Unit : 1

Basics of Computer Network

A. K. Panchasara
Computer Engineering, AVPTI, RAJKOT

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 Course Outcome (CO1)
• After completion of the
unit…
–Students will be able to
Classify various types of
networks based on their
construction, usage and
scope.
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 Learning Outcome (LO)
• Students will be able to

– Define “Communication”
– Define “Computer Network”
– list the applications of computer
networks
– List the advantages of computer networks

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 1.1 Definition and History of Network
• Data transfer without the help of network and with network.
• Computer Network  Computer Network is defined
as two or more computers are connected in such a
way that they can share their data, information as
well as their resources.
• Computers/peripherals on a network are called ‘nodes’.
• The links connecting the devices are called communication
channels.
• The concept of connecting computers for sharing resources or
data is called networking.

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 1.2 Usage of Computer Network
 Characteristics of Network:
• Resource sharing Networks are used by people because;
• High reliability  Access to remote information: WWW, E-
commerce, E-shopping
• Saving money  person to person communication: e-mail,
• Powerful communication chat, video conferencing
 interactive entertainment: games, songs,
• Scalability video on demand.
• Low cost
• Time saving
• Flexibility of equipments Advantages and need of CN
 Efficient resource management
• Improved performance
 Faster data sharing
 Keeping information reliable and up to
date
 High reliability
 Efficient communication

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 1.2 Usage of Computer Network
• 1. Resource sharing
– All programs, data and devices should be available to any
one on the network.
• 2.high reliability
– All files (data) are replicated on two or more machines so if
one fails, other can provide the same.
• 3. Saving money
– Requires less hardware so cost is decresed.
• 4. powerful communication medium
– One person makes changes to an online document, the
other can see the change immediately instead of waiting
several days.

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• 5. Scalability
– Can add and remove more machines to existing
setup.
• 6. low cost
– Compared to telephonic talk.
• 7. time saving
– E mail services instead of postal services
• 8. flexibility of equipment location
– Can change the location of any device at any time.
• 9. Improved performance
– By adding hardware and software

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 Network Hardware
• Hardware is collection of physical network components
to establish a network (N/W)
– Transmission media
• Guided media (twisted pair, co axial cable, fiber optic cable)
• Un guided media(radio wave, microwave , infrared etc.)
– Servers
– Workstations/ clients/ nodes/ terminals
– Connectors
– NIC (Network interface card)
– Modem
– Networking and internetworking devices like hub, bridge,
switch, router, gateway.

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 Network criteria
• There are mainly three criteria performance, reliability and security
1. Performance: it can be measured by Transit time and Response time
• Transit time is the amount of time required for a message to travel
from one device to another.
• Response time is the elapsed time between an inquiry and a response.
• The performance of a network depends on a number of factors,
including the number of users, the type of transmission medium, the
capabilities of the connected hardware, and the efficiency of the
software.
2. Reliability: it can be measured by
• Frequency of failure of network
• Recovery time of a network after a failure.
• Catastrophic events

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3. Security: Network security issues include protecting data from
unauthorized access, damage and viruses, and implementing policies
and procedures for recovery.
 Network Applications
• Financial services
• Marketing and sales
• Electronic messaging
• Manufacturing
• Directory services and infarction services
• Cellular telephone and cable TV services
• Teleconferencing
• Electronic data exchange (without using paper)

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 1.3 Protocol
• Protocol  is a set of rules that manages communication. It
represents an agreement between communicating devices. Without a
protocol, two devices may be connected but can’t communicate.
• A protocol defines what is communicated, how it is communicated,
and when it is communicated.
• The key elements of protocol are: Syntax, Semantics and Timing
 Syntax: it is the structure or format of the data, meaning the order in
which they are presented. E.g. first eight bits are for sender address,
next eight bits are for receiver address and rest of the bits for the
message.
 Semantics: it refers to the meaning of each section of bits.
 Timing: it refers to two characteristics: when data should be sent and
how fast they can be sent.
• Some examples of protocols are: HTTP, FTP, SMTP, UDP, TCP, IP, POP
etc
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 Method of communication/
Communication Modes
• 1. simplex
– Only one will be sender and other will be receiver
– Example: keyboard-monitor
• 2. Half duplex
– Both the devices can send and receive data but at
a time only one.
– Example: walkie talkie
• 3. Full duplex
– Both can send and receive the data at any time
– Example: mobile phones
 1.3.1 Standard Organizations
• Data communication standards are of two categories:
 De Facto (By Fact or By Convention): Standards that have not been
approved by an organized body but have been adopted as standards
are de facto standards.
• De Jure (By Law or By Regulations): Those standards that have been
approved by an officially recognized body.
• are de jure standards.

