the user. It also enhances oplimal use o1 the resources. leads to easy
maintenance and saves cosL
File sharing and remote database acces-A computer networkallowsthe shar
offiles and access to databases. You can casilyaccess the files presenm on some otha haring
computer on the network. This saves thetimewhich may be wasted if a file is conisd
fromone computer system to another. A lso, networking allows many people to work opied
opthe data stored in the database simultaneously.
Ease of communication-Networks allow people to communicate through email,
Data in the form of text, audio. vIdeo and pictures can be sent via email. This
allona
the users communicate online in a faster and cost eftective manner. Chatting, vide
to
conferencing. blogging and so on are facilities which also make communication
apd faster. casier
Back-up and support-Computers on a network can be used to take hack-up of
eritical data. In situations where there is a requirement
of always-on computer, another
computer on the network can take over in case of failure of one computer.
TYPES OF cOMPUTER NETWÓRKS
The computers in a network
may be located in a room, building, city, country or
anywhere in
the world. Depending on the
geographical
area covered a by network, the following are the
arious types of computer networks:
may be spread across cities, countries or continents. A has become popular due to the
WAN is formed by connecting various LANs and MANs. ease of its installation and due
to the
increasing populority of
The Internet is the largest WAN) laptop computers
Personal Area Network: A PAN is a computer network
organised around a person. It is used for communication
between devices such as phones, personal digital assistants, printers and laptop. that
are in close proximity. You can use these networks to transferfiles. photos, and so 0n.
between various devices
Campus Area Network (CAN): A CAN is a computer network that spans two or more
LANS. For example, a network that connects a college campus and oflice buildings.
CAN is a type of MAN.on a smaller area.
120
LAN
LAN
WAN LAN
LAN
(a) LAN
(b) WAN
OUTER
OFFICE-B
PERBONAL ARBA
eYwoR
oFFTCE-A
NETWORK TQPQLOGIES
to one
unalogy
Tope
refers to the layout pattern in which the various computers are connected
another
ano
to form a network. 1 hc computers on a network are also referred to a s nodes. The way
a tmoves ones the network depends on the topology. There are five main types oftopologies-
data
Bus Topology
the bus
the computers are connected to a single central cable called
In bus topology.(all
travels through the length of a bus in
(Fig. 8.2). The transmission of data from any computer
all
both the directions and can be received by Nodes
the
other computers on the network. If
address of a computer is that of the intended
otherwise, the
recipient, it accepts the data;
too
data is rejected) Bus topology is quite easy
function
set up. However, the network cannot
if there are breaks in the bus. Sometimes Terminator
Bus
Inators are required to prevent loss of
increases
data atboth ends.) It is costly and Fig. 8.2 Bus topology
the network cost.
121
Ring Topology
In ring topology. cach computer is connected
to two other computers so as to
torm a closed
ring-lnkestructure (Fig. S.). In this topoiogy.
data is transmitted in one directiononly The
disadvantage of ring network is that the
breakdown of any one computer on a ring Nodes
can disable the entire systenm.
Fig. 8.3 Ring topology
Star Topology
star
topology.hll the computers are connected
a
central computer, ora central node to
to
Mesh Topology
in mesh
topology, every computer is connected to
ig. 8.6
(a)) is very expensive to every other computer. Full mesh topology
implement, Normally, partial mesh topology(Fig. S.o tD])s
implemented in which a computer is connected to few other
Computers connected in mesh computers in the netwo k.
topology are very fast and have dedicated conneetioi.
122
(a) Full mesh topology (b) Partial
mesh topology
Fig. 8.6
that connects it to the hub. the same makes the system inoperable. network
Stár Easy to connect additional devices or Performance and increase of the
Topology increases thesize.ofthenetwork. depends on the capabilities of the hub.
Easy to detect faults and to remove parts. OWiring up of the system can be very
123
shi
PROTOCOLS
h e prolocols are a sct ol rules usecd by coputers on a computer network to comm
with each other. Thc compules that follow the sanne rules or protocols are able to evle
systems)Some examples of protocols lhange
informaliOn even if they haye diflerent operating
are
HTTP (lyper Text Iranster Protocol)-It is a PIOtocol uscd betweena web. ser-
and a web browser lor transferring ITML pages. server
(iCPP (Transmission Control P'rotocol/nternet Protocol,TCP is a protocol
which is used along with the IP to.send data over the Internet./The
ransmitted across the Internct in the form of little information is
bundles called
specilications that determines the best route for the packets acrosspackets( IP is a
the Internet so
of set .
