INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

Chapter 7
Computer Networks
Contents
• Computer Networks
• Types of Network
• Network Architectures
• Network Topologies
• Data Communication
• Communication Channel
• Communication Devices
Computer Networks
Chapter 7 – Computer Networks
 Computer Networks
• A collection of computers and other devices connected together via
communication devices and communication channels for sharing information
and resources is called a computer network
• Resources may include printers, scanners, and storage devices (such as hard
disks)
• In a computer network, computers or devices are connected together via
communication devices and transmission media
• Examples of transmission media are cables and wirelessly or WiFi
• Connected computers/devices in the network can be in the same room,
building, or at different locations
• A computer network can be simple or very large
• In a large computer network, usually many computer networks are connected
together
• This type of network is called a network of networks
• Internet is the most well-known example of a network of networks
 Uses of Computer Network
• People around the world use computer networks every day in business, at offices,
and homes, etc.
• Uses or benefits of a computer network
Communication
• People can communicate with each other around the world through computer
networks
• They can talk and share information with each other using different network
services such as email, social networking, video conferencing, groupware, blogs,
wikis, and SMS service
Data Sharing
• Different users connected to the computer network can share data among them
• For example, on the Internet, a large number of users can access the same database
Software Sharing
• In a computer network, usually, application software and other software are
installed on the central computer (i.e. server computer)
• These software can be shared over a network instead of purchasing a separate copy
of the software for each user
 Uses of Computer Network
Hardware Sharing
• In a computer network, hardware devices such as printers, scanners, CD-ROM
drives, and hard disks can be shared among different users
• For example, many users can share a single printer connected to a network
• An organization can save a lot of money by sharing different devices over a network
• Without the facility of network, these devices have to be arranged separately for
each user
• It becomes very costly for an organization
Internet Sharing
• In a computer network (i.e. LAN), many users can access the Internet through a
single Internet connection and can use its different services
Centralized Software Management
• All of the software are installed or updated on one computer (server computer)
• This saves time for installing/updating on individual computers in the network
• Users connected to a network can access these software/programs
Uses of Computer Network
Data Security and Management
• Computer network provides centralized data storage
• It means that all data is stored on the central computer
• In a business environment, an administrator manages the company's critical data in a
better way
• Everyone can find the data easily
• Administrator has full control and he/she can read or change critical information
• He/she can take the backup of data very easily
• Similarly, security features can also be implemented on the data very easily
Saving Disk Space
• In a computer network, all computers use the same copy of application programs and data
files
• These are only stored on the hard disk(s) of the server computer
• There is no need to store application programs and data files on individual computers on
the network
• In this way, disk space on each computer is saved
Uses of Computer Network
Performance Enhancement
• A network can be used to improve (enhance) the performance of different
applications by using distributed computing
• In distributed computing, a computation task is divided on various computers
on the network
• In this way, the performance of the application is increased
Entertainment
• Computer network provides many sources of entertainment to the people
• For example, we can play different types of games, see movies, and listen to
music. We can also make new friends on the Internet.
Remote Access
• A network also provides the facility to access data remotely
• A user can access and update data by connecting to the network from
anywhere in the world
Types of Network
Chapter 7 – Computer Networks
Types of Network
• Computer networks are divided into the following types based on the size and
physical area or distance covered by the network:
• Local Area Network
• Wide Area Network
• Metropolitan Area Network
Local Area Network (LAN)
• Local Area Network (LAN) is a type of computer network that covers a small area
• It is generally limited to a building or group of adjacent buildings
• It consists of a limited number of computers
• LAN is designed to share different resources (such as printers, scanners, storage devices,
and application programs) between computers
• Network of computers in the computer laboratory of a college and network of computers
in an office building are examples of LANs
• In LAN, nodes (computers and other devices such as printers and scanners) are connected
to each other using cables or wireless transmission medium
• Network Interface Card (NIC) is used in each computer to
connect it to a LAN
• Network card enables computer to share information with
other computers connected to the LAN
• Data transmission rate through LAN is very fast
• It is from 10 Mbps to 1 Gbps
Wide Area Network (WAN)
• A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a type of computer network that covers a large area such
as different cities of the country or different countries and continents of the world
• Typically, a WAN consists of many LANs connected together across a wide geographical
area
• Suppose an organization has a LAN at each site. The LANs of all sites are connected
together to form a WAN
• Internet is the world’s largest WAN
• It connects many thousands of computers and LANs around the world and making it a web
• WAN is expensive than LAN but its transmission rate is slower than LAN
• In WAN, computers and other devices are often connected through telephone lines
• However, they can also be connected through leased lines, microwave, or satellite systems
• A modem is used in computers to establish communication between computers over a
long distance
• WANs are used in large organizations
• For example, in Pakistan, large organizations like PIA, WAPDA, ARMY, NADRA, and BANKS
use the WAN
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
• A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is a network system that covers the area of a
city or town
• Usually, MAN consists of two or more LANs in a city or town which are connected
together
• For example, a company may design a MAN by connecting all the LANs in all its
office throughout the city
• The cable television companies, telephone companies, and Internet Service
Providers use MAN
• Mobile phones (cellular) systems often use a MAN
• MAN is larger than LAN and smaller than WAN
• It covers an area of between 5 to 50 km diameter
• A MAN uses different transmission media (wired or wireless) and devices for
communication
• In most of MANs, fiber optic cables are used as transmission media
• So it is a very high-speed network
Network Architectures
Chapter 7 – Computer Networks
Network Architectures
• Network architecture is the design or layout of computers, devices, and media
in a computer network
