UNIT-3

COMPUTER NETWROKING
PART-1

Introduction to computer networks: A group of two or more similar

things or people interconnected with each other is called Network.
Such interconnection allows computers to share data and resources
among each other.
 Apart from computers, networks include networking devices
like switch, router, modem etc.
 Networking devices are used to connect multiple computers
in different settings. For communication, data in a network is
divided into smaller chunks called packets.
 These packets are then carried over a network. Devices in a
network can be connected either through wired media like
cables or wireless media like air.

Diagram

Evolution of networking:-
In the 1960s a research project was commissioned by Advanced
Research projects Agency Network (ARPANET) in the U.S
Department of defense to connect the academic and research
institutions located at different places for scientific collaborations.
The first message was communicated between the University of
California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Stanford research institute
(SRI).
Slowly but gradually more and more organizations joined the
ARPANET, and many independent smaller networks were formed.
1961: the idea of Advanced Research Project Agency Network
(ARPANET) is conceptualized.
1969: ARPANET became functional by connecting UCLA and
SRI
1971: Roy Tomlinson develops network messaging or E-mail.
Symbol @ comes to mean “at”
1974: The term “Internet” was coined, first commercial use of
ARPANET, was started in the name of Telnet
1982: TCP/IP introduced as standard protocol on ARPANET
1983: domain name system introduced
1986: national science foundation brings connectivity to more
people with its NSFNET program
1990: the Berners-Lee at CERN developed HTML and URL, thus
giving birth to World Wide Web (www)
1997: first version of Wi-Fi(802.11) standard was introduced

Components of a computer Network:

a. Hosts/Node
b. Servers
c. Client
d. Network hardware
e. Communication channel
f. Software
g. Network service
a. Hosts/Nodes: The term host or node refers to the computers
that are attached to a network. It is also called workstation.
A computer becomes a workstation of a network as soon as
it is attached to a network.

diagram
b. Server: A server is a very important computer in a network.
A server is responsible for making the networking tasks
happen.
In other words, a server facilitates networking tasks like
sharing of data, resource-sharing, communication among
hosts etc.

Diagram

c. Client: A client is a host computer that request for some

services from a server. In other words, a server computer
serves the requests of client computers

Diagram

d. Network hardware: network requires specialized hardware

to carry out various roles, such as establishing connections,
controlling network traffic etc.

Diagram

e. Communication channel:- it is the path through which the

message travels between source and destination. It is also
called transmission medium or link which is either wired or
wireless.

Diagram

f. Software: the software layers of a network make networking

possible. These comprise of network operating system etc.
Types of networks: there are various types of computer
networks ranging from network of handheld devices (like
mobile phones or tablets) connected through Wi-Fi or
Bluetooth within a single room to the millions of computers
spread across the globe.
Based on geographical area covered and data transfer rate:
computer networks are broadly categorized as:
I. PAN(Personal Area Network)
II. LAN(Local Area Network)
III. MAN(Metropolitan Area Network)
IV. WAN(Wide area Network)
I. PAN(Personal Area Network): it is network
formed by connecting a few personal devices like
computers, laptops, mobile phones, smart phones
printers etc.
 All these devices lie within an approximate
range of 10 meters.
 A PAN may be wired or wireless.
 For example , a mobile phone connected to the
laptop through USB forms a wired PAN while
two smart phones communicating with each
other through Bluetooth technology form a
wireless PAN or WPAN.
II. LAN(LOCAL AREA NETWORK): It is network
that connects computers, mobile phones, tablet,
mouse, printer, etc. placed at a limited distance.
 The geographical area covered by a LAN can
range from a single room, a floor, an office
having one or more buildings in the same
premise, laboratory, a school, and college or
university campus.
  The connectivity is done by means of wires,
Ethernet cables, fiber optics or Wi-Fi.
III. MAN (METROPOLITAN AREA NETWORK):
metropolitan area network (MAN) is an extended
form of LAN which covers a larger geographical
area like a city or a town.
 Data transfer rate in MAN also ranges in
Mbps, but it is considerably less a s compared
to LAN.
 Cable TV network or cable based broadband
internet services are example of MAN.
 This kind of network can be extended up to
30-40 km.
IV. WAN(WIDE AREA NETWORK): wide Area
network connects computers and other LANs and
MANs, which are spread across different
geographical locations of a country or in different
countries or continents.
 PART-2 NETWROK DEVICES
To communicate data through different transmission media and to
configure networks with different functionality, we require
different devices like Modem, Hub, Switch, Repeater, Router,
Gateway, etc.
i. Modem:- Modem stands for „Modulator Demodulator‟.
It refers to a device used for conversion between analog
signals and digital bits.

ii. Ethernet card:- Ethernet card, also known as Network

Interface Card(NIC card in short) is a network adapter
used to set up a wired network.
It acts as an interface between computer and the network.
It is a circuit board mounted on the motherboard of a
computer.
Each network-interface card that is attached to a
workstation has a unique number identify it, which is
known as the node address.
The NIC manufacturer assigns a unique physical address
to each NIC card: this physical address is known as MAC
address.(Media access control address)
MAC address example:10:B5:03:63:2E:FC
iii. RJ45 connector: RJ45 or Registered Jack-45 is an eight
pin connector that is used exclusively with Ethernet
cables for networking.
It is a standard networking interface that can be seen at
the end of all network cables.
Basically, it is a small plastic plug that fits into RJ4-45
jacks of the Ethernet card present in various computing
devices.
iv. Repeater: A Repeater is an analog device that works with
signals on the cables to which it is connected. The
weakened signal appearing on the cable is regenerated
and put back on the cable by a repeater.

v. HUB:- An Ethernet hub is a network device used to

connect different devices through wires. Data arriving on
any of the lines are sent out on all the others. The
limitation of Hub is that if data from two devices come at
the same time, they will collide.

vi. Switch :- Switches contain many ports to connect

different network segments. They are similar to hubs, but
offer greater performance. When network contains large
number of devices, switches are needed instead of hubs to
maintain the speed of the communication between
devices. Unlike, hub, switch is aware of the address
assigned to each of its ports and sends the incoming data
it receives only to the intended port.

vii. Router:- A router is communication device that is used to

connect two different networks, such as two LANs or
LAN and WAN, compared to a hub or a switch, a router
has advanced capabilities as it can analyses the data being
 carried over a network, decide/alter how it is packaged,
and send it to another network of a different type.

viii. Bridge:- A bridge is a router with add on functionality of

filtering content by reading the addresses of source and
destination. It is used to interconnect two LANs working
on same protocol and provides communication between
them. It also prevents unnecessary traffic form entering
the network and reduces congestion.

ix. Gateway:- As the term “gateway” suggest, it is a key

access point that acts as a “gate” between an
organization‟s network and outside world of the Internet.
Gateway serves as the entry and exit point of a network,
as all data coming in or going out of a network must first
pass through the gateway in order to use routing paths.