NETWORKING

Importance of Networking
Computer networks allow the user to access remote programs and remote databases either of the same
organization or from other enterprises or public sources. Computer networks provide communication
possibilities faster than other facilities. Because of these optimal information and communication
possibilities, computer networks may increase the organizational learning rate there are other reasons
why any organization should have a computer network

• cost reduction by sharing • high reliability by having multiple • cost reduction by downsizing to • greater flexibility because of
hardware and software resources sources of supply microcomputer-based networks possibility to connect devices from
instead of using various vendors
mainframes
Common Types of Networks

Local Area Wide Area Campus Area Metropolitan Area Home Area
Networks (LANs) Networks (WANs) Networks (CANs) Networks (MANs) Networks (HANs)
Local Area Networks (LANs)
A local area network is a data communication system consisting of several devices such as
computers and printers. This type of network contains computers that are relatively near each
other and are physically connected using cables, infrared links, or wireless media. A LAN can
consist of just two or three PCs connected together to share resources, or it can include
hundreds of computers of different kinds.
Major Characteristics of LAN are as follows:
1 Every computer has the potential to communicate with any other computers of the network
2 High degree of interconnection between computers
3 Easy physical connection of computers in a network
4 Inexpensive medium of data transmission
5 High data transmission rate
Local Area Networks (LANs)
Advantages of LAN are as follows:
• The reliability of network is high because the failure of one computer in the network
does affect the functioning for other computers.
• Addition of new computer to network is easy.
• High rate of data transmission is possible.
• Peripheral devices like magnetic disk and printer can be shared by other computers.

Disadvantages of LAN is
• If the communication line fails, the entire network system breaks down.
Wide Area Networks (WANs)
Typically, a wide area network (WAN) is two or more LANs connected together,
generally, across a wide geographical area. For example, a company may have its
corporate headquarters and manufacturing plant in one city and its marketing office
in another. Each site needs resources, data, and programs locally, but it also needs to
share data with the other sites. To accomplish this feat of data communication, the
company can attach devices that connect over public utilities to create a WAN.

Campus Area Networks (CANs)

A campus area network (CAN) follows the same principles as a local area network,
only on a larger and more diversified scale. With a CAN, different campus
offices and organizations can be linked together. For example, in a typical university
setting, an office might be linked to a registrar's office. In this manner once a student
has paid his or her tuition fees, this information is transmitted to the registrar's
system so the student can enroll for classes.
Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs)
The metropolitan area network (MAN) is a large-scale network that connects
multiple corporate LANs together. MANs usually arc not owned by a single
organization; their communication devices and equipment are usually maintained by
a group or single network provider that sells its networking services to corporate
customers. MANs often take the role of a high-speed network that allows for the
sharing of regional resources. MANs also can provide a shared connection to other
networks using a WAN link.

Home Area Networks (HANs)

