Computer Networks – Mid Term Overview

This portion is for basic understanding.

Q: What is computer networking?

“Interconnected computing devices that can exchange data and share resources with each
other”

These networked devices use a system of rules and regulations called communication protocols,
to transmit information over physical or wireless technologies.

Example: computer, mobile, laptops etc. are the devices and internet is a global network of
devices.

Q: What are the key components of computer network?

1. Devices (nodes): Computer, printer, server, mobile etc.

2. Connections (links): Wired (Ethernet), Wireless (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth).
3. Network Protocols: Rules governing data transmission (HTTP, TCP/IP, FTP)
4. Network architecture: Topology LAN, MAN, WAN)
5. Network devices: Routers, Hub, Switch, gateways, bridge, NIC (network Interface card)

Q: Types of computer network:

1. Local Area Network (LAN): Small, localized network (home, office, university)
2. Wide Area Network (WAN): Larger network spanning cities or countries (internet)
3. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN): network covering a city or town (metro buses… for
understanding not as an example)
4. Wireless Network (WLAN): Network using wireless communication
5. Virtual Private Network (VPN): Secure, encrypted network over the internet.

Q: Types of Network Architecture?

Computer network design falls under two broad categories:

1- Client – Server architecture:

In this type of computer network,

 Nodes may be clients or servers

 Server nodes provide resources (storage, processing power, memory, data) to client nodes.
 Server nodes manage client nodes behavior
 Client may communicate with each other but they can’t share resources.
 Example:
Some computer devices in enterprise networks store data and configuration settings.
These devices are the servers in the network. Clients may access this data by making a
request to the server machine.
2- Peer-to-peer (P2P):
 Connected computers have equal powers and privileges.
 No central server for coordination
 Each device can act as either server or client
 Each peer may share some of its resources (memory and processing power) with the
entire computer network.
 All the network topologies (Star, bus, mesh, tree) if they are not using central server,
they are connected in p2p architecture.
 Every node is independent
 Example:
Some companies use P2P architecture to host memory-consuming applications,
such as 3-D graphic rendering, across multiple digital devices.
Q: Network Topology and types:
“Network topology refers to the physical and logical arrangement of devices and connections
within a network. It describes how devices, such as computers, printers, and routers, are
interconnected to form a network.”

1- Mesh Topology:
 Every device is connected to another device via a particular channel.
 Protocols used AHCP, DHCP
 Advantages:

 Fast communication
 Fault diagnosed easily
 Data is reliable because data is transmitted using dedicated channels and links
 Provides security and privacy

Disadvantages:

 Installation and configuration are difficult

 Cost of maintenance is high.
 Suitable for a smaller number of devices.

2- Star Topology
 All the devices are connected to a single hub through a cable.
 Hub can be replaced with a Switch as the central device in a star design.
 Switcher Star Network Topology is another name for the star network created with
Switch.

Advantages:

 Number of cables are same as for the devices

 Easy to fault identification and fault isolation.
 Cost-effective

Disadvantages:

 Performance is based on the single concentrator.

 Cost of installation is high
 If the central device fails all the network will fail.

3- Bus Topology
 Every computer and network device is connected to a single cable.
  It is bi-directional
 Non-robust topology because if the backbone fails the topology crashes.

Advantages:

o Cost of cable is low

o Familiar topology
o Fast communication

Disadvantages:

 If the common cable fails all the system crashes

 Adding new devices to the network would slow down networks.
 Low Security.

4- Ring Topology
 Forms a ring connecting devices with exactly two neighboring devices.
 A number of repeaters are used for Ring topology with a large number of nodes,
because if someone wants to send some data to the last node in the ring topology with
100 nodes, then the data will have to pass through 99 nodes to reach the 100th node.
 To prevent data loss repeaters are used in the network.
Advantages:

 High-speed data transmission

 Cheap to install and expand
 Possibility of collision is minimum
 Less costly

Disadvantages:

 Less secure
 Failure of single network crashes the whole network
 Troubleshooting is difficult
 Addition or removal of stations can affect the whole topology.

5- Tree Topology
 Variation of star topology
 Hierarchical flow of data
 Data flow from top to bottom

Advantages:

 It allows more devices to be attached to a single central hub, thus decreases the distance
 Isolate the computer and prioritize the data
 We can add new devices to the existing network
 Error detection and correction is easy

Disadvantages:

 If the central hub fails entire system fails

  Cost is high
 When new devices add, it become difficult to reconfigure.

6- Hybrid Topology
The combination of all types of topologies.

Advantages:

 Topology is flexible
 Size easily can b extended by adding new devices

Disadvantages:

 Challenging to design
 Hubs used in this topology is quite expensive
 Cost is high

Q: Network devices?
Network devices or hardware are physical devices that allow computer network to communicate
and interact with one another.
1. Modem
 Device that enables computer to send or receive data over telephone or cable lines.
 Data stored on computer is digital whereas a telephone line or cable wires can transmit
only analog data.
 Main Function of modem is to convert digital signal into analog vice versa
 Modem combination of 2 devices
o Modulator (convert digital signal to analog)
o Demodulator (convert analog to digital)

2. Hub
 Multi-port repeater
 Connects multiple wires
 Can’t filter data, so data packets are sent to all connected devices
 They don’t have intelligence to find out best path
 Types of hubs are Active, Passive and Intelligent Hub

3. Switch
 Multiport bridge with a buffer
 Its design can boast the efficiency and performance
 A switch is a data link layer device
 Perform error checking before forwarding the data
 An intelligent device
 Some Types of switches are
o Managed Switch
o Unmanaged Switch
o Smart switch
o Layer 2 switch
o Modular switch

4. Router
 Device like switch
 Routes data packets based on their IP address
 Mainly a network layer device
 Normally connects LAN and WAN
 Divides the broadcast domains of host connected to it

Usage of all network devices

Q: OSI layers Over View