Communication and Network Concepts

A computer network is a collection of interconnected

autonomous computing devices so as to exchange information
or share resources
Major Components of a computer network
are:
• Hosts/ Nodes
• Servers
• Client
• Network Hardware(NIC ,router,switch,hub,etc)
• Communication Channel(cables/ radio links,etc)
• Software(protocols,networks operating systems
• Network services(DNS,VoIP and many more)
Types of Networks based on Geographical
spread:
LAN,MAN,WAN,PAN
 Types of network based on Architecture /
Component Roles
Peer to Peer
Client server
 Evolution of networking
• 1969 – ARPANET
• 1980’s – NSFnet
• 1990’s - Internet
 How internet functions
• Data Flow on the Internet – YouTube
Internet is a uper network. It connects many smaller networks togather and
allows all the computers to excahnge info with each other.
To accomplish this all the computers on the internet have to use common set
of rules for communication. These rules are called protocols and the internet
uses a set of protocols called TCP/IP.
In internet, most computers arenot connected directly to the internet. Rather
they are connected through Gateways(it is a device that connects dissimilar
networks) to the Internet Backbone(It is a central interconnecting structure
that connects one or more networks just like the trunk of a tree or the spine
of a human being)
Interspace – It is a client/server software program that allows multiple users
to communicate online with real time audio,video and text caht in dynamic
3D environments
 Switching Techniques

• Circuit switching :- In this approach, there is a dedicated route between sender and
receiver. The dedicated route will continue until the connection is eliminated.
• Message switching :-it is an approach in which a message is sent as a whole unit
and routed by the intermediate hub at which it is saved and delivered. There is no
installation of a dedicated route between the sender and receiver in the message
switching approach. The destination location is added to the message. It supports
flexible routing as the message is routed by the intermediate hub based on its data.
• Packet switching :- Packet switching is a switching approach in which the
message is transmitted in one go, but it is split into the lower item, and
they are sent separately. The message divided into lower elements are
called packets, and these packets are provided with a specific number to
recognize their series at the receiving end. Each packet includes some data
in its headers, including source address, destination address and order
number
Switching Techniques - YouTube
 Transmission Media
• Channel is the medium used to carry information or data
from one point to another
• The unit of measurement of data carrying capacity of a
communication channel is BAUD
• BAUD is synonymous with bits per second
• Bandwidth – it is directly proportional to the data
transmitted or received per unit time.
• In digital systems, bandwidth is data speed in bits per
second(bps). Thus a modem that works at 57,600 bps has
twice the bandwidth of a modem that works at 28,800
bps.
Communication media can be guided or unguided. The guided
media includes cables and unguided media include waves
through air, water or vaccum.

GUIDED MEDIA
• Twisted pair cable
Shielded and Unshielded twisted pair cable.
• Coaxial cable
Thicknet and Thinnet coaxial cable
• Fibre optic cables
Note:- speed is up to 10gbps
Segment length- 100mts
Twisted Pair Cable
Note:- thicknet segments upto 500mts
Thinnet – 185 mts
Node capacity is 30 to 100 per segment
Coaxial Cable
Fibre optic cable
UNGUIDED MEDIA
• Micro wave
• Radio Wave
• Satellite
• Infrared
• Laser

Infrared :- less expensive, cannot penetrate through solids, used in short distances
for TV remotes, doors,wireless speakers,etc
Laser:- It can be adversely affected by weather, requires the use of a laser
transmitter and a photo sensitive receiver at each end. The laser tranmission is
point-point transmission typically between buildings.
 Network Devices
• Modem
• RJ-45
• NIC
• Hub
• Switch
• Repeater
• Bridge
• Router
• Gateway
• Wifi card
• Computer Network Devices - YouTube
Hub:- It works in the physical layer of the OSI model. It has multiple inputs and output
ports in which a signal introduced at the input of any port appears at the output of every
port except the original incoming port. A hub can be used with both digital and analog
data. Hubs do not perform packet filtering or addressing function, they send the data
packets to all the connected devices. It can send or receive info but cant do both at a time.
Repeater:- A repeater operates at the physical layer. Its job is to regenerate the signal over
the same network before the signal becomes too weak or corrupted so as to extend the
length to which the signal can be transmitted over the same network. An important point
to be noted about repeaters is that they do not amplify the signal. When the signal
becomes weak, they copy the signal bit by bit and regenerate it at the original strength. It
is a 2 port device.
Switch:- A switch is the better version of a hub. A switch is a data link layer device. The
switch can perform error checking before forwarding data, which makes it very efficient as
it does not forward packets that have errors and forward good packets selectively to the
correct port only.
NIC:- NIC or network interface card is a network adapter that is used to connect the
computer to the network. It is installed in the computer to establish a LAN. It has a unique
id that is written on the chip, and it has a connector to connect the cable to it. The cable
acts as an interface between the computer and router or modem. NIC card is a layer 2
device which means that it works on both physical and data link layer of the network
model. Ethernet card is a type of NIC card.
Router:- A router is a device like a switch that routes data packets based on
their IP addresses. The router is mainly a Network Layer device. Routers
normally connect LANs and WANs together and have a dynamically updating
routing table based on which they make decisions on routing the data packets.
Router divide broadcast domains of hosts connected through it.
Gateways:- A gateway, as the name suggests, is a passage to connect two
networks together that may work upon different networking models. They
basically work as the messenger agents that take data from one system,
interpret it, and transfer it to another system. Gateways are also called protocol
converters and can operate at any network layer. Gateways are generally more
complex than switches or routers. Gateway is also called a protocol converter.
Bridge:- It is also known as the bridging router is a device that combines
features of both bridge and router. A bridge is a network device that connects multiple
LANs (local area networks) together to form a larger LAN. The process of aggregating networks is
called network bridging. A bridge connects the different components so that they appear as parts of
a single network.
Bridges and gateways both are backbone devices of networking. The key difference
between the two networking devices is that a bridge connects two networks
together that operate under the same protocol whereas a gateway connects two
dissimilar networks together that operate according to different protocols.
 Network Topologies
A pattern of interconnection of nodes in a
network is called the Topology.
There are a number of factors to consider in
making this choice, the most important of which
are set out below:
Cost, Flexibility, Reliability
Point to Point
•Point-to-point topology is the easiest of all the network topologies. In this
method, the network consists of a direct link between two computers.
•Faster, less expensive, no need of network OS
•Can’t back up data, used for smaller areas and no security besides individual
permissions