NETWORK DEVICES
Various devices are used for setting up a computer network. Let us discuss a few devices that
play a crucial role in a computer network.
124
MOde
can
odulator-demodulator)
converts digital
V e
travel signals of
is an
clcertronic a
ital modem converts phonecomputer
over
ioure 8.9 form A ino
their a
erver
into
so that
the the line. At the
t h e m
DIGITAL SIGNAL of a
ANALOG SIGNALmodem. Fig. 8.8 Modem
set of COMPUTER
DIGITAL SIGNAL
that MODEM
ata Sender TELEPHONE MODEM n COMPUTER
arrive LINE
Fig. 8.9
used for Transmission of signals Receiver
Modems are
through modem
es on
comp. nd
and connecting computers
a telephone
Figure 8.10 shows the
to
and a telephone line. line. Internet. Modems
theconnection
connected to a
are
co
of a modem with a computer
er's CPU of computer
ent Modem
-s
Info Hub
.
Modems can be external or internal. External
modems generally contain indicators which help
nd in
understanding
the functioning of the modem.
Also an external modem can be moved from one
wo
computer to another.
On technical basis, hubs can be categorised into
passive hubs, intelligent hubs, and switching
Telephone hubs.
Fig. 8.10 Connection of a modem
at Port for connecting modem
Ports for connecting or additional hub (typically
Hu labelled Link or Out)
Computers
used to
A hub is a device (Fig. 8.11) that is
a network. Hubs
are
Conneet computers in
segments of a LAN. A hub
Commonly used to connect too5
ports. Small hubs network 4
contains multiple and even 24 ports.
hubs contain 8, 12, 16,
Computers. Larger
the network, the
sends data on
In a hub, when one computer other computers
to all the havingfour
A hub having four ports
the packets Fig. 8.11
8.I
u b simply forwards determining
responsible for is
COnnected to it. Each computer the others.
for it and ignoring
are
destined
which packets
Switeh
A switch is also a device (Fig S.12) used for connecting computers
n a nctwork. However. a switch is a more intelligent device than a
hub. Unlike a hub. a switeh sends the incoming data to the desired
destination only. It reçords the addresses of all the computers
connected to it. Thus, when a packet is received, the switch reads the Fig. 8.12 Switch
information about the destination address to determine it the destination.device
is conno.
to it or not. If the destination device is connected, the switch forwards the nected
packet onlv to.
destination device. In this way, the other computers on the network do not have
to read.
the
deal with data that is not meant for them. and
Router
A router is used to connect heterogeneous networks. A router .connects
networks that
different technologies and ditferent media. The router uSe
moves the packets based on their Ip
address. The router checks the address of the
packet it receives, uses
determine the shortest or fastest way in the network and forwards the routing information to
packet accordinglv, A
packet may travel via multiple routers before reaching the destination.
Cable
modem
Router atemet
Gateway
Gateway is a term used for devices that connect two dissimilar networks. It converts protocols
among communications networks. It can accept a packet formatted for one protocol andconyert
it to a packet formatted for another protocol before forwarding it. Generally, gateway is
implemented by software installed within a router.
Gateway
Convert from one protocol to other.
SNA 1o TCP/IP ete.
126
ERNET TERMS
ntranet
tranet Is
i n t r a n e t
is aa private netwOrk-of anorganisetion. It can be accessed by users authorised b
An
Nanisation.
y h eo r g a n i s
specific resource using ITTP and the server responds cither with the,content ent or
or
Inmessage if unable to do so. It may also reccive and store online forms ahd uploaded. ap error
may also store mails mail server), share liles.(file.server) or share printers (print files, I
here.ervers).
Major web servers are Netscape's iPlanet. Bea's Web Logic and IBM's Webspherd
others include Apache HTTP_Server, Microsoft's Internet Information Services Some
un Java
System Web Server and Jigsaw Web Server.
