Course: BASICS OF NETWORKING

Course-code: GENBN401
Competence: Perform Basics of Networking

Learning outcome 1: Establish network media connectivity

Indicative content 1.1 Identification of Network requirements.

✔ Description of network concepts and technologies

Basic definitions
1.Computer network is a combination of devices (computers and laptops) that
are connected together for the purpose of data or resource sharing or is group
of computers that use a set of common communication protocols over digital
interconnection for the purpose of sharing resources location on provided of
the network order
2.Network Protocol: is an establishment of rules that determine how data is
transmitted between different devices in the same network.
3.Network Node: can be defined as the connection point among network devices
such as a computer, routers, printers, switches that can receives and send data
from one endpoint to the other.
4.Network: is the process of making connection and building connection or is a
collection of interconnected devices, such as computers, printers, and servers,
that can communicate with each other.
5. Link is the physical medium of connection in this setup, and nodes are the
computers connected.

Network classifications

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 Classifying network by components roles:
Client-Server Network: This model is broadly used
network model. In Client-Server Network, Clients and
server are differentiated, specific server and clients are
present. In Client-Server Network,Centralized server is
used to store the data because its management is
centralized. In Client-Server Network, Server respond the
services which is request by Client.
Peer-to-Peer Network: This model does not differentiate
the clients and the servers, in this each and every node is
itself client and server. In Peer-to-Peer Network, Each and
every node can do both request and respond for the
services.
 Classifying network by geographical area:
Local Area Network (LAN) –LAN or Local Area Network
connects network devices in such a way that personal
computer and workstations can share data, tools and
programs. The group of computers and devices are
connected together by a switch, or stack of switches, using
a private addressing scheme as defined by the TCP/IP
protocol.
Data transmits at a very fast rate as the number of
computers linked are limited. By definition, the
connections must be high speed and relatively inexpensive
hardware (Such as hubs, network adapters and Ethernet
cables). LANs cover smaller geographical area (Size is
limited to a few kilometers) and are privately owned. One
can use it for an office building, home, hospital, schools,
etc.
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) –MAN or Metropolitan

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Area Network covers a larger area than that of a LAN and
smaller area as compared to WAN. It connects two or more
computers that are apart but resides in the same or
different cities. It covers a large geographical area and may
serve as an ISP (Internet Service Provider). MAN is
designed for customers who need a high-speed
connectivity.
Speeds of MAN ranges in terms of Mbps.
The fault tolerance of a MAN is less and also there is more
congestion in the network. It is costly and may or may not
be owned by a single organization. The data transfer rate
and the propagation delay of MAN is moderate. Devices
used for transmission of data through MAN are: Modem
and Wire/Cable.
Examples of a MAN are the part of the telephone company
network that can provide a high-speed DSL line to the
customer or the cable TV network in a city.
Wide Area Network (WAN) –WAN or Wide Area Network is
a computer network that extends over a large geographical
area, although it might be confined within the bounds of a
state or country. A WAN could be a connection of LAN
connecting to other LAN’s via telephone lines and radio
waves and may be limited to an enterprise (a corporation
or an organization) or accessible to the public. The
technology is high speed and relatively expensive.
There are two types of WAN: Switched WAN and Point-to-
Point WAN. WAN is difficult to design and maintain.
Similar to a MAN, the fault tolerance of a WAN is less and
there is more congestion in the Znetwork. A
Communication medium used for WAN is PSTN or Satellite
Link. Due to long distance transmission, the noise and
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 error tend to be more in WAN.

Network benefits

Setting up a computer network is a fast and reliable way of

sharing information and resources within a business.

It can help you make the most of your IT systems and

equipment.

Advantages and Disadvantages of network

Advantages of network:

 File sharing – you can easily share data between different

users, or access it remotely if you keep it on other connected
devices.

 Resource sharing – using network-connected peripheral

devices like printers, scanners and copiers, or sharing software
between multiple users, saves money.

 Sharing a single internet connection – it is cost-efficient and

can help protect your systems if you properly secure the
network.

 Increasing storage capacity – you can access files and

multimedia, such as images and music, which you store
remotely on other machines or network-attached storage
devices.

