What is…

COMPUTER
NETWORK
 Computer network
• A computer network is a system of
interconnected computers and peripheral
devices.
• For example, it may connect computers,
printers, scanners and cameras.
Computer network communication

• We transmit information or data by using

two types of signals, namely analog and
digital.
• Computers communicate with digital
signals.
• The older forms of communications
technology, such as telephones and
radios, use analog signals.
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
Types of Networks

• Define types of computer networks

(LAN, MAN, WAN)

• Differentiate between the three types of

computer networks.
 TYPES OF NETWORKS

LOCAL AREA METROPOLITAN WIDE AREA

NETWORK AREA NETWORK NETWORK
 LOCAL AREA NETWORK (LAN)
• smallest network compared to the other two
networks.
• The simplest form of LAN is to connect two
computers together.
• LAN is operated within a limited physical area,
such as at home, school, a single building or
several buildings.
• A network which consists of less than 500
interconnected devices across several buildings,
is still recognised as a LAN.
 METROPOLITAN AREA
NETWORK (MAN)
• ‘Metropolitan' - describes important cities such as Kuala
Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Tokyo, London and New
York.
• located at different sites within a large physical area,
such as a city.
• Companies that have several branches within the Kuala
Lumpur city such as banks, use a MAN.
• setting up a MAN across long distances can be best
connected using fiber optics.
• can be a collection of several LANs within the same city.
• often acts as a high speed network (although not as fast
as a LAN) to allow sharing of regional resources.
• MAN can be defined as a group of computers and
network devices connected together within a large
physical area.
WIDE AREA NETWORK (WAN)
• The largest network of all network types.
• Internet is the largest WAN in the world.
• WAN generally covers large distances such as
states, countries or continents.
• EG: Local banks have always maintained their
business online by connecting all computers of
their branches in the countries. International
banks also use WAN to connect their computers
all over the world.
• WAN is a group of MANs or LANs or the mixture
of both networks.
Comparison of LAN, MAN, WAN
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
Networks Architecture

• Define two types of network architecture

i) Client/Server
ii) Peer-to-Peer
NETWORK ARCHITECTURE
 Network architecture
• overall design of a computer network
that describes how a computer
network is configured and what
strategies are being used.
• mainly focuses on the functions of
the networks.
• also known as network model or
network design.
 Network architecture
CLIENT/SERVER NETWORK

• A client/server network is a network

in which the shared files and
applications are stored in the
server but network users (clients)
can still store files on their
individual PCs.
• A server is a computer that shares
information and resources with
other computers on a network.
• A client is a computer which
requests services or files from a
server computer.
 Network architecture
Peer-to-peer or P2P
• is a network with all the nodes
acting as both servers and
clients.
• A PC can access files located
on another PC and can also
provide files to other PCs.
• All computers in the peer-to-
peer network has equal
responsibilities and capabilities
to use the resources available
on the network.
• With peer-to-peer network, no
server is needed; each
computer in the network is
called a peer.
Differences
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
Network Topology

• State three types of network topologies.

(bus, ring, star)

• Differentiate between the three types of

network topology.
 NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

Bus Topology

Star Topology
Ring Topology
 Bus Topology
A bus topology consists of a single central cable to which
all computers and other devices connect. A bus topology is
also known as a bus network.

DESCRIPTION OF BUS TOPOLOGY

• Very common in LAN.

• Must have a common backbone (the
central cable) to connect all devices.
• All nodes share the backbone to
communicate with each other on the
network.
• Sometimes, a bus network has more
than one server. Sometimes, a server
is not needed on the network.
 Ring Topology
A ring topology consists of all computers and other
devices that are connected in a loop. Ring topology is also
known as a ring network.
DESCRIPTION OF RING TOPOLOGY

• Can be found in LAN.

• Each node directly connect to two
neighbouring nodes.
• A server may exist in a ring network,
but it will not connect to all the nodes in
the network.
• The server, like other nodes, will only
communicate to its two neighbouring
nodes
 Star Topology
A star topology consists of a central host which acts as the
centre, and all nodes connect to the host. A star topology is also
known as star network.

DESCRIPTION OF STAR TOPOLOGY

• A star network is found in a Local Area

Network setting.
• A star network must have a host which
acts as the centre.
• The host can be a server, hub or router.
• In a star network, every node will not
connect to the neighbouring nodes.
• Every node must connect to the host in
order to communicate.
• The host will control the flow of
communication in the network.
 Differences
Bus Topology Ring Topology Star Topology
Structure there is a single all computers and other there is a central host and
central cable (backbone) devices are all nodes
and all computers and connected in a circle connect to it
other devices connect to
it
Host existence depends on network depends on network needs yes
needs
Connection It has no connection yes no
between nodes between the nodes.
Host failure network can still run network will fail network will fail
Node failure network can still run network will fail network can still run
Ease of difficult. Need to depends on backbone. If there depends on the host. It
troubleshooting search for the is a backbone, is easier to repair the
problematic node one by troubleshooting is problematic host. However,
one difficult. If there is no if the nodes fail, then each
backbone, the focus is on the node has to be searched
two nodes not communicating
Ease of adding easy difficult average
or removing nodes

Number of nodes many limited limited

when extending
network
 TASK 1
• Form group of four.

• Cite examples in immediate environment

to show the importance of network and
communication.

• Present your finding.