Chapter 5 – Introduction to Networking

and the Internet

Outline
1. Network Fundamentals
○ What is a network?
○ Importance & disadvantages
○ Classification: Scope, Ownership, Topology
○ Network Protocols: CSMA/CD & CSMA/CA
○ Combining Networks: Devices (Repeater, Bridge, Switch, Router)
○ Process Communication: Client/Server vs Peer-to-Peer
○ Distributed Systems: Cluster, Grid, Cloud
2. The Internet
○ Architecture (ISP tiers, Access ISPs, Hosts)
○ Addressing (IP and Domain names)
○ Applications (Email, VoIP, Streaming)
3. The World Wide Web
○ Web implementation (Browser/Server)
○ HTML & XML
○ Client vs Server side
4. Internet Protocols
○ Layered architecture
○ TCP/IP Suite (TCP vs UDP, IP layer)

1. Network Fundamentals
What is a Network?

A network is a group of computers or hardware devices connected so they can

share resources like files, printers, and internet access.

● Networking refers to everything involved in setting up and managing these

connections.

Why Network?

● Share files, printers, and the Internet.

● Centralized support (e.g., admin controls across an organization).

Pros and Cons

 Advantages Disadvantages

File & hardware sharing Setup cost (hardware, software)

Internet access Security risks & undesirable behavior

Centralized management Complex maintenance

Types of Networks (By Scope)

1. PAN (Personal Area Network): Very short range (e.g., Bluetooth).

2. LAN (Local Area Network): Small area like a home or school. Fast and
stable.
3. MAN (Metropolitan Area Network): Covers a city. Used by ISPs or
businesses.
4. WAN (Wide Area Network): Covers large areas (countries, globe). The
Internet is a WAN.

Network Ownership

● Closed (Proprietary): Technology owned by a company (e.g., Microsoft).

● Open System: Public standards like TCP/IP; free to use.

Network Topology

How devices are arranged:

● Bus: All devices share a single communication line.

● Star: Devices connect to a central hub (e.g., Wi-Fi Access Point).
● Ring: Devices form a circle; data travels in one direction.

Network Protocols

Protocols are rules that control how data moves in a network.

1. CSMA/CD (Ethernet – Wired)

● Devices "listen" to the line before sending data.

● If two devices send at once → collision → both stop → wait → retry.
● Works well in bus topologies (Ethernet), but not good for wireless.

2. CSMA/CA (Wi-Fi – Wireless)

 ● Devices try to avoid collisions instead of detecting them.
● A device sends a request to the Access Point (AP), waits for permission.

Combining Networks

Different devices help connect networks:

Device Purpose

Repeater Boosts signals to extend range. Doesn't

interpret data.

Bridge Smarter than a repeater. Only forwards

data if needed.

Switch Multi-port bridge. Sends data only where

it’s needed.

Router Connects different types of networks

(e.g., Wi-Fi + Ethernet). Forms the
Internet.

Process Communication
Client-Server

● Servers provide services; clients request them.

● E.g., Print server, file server.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P)

● Devices communicate as equals (e.g., messaging, online games).

Distributed Systems

Multiple computers working together.

1. Cluster: Closely connected; like a cheap supercomputer.

2. Grid: Loosely connected; large tasks split among many systems.
3. Cloud: Resources over the Internet (e.g., Google Drive, AWS).

2. The Internet
What Is the Internet?
The Internet is a global network of networks that allows billions of devices around
the world to communicate.

● Originally developed by the U.S. Defense Department (DARPA) in the

1960s.
● Evolved from a government research tool → academic network →
commercialized global system.

Internet Architecture
A. Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

The Internet is built and maintained by ISPs at different levels:

Tier Description

Tier-1 Global backbone (very fast and high-

capacity WANs). Example: AT&T,
Verizon.

Tier-2 Regional ISPs that connect to Tier-1.

Provide services to smaller areas.

Access ISPs Provide Internet to homes and

businesses (e.g., MTN, Orange, or a
university network).

●
Routers at each ISP form the infrastructure of the Internet.
● The network is redundant: if one route fails, data can use alternative paths.

B. End Systems (Hosts)

Devices connected to the Internet:

● Examples: Laptops, smartphones, smart TVs.

● Connection Methods:
○ Wi-Fi Hotspots (via Access Points)
○ Wired connections (e.g., through DSL, Cable, or Fiber)
○ Cellular networks (4G, 5G)

Internet Addressing

Every device must have a unique address to send/receive data.

A. IP Address

● Unique identifier assigned to each device.

● IPv4 (e.g., 192.168.1.1) – 32-bit.
● IPv6 (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334) – 128-bit, created to
avoid IP exhaustion.

Managed by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), which
assigns blocks of addresses to ISPs.

