CIT 3103

Fundamentals of Internet
Lecture 1
Computer Network
COMPUTER NETWORK

• A computer network is a collection of computers and other devices

that communicate to share data, hardware and software.
Or
• Computer Network: Two or more computer connected in some way in
order to share their resources
 Types Of Computer Network
i. LAN
• A local area network (LAN) is a computer network covering a local area, like a home, office or small group
of buildings such as a college. LANs are distinguished from other kinds of networks by three characteristics:
(1) their size, (2) their transmission technology, and (3) their topology.

ii. MAN
• Metropolitan Area Networks or MANs are large computer networks usually spanning a campus or a city.
They typically use wireless infrastructure or optical fiber connections to link their sites.
• For instance a university may have a MAN that joins together many of their campus local area networks
(LANs) around a city.

iii. WAN
• A wide area network or WAN is a computer network covering a wide geographical area, involving a vast
array of computers. The best example of a WAN is the Internet. WANs are used to connect local area
networks (LANs) together, so that users and computers in one location can communicate with users and
computers in other locations. Many WANs are built for one particular organization and are private.
 Local Area Network
• A local area network (LAN) is a group of computers and associated devices that
share a common communications line or wireless link and typically share the
resources of a single processor or server within a small geographic area (for
example, within an office building).
• Usually, the server has applications and data storage that are shared in common
by multiple computer users.
• A local area network may serve as few as two or three users (for example, in a
home network) or as many as thousands of users
 Wide Area Network

• A wide area network or WAN is a computer network covering a wide

geographical area, involving a vast array of computers.
• WANs are used to connect local area networks (LANs) together, so that users and
computers in one location can communicate with users and computers in other
locations.
Networks Configuration
• We can have two types of networks (configurations).
i. Client/server network where we have one server and many
clients.
ii. Peer-to-peer network – all computers have the same capability
and can communicate with
 Network Hardware for LAN
i. Network interface card (NIC)
• This is the key hardware component for connecting a computer to a LAN. It is a small circuit board designed to
plug into an expansion slot on a computer main-board. The NIC sends data from your workstation out over the
network and collects incoming data for your workstation. Most recent computers have them integrated onto the
motherboard.
ii. Connecting cables:-
• The cables commonly used for interconnecting PCs are the twisted pair copper wires, either Category 5 (CAT 5)
or Category 6 (CAT 6) cables. Or fiber optic conections.
• Instead of using cables, some wireless networks use radio or infrared signals to transmit data from one network
device to another. The NIC on a wireless network contain the transmitting device necessary to send data to
other devices on the LAN.
iii. Network Servers
• These are different kinds of network servers.
• A dedicated file server is devoted only to the task of delivering programs and data files to workstations. It does
not process data or run programs for the Workstations. Instead programs run using the memory and processor
of the workstation.
• Non-dedicated server (peer-to-peer capability) here a network computer performs a dual role as both file server
iv. Server:-
• Print server – stores files in a print queue and sends each queued file to the
network printer. A print job is a file that has been sent to the printer.
• Application server is a computer that runs application software and forwards
the results of processing to workstations as requested. It makes it possible to
use the processing power of both the server and the workstation.
v. Modem - These are devices that modulate and demodulate data.
• Modulation is the process of conversion of the computer data into analog
signals before being transferred over a standard telephone line.
• Demodulation refers to converting back the data to digital form. The quality of
a modem is determined by its transmission speed. It can be either internal or
external.
 Network operating system
• A network requires network software or network operating system
to control the flow of data, maintain security, and keep track of user
accounts.
Examples:
• Network Operating Systems such as Novell Network, Banyan lines,
and LANtastic are software packages designed to control data flow.
• Network software is sometimes included as a component of popular
computer Operating systems such as windows for workgroup,
windows 9x, UNIX, OS. A network OS has both the server and client
software.
Standalone Applications
• Most applications designed for standalone computers can be installed on
a network server, which sends them to individual workstations as
requested.
GroupWare
• A workgroup is basically two or more people who work on the same
project. GroupWare is application software that support collaborative
work, usually on a LAN.
• Network permits use of application programs by multiple people on a
network.
 Network Topologies

• This refers to how devices on LAN are connected to each other.

i. Bus Network
ii. Star Network
iii. Ring Network
iv. Tree Network
v. Mesh Network
vi. Hybrid Network
 i. Bus-Topology
• Here the new nodes are easily added to a bus and all nodes may
directly communicate with each other, we use the coaxial cable to
connect the workstations:
• A bus network is an arrangement in a local area network (LAN) in
which each node (workstation or other device) is connected to a main
cable or link called the bus.
Bus Topology
Bus Topology
 Bus Network
Advantages
• Easy to implement and extend
• Well suited for temporary networks (quick setup)
• Typically the cheapest topology to implement
• Failure of one station does not affect others
Disadvantages
• Difficult to administer/troubleshoot
• Limited cable length and number of stations
• A cable break can disable the entire network
• Maintenance costs may be higher in the long run
• Performance degrades as additional computers are added
 ii. Star Network
• A star network is a local area network (LAN) in which all nodes
(workstations or other devices) are directly connected to a common
central computer.
• Here all the messages pass through a central switch/hub.
• It allows any node to communicate with every other node by sending
messages to the hub.
• Every workstation is indirectly connected to every other through the
central computer.
• In some star networks, the central computer can also operate as a
workstation.
Star Topology

HUB
Star Topology
Star Topology
Advantages
• Easy to implement and extend, even in large networks
• Well suited for temporary networks (quick setup)
• The failure of a non central node will not have major effects on the
functionality of the network.
Disadvantages
• Limited cable length and number of stations
• Maintenance costs may be higher in the long run
• Failure of the central node can disable the entire network.
 iii. Ring Network
• A ring network is a local area network (LAN) in which the nodes (workstations
or other devices) are connected in a closed loop configuration.
• Adjacent pairs of nodes are directly connected.
• Other pairs of nodes are indirectly connected, the data passing through one
or more intermediate nodes.
• Here every node is connected to two other nodes.
• Movement of data on the ring is normally in one direction to prevent signals
from interfering with each other.
Ring Topology
Ring Topology
Ring Toplogy
Advantages
• Growth of the system has minimal impact on performance
• All stations have equal access
• Each node on the ring acts as a repeater, allowing ring networks to span
greater distances than other physical topologies.
• Because data travels in one direction high speeds of transmission of data
are possible
Disadvantages
• Often the most expensive topology
• Failure of one computer may impact others
 Network Protocols:
• A communication protocols is a set of rules that ensures the orderly and
accurate transmission and reception of data.
• The most widely used network communications protocol are:
i. TCP/IP (Transmission control protocol/Internet protocol) which is
used on minicomputer, micro computer and mainframe networks.
• It is frequently used in UNIX and Win. NT systems and is the basis for a
communication on the network.
ii. IPx (Internet-work packet exchange) is the protocol used by Novell
NetWare, the most popular microcomputer network software.
Questions????
• Read and write short notes on:
• Other Network Topologies like: Tree, Mesh, Hybrid etc
• The other network protocols