Computer Networks

What will be covered

• This lecture will cover the following:
– Computer Network
– Types of Computer Networks
– Network Topologies
– Internetworking Devices
– Network Media
– Client-Server
– Advantages/Disadvantages
 Networking
• Computer network A collection of computing
devices(Computers/Network devices) that are
connected in various ways in order to
communicate and share resources.
Usually, the connections between computers
in a network are made using physical wires or
cables
However, some connections are wireless, using
radio waves or infrared signals

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 Definitions (cont..)
Sharing may be:
• Resource Sharing
 Hardware (disks, printers)
 Software (application software)
• Information Sharing
 Easy accessibility from anywhere (files, databases)
 Search Capability (WWW)

• Or just about anything else that exists on a

computer.
Networks: Communicating & Sharing
Resources

5
Types of Networks
 Types of Networks
• Local-area network (LAN) A network that
connects a relatively small number of
machines in a relatively close geographical
area.(Room, Building or a Campus)
• May be wireless or connected through cables

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Picture for LAN
 WLAN (Wireless LAN)
• A local area network that transmits over the air typically
in an unlicensed frequency such as the 2.4GHz band
• Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity)
– A wireless technology that connects computers without cables
• Access Point (AP)
– A device (base station) that connects wireless devices together
– Usually connected to a wired-network
• Laptops use wireless network cards that plug into an existing
PCMCIA slot or that are self contained on PC cards, while stand-
alone desktops and servers use plug-in cards (ISA, PCI, etc.).
• ESSID (Extended Service Set ID)
– A “name” for the AP, eg. mobilenet
• Hotspot
– The area covered by wireless access points
Picture for WLAN
 Types of Networks

• Metropolitan-area network (MAN) The

communication infrastructures that have been
developed in and around large cities

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Picture for MAN
 Types of Networks
• Wide-area network (WAN) A network that
connects two or more local-area networks over a
potentially large geographic distance
Often one particular node on a LAN is set up to serve as a
gateway to handle all communication going between that
LAN and other networks
Communication between networks is called
internetworking
The Internet, as we know it today, is essentially the
ultimate wide-area network, spanning the entire globe

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Picture for WAN
LAN-MAN-WAN
Network Topology
Introduction to Computer Networks

Network Topology

 The network topology

defines the way in which
computers, printers, and
other devices are
connected. A network
topology describes the
layout of the wire and
devices as well as the
paths used by data
transmissions.
Introduction to Computer Networks

Bus Topology

 Commonly referred to as a
linear bus, all the devices
on a bus topology are
connected by one single
cable.
 Bus Topology
Advantages: Disadvantages:
• Easy to install and • Troubleshooting is
difficult as there is no
maintain single point of control
• Can be extended • One faulty node can
easily bring the whole
• Very reliable because network down
of single • Dumb terminals
cannot be connected
transmission line to the bus
Introduction to Computer Networks

Star & Tree Topology

 The star topology is the most
commonly used architecture in
Ethernet LANs.
 In star topology each device is
connected to a central device.
 When installed, the star topology
resembles spokes in a bicycle
wheel.
 Larger networks use the extended
star topology also called tree
topology. When used with network
devices that filter frames or
packets, like bridges, switches, and
routers, this topology significantly
reduces the traffic on the wires by
sending packets only to the wires of
the destination host.
 Star Topology
Advantages: Disadvantages:
• Failure of one node does • Long cables may be
not affect the network required to connect each
• Troubleshooting is easy as node to the server
faulty node can be • Failure of central node
detected from central brings down the whole
node immediately network
• Simple access protocols
required as one of the
communicating nodes is
always the central node
Introduction to Computer Networks

