Class: XII

Unit – 3
Introduction to Computer Networks
Computer Networks:
A Computer Network is a collection of interconnected autonomous computing devices so as to
exchange information or share resources.
Advantages of Networks:
Share Resources: Such are printers and scanners. This is cheaper than buying equipments for
each computer.
Share Storage: Being able to access files from any machines on the network can share data.
Can Share Software: Software can be installed centrally rather than on each machine. This is
much cheaper than buying licenses for every machine.
Improve Communications: Messages can be sent e.g., Internal Emails, etc.
Disadvantages of Networks:
The systems are more sophisticated and complex to run.
If networks are badly managed services can become unusable and productivity fails.
If software and files are held centrally, it may be impossible to carry out any work if the central
server fails.
Components of a Computer Network:
(A) Hosts / Nodes (such as PC, Laptops, Smartphones etc.)
(B) Servers
(C) Clients
(D) Network Hardware (such as NIC, router, switch, hub, etc.)
(E) Communication Channel (such as cables, radio-links etc.)
(F) Software (such as protocols, network operating system etc.)
(G) Network Services (such as File Sharing, etc.)
Types of Networks:
A computer network means a group of ‘networked’ computers i.e., computers that are linked by
means of communication system. A network can mean a small groups of linked computers to a
chain of a few hundred computers of different types spread around the world.
Personal Area Network (PAN): A PAN is the
interconnection of information technology devices
within the range of an individual person, typically
within a range of 10 meters.
For example, Bluetooth Speaker to Smart Phones or
Laptops, Wireless Keyboard or Mouse to Laptop, etc.
Local Area Network (LAN): Small computer networks that are confined to a localized area
– upto 1 km – (e.g., an office, a building or a factory) are known as Local Area Networks
(LANs).
 The key purpose of a LAN is to serve its users in resource sharing.
 LAN users can share data, information, program,
printers, hard disks, modems, etc.
 Computers connected to the server are called
workstations. Most LANs use Network Interface Card to
connect with the nodes.
 LANs are secured networks as there are no
outside connections and have super-fast speed as
they cover a small area geographically.
 Data transfer varies from 10 Mbps (called Ethernet)
to 1000 Mbps (called Gigabit Ethernet), where
Mbps stands for Megabits per second.
Ethernet is a set of rules that decides how computers and other devices connect with each other
through cables in a local area network.
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN): It refers to a
network that is spread over an area as big as a city, i.e.,
upto 30-40 km, e.g., cable broadband Internet Services
network of a city. But these days, this term has become
redundant.
Data transfer rate in MAN also ranges in Mbps, but it is
considerably less as compared to LAN. Sometimes many
LANs are connected together to form MAN.
Wide Area Network (WAN): The networks spread across countries or on a very big
geographical area (multiple cities, countries, continents
etc.) are knows as WANs.
A Wide Area Network is a group of computers that are
separated by large distances and tied together. WANs
link computers to facilitate fast and efficient exchange of
information at lesser costs and higher speeds.
Large business, educational and government
organizations connect their different branches in
different locations across the world through WAN. The Internet is the largest WAN that
connects billions of computers, smartphones and millions of LANs from different countries.
Network Topologies:
The pattern of interconnection of nodes in a network is called the Topology.
The selection of a topology for a network cannot be done in isolation as it affects the choice of
media and the access method used.
Point – to – Point Link: In this linked network each station receives exactly from one
transmitter, and each transmitter transmits to exactly one receiver.
(A) The Star Topology: This topology consists of a central node (a hub or switch) to
which all other nodes are connected by a single path. It is the topology used in most existing
information networks involving data processing or voice communications.

Star topology is considered very effective, efficient and

fast as each device is directly connected with the central
device. Although disturbance in one device will not affect
the rest of the network, any failure in the central
networking device may lead to the failure of complete
network.