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 1.3.1 Standard Organizations
 Some standard organizations:
ISO International Standards Organization

CCITT Consultative Committee for International Telegraphy and

Telephony
ANSI American National Standards Institute
IEEE Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers
ITU-T International Telecommunication Union-
Telecommunication
ISOC Internet Society
IETF Internet Engineering Task Force
EIA Electronic Industries Association
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 Learning outcome
• Students will be able to
– Differentiate various line configurations

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 1.4 Line Configuration / Network Attributes
 Line Configuration
• Line configuration defines the attachment of communication devices to
a link.
• A link is a communications pathway that transfers data from one
device to another.
• For communication to occur, two devices must be connected in some
way to the same link at the same time.
• There are two possible types of connections: point-to-point and
multipoint.
 Point to point
• A point-to-point connection provides a dedicated link between two
devices.
• Two and only two devices are connected by a dedicated link.
• The entire capacity of the link is reserved for transmission between
those two devices.
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 1.4 Line Configuration / Network Attributes
Link

• Example of point to point connection is TV and remote control

 Multi point (OR Multidrop)
• A multipoint (also called multidrop) connection is one in which more
than two specific devices share a single link.

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 1.4 Line Configuration / Network Attributes
• In a multipoint environment, the capacity of the channel is shared,
either spatially or temporally.
• If several devices can use the link simultaneously, it is a spatially
shared connection.
• If Fixed time slots are allocated to the users are called time shared line
configuration.

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 Learning outcome
• Students will be able to
– Design computer network considering particular
topology.

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 1.5 Topology
• Topology describes the actual layout of network transmission media.
• Physical topology: it refers to the configuration of cables, computers
and other peripherals. OR Geometric representation of the
relationship of all links and linking devices.
• Logical topology: it is the method used to pass information between
workstations.
• Some general types of network topologies are:

BUS topology
STAR topology
RING topology
MESH topology
TREE topology
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 BUS topology
• It is also known as linear bus topology.
• It is a multi point structure topology.
• In bus topology all device share single communication line or
cable. All devices are connected to this shared cable (Backbone
cable).

• Data is sent to all the computers in the network.

• Only one computer at a time can send the data (or information).
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 BUS topology
• Bus topology is a passive topology in which the computers on
the network are not responsible for moving the data.
 Advantages of BUS topology
• It is simple.
• Reliable in very small network.
• Easy to install and easy to use.
• It requires less amount of cables.
• It is easy to extend the bus.
 Disadvantages of BUS topology
• It can not work efficiently in heavy network traffic.
• If main cable broken, entire network shuts down.
• Terminators are required at both ends of the backbone cable.

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 STAR topology
• In it, each device has a dedicated point-to-point link only to a
central controller, usually called a hub shown in figure. The
devices are not directly linked to one another.
• A star topology does not allow direct traffic between devices.
• The controller acts as an exchange: If one device wants to send
data to another, it sends the data to the controller, which then
transfer the data to the other connected device.
• If the central controller fails, the whole network got crashed.

STAR topology
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 STAR topology
• But if a computer connected to the central hub is fails, the rest
of the network continuous to work.
 Advantages of STAR topology
• Easy to configure and connect new devices in star topology.
• The failure of a single device or cable doesn’t bring down the
entire network.
• It is easy to find faults in the network.
 Disadvantages of STAR topology
• As every computer connected to the central hub, this topology
requires more cables.
• Failure of the central device (hub) causes the failure of the
whole network.
• It is expensive than bus topology.

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 RING topology
• In RING topology, computers are connected on single circle cable
shown in figure.
• In it, each device has a dedicated point-to-point connection with
only the two devices on either side of it.
• There are no terminal ends.
• A signal is passed along the ring in one direction, from device to
device, until it reaches its destination.
• Each device in the ring incorporates (includes) a repeater.
• When a device receives a signal intended for another device, its
repeater regenerates the bits and passes them along the network.

RING topology
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 RING topology
• This type of network uses Token passing method to transfer data.
• (method of Token passing)
 Advantages of RING topology
• Easy to configure.
• Working well in heavy load.
• Network allows equal access to all the computers.
 Disadvantages of RING topology
• Failure of one device can crash the whole network.
• Difficult to troubleshoot.
• If more devices are connected then network becomes slower.

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 MESH topology
• In a mesh topology, every device has a dedicated point-to-point
link to every other device.
• Every node in the network has point to point connection with
ever other node.
• The term dedicated means that the link carries traffic only
between the two devices it connects.

