Computer Network Definition:
A group of computers and peripheral devices linked for data and
resource sharing.
Example: Computers in a network sharing a printer
Components of a Computer Network:
Node: Individual computers within the network.
Sender: The node transmitting information or a device (computer,
workstation, mobile phone, or tablet) that sends the data message.
Receiver: The node or a device receiving information.
Transmission Medium: The physical path (cables, telephone lines, radio
waves, infrared beams).
Protocol: A set of rules that governs data communication, necessary for
data exchange between communicating devices.
Message: The information to be communicated, which can include text,
pictures, audio, video, etc.
Advantages of Networking
Resource Sharing: Hardware and software resources are shared among
users in a network, saving time and costs.
Reduced Cost: Shared hardware resources reduce costs, and software
can be centrally purchased and distributed.
Increased Storage Capacity: Users can store files on remote computers,
providing more space for data storage.
Easy Data Transfer: Networking allows high-speed transfer of files
between computers.
Easy Backup: Regular backups can be maintained centrally on a server,
simplifying the backup process.
Reduced Data Inconsistency: Centralized file updates reduce
mismatching copies and improve efficiency.
Reduced Redundancy: Centralized data storage reduces duplication.
Increased Security: It allows authentication through user IDs and
passwords, managed by a network administrator and enhances security.
Types of Networks
Local Area Network (LAN): Connects computers within a small area
(room, office building) using physical connections. It is fast and easily
managed.
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN): Larger than LAN, covers a city, e.g.,
city cable networks or local bank branches.
Wide Area Network (WAN): Connects computers over long distances,
linking multiple LANs and MANs using telecommunication or satellite
signals.
PAN (Personal Area Network): Network for individual use, connecting
personal devices like laptops, smartphones, and tablets.
Covers a small range (up to 10 meters).
CAN (Campus Area Network): Network of multiple LANs within a limited
area such as a college campus. It is smaller than MAN.
Networking Devices
Modem:
Enables connection between a computer and the internet using existing
telephone lines.
Converts digital signals to analog and vice versa.
Types: Internal (installed in PCI slots) and External (connected externally
to a computer).
Hub:
Connects multiple computers in a network.
Sends data from one computer to all others in the network.
Operates on the broadcasting principle.
Repeater:
Regenerates and amplifies signals for transmission over long distances.
Ensures that signals remain strong and clear.
Switch:
Similar to a hub but more efficient.
Transmits data only to the intended destination, not to all network
devices.
Uses physical addresses to direct data, increasing network speed.
Router:
Connects different networks (e.g., LAN to WAN).
Determines the best route for data transmission.
Reduces transmission time by providing the optimal path for data.
Gateway:
Acts as an entrance to another network.
Can use multiple protocols to connect various networks.
Interprets and transfers data between systems.
Bridge:
A bridge is a repeater with add-on functionality of filtering content by
reading the addresses of source and destination. It is used to
interconnect two LANs working on the same protocol and provide
communication between them. It also prevents unnecessary traffic from
entering the network and reduces congestion.
Networking Terminology
Internet
The internet is a global wide-area network connecting computer systems
worldwide.
It provides various information and communication facilities.
It consists of interconnected networks that communicate via
standardized communication protocols.
Intranet
An intranet refers to a private network within an organization.
Used to share files and resources securely.
Protected by a firewall, preventing external access.
Employees of the same airline, for example, are interconnected through
the intranet.
Bandwidth
Bandwidth is the amount of data transmitted in a fixed period.
Measured in bits per second (bps), kilobits per second (Kbps), megabits
per second (Mbps), etc.
Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Organizations that provide internet connections to users.
Common ISPs include BSNL, Airtel, Reliance, Sify, etc.
Users pay for the facility provided by ISPs.
Website
A collection of related web pages containing images, videos, or other
digital media.
Identified by a unique domain name.
Written in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML).
Hosted on a server and can be accessed via a web browser.
Managed by individuals, companies, or organizations.
Web Portal
A web portal acts as a gateway to a wide range of internet services like
email, search engines, e-commerce, etc.
Designed to present information from diverse sources in a unified way.
Examples include iGoogle and MSN.
Web Page
Written in HTML and stored on a web server.
Can contain text, hyperlinks, videos, audios, images, tables, etc.
Identified by a unique web address called the Uniform Resource Locator
(URL).
Home Page
The first page of a website, containing the main information and links to
other web pages within the site.
Link
A communication channel that connects two devices, allowing data
transmission between them.
Hyperlink
A clickable item (image, audio, video, graphic, or text) that navigates to
another web page or section within the same page.
Hypertext
Text with special features for linking to other documents or web pages,
usually underlined and in blue.
Hypermedia
Extends hypertext to include graphics, sound, or video.
Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
The unique address of a web page or website.
Entered in the address bar of a web browser to open a web page.
IP Address
A unique set of numbers assigned to each computer by the Internet
Engineering Task Force (IETF).
Two types: IPv4 (version 4) and IPv6 (version 6).
IPv4 Address
IPv4 is made up of 32 binary bits, separated into four groups of eight bits
each.
Each group is separated by a dot (.), and examples include 205.198.0.1
and 132.45.10.6.
Domain Name System (DNS)
A domain name is a unique name given to each website or resource
connected to the internet, making it easier to remember than IP
addresses.
The DNS translates domain names into IP addresses.
Domain names have two parts: the name of the domain and the web
extension, such as .com or .org.
