What is a Computer Network?

A computer network is a system that connects many independent computers to share information (data)
and resources. The integration of computers and other different devices allows users to communicate
more easily.

Uses of Computer Networks

 Communicating using email, video, instant messaging, etc.
 Sharing devices such as printers, scanners, etc.
 Sharing files.
 Sharing software and operating programs on remote systems.
 Allowing network users to easily access and maintain information.

Types of Computer Networks

There are mainly five types of Computer Networks

1. Personal Area Network (PAN)

2. Local Area Network (LAN)

3. Campus Area Network (CAN)

4. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

5. Wide Area Network (WAN)

Personal Area Network (PAN)

PAN is the most basic type of computer network. It is a type of network designed to connect devices
within a short range, typically around one person. It allows your personal devices, like smartphones,
tablets, laptops, and wearables, to communicate and share data with each other. PAN offers a network
range of 1 to 100 meters from person to device providing communication. Its transmission speed is very
high with very easy maintenance and very low cost. This uses Bluetooth, as technology. Examples of
PAN are USB, computer, phone, tablet, printer, PDA, etc.
Advantages of PAN

 PAN is relatively flexible and provides high efficiency for short network ranges.

 It needs easy setup and relatively low cost.

 It does not require frequent installations and maintenance

 It is easy and portable.

 Needs fewer technical skills to use.

Disadvantages of PAN

 Low network coverage area/range.

 Limited to relatively low data rates.

 Devices are not compatible with each other.

 Inbuilt WPAN devices are a little bit costly.

Local Area Network (LAN)

LAN is the most frequently used network. A LAN is a computer network that connects computers
through a common communication path, contained within a limited area, that is, locally. A LAN
encompasses two or more computers connected over a server. The two important technologies involved
in this network are Ethernet and Wi-fi. It ranges up to 2km & transmission speed is very high with
easy maintenance and low cost. Examples of LAN are networking in a home, school, library,
laboratory, college, office, etc.
Advantages of a LAN

 Privacy: LAN is a private network, thus no outside regulatory body controls it, giving it a
privacy.

 High Speed: LAN offers a much higher speed(around 100 mbps) and data transfer rate
comparatively to WAN.

 Supports different transmission mediums: LAN support a variety of communications

transmission medium such as an Ethernet cable (thin cable, thick cable, and twisted pair), fiber
and wireless transmission.

 Inexpensive and Simple: A LAN usually has low cost, installation, expansion and maintenance
and LAN installation is relatively easy to use, good scalability.

Disadvantages of LAN

 The initial setup costs of installing Local Area Networks is high because there is special software
required to make a server.

 Communication devices like an ethernet cable, switches, hubs, routers, cables are costly.

 LAN administrator can see and check personal data files as well as Internet history of each and
every LAN user. Hence, the privacy of the users are violated

 LANs are restricted in size and cover only a limited area

 Since all the data is stored in a single server computer, if it can be accessed by an unauthorized
user, can cause a serious data security threat.

Campus Area Network (CAN)

CAN is bigger than a LAN but smaller than a MAN. This is a type of computer network that is usually
used in places like a school or colleges. This network covers a limited geographical area that is, it
spreads across several buildings within the campus. CAN mainly use Ethernet technology with a range
from 1km to 5km. Its transmission speed is very high with a moderate maintenance cost and moderate
cost. Examples of CAN are networks that cover schools, colleges, buildings, etc.
Advantages of CAN

 Speed: Communication within a CAN takes place over Local Area Network (LAN) so data
transfer rate between systems is little bit fast than Internet.

 Security: Network administrators of campus take care of network by continuous monitoring,

tracking and limiting access. To protect network from unauthorized access firewall is placed
between network and internet.

 Cost effective: With a little effort and maintenance, network works well by providing fast data
transfer rate with multi-departmental network access. It can be enabled wirelessly, where wiring
and cabling costs can be managed. So to work with in a campus using CAN is cost-effective in
view of performance

Disadvantages:

The disadvantages of CAN are as follows −

 It does not support a maximum number of nodes.

 It can connect only up to 64 nodes because of electrical loading.

 CAN maintenance is costly when compared to other networks like LAN, SAN, WAN etc.

 It can support up to 40 meter length.

