Introduction to Data
communications contd..
Datacom Basics
Telecommunications =
Datacom Basics
Transmission of voice, video, and/or data
- Implies longer distances
- Broad term
Data Communications =
Movement of computer information by means of
electrical or optical transmission systems
convergence
Broadband Communications
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Components of a Local Area
Network
To other networks
(e.g., Internet)
Router
Servers
File
HUB
Server
Web Client
Server Computers
Circuits
Print Printer
Server
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Network Types (based on
Scale)
Local Area Networks (LAN) - room, building
a group of PCs that share a circuit.
Backbone Networks (BN) - less than few kms
a high speed backbone linking together organizational LANs at various
locations.
Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN) - (more than a few
kms)
connects LANs and BNs across different locations
Often uses leased lines or other services used to transmit data.
Wide Area Networks (WANs) - (far greater than 10 kms)
Same as MAN except wider scale
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LANs and Backbones, Wide Area and
Metropolitan Area Networks
Intranet vs. Extranet
Intranet
A LAN that uses the Internet technologies within an organization
Open only those inside the organization
Example: insurance related information provided to employees over
an intranet
Extranet
A LAN that uses the Internet technologies across an organization
including some external constituents
Open only those invited users outside the organization
Accessible through the Internet
Example: Suppliers and customers accessing inventory information
in a company over an extranet
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Layered Implementation of Communications
Functions
Single layer
Communication
Communication
Applications Applications implementation
-Networking with large
components is complex to
OS OS
understand and implement
Applications Applications Multi layer
implementation
OS -Breaking down into smaller
OS
components
-Easier to implement
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Multi-layer Network Models
The two most important such network models: OSI and
Internet
Open Systems Interconnection Model
Created by International Standards Organization (ISO) as a
framework for computer network standards in 1984
Based on 7 layers
Internet Model
Created by DARPA originally in early 70’s
Developed to solve to the problem of internetworking
Based on 5 layers
Based on Transmission Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
suite
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7-Layer Model of OSI
Physical DataLink Network Transport Session Presentation Application
“Please Do Not Touch Steve’s Pet Alligators”
Application Layer
set of utilities used by application programs
Presentation Layer
formats data for presentation to the user
provides data interfaces, data compression and translation between
different data formats
Session Layer
initiates, maintains and terminates each logical session between
sender and receiver
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7-Layer Model of OSI
Transport Layer
deals with end-to-end issues such as segmenting the message for
network transport, and maintaining the logical connections between
sender and receiver
Network Layer
responsible for making routing decisions
Data Link Layer
deals with message delineation, error control and network medium
access control
Physical Layer
defines how individual bits are formatted to be transmitted through
the network
Copyright 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1 - 10
Internet’s 5-Layer Model
Physical DataLink Network Transport Application
“Please Do Not Touch Alligators”
Application Layer
used by application program
Transport Layer
responsible for establishing end-to-end connections, translates
domain names into numeric addresses and segments messages
Network Layer - same as in OSI model
Data Link Layer - same as in OSI model
Physical Layer - same as in OSI model
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Comparison of Network
Models
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Message Transmission Using
Layers
sender receiver
Applications Applications
A receiving layer wraps
incoming message with
an envelope
• Adds layer related A receiving layer
addressing information removes the layer related
envelope and forwards
the message up
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Protocols
Used by Network model layers
Sets of standardized rules to define how to
communicate at each layer and how to interface
with adjacent layers
Layer N+1 Layer N+1
Layer N Layer N
Layer N-1 Layer N-1
sender receiver
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Message Transmission Example
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Points about Network Layer
View
Layers allow simplicity of networking in some ways
Easy to develop new software that fits each layer
Relatively simple to change the software at any level
Matching layers communicate between different computers
and computer platforms
Accomplished by standards that we all agree on
e.g., Physical layer at the sending computer must match up with the
same layer in the receiving computer
Somewhat inefficient
Involves many software packages and packets
Packet overhead (slower transmission, processing time)
Interoperability achieved at the expense of perfectly streamlined
communication
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Standards
Importance
Provide a “fixed” way for hardware and/or software systems (different
companies) to communicate
Help promote competition and decrease the price
Types of Standards
Formal standards
Developed by an industry or government standards-making body
De-facto standards
Emerge in the marketplace and widely used
Lack official backing by a standards-making body
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Standardization Processes
Specification
Developing the nomenclature and identifying the
problems to be addressed
Identification of choices
Identifying solutions to the problems and choose the
“optimum” solution
Acceptance
Defining the solution, getting it recognized by
industry so that a uniform solution is accepted
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Major Standards Bodies
ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
Technical recommendations for data communication interfaces
Composed of each country’s national standards orgs.