Ring Topology
 In ring topology each terminal is
connected to exactly two nodes, giving
the network a circular shape.
 A frame travels around the ring, stopping
at each node. If a node wants to transmit
data, it adds the data as well as the
destination address to the frame.
 The frame then continues around the ring
until it finds the destination node, which
takes the data out of the frame.
 Single ring – All the devices on the
network share a single cable
 Dual ring – The dual ring topology
allows data to be sent in both
directions.
 Ring Topology
Advantages: Disadvantages:
• Small cable segments are • Failure of single node
needed to connect two brings down the whole
nodes network
• Ideal for optical fibres as • Troubleshooting is
data travels in only one difficult as many nodes
direction may have to be inspected
• Very high transmission before faulty one is
speeds possible identified
• Difficult to remove one or
more nodes while
keeping the rest of the
network intact
Introduction to Computer Networks
Mesh Topology

 The mesh topology

connects all devices
(nodes) to each other for
redundancy and fault
tolerance.
 It is used in WANs to
interconnect LANs and for
mission critical networks
like those used by banks
and financial institutions.
 Implementing the mesh
topology is expensive and
difficult.
Network Devices
 Network Devices
• Hub
– An unintelligent network device that sends one
signal to all of the stations connected to it.
– All computers/devices are competing for attention
because it takes the data that comes into a port
and sends it out all the other ports in the hub.
– Traditionally, hubs are used for star topology
networks.
 Network Devices
• Switch
– Split large networks into small segments,
decreasing the number of users sharing the same
network resources and bandwidth.
– Helps prevent data collisions and reduces network
congestion, increasing network performance.
 Network Devices
• Repeater
– Used to boost the signal between two cable
segments or wireless access points.
– Can not connect different network architecture.
– Does not simply amplify the signal, it regenerates
the packets and retimes them.
 Network Devices
• Router
– A device that connects any number of LANs.
– More sophisticated than bridges, connecting
networks of different types (for example, star and
token ring)
 Network Hardware
• Additional Network Hardware Devices
– Network Interface Cards (NICs)
• Puts the data into packets and transmits packet onto the network.
• May be wired or wireless.
Network Media
 Common Network Media
•Electrical (copper)
•Coaxial Cable
•Single copper conductor in the center
surrounded by a plastic layer for
insulation and a braided metal outer
shield.
•Twisted pair
•Four pairs of wires twisted to certain
specifications.
•Available in shielded and unshielded
versions.
Copper - Twisted Pair
 Optical Fiber
•Infrared light is transmitted through fiber and confined
due to total internal reflection.
•Fibers can be made out of either plastic or glass.
•Used for high speed backbones and pipes over long
distances.
•Comparatively expensive.
 Wireless Media
•Wireless LAN or WLAN
• Wireless local area network that uses radio
waves as its carrier

•Wi-Fi ("Wireless Fidelity“)

•A set of standards for WLANs based on
IEEE 802.11

•Wi-Max
•Emerging technology that can cover ranges
up to 10 miles or more

•Satellite/Microwave
•High speed media used for longer
distances and remote locations
Servers and Clients
 Servers and Clients
• You may have heard someone say something
like "The server is down" or "We're having
problems with the e-mail server.“
• A server is a computer that "serves" many
different computers in a network by running
specialized software and storing information.
 Networking
• Computer networks have opened up an entire
frontier in the world of computing called the
client/server model

Figure 15.1 Client/Server interaction 15-39

 Networking
• File server A computer that stores and
manages files for multiple users on a network
• Web server A computer dedicated to
responding to requests (from the browser
client) for web pages

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 Servers and Clients
• When you access a web page, your computer is
acting as a client.
• A client runs familiar software such as web
browsers or email software, and it
communicates with the server to get the
information it requires.
• In order for your browser to display a web page,
it requests the data from the server where the
page is stored. The server processes the request,
then sends the data to your browser, where it is
displayed
 P2P
• In peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, each
computer acts as both a server and a client.
Examples of P2P software
include Skype and BitTorrent.
Comparison between P2P-
Client/Server
 Advantages of networking
• Connectivity and Communication
• Data Sharing
• Hardware Sharing
• Internet Access Sharing
• Data Security and Management
• Entertainment
 The Disadvantages of
Networking
• Network Hardware, Software and Setup
Costs
• Hardware and Software Management
and Administration Costs
• Illegal or Undesirable Behavior
• Data Security Concerns (Security threats)
• Lack of privacy
The End