Web Browser
A web browser is a computer program used for
accessing websites.or information on an
the www.This helps us to view webpages on the Internet that contain
or on
lt also helps us to jump from one website to the other using links. The web
web
hypertext documeork
(Uniform Resource Locator), that you type into the browser's address bar tells
or the address, UR
the hro
where to obtain a page or pages from. It can also
display a webpage if the address is tyned.
the browser's address bar,The following are some web popular Yped in
browsers.
Mternet Explorer: This browser is bundled with
Microsoft Windows OS and
most popular one. hence ic
e
Netscape: It is one of the original web browsers which was introduced in 1994.
Eirefox: Firefox is a new web browser derived from
Mozilla. It was released in 2004 and ho
grown to be the second most popular browser on the Internet. has
Sáfari: Safari is
web browser developed by
a
Apple Inc. and is included in Mac OS X. It was
first released in
January 2003. Safari has a very good support for latest
XHTML, CSS2, and so on. technologies like
Opera: Opera is preferred by newcomers to the Internet. Opera is faster than most other weh
browsers.
nx: Lynx is a
full-featured web browser for users on Unix operating system.
ehrome: Chrome is a web browser developed by Google which is faster, safer and easier to
use than the other browsers listed here.
Webpage
A webpage is a document, typically written in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and
EXtensible HTML (XHTML). Webpages are accessed and transported using the Hypertext
Transfer Protocol (HTTP), or HTTP Secure
(HTTPS) to provide security and privacy for the
user of the
webpage content. Many such webpages make a website. Webpages may be static
or
dynamic. A webpage may have a hyperlink to another website.
Website
A website is
collection of various inter-related pages written in HTMIL
a
server.
one web
called ho
is called hosted on at least
site is
Jhsite nomepage.of that site. A website should be
e advantages of a website are: You
during the day.
24-hour global presence; The Internet c be anytime
can
accessed
operations
are
C n e t business
can browse a webSite at your own convenient time. Online
open 24 hours. have access to
the world
Increasegeustomerbase:
tyo
Around two billion
billion people
across
peopleac through a
website can
not
Web P o r t a t
them
A web portal that presents information from.different sources and makes
is a web-site
able in a unified way. A user can search for any type ofinformation from a single location,
availab,
that
e-mail
is, servVice,
the home news,
pageadvertice
of the web portal. A web portal generally consists of a search engine,
C-mail
service, news, advertisements, an extensive list of links to other sites etc. www.msn
com and www.googic.co.in (igoogle) are popular web portals.
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HOME MOVIES
hyperlink.
Hypelink
A hyperlink or simply a link is a sclectable clement in a hypertextdocumentthatserves
acess.point a aherpAKes. Typically. you click the hynerlink to access the linked reson
Onee a page has loaded, move your mouse pointer over different areas ofthe page. TheCe
cursohe
will change tom an arrow to a hand with a pointing inger when it is over a hyperteyt o
Familiar hyperlinks include buttons, icons. image maps and clickabletext links. link
Bandwidthb
Bandw idth is the amount of data that can be transferred through a communication med.
a fined amount of
ime) Bandwicdth is measured in eycieS per second (eps) or Hertz (Hlium
specd of lnternetaccéss increases with the increasein_bandwidth. Broadband are the c "he
with more bandvidth. (Mode andntegrated Services Digital Netwotk (ISDN) arservices
broadband conneetions. Some
CLOUD COMPUFING
A cloud is anctwork of servers that can be accessed
Vi lnternet Cloud computing offers computing
services to the user
You are already accessing software which are on the cloud, like gmail, Facebook, Picassa and
Linkedin.
130
Azure Services Bungee Connect Salesforce.com
Platform 3tera
3tera Microsoft
Sun Force.comm
Google Yahoo! Developer Network
Apple
Acrobat.com BM
Google Oracle Vmware
Intel
Sun Grid Compute UtilityMosso Amazon
EMC
web services
Hp Netsuite OpenD
Joyent Accelerators
Dell
Reduced IT cgsts-You do not purchase expensive computer systems but use the
services available on the cloud and pay accordingly. It is like online desktop. This
reduces cost ofpurchasingcomputer systems, upgrading hardware and software
electricity and expert staff.
13
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others. They can then download the -5 GB, OziBox - 10GB, hubiC - 25GB
file.
Web 2.0 tools-like blogand wiki areon the cloud. Blog allows you to consume and also
contribute.content You can use blog software to create your blogandshare mith.others. Others
can comment on
your blog and also likeyour blog.
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