Page 1 of 9

CHAPTER-01
COMPUTER NETWORK
Computer Network:

A computer network is a set of two or more different kinds of computers linked together in
order to exchange files, share information and resources (such as printer, scanner etc).
Note: A computer that is not connected to a network is known as a standalone computer.
ADVANTAGES OF COMPUTER NETWORK:
1. Sharing files, data and information: You can share data program and different resources
with it. It is only possible because all the files are stored on server
2. Sharing Hardware and software: you can share hardware and software within network
easily

3. Communication Media: Network provides a very fast communication media. E-mail is

used as a fast media in different offices.

4. File Integrity: File integrity remains continuous due to network. It saves much time.
Network helps in fast saving and sharing of files.

5. Cost effective: We can share costly input and output devices like printer with network. It
reduces the cost of system.

6. Reliability: Network ensures use of many resource to us e.g. when hardware fails,
information can be recovered from other computer with the help of network.

7. Flexibility: It provides more flexibility because in it there is a possibility of connecting

devices of different businessmen.

8. Backup: It is difficult to get back up of a file from different computers. But it is easy to
take backup from server if we are linked with network.

9. Security: Network provides security to us. Network user can run a few files or
applications.

EVOLUTION OF NETWORKING:
ARPANET(Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) is the first network developed in
1969 by U.S. defence department for connecting computers at different universities and U.S.
defence.
In India internet began in 1986 and available only to educational and research community.
General public access to the internet began on 15 th August 1995.
 Page 2 of 9

COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER NETWORK:

The purpose of a network is to join computers together. A computer network consists of

several components:
1.Computer:
There are two types of computers which are used for networking: such as client and server.
(a) Client/ workstation / Node : Client / workstation / Node is the normal computer system
which is connected to network for sharing of resources.
(b) Server: It is a powerful computer. It helps in sharing of resources or information. It
controls all other nodes.
2. Network Interface Card (NIC):
A network interface card is a device that is attached to each of the workstations and the server
which helps to establish communication between the server and workstations. The NIC
manufacturer assigns a unique physical address to each NIC card and the physical address to is
known as MAC(Media Access Control) address.
3. Hub/Switch
A networking hub/Switch is a device that allows you to connect multiple computers to a
single network device.
4. Network Operating system software, such as Microsoft Windows NT or 2000, Novell
NetWare, UNIX and Linux
5. TRANSMISSION MEDIA:
A transmission medium (plural media) is one which carries a signal from one computer to
another. It is also known as communication channel. Transmission medium can be wired or
wireless. We also name them as Guided and Unguided Media respectively.

DATA COMMUNICATION :
Data communication is exchange of data between two or more Computers with the help of
communication medium. The device that transmits the data is known as sender/source and the
device that receives the transmitted data is known as receiver.

Conditions for Data communication:

 Delivery: Network should deliver the data at proper place.
 Accuracy: Data communication should be free from fault.
 Time limit: Data should reach destination without any delay.
 Page 3 of 9

COMPONENTS OF DATA COMMUNICATION:

 Sender: Sender prepares information (data) and sends it.
 Medium: It carriers the information from sender to receiver.
 Receivers: Receiver receives the information
 Protocol: There are rules under which data transmission takes place between sender and
receiver.

METHODS OF DATA TRANSMISSION :

Methods of data transmissions means direction of flow of data between sender and receiver.
The methods of data transmission are :

1. Simplex: In simplex communication is one direction. So information can flow only in one
direction its reverse is not possible.
Example: Television communication.

2. Half duplex: In it information can flow in both directions but not at the sometime. In other
words if information is sent by one system then second can only receive it or viceversa.
Example: walky-talky system used by police and force.
 Page 4 of 9

3. Full duplex: In full duplex information can move in both directions at same time. It provides
very fast communication .
Example: Telephone system

COMMUNICATION CHANNEL:
Communicating data from one location to another requires some form of pathway or medium.
These pathways, called communication channels.

GUIDED MEDIA OR WIRED TECHNOLOGIES:

The data signal in guided medium is bound by the cabling system that guide the data signal
along a specific path. It consists of cable composed of metals like copper, tin or silver.
Basically, they are divided into three categories i.e.-

1. Twisted pair Cable

2. Coaxial Cable
3. Fiber Optics

Twisted pair Cable:

A twisted pair cable is made of plastic insulated copper wires twisted together to form a single
media. Out of these two wires, only one carries actual signal and another is used for ground
reference.
 Page 5 of 9

Advantages Disadvantages

Due to high attenuation signals can't be transported over

Has low cost and low weight.
a long distance without using repeaters.

Physically flexible and can be easily Due to low bandwidth it is unsuitable for broadband
connected. application

Coaxial Cable:

It has a single inner conductor that transmits electric signals and the outer conductor acts as
ground and is wrapped in a sheath of Teflon or PVC. Coaxial cable is commonly used in
transporting multi- channel television signals in cities.