 There are undesirable interactions in between all nodes.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

A MAN is larger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN. This is the type of computer network that
connects computers over a geographical distance through a shared communication path over a city,
town, or metropolitan area. This network mainly uses FDDI, CDDI, and ATM as the technology with a
range from 5km to 50km. Its transmission speed is average. It is difficult to maintain and it comes with
a high cost. Examples of MAN are networking in towns, cities, a single large city, a large area within
multiple buildings, etc.
Advantages of MAN

 MAN offers high-speed connectivity in which the speed ranges from 10-100 Mbps.

 The security level in MAN is high and strict as compared to WAN.

 It support to transmit data in both directions concurrently because of dual bus architecture.

 MAN can serve multiple users at a time with the same high-speed internet to all the users.

 MAN allows for centralized management and control of the network, making it easier to monitor
and manage network resources and security.

Disadvantages of MAN

 The architecture of MAN is quite complicated hence, it is hard to design and maintain.

 This network is highly expensive because it required the high cost to set up fiber optics.

 It provides less fault tolerance.

 The Data transfer rate in MAN is low when compare to LANs.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

WAN is a type of computer network that connects computers over a large geographical distance
through a shared communication path. It is not restrained to a single location but extends over many
locations. WAN can also be defined as a group of local area networks that communicate with each
other with a range above 50km.

Advantages of WAN

 It covers large geographical area which enhances the reach of organisation to transmit data
quickly and cheaply.

 The data can be stored in centralised manner because of remote access to data provided by WAN.

 The travel charges that are needed to cover the geographical area of work can be minimised.
  WAN enables a user or organisation to connect with the world very easily and allows to exchange
data and do business at global level.

Disadvantages of WAN

 Traffic congestion in Wide Area Network is very high.

 The fault tolerance ability of WAN is very less.

 Noise and error are present in large amount due to multiple connection point.

 The data transfer rate is slow in comparison to LAN because of large distances and high number
of connected system within the network.

Naming computers connected to Internet:

Communicating on the Internet:

TCP/IP is the only protocol used to send data all around the Internet. TCP/IP is really two
individual sections, (TCP) a set of communication protocols and (IP) a unique address. Every
machine connected to the Internet must have an address by which it can be located on the
Internet. This is called the IP address of the machine. For the Internet to function smoothly, no
two machines can have the same IP address. Hence each machine connected to the Internet must
have a unique IP address, which identifies that machine.

The Internet is a worldwide network of networks. As the Internet grew over the years it became
increasingly important to have a governing body, which allocated unique IP addresses to
organizations linked to the Internet. An international body called InterNIC, located in the USA,
is responsible for registering and assigning unique IP addresses to organizations wishing to
manage networks, which will be part of the Internet. A unique IP address therefore points to an
actual computer connected via a gateway to the Internet. This computer is known as a Domain
i.e. a place where information is available. This is a Physical Domain on the Internet.

Conceptually, a Server, which has a permanent IP address (i.e. a Physical Domain), can provide

A gateway to other computers to access the Internet and /or Provide information for Internet
clients to read and/or Provide a physical location on which several Virtual Domains can be
Hosted

In many cases, when a Web Site provides Internet clients information to read, the site is
mounted as a Virtual Domain on an Internet Server, which is its (host) Physical Domain.

What is Virtual Domain?

Virtual Domains are identified by a name (e.g. www.microsoft.com). Just like a Physical
Domain needs to have a unique IP address, so also Virtual Domain Names need to be unique on
the Internet. All Virtual Domain Names must be registered with InterNIC. One Internet Server
may host several virtual domains. Virtual domains can be conceptualized as sub directories on an
Internet server's hard disk drive. The information that Internet clients wish to read would be Files
within the sub directory.

When an Internet client connects to an Internet server some software running on the Internet
server must respond to the Internet client's request for information. The software that runs on an
Internet server and responds to an Internet client's request for information is called Web Server
software.

Explain Internet Domains ?

Each computer that has a permanent IP address, runs Server software and offers information to
clients, is considered to be a Physical Domaini.e. a place (domain) where information is
available.

The Physical Domain

All Internet Servers are connected to the Internet via an Internet Gateway. An Internet gateway
is usually provided by one of the global networking giants that have setup these gateways. These
networking giants are the companies who have spent enormous sums of money to set up the
physical networks that circle the globe.