A home area network (HAN) is a network contained within a user’s home that
connects a person’s digital devices, from multiple computers and their peripheral
devices, such as a printer to telephones, VCRs, DVDs, televisions, video games,
home security systems, “smart” appliances, fax machines, and other digital devices
that are wired into the network.
Intranets and Extranets
• The company’s internal version of the Internet is called an intranet. The major
difference is that an intranet usually limits access to employees and selected
contractors having ongoing business with the company. This gives users the ability
to create Web pages on their local computers that can be viewed by other
members of the same network. Just like on the Internet, users can allow others
(again, usually employees) to browse their Web site and to upload or download
files, video clips, audio clips, and other such media. Users also can set controls and
limit who may access the Web site.
• Extranets are becoming a popular method for employees to exchange information
using the company’s Web site or e-mail while traveling or working from home. An
extranet is a partially accessible internal company Web site for authorized users
physically located outside the organization. Extranets are becoming a popular
method for employees to exchange information using the company’s Web site or e-
mail while traveling or working from home. An extranet is a partially accessible
internal company Web site for authorized users physically located outside the
organization.
Network Components
Network Components
1)Hub
A hub works in the physical layer of the OSI model. It is basically a
non-intelligent device and has no decision-making capability. What a
Hub basically does is take the input data from one of the ports and
broadcast the information to all the other ports connected to the
network.
2)Switch
A switch is an intelligent device that works in the data link layer. The
term intelligent refers to the decision-making capacity of the Switch.
Since it works in the Data link layer, it has knowledge of the MAC
addresses of the ports in the network. It is also to be noted that a
switch is a secure device, because it sends information only to the
desired destinations, and also certain security features such as
firewalls can be implemented in the Switches.
Network Components
3)Bridge
A bridge is also a device which works in the Data Link Layer, but
more primitive when compared to a switch. Initial bridges were
used to connect only 2 LAN’s, but the most recent ones perform
similar operation as the switches. It also works on the principle
of transfer of information using the MAC addresses of the ports.
4)Router
Any computer can be connected to the internet via MODEM,
which performs the MODulation and the DEModulation
operations. But, when there are more than one computer at
home or in an organization, and you have a single internet
connection, you need a Router. Router is a device which is used
when multiple devices need to connect to the Internet using the
same IP.
 Network Components
5)Gateway
The Gateway devices work in the Transport layer and above, where
the different network technologies are implemented. A gateway is
necessary when there are different technologies implemented by
the different LAN’s which are to be connected together.
6)Modems
Modem is a device which converts the computer-generated digital
signals of a computer into analog signals to enable their travelling
via phone lines. The ‘modulator-demodulator’ or modem can be
used as a dial up for LAN or to connect to an ISP. Modems can be
both external, as in the device which connects to the USB or the
serial port of a computer, or proprietary devices for handheld
gadgets and other devices, as well as internal; in the form of add-in
expansion cards for computers and PCMCIA cards for laptops.
Network Topology
Topology refers to the way network of computers is connected. Each topology is
suited to specific tasks and has its own advantages and disadvantages. The choice of
topology is dependent upon type and number of equipment being used, planned
applications and rate of data transfer required, response time, and cost. Topology
can also be defined as the geometrically interconnection pattern by which the
stations (nodes/computers) are connected using suitable transmission media (which
can be point-to-point and broadcast).
Network topologies are categorized into the following basic types:
• bus
• ring
• star
• tree
• mesh
1)Bus Topology

Bus networks (not to be confused with the system bus of a computer) use a common
backbone to connect all devices. A single cable, the backbone functions as a shared
communication medium that devices attach or tap into with an interface connector. A
device wanting to communicate with another device on the network sends a broadcast
message onto the wire that all other devices see, but only the intended recipient actually
accepts and processes the message. bus networks work best with a limited number of
Networking made it easy 2 Compiled by devices. If more than a few dozen computers are
added to a network bus, performance problems will likely result. In addition, if the
backbone cable fails, the entire network effectively becomes unusable
2)Ring Topology

In a ring network, every device has exactly two neighbors for communication purposes. All
messages travel through a ring in the same direction (either "clockwise" or
"counterclockwise").
These frames are shared by all connected devices on the network as follows:
• a frame (packet) arrives at the next device in the ring sequence that device checks
whether the frame contains a message addressed to it. If so, the device removes the
message from the frame. If not, the frame is empty (called a token frame).
• the device holding the frame decides whether to send a message. If so, it inserts
message data into the token frame and issues it back onto the LAN. If not, the device
releases the token frame for the next device in sequence to pick up
• the above steps are repeated continuously for all devices in the token ring
3)Star Topology
Many home networks use the star topology. A star
network features a central connection point called a
"hub" that may be a hub, switch or router. Devices
typically connect to the hub with Unshielded Twisted
Pair (UTP) Ethernet. Compared to the bus topology, a
star network generally requires more cable, but a failure
in any star network cable will only take down one
computer's network access and not the entire LAN. (If
the hub fails, however, the entire network also fails.)
4)Tree Topology
Tree topologies integrate multiple star topologies
together onto a bus. In its simplest form, only hub
devices connect directly to the tree bus, and each
hub functions as the "root" of a tree of devices. This
bus/star hybrid approach supports future
expandability of the network much better than a
bus (limited in the number of devices due to the
broadcast traffic it generates) or a star (limited by
the number of hub connection points) alone.
5)Mesh Topology
Mesh topologies involve the concept of routes. Unlike
each of the previous topologies, messages sent on a
mesh network can take any of several possible paths
from source to destination. (Recall that even in a ring,
although two cable paths exist, messages can only
travel in one direction.) Some WANs, most notably the
Internet, employ mesh routing. A mesh network in
which every device connects to every other is called a
full mesh. As shown in the illustration below, partial
mesh networks also exist in which some devices
connect only indirectly to others.