MESH topology

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 MESH topology
 Advantages of MESH topology
• Less traffic problems due to dedicated lines.
• Faster data transfer.
• Provide security of data through dedicated lines.
• It is robust as if one link becomes unusable, it does not crash the
entire system.
 Disadvantages of MESH topology
• More numbers of cables and other peripherals are required.
• Installation and configuration is very difficult.
• It is very expensive.
• It is usually implemented in limited situations.

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 TREE topology
• Tree topology is also known as Hierarchical Topology. It is a
variation of star topology (multiple star topology). It is also a
combination of bus and star topology (Hybrid Topology).
• It involves a variety of single nodes connected to a central node.
• This type of topology mainly used in WAN/MAN
• The good example of tree topology is  Cable TV.

TREE topology
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 TREE topology
 Advantages of TREE topology
• It is easy to add more number of nodes in the network.
• It is easy to manage the network.
• Error detection is easy.
 Disadvantages of TREE topology
• More numbers of cables are required.
• Costly.
• Difficult to install and configure.
• Central hub fails, then whole network fails.

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 Formula to Find
Topology Description Advantages Disadvantages
Number of Cables
- Dependency on central
- Centralized management
hub: Failure of hub affects
- Fault isolation: Failure in
All nodes are connected to a entire network - Higher Number of Cables =
Star central hub or switch.
one node does not affect
cabling requirements Number of Nodes
others - Easy to add or
compared to other
remove nodes
topologies
- Failure of one node can
Nodes are connected in a circular
- Simple and easy to install disrupt the entire network
manner, with each node Number of Cables =
Ring connected to exactly two other
- Equal data transmission - Limited scalability and
Number of Nodes
rights for all nodes difficult to add or remove
nodes.
nodes
- Single point of failure:
- Simple and inexpensive Failure of the main bus
All nodes are connected to a
Bus single communication line (bus).
to implement - Easy to add disrupts entire network - Number of Cables = 1
or remove nodes Limited scalability and
bandwidth
- Redundancy: Multiple - Complex and expensive
paths for data transmission to implement with a large
Every node is connected to every enhance reliability - number of nodes - High Number of
Mesh other node in the network. Scalability: Easy to add cabling requirements - Cables = n * (n - 1) / 2
new nodes without More difficult to manage
affecting others and maintain
- Dependency on the root
Nodes are organized in a - Scalable and flexible -
node: Failure of the root
hierarchical structure, resembling Centralized management
Tree node disrupts the entire Number of Cables =
a tree with a root node at the top from the root node -
(Hierarchical) network - Limited Number of Nodes - 1
and branches extending Efficient data flow due to
flexibility for network
downward. hierarchical structure
expansion
- Offers benefits of - Complex to design and
Combination of two or more multiple topologies - Can manage - Potential for Varies based on the
Hybrid different topologies. tailor the network to increased costs and combination of topologies
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specific needs complexity
 Learning outcome
• Students will be able to
– Categorize networks based on scope and
connections.

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 1.6 Categories of Network
• Network classified into the three primary categories.
LAN  Local Area Network
MAN  Metropolitan Area Network
Wan  Wide Area Network
LAN (Local Area Network)
• In it, computers and other networking devices are interconnected
within limited geographically area. OR LAN networks connect
computers together over small distance like resident, school, building,
laboratories, campus etc.

Local Area Network (LAN) 35

 LAN
• LAN can be wired or wireless.
• Twisted pair, fiber optic and coaxial cables are used in LAN.
• Generally topology used in LAN are  bus, ring, star.
 Characteristics of LAN
• It allows users to share devices like printers, application data, resources
etc.
• It transfers data at very high speed (up to 1 gbps).
• It exists in limited geographical area (up to few kilometers).
• Multiple access can be allowed in LAN.
 Advantages of LAN
• Cost effective technology (Less costly).
• Resource sharing and multiple access.
• High data transfer rate.
• Any number of users can be accommodated.
• It is flexible and can fit in any site requirement.
• Low error rate.
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MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
• MAN is a larger version of LAN which covers an area that is
larger area than LAN but smaller area than WAN.
• MAN is formed by collecting multiple LANs.
• A MAN typically covers an area of 5 to 50 km diameter.
• A best known example of MAN is cable television.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

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 MAN
 Advantages of MAN
• It provides good backbone for a large network.
• The Dual bus used in MAN helps in transmission of data in both
direction.
• It provides large and controllable network.
• It required fewer resources compare to WAN.
• It can be used in sharing of regional resources.
 Disadvantages of MAN
• More cables required in connection from one place to another.
• It is difficult to make system secure.