B. Domain Names

● Easier to remember than IPs. E.g., www.google.com

● Domain Name System (DNS) translates names into IPs automatically.

Top-Level Domains (TLDs):

Type Examples

Education .edu

Commercial .com

Government .gov

Country Code .uk, .fr, .cm

Internet Applications
A. Email

● Mail Server receives and stores email.

● Clients use POP3 or IMAP to retrieve messages.

B. VoIP (Voice over IP)

Allows voice calls over the Internet.

Form Description

Softphones Apps like Skype, Zoom

Analog Adapters Connect traditional phones to Internet

Embedded VoIP Phones Office phones using network cables

Smartphones Use mobile Internet for VoIP apps

C. Streaming (Audio/Video)
Examples: Netflix, YouTube, Spotify.

Streaming Methods:

● N-Unicast: Separate stream to each user (server-heavy).

● P2P Streaming: Users share content they've downloaded.
● Multicast: Routers send one copy to multiple users (limited use).
● CDNs (Content Delivery Networks):
○ Distribute data geographically to improve speed.
○ Anycast helps users connect to the closest server.

3. The World Wide Web

Web Implementation

The web is a service on top of the Internet that delivers hypertext documents
(i.e., web pages).

It works using two types of software:

Software Role

Browser Runs on user’s device; fetches &

displays webpages (e.g., Chrome).

Webserver Hosts web content and responds to

browser requests (e.g., Apache).

●
Webpages are transferred using HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol).
● Each webpage has a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) which is its address
on the web.

Example URL:
arduino
Copy code
https://www.example.com/home.html

Part Meaning

https:// Protocol

www.example.com Domain name

/home.html Specific document/path on the server

HTML – Hypertext Markup Language

HTML is the language used to build webpages.

● Text-based files with tags to format content, create links, and insert media.

Examples of tags:

● <h1>: Heading
● <p>: Paragraph
● <a href="...">: Link to another page
● <img src="...">: Image

Sample HTML code:

html
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<h1>Welcome!</h1>
<p>This is my first webpage.</p>
<a href="about.html">About Me</a>
<img src="photo.jpg">

And this displays on your screen as a formatted page.

XML – Extensible Markup Language

● XML is used to store and transport data.

● Unlike HTML (which focuses on appearance), XML focuses on data
structure.

Example:

xml
Copy code
<book>
<title>Networking Essentials</title>
<author>John Doe</author>
</book>

Used in many web services to send structured data between systems.

Client-Side vs Server-Side
 Side Description

Client-side Code that runs in your browser (e.g.,

HTML, CSS, JavaScript).

Server-side Code that runs on the server (e.g., PHP,

Python, Node.js).

Example: When you click “Submit” on a form:

● The client-side handles the button press.

● The server-side processes and stores your input.

4. Internet Protocols
Layered Approach to Internet Communication

To manage complex communication, the Internet uses a layered model — just like
a package delivery system.

Each layer does a specific job and passes data up/down the stack:

Layer Function

Application Creates the message (e.g., Email,

Webpage request).

Transport Breaks message into segments,

ensures they’re correctly reassembled.

Network Routes data across networks (IP

addressing and forwarding).

Link Handles physical transmission over

cables, Wi-Fi, etc.

Visual Analogy

Imagine sending a parcel:

● Application: You write the letter.

● Transport: It’s packaged and tracked.
● Network: Postal service routes it.
● Link: Delivery truck drives it to the door.

TCP/IP Protocol Suite

This is the standard set of protocols used on the Internet.

Transport Layer Protocols

Protocol Type Description

TCP Reliable, Connected - Ensures data arrives

correctly and in order.
- Retransmits lost data.

UDP Unreliable, Fast - No guarantees.

- Faster.
- Used for
video/gaming/VoIP.

●
TCP is like a phone call: connection first, then conversation.
● UDP is like a text broadcast: just send and hope it gets there.

Network Layer Protocol – IP (Internet Protocol)

Handles forwarding and routing of data.

● IPv4: 32-bit addresses (e.g., 192.168.1.1)

● IPv6: 128-bit addresses (future-proof)

Key concepts:

● Forwarding: Sends a packet from one router to the next.

● Routing: Maintains routing tables to choose best path.

Extra:

● Hop Count / TTL (Time To Live): Limits how many routers a packet can go
through before being discarded.
● Fault Tolerance: The Internet has multiple paths — if one fails, data is
rerouted.

Summary
What You’ve Learned in Chapter 5:
Section Key Concepts

Network Fundamentals Network types (LAN, WAN), topologies

(star, ring), devices (router, switch)
The Internet ISPs, IP addresses, DNS, Internet
applications (VoIP, Streaming)

The Web Web browsers/servers, HTML, URLs,

client vs server code

Protocols Layered architecture, TCP/IP suite, data

routing and reliability