These physical networks are called the Internet Backbone. The Internet backbone is a
heterogeneous mix of networking technologies, which have been successfully implemented and
currently fully operational. The networking giants are companies like British Telecom, Hyundai,
AT&T etc.

Explain InternetServer Identities?

InterNIC, a quasi government body in the U.S.A registers and issues Internet Servers their
unique IP addresses.

InterNIC also authorizes organizations in other countries to issue IP addresses. In India, NCST
(National Center of Software Technology) a quasi government body is authorized to issue
permanent IP addresses. This really means that the Internet Server must be located within India.

Registering A Virtual Domain WithInterNIC

Log onto an InterNIC Server. Fill up a registration form online. Pay the two-year registration fee
to InterNIC. This registers a virtual domain with InterNIC.

Detailed Registration will ask for information like Personal Details, Billing Contact Information,
Technical Contact Information, Administrative Contact Information and so on.

When a company registers a virtual domain name with InterNIC, InterNIC requires a unique IP
address to be specified. The unique IP address specified, is generally the IP address of the
Internet server, which will

host the Virtual Domain.

InterNIC's address is http://www.internic.net/regist.html

 InterNIC will scan its registered database to ensure that the domain name is unique .
 If the name is unique, InterNIC will inform the registering company or individual that its
registration has been accepted.
 Once the Domain name is registered the registering company has 30 days within which
payment has to be made to InterNIC for the registration. Once registered, the Domain
registration is valid for 2 years. After a two year period the registration must be renewed
or the registration lapses.
 If the name is not unique, the registration is rejected and InterNIC will inform the
company the registration has been rejected due to the Domain name being duplicate.

Explain the Domain’s Extensions?

 A domain name is a unique identifier for a website on the internet. It acts as an address
for people to access the website and is usually a combination of letters and numbers.
Domain names are an essential component of the internet as they make it easier for
people to find and access websites.
 With the increasing number of websites on the internet, it is essential to have a domain
name that is easy to remember and catchy. A domain name also helps to establish
credibility and professionalism for a website
 Types of Domain Names


Establishing Connectivity On The Internet :

The protocol used to setup communications between a Client and Server on the Internet is
TCP/IP. TCP/IP, expands to read Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol. TCP/IP is a
connection independent protocol.

This means that TCP/IP works completely independent of the physical media used to create the
network. The network can be a heterogeneous mix of any of the following networking
technologies Ethernet, VSat, Fiber Optics, Infrared, VHF/UHF radio frequencies and so on,
TCP/IP will work across all quite transparently. TCP/IP breaks up data into datagrams and
guarantees that the data is correctly received at its destination .

Explain How Client IP address are assigned ?

Computers that only read information offered, (i.e. Internet clients) need not necessarily have aIP
address, However, when logged into the Internet, a client requires a unique IP address. This IP
address enables the Internet server called, to reply accurately.

The Internet Service Provider's (ISP's) Server via which the client connects to the Internet,
temporarily assigns a unique IP address to the client.

In India, for a very long time, the only ISP was Videsh Samachar Nigam Limited. (i.e. VSNL).
Whenever a client logs into the Internet via a VSNL Server, the VSNL Server temporarily (and
dynamically) assigns a unique IP address to the computer that successfully logs in.

How ISP's Achieve The Task Of Assigning IP Addresses :

ISP's purchase a block of unique IP addresses from internationally recognized networking

bodies. Thus whenever a client logs into the Internet via an ISP's Server, one of these unique IP
addresses is temporarily assigned to the computer, which logs in.

The maximum number of computers that can log into an ISP Server and access the Internet is
therefore limited to the block of unique IP addresses purchased by that ISP from the international
networking body.

Getting A Temporary IP Address:

Assuming that the Client computer is a Windows machine, its TCP/IP stack is configured to Get
an II address dynamically from the ISP's DHNS Server.

The Client computer logs into the ISP's Server using a dial-up line and a modem. After a
successful logir is accomplished, the ISP's Server automatically passes one IP address from the
block of IP addresses purchased, to the computer logged in.

Once a computer is logged on the Internet and has a unique IP address, any other computer on
the Internet that is aware of this IP address can setup communications with it. i.e. all the Clients
become visible to all the other computers on the Internet, via their unique IP address through the
ISP's Server.