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WAN (Wide Area Network)
• It is a larger version of MAN.
• When network covers a very large distance such as cities, states,
countries or continent is called WAN.
• Communication between different countries can be possible
through WAN.
• The communication takes place in WAN using telephone lines,
satellite or microwaves.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

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 WAN
 Advantages of WAN
• It covers almost unlimited geographical area.
• It shares software and resources worldwide.
• WAN supports global market and global business.
 Disadvantages of WAN
• This technology is very expensive.
• Due to longer distance, error rates are high.
• It is difficult to design and maintain.
• Setting up of a network is very expensive and slow.

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 Learning outcome
• Students will be able to
– Explain uses of various types of servers.

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 1.7 Different types of Servers
• Server  Refer to the computer systems that receive requests
from the clients and process them. After the processing is
complete, the servers send a reply to the clients who sent the
request. OR Server is a computer or device on a network that
manages network resources.
• Servers are of two types  Dedicated server and non dedicated
server.
 Dedicated server
• It is defined as the computer with operating system and that can
not be used by a user.
• Dedicated servers do nothing, but fulfils the requests of clients.
• They are commonly found in client server environments.
• It is not available for running user applications.
• The cost of dedicated server is high.
• This type of server generally used in large network system.
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 Advantages of dedicated server
• Its response time is very fast.
• It can't be used as node.
• It is more reliable, more efficient and more secure.
 Disadvantages of dedicated server
• All data is stored on a single server, if the server fails all data
becomes unavailable.
• Installation and configuration is difficult.
 Non-Dedicated server
• Non-dedicated servers do double duty by requesting and
providing services.
• It is the microcomputer, which is made as a server and can also
act as an individual workstation even while it controls the
network.
• Its response time is slow.
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 Different types of servers are 

Different Servers
File server
Print Server
Mail server
Proxy server
Web server
Database server
Application server

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 Different types of servers are 
 File server
• File server is a computer responsible for the central storage and
management of data files so that other computers on the same
network can access the files..
• It allows users to share information over a network without
having to physically transfer files by floppy diskette or some
other external storage device like CD/DVD/pen drive etc.
• Any user on the network can store files on the network.

File server
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• In file server FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is used. FTP is making
possible to move one or more files securely between computers.
• File server is generally not performing any computational tasks,
and does not run programs on behalf of its clients.
• It is designed primarily to enable the storage and retrieval of
data while the computation is carried out by the workstations.

 Print server (Printer server)

Print server

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• A print server, or printer server, is a device that connects printers
to client computers over a network.
• A print server is a computer that manages one or more printers.
• It can accept print jobs from the computers and send the jobs to
the appropriate printers.
• Print servers allow printers to be shared by other users on the
network.
• There is no restriction regarding the number of client systems in
a network while using print server.
• It is easy to add new clients as well as new printers in a network.
• Main disadvantage is  most of features of multi functions
printers are not supported.

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 Mail server
• Mail Server is usually a storage area where E-mail is stored for
local users.
• Mail server moves and stores mails over corporate network and
across the internet
• Specially designed software are installed in server to manage
exchange of mails.

Mail server

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 Proxy server
• A proxy server is a server which services the requests of its
clients by forwarding requests to other servers. It may be a
computer system or an application program.
• It sits between a client application (like web browser) and a real
server.
• A client connects to the proxy server, requesting some service
such as file connection, web page or other resource available
from a different server.
• A proxy server provides the resource by connecting to the
specified server and requesting the service on behalf of the
client.
• It may alter the client’s request or server response and
sometime it may serve the requests without contacting the real
server using ‘cache’.
• A proxy server that passes all requests and replies unmodified is
usually called a gateway or tunnelling proxy.
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• A proxy server can be placed in the user's local computer or at
specific key points between the user and the destination servers
or the internet.

Proxy server

Proxy server example

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 Web server
• It is also known as ‘internet server’.
• It is a server that store, process and deliver web pages to clients.
• The communication between client and server takes place using
the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).
• Pages delivered to clients are most frequently HTML documents,
which may include images, multimedia, scripts with text
content.

Web server

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 Database server
• A database server is a computer program that
provides database services to other computer programs or to
computers, as defined by the client–server model.
• It should be hardware or software program.
• It may be the back-end portion of a database application
(software) or physical computer used to host the database
(hardware).
• Many companies utilize a database server for storage. Users can
access the data by executing a query using a query language
(SQL) specific to the database.

Database server
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 Application server
• The application server is a framework, an environment where
applications can run, no matter what they are or what functions
they perform.
• It is also called an ‘app server’.
• It can be used to develop and run web-based applications.
• It is typically used in complex transaction based applications and
in three-tier GUI applications.
• It allows data and code integrity.
• It also provides security to the applications.

Application server

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Thank You…

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