Star Topology

In the star topology, all the computers connect with the help of a hub. This cable
is called a central node, and all other nodes are connected using this central
node. It is most popular on LAN networks as they are inexpensive and easy to
install. Only those nodes are affected that has failed.
If hub fails attached nodes are disables. Network performance depends on hubs
capacity.
Cost of installation is costly and damaged cable may bring down the network
Linear or Bus topology

• Bus topology uses a single cable( normally coaxial cable) which connects
all the included nodes. The main cable acts as a spine for the entire
network. One of the computers in the network acts as the computer
server. When it has two endpoints, it is known as a linear bus topology.
• Short cable length, simple wiring system, simple architecture, easy to
extend.
• Fault diagnosis and fault isolation is difficult
• Repeater configuration, Nodes must be intelligent to decide who can us
the network at any given time.
Ring or circular topology

• In a ring network, every device has exactly two neighboring devices for
communication purpose. It is called a ring topology as its formation is like a ring.
In this topology, every computer is connected to another computer. Here, the
last node is combined with a first one.
• This topology uses token to pass the information from one computer to another.
In this topology, all the messages travel through a ring in the same
direction(one direction).
• Easy to install and reconfigure.
• Adding or deleting a device in-ring topology needs you to move only two
connections.
• The troubleshooting process is difficult in a ring topology.
• Failure of one computer can disturb the whole network.
• Unidirectional traffic.
• In the ring, topology signals are circulating at all times, which develops
unwanted power consumption.
Tree Topology

• A variation of bus topology. The shape is that of an inverted tree with

central root branching and sub branching to the extremities.
• Tree topology is best suited for applications which have a hierarchial flow of
data and control.
•Tree topology is a very common network which is similar to a bus and star
topology.
• Failure of one node never affects the rest of the network.
• Node expansion is fast and easy.
• Detection of error is an easy process
• It is easy to manage and maintain
• If more nodes are added, then its maintenance is difficult
• If the hub or concentrator fails, attached nodes are also disabled.
Mesh Topology

It is excellent fro long distance networking because it provides extensive back-up,

rerouting and pass-through capabilities. Communication is possible between any
two nodes on the network either directly or by passing through.
The network can be expanded without disrupting current users.
No traffic problem as nodes has dedicated links.
• P2P links make the fault identification isolation process easy.
• It helps you to avoid the chances of network failure by connecting all the
systems to a central node.
• Every system has its privacy and security.
• Because of the amount of cabling and the number of input-outputs, it is
expensive to implement.
• It requires a large space to run the cables.
• Installation is complex because every node is connected to every node.
• It is expensive due to the use of more cables. No proper utilization of systems.
FOR SMALL LAN
Computers with NIC’s
Server, Hub,Network OS

FOR CONNECTING OFFICES and DEPARTMENTS

Client with NIC’s
Servers, Hubs,Switch,Network OS, Router(optional)

FOR CONNECTING DISPERSED OFFICE SITES

Client with NIC’s
Servers,Hubs, Switches, Routers at ech location for WAN
connections,cabling,WAN service(leased line/ ISDN(integrated digital services
network))
Network OS
REPEATERS are used for extending range for ex:- if you have to connect two
computers that are more than 100 meters apart you need repeater
Follow 80:20 rule for placing Server in a network
 Network Protocols

VoIP:- Voice over internet protocol enables voice communications over the
internet through the compression of voice into data packets that can be efficiently
tranmitted over data networks and then back into voice at the other end.
URL specifies the distinct address for each
resource on the internet. An internet address
which is character based is called a Domain
Name.
DNS:- The characters based naming system by
which servers are identified is also known as
DNS
Rules to solve case study problems
• Place server in a blk which has max no.of
computers( follow 80:20 rule)
• Use minimum cabling for layout
• Place a repeater only if the length of
connectivity is >= 100 mts
• Use either Star / Bus topology for the layout
• For fastest cable connection- fibre optic cable
• Hilly areas and long distances – Radiowave /
Satellite
1. For distance in mtrs – LAN, for distance in kms – WAN
2. Switch / hub
3. Optical Fibre
c) WAN
Size , types of networks DSL, amount, type and size of data packets