Based in Geneva, Switzerland (www.iso.ch)
ITU-T (International Telecommunications Union –Telecom
Group
Technical recommendations about telephone, telegraph and data
communications interfaces
Composed of representatives from each country in UN
Based in Geneva, Switzerland (www.itu.int)
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Major Standards Bodies
(Cont.)
ANSI (American National Standards Institute)
Coordinating organization for US (not a standards- making body)
www.ansi.org
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers)
Professional society; also develops mostly LAN standards
standards.ieee.org
IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force)
Develops Internet standards
No official membership (anyone welcome)
www.ietf.org
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Some Data Comm. Standards
Layer Common Standards
HTTP, HTML (Web)
5. Application layer MPEG, H.323 (audio/video)
IMAP, POP (e-mail)
TCP (Internet)
4. Transport layer
SPX (Novell LANs)
3. Network layer IP (Internet)
IPX (Novell LANs)
Ethernet (LAN)
2. Data link layer Frame Relay (WAN)
PPP (dial-up via modem for MAN)
RS-232c cable (LAN)
1. Physical layer Category 5 twisted pair (LAN)
V.92 (56 kbps modem)
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Emerging Trends in
Networking
Pervasive Networking
Integration of Voice, Video and Data
New Information Services
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Pervasive Networking
Means “Networks will be everywhere”
Exponential growth of Network use
Many new types of devices will have network
capability
Exponential growth of data rates for all kinds of
networking
Broadband communications
Use circuits with 1 Mbps or higher (e.g., DSL)
Copyright 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1 - 23
Relative Capacities of Telephone, LAN, BN,
WAN, and Internet Circuits.
Copyright 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1 - 24
Integration of Voice, Video &
Data
Also called “Convergence”
Networks that were previously transmitted using
separate networks will merge into a single, high
speed, multimedia network in the near future
First step largely complete
Integration of voice and data
Next step
Video merging with voice and data
Will take longer partly due to the high data rates
required for video
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New Information Services
World Wide Web based
Many new types of information services becoming available
Services that help ensure quality of information received over
www
Application Service Providers (ASPs)
Develop specific systems for companies such as providing and
operating a payroll system for a company that does not have one of
its own
Information Utilities (Future of ASPs)
Providing a wide range of info services (email, web, payroll, etc.)
(similar to electric or water utilities)
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Implications for Management
Embrace change and actively seek to use new aspects of
networks toward improving your organization
Information moved quickly and easily anywhere and anytime
Information accessed by customers and competitors globally
Use a set of industry standard technologies
Can easily mix and match equipment from different vendors
Easier to migrate from older technologies to newer technologies
Smaller cost by using a few well known standards
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Assignment1
A) There are three main types of network topologies
namely; star, ring and bus. As a network administrator, you
have been asked to produce a briefing document that
discusses each topology in terms of cabling cost, fault
tolerance, and data redundancy and performance as the
number of nodes increases (15 Marks)
B) There is a global trend towards adopting digital
communication as opposed to analogue systems. Analogue
data has therefore to be converted to digital data in a
process known as digitisation. Why is it advantageous to
digitise data?(15 Marks)
Copyright 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1 - 28