Disadvantages of network:

 Presence of Computer Viruses and Malware: The saved

files on any device can contain viruses and bugs that can

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 harm the device and cost serious money.
 Poses Security difficulties: Many people use networking
devices all across the globe, and it is very hard to track all
the operations that everyone carries out.

Application of network

1. Resource Sharing

2. Information Sharing

3. Communication

Network technologies

Network technology defines the concepts on which any network

is structured. This concept can be applied on any network on
the basis of: Transmission and Scale.

Further, network technology on the basis of transmission can be

done using point to point and multipoint concept.

Data exchange and transmission can be done using network

technology.

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Network Technology : On the Basis of Transmission

1. Point-to-Point
o When nodes(Sender & Receiver) are directly connected, Data
transmission is done through a guided medium for wired network
and through unguided medium for wireless medium.

Point-to-Point: Network Technology

Multi-Point

 A number of nodes are directly connected through a common medium in

a linear fashion. It is like a one device to many device data transmission
mode.

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 Multi-point: Network Technology

 Concept of multi-point transmission works on either Time sharing

connection or Spatially shared connection. In Time sharing connection,
each node is offered a separate slot of time to communicate. But in
Spatially shared connection, all the nodes can communicate
simultaneously at a time.

Network Technology : On the Basis of Scale

1. Local Area Network(LAN)

o Local area network, also known as IEEE 802 is a network that
comprises of devices such as laptops, computer & mobiles
connected together within a small range. The range is from
100m to 10KM.
o Below mentioned table shows the properties of a local area
network based upon its users, speed, range and error rate.

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 LAN Comparison

Elements of LAN

o Peripheral Devices such as Scanners,Printers etc.

o HUBs: A HUB is called the center of a network which is responsible
for absorbing the signals and is intelligent enough to transmit the
data packets from source to destination node.
o Cables : Twisted Pair, Co-Axial cables and Optical Fibers.
Optical Fiber is used as backbone cable because of its high
bandwidth ability.
o Computers or Nodes or PC or Host or Server or Workstation.
o NIC : Network Interface Card.

2. Metropolitan Area Network(MAN)

o A network in which multiple Local Area Networks are
combined together through a networking device
called Bridge (Click To Know More..) forms a Metropolitan Area
Network.

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 MAN : Network Technology

3. Wide Area Network(WAN)

o A network in which multiple Metropolitan Area Networks are
combined together through a networking device
called Router (Click To Know More..) forms a Wide Area
Network.

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 WAN : Network Technology

Types of WANs

 Public Wan : It is handled by government departments.

 Private Wan : It was developed by US Military
Department, Defence wing called as ARPANET.

Elements of WAN

 Bridge : It is a device which is used for connecting

similar or dissimilar LANs.
 Router : It is a device which is used for connecting
similar or dissimilar networks.
 Gateway: It is a device used for connecting networks
with different types of architectures. For
Example: Communication between a mobile device
having 4G connection and landline device having 2G
connection can be done using gateway.


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4. Personal Area Network(PAN)
o A network which is used for personal purpose and is created
through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to share data is called as Personal
Area Network.
o For Example : Bluetooth Network, Wi-Fi hotspot.
5. Personal Area Network(PAN)
o A virtual private network is a private network which is
established virtually over the public network in order to
communicate and transmit data from one node to another. A
user having a virtual private network access can transmit data
anonymously without limitations.

Network topology types

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1) Bus Topology: is a type of network topology in which all devices are connected
to a single cable called a "bus." This cable serves as a shared communication
medium, allowing all devices on the network to receive the same signal
simultaneously.

2) Ring Topology: is a type of network configuration where devices are connected

in a circular manner, forming a closed loop. In this setup, each device is
connected to exactly two other devices, creating a continuous pathway for data
transmission.

3)Star Topology: is a topology for a Local Area Network (LAN) in which all nodes
are individually connected to a central connection point, like a hub or a switch.

4) Tree topology: tree topology is a special type of structure where many

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connected elements are arranged like the branches of a tree.

5) Mesh topology: is the most used network topology, as all computer networks
are connected. Each computer sends signals and relays the data from other
computer networks.

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6) Hybrid Topology: is a type of network topology in which two or more different
topologies are integrated or combined to lay out a network. The network type
could be Star, Ring, Bus, or Mesh.

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