Examples of domain names include google.com and wikipedia.org.
The DNS serves as a directory for the web, helping locate and address
resources on the internet.
Protocols
A protocol is a set of rules that governs communication between
computers on a network.
Protocols ensure that data is transmitted correctly, comprehended, and
displayed on the receiving device.
There are many protocols, each suited for different communication
needs and technologies.
TCP/IP
TCP/IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol.
It is a suite of communication protocols used to interconnect network
devices on the internet.
TCP/IP specifies how data should be packetized, addressed, transmitted,
routed, and received.
The protocol suite comprises two main protocols: TCP and IP.
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)
Responsible for data transmission over the network.
Breaks data into packets at the sender's side and reassembles them at
the correct destination.
IP (Internet Protocol)
Handles the addressing of data packets.
Ensures that packets are routed across networks to reach the correct
destination.
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)
HTTP is used to deliver data such as text, images, sound, video, and
other multimedia files on the World Wide Web.
When a user enters a URL in the address bar of a browser, an HTTP
command is sent to the server, requesting it to open the specified web
page.
The messages sent by the client (the web browser) are called requests.
The messages sent by the server in response to these requests are called
responses.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)
It is the secure version of HTTP, the protocol over which the data is sent
between your browser and the website that you are connected to. Here
all the communications between the browser and website are encrypted.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
It is a standard internet protocol for exchanging files between
computers.
FTP uses TCP/IP protocols to download software and programs.
Files can be transferred between remote and local hosts using FTP client
and FTP server software.
Modern browsers have built-in features for making FTP requests.
Users access FTP servers by logging in with credentials.
FTP allows drag-and-drop file transfers.
Some files are available for free public download using anonymous FTP.
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
It is the most common protocol for sending emails between servers.
It is used to send messages from a mail client to a mail server.
Messages are retrieved at the receiver's side using either POP3 or IMAP.
POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) and IMAP (Internet Message Access
Protocol)
These are the most popular protocols for retrieving emails.
Almost every email client supports both POP3 and IMAP due to their
wide acceptability.
POP3 and IMAP serve different purposes and are used in various
environments.
When configuring an email application, specify both the sending
protocol (SMTP) and the receiving protocol (POP3 or IMAP).
Cloud computing
Cloud computing combines the words "cloud" and "computing,"
meaning computing on the internet.
It involves manipulating, configuring, and accessing online applications,
and offers an online data storage facility.
A cloud is a storage location at a remote site, providing services over
public (WANs) or private networks (LANs).
Common examples of cloud storage services include Google Drive,
Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, and Apple iCloud Drive.
Cloud drives are popular for saving and sharing data, ensuring the
availability of computer system resources on demand.
Characteristics of Cloud Computing
On-Demand Self-Service - Multiple clients can share resources and
applications simultaneously. Cloud services and resources are available
on-demand and can be purchased on a subscription basis without
human interaction. Cloud services are bought similarly to telephone or
internet services, with payment based on usage.
Broad Network Access - Cloud services can be accessed via the internet
from anywhere and on various devices, including mobile phones, tablets,
and laptops.
Resource Pooling - Resources such as virtual server space, network
connections, and bandwidth are pooled and shared among multiple
users. These resources are accessed from any location without
interference from other users.
Rapid Elasticity - Cloud computing can quickly provide additional
resources when needed. It enables elasticity, allowing consumers to
scale up (increase) or scale down (decrease) resources based on their
needs.
Measured Service - Cloud computing operates on a pay-for-what-you-
use model. Resource usage is monitored, measured, and reported
transparently based on utilization.
Advantages of Cloud Computing:
Cost Saving - Cloud computing allows significant reduction in IT costs by
using a pay-per-use model. It provides access to various storage facilities
and applications, reducing expenses on server setup, installation, and
maintenance.
Reliability - Cloud computing is highly reliable for data management,
backup, and recovery from failures. It provides redundant IT resources,
automatic data backup, and quick failover mechanisms.
Storage Capacity - Cloud provides large and secure storage space for
storing massive volumes of information. Users can choose between
public, private, or hybrid clouds based on their security needs.
Accessibility - Cloud allows easy access to cloud-based services and
applications through internet-enabled devices, such as desktops, laptops,
tablets, or mobile phones.
Storing and Sharing Data Using Cloud Computing
Uploading: The process of transferring data or files from your computer
to cloud storage.
Downloading: The process of copying files from the cloud server to a
system.
Benefits of using cloud storage
It is easy to upload and download files from cloud servers, and once
uploaded, files can be accessed, managed, organized, and shared from
anywhere.
Example: Google Drive, which offers 15 GB of free storage and allows
users to store and share files.
Google Drive was launched on 24 April 2012.
Sharing File Access Levels in Google Drive
Can Edit: Allows recipients to edit the shared file.
Can Comment: Allows recipients to add comments to the shared file.
Can View: Allows recipients to view the file only.
The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) was originally designed by Abhay
Bhushan and published in 1971.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) is the secure version of
HTTP, the protocol where all the communications between the browser
and website are encrypted.
The actual protocols of the TCP/IP models are collectively called the
Internet Protocol Suit, which has been designed by the Internet
Engineering Task Force (IETF).
TCP/IP was developed in the 1970s by two DARPA scientists —
Robert Elliot Kahn and Vinton Gray Cerf. It was adopted as the
standard protocol for ARPANET in 1983.