• Computer network can be designed using different ways
• Most popular network architectures are:
• Client-server network
• Peer-to-peer (P2P) network
Client-Server Network
• A network architecture in which one or more computers act as servers and
other computers act as clients is called a client-server network
• In this network, servers are not used as clients and clients never act as servers
• Both wired and wireless networks can be configured as a client-server
network
• The server is a powerful computer
• It is also called a host computer
• It controls the whole network and provides services to the clients
• It also provides a centralized storage area for data & software and centralized
security to ensure that resources are not accessed by unauthorized users
Peer-to-Peer Network
• A network architecture in which all computers on the network have equal status and no one has
control over others is called a peer-to-peer network (or simply P2P network)
• In this network architecture, each computer or mobile device is called a peer
• Each peer can act as both a server and client at the same time
• Both wired and wireless networks can be configured as a peer-to-peer network
• In peer-to-peer network architecture, there is no central computer to control other computers on
the network
• Each computer can share data and devices (or resources) of other computers in the network
• For example, a printer attached to any computer can be used by all computers connected to the network
• Each computer stores its data and program files because
P2P does not have a common file server
• Peer-to-peer network is a simple and low-cost network
• It normally consists of less than 10 computers
• This type of network architecture is ideal for small businesses
and home users
• Some operating systems include a P2P networking tool that
can be used to set up a peer-to-peer network
Data Communication
Chapter 7 – Computer Networks
Data Communication
• Process of transferring data from one location to another in a networking
environment is called data communication
• In this process, data is transmitted from one location to another by using
transmission media and communication devices such as transmitter and
receiver
• Today, computer networks are commonly used for data communication
Components of Data Communication
• Message
• Sender
• Receiver
• Communication media or channel
• Protocol
Components of Data Communication
Message
• Information or data to be communicated
• It may consist of text, numbers, pictures, sounds, videos, or a combination of
these
Sender
• A device that is used for sending messages (or data) over a network is called a
sender
• It is also called a transmitter or sending device or source
• Sender can be a desktop computer, laptop, smartphone, camera, and fax machine
Receiver
• A device that is used for receiving messages from sending device on the network
is called a receiver
• It is also called a receiving device or sink
• Receiver can be a desktop computer, laptop, television set, smartphone, printer,
and fax machine
• GPS receiver also serves as a receiving device (receiver)
Components of Data Communication
Communication Media or Channel
• Path through which message is transmitted from one location to another (source to
destination) is called communication media
• It is also called a communication channel
• It can be a twisted pair cable or telephone cable, coaxial cable, and fiber optic cable
• It can also be a wireless media such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, microwave, radio wave, and
satellite
• If the sender and receiver are within a building, a wire may be used as the medium
• If they are located at different locations, then a medium may be a telephone line, fiber
optics, microwave, or satellite system
Protocol
• A network protocol is a set of rules that defines a procedure for communication between
a sender and a receiver
• Without a protocol, two devices may be connected but not communicating
• A protocol defines
• How the communication channel is established?
• How data/message is transmitted?
• How errors are detected and corrected during data communication?
Communication Channel
Chapter 7 – Computer Networks
Communication Channel
• A path through which data is transmitted from one place to another is called
a communication channel
• It is also known as communication media or transmission media
• Examples  standard telephone line, twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable, fiber
optic cable, microwave, and satellite
• In a communication channel, data is transmitted in the form of signals
• Amount of data that can be transmitted through the communication
medium in a unit of time is called bandwidth
• Bandwidth of analog signals is measured in cycles per second or Hertz (Hz)
• Bandwidth of digital signals is measured in bits per second (bps)
• Different transmission media have different bandwidths
• Higher the bandwidth of transmission media, more information can be
transmitted at a time
Communication Channel
Communication Devices
Chapter 7 – Computer Networks
Communication Devices
• An electronic device that is used for sending and receiving data between the
sending device and receiving device is called a communication device
• Most of the communication devices have the ability to convert the digital
signal of the computer into an analog signal so that the signals can be
transmitted on the communication line to another end
• The reverse is also true
NIC
• NIC stands for Network-Interface Card
• NIC is a communication device that is used to connect a computer to a LAN
• It is also called a LAN card
• NIC is a circuit board which is installed on the motherboard
• A computer must have a network card (NIC) to connect to the LAN
• Nowadays, most computer systems have built-in network card into the
motherboard
HUB & Switch
• Hub and Switch are communication devices
• Both provide a central connection point for connecting computers/nodes
together in a computer network
• They have multiple ports to which computers are connected
• Typically, Hub does not manage any of the traffic that comes through it
• It broadcast data packets to every computer/node
• Only the receiver computer/node accepts the message and other
computers/nodes ignore the message
• A switch is like a Hub but it is more intelligent than the Hub
• It records the addresses of the computers connected to it in a table
• It sends a message to the receiver computer/node only
Modem
• Modem stands for modulator and demodulator
• It is a commonly used communication device that converts digital signals
into analog signals and vice versa
• It is used to send and receive data between two computers through the
telephone line
• Both sending and receiving computers must have modems
• Data is stored inside the digital computers in digital form
• However, data is transmitted over the telephone line in the form of analog
signals
Router
• A router is a communication device that connects
multiple computers/devices or other routers
together and transmits data to its correct destination
on a network
• Typically, routers are used to connect two or more
different or similar networks and transfers data
packets from one network to another
• Networks can be LANs or WANs
• Router stores addressing information (routing
information) of each computer on the connected
networks
• When a router receives a packet of data, it looks at
the address attached with the data packet where the
packet of data is to be sent
• It determines the best route (path) to forward the
data packet at its destination and then sends it
accordingly