Advantages Disadvantages
Transmission quality of coaxial cable is better
It is expansive compared to twisted pair cable
than twisted pair cable
These are not compatible with twisted pair
Can transmit several channels simultaneously,
cable.
so can be used for broadband transmission.

Fiber Optics:

Fiber optics works of the properties of light. When light ray hits at critical angle, it tends to
reflects 90 degree. This property has been used in fiber optics. The core of fiber optics is made
of high quality glass or plastic. From one end of it light is emitted, it travels through it and at
the other end light detector detects light stream and convert it to electric data. Fiber optics
provides the highest mode of speed.
 Page 6 of 9

Advantages Disadvantages
It prevents to electrical and magnetic fields, so
Connecting two fibres or a light source to a
the data does not get disturbed and pure data
fibre is difficult.
is retrieved on the other end.
It can be used for broadband transmission, Optical fibre cable requires more protection
where several channels are handled in parallel around the cable channels are handled in
parallel. compared to copper cable.

UNGUIDED MEDIA OR WIRELES OR BOADCASTE TECHNOLOGIES

Wireless communication involves no physical link established between two or more devices,
communicating wirelessly. Wireless signals are spread over in the air and are received and
interpreted by appropriate antennas.
Radio wave transmission:
When two terminals communicate by using radio frequencies then such type of communication
is known as radio wave transmission. This transmission is also known as (RF) transmission.
Radio wave transmission setup has two parts.

Transmitter: The device which transmit signals, are called as transmitter.

Receiver: The device which received signals, are called as receiver.

Advantages Disadvantages
Cheaper than wired network & provides Insecure communication can be easily
mobility. taped.
It is affected by weather condition such as
Easy to use in difficult terrain.
rain, storms, thunders etc

Microwave Transmission:
Microwave is one of the fastest media for data transmission over communication channel. They
can be aimed at a single direction instead of broadcasting in all direction. It communicates by
using electromagnetic waves having frequencies ranges from 0.3 to 300 GHz. it is used in
Cellular network and television broadcasting.
 Page 7 of 9

Advantages Disadvantages
Cheaper then digging trenches for laying Insecure communication, as taping of
cables and repeaters microwave is very easily.
Microwave communication is possible even in t is affected by weather conditions such as
difficult terrains. rain, storms, thunders etc.

Satellite Communication:

The communication across longer distances can be provided by combining radio frequency
transmission with satellites. It works over a long distance and fast communication.

Advantages Disadvantages
It covers a vast range of area & mostly used in It is very costly.
television.
The wired communication is almost impossible and There is atmospheric loss of transmitted
too costly to use across the continents where signals.
satellite communication proves to be the best
alternative.

Infrared Wave Transmission:

Infrared waves are the high frequency waves used for short-range communication .These waves
don't pass through the solid-objects. They are mainly used in TV remote and wireless speakers.

Advantages Disadvantages
Power consumption is less Line of sight, need to be in a straight line for
communication

Circuitry cost is less & simple. Limited in short range & can be blocked by common
materials like walls, peoples & plants etc.
 Page 8 of 9

Bluetooth:
It is a wireless technology used for exchange data over short distances to create a Personal Area
Network (PAN).

Advantages Disadvantages

Bluetooth internet is very slow, so it is suggested

Share data without any cord/cable.
not to go for Bluetooth internet.

We use Bluetooth on many different

Battery consumption, as it is most common mode of
devices such as Laptop, phones, rinters,
data transfer these days, so it is left enabled in the
music players and a lot more other
devices, which consumes more battery.
products.

TYPES OF NETWORK:

There are several different types of computer networks. That are-

1. PAN (Personal Area Network)

2. LAN (Local Area Network)

3.MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

4. WAN (Wide Area network)

PERSONAL AREA NETWORK

A personal area network, or PAN, is a computer network organized around an individual person
within a single building. This could be inside a small office or residence. Typically it works
within 10 meters.
LOCAL AREA NETWORK (LAN)
A LAN is a network that is used for communicating among computer devices, usually within an
office building or home. LAN's enable the sharing of resources such as files or hardware
devices that may be needed by multiple users.. it is fast, with speeds from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps.
 Page 9 of 9

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN):

It is distributed to a city, college campus or large area just like Cable TV network .A MAN
typically covers an area of between 5 and 50 km diameter.
Examples of MAN: Telephone company network that provides a high speed DSL to customers
and cable TV network.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

WAN covers a large geographic area such as country, continent or even whole of the world.
WAN can contain multiple smaller networks, such as LANS or MANS. In this network
telephone lines, satellite, microwave etc. media are used.

**************