It requires long cable length to connect to the center and the addition of a new node to a star
network involves a connection all the way to the central node.
(B) The Bus or Linear Topology:
It consists of a single-length of the transmission medium (normally coaxial cable) onto which
the various nodes are attached. The topology is used in traditional data communication network
where the host at one end of the bus communicates with several terminals attached along its
length.
The transmission from any station travels the
length of the bus, in both directions, and can be
received by all other stations. Data is transmitted
in small blocks, known as packets.
Because there is a single common data path
connecting all nodes, it allows a very short cable
length to be used. This decreased the installation cost.
Additional nodes can be connected to an existing bus
network at any point along its length.
In bus topology, fault diagnosis is difficult; this means that detection of a fault may have to be
performed from many points in the network. It is not considered much safe and secure.
The Ring or Circular Topology: In this
case, each node is connected to two and only two
neighboring nodes. Data is accepted from one of
the neighboring nodes and is transmitted
onwards to another. Thus data travels in one
direction only, from node to node around the
ring.
The amount of cabling involved in a ring
topology is comparable to that of a bus and is
small relative to that of a star. The link in a star
topology is unidirectional. Thus, data can be
transmitted in one direction only (clockwise or
counterclockwise).
The Tree Topology: A variation of the bus topology is the tree topology. Transmission in
this topology takes place in the same way as in the bus topology. In both cases, there is no need
to remove packets from the medium because when a signal reaches the end of the medium, it is
absorbed by the terminators.
 It uses point – to point wiring for individual segments.
 It is supported by several hardware and software venders.
 If the backbone line breaks, the entire segment goes down.
 It is more difficult to configure and wire than other topologies.
The Mesh Topology: In this topology, each communication device is
connected with every other device in the network. Such network can
handle large amount of traffic since multiple nodes can
transmit data simultaneously. Also, such networks are
more reliable in the sense that even if a node gets down, it
does not cause any break in the transmission of data
between other nodes.
This topology is also more secure as compared to other topologies
because each cable between two nodes carries different data.
Wiring is complex and cabling cost is high in creating such
networks, and there are many redundant or unutilized connections.
Networking 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.
Modem:
Modem stands for ‘MOdulator DEModulator’. It refers to a device used for conversion
between analog signals and digital bits. Modem is a device which allows a computer to send
and receive data over telephone lines or cable connections.
To transmit data from a sender to receiver, or while browsing the internet, digital data are
converted to an analog signal and the medium carries the signal to the receiver. There are
modems connected to both the source and destination nodes.
The modem at the receiver’s end acts as a demodulator that converts the analog signals into
digital data for the destination node to understand.

Modems come in two varities:

Internal Modems, the modems that are fixed within the computer.
External Modems, the modems that are connected externally to a computer as other peripherals
are connected.
Ethernet Card:
Ethernet card, also known as Network Interface Card(NIC) is a network adaptor 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.
The Ethernet cable connects the computer to the network through NIC. Ethernet cards can
support data transfer between 10 Mbps and 1 Gbps(1000 Mbps). Each NIC has a MAC address,
which helps in uniquely identifying the computer on the network.

Repeater:
Data are carried in the form of signals over the cable. These signals can travel a specified
distance (usually about 100m m). Signal lose their strength beyond this limit and become weak.
In such situation, original signals need to be regenerated.
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.
Repeater are of two kinds: amplifier and signal repeater. The first amplifies all incoming
signals over the network. It amplifies both the signal and any concurrent noise. The second type
collects the inbound packet and then retransmits the packet as if it were starting from the source
station.
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 data from
two devices come at the same time, they will collide. Hub broadcast the message to all nodes
in the network; only the target node takes the message while other ignore it.
There are Two Types of hubs:
Active Hub (amplify the signal, used like repeaters to extend the length of the network.)
Passive Hubs allows the signal to pass from one computer to another without any change.
Switch:
A switch is a networking device that plays a central role in a Local Area Network (LAN). Like
a hub, a network switch is used to connect multiple computers or communicating devices.
When data arrives, the switch extracts the destination address from the data packet and looks it
up in a table to see where to send the packet.
Thus it sends signal to only selected devices instead of sending to all. It can forward multiple
packets at the same time. A switch does not forward the signals which are noisy (unwanted
signal) or corrupted.
Router:
A router is a network device that can receive the data, analyses it and transmit it to other
networks. A router connects a local area network to the internet. Compared to a hub or a switch,
a router has advanced capabilities as it can analyse the data being carried over a network, decide
or alter how it is packaged, and send it to another network of a different type.
A router can be wired or wireless. A wireless router can provide Wi-Fi access to smartphones
and other devices. Usually, such routers also contain some ports to provide wired internet
access.
Bridge:
A bridge is a device that let us link two networks together. Bridges are smart enough to know
which computers are on which side of the bridge, so they only allow those messages that need
to get to the other side to cross the bridge.
Gateway:
A gateway is a device that connects dissimilar networks. A gateway is actually a node on a
network that serves as an entrance to another network. If a node from one network wants to
communicate with a node of a foreign network, it will pass the data packet to the gateway
device in computer networks. A gateway can be implemented as software, hardware, or a
combination of both. This is because gateway is placed at the edge of a network and the firewall
is usually integrated with it.
“It establishes an intelligent connection between a local network and external networks with
completely different structures.”