Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg

Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

Unit I
Introduction

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

DATA COMMUNICATIONS
The term telecommunication means communication at a
distance. The word data refers to information presented
in whatever form is agreed upon by the parties creating
and using the data. Data communications are the
exchange of data between two devices via some form of
transmission medium such as a wire cable.
Effectiveness of data communication depends on
4 fundamental characteristics
1. Delivery
 2. Accuracy
3. Timeliness
4. Jitter
Subject: Computer Networks
 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

Figure 1.1 Components of a data communication system

1. Message (Information or Data)

2. Sender
3. Receiver
4. Transmission Media
5. Protocol

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

Figure 1.2 Data flow (simplex, half-duplex, and full-duplex)

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

Simplex
• The communication is unidirectional.
• Only one of the two devices on a link can transmit; the other can only
receive.
• Use the entire capacity of the channel to send the data in one direction.

Half-Duplex
• Each station can both transmit and receive, but not at the same time.
• When one device is sending, the other can only receive, and vice versa.
• Use the entire capacity for each direction of data transmission.

Full-Duplex(Duplex)
• Both stations can transmit and receive simultaneously.
• Used when both directions is required at all the time.
• The capacity of the channel must be divided between the two directions.

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

NETWORKS
A network is a set of devices (often referred to as nodes)
connected by communication links. A node can be a
computer, printer, or any other device capable of sending
and/or receiving data generated by other nodes on the
network. A link can be a cable, air, optical fiber, or any
medium which can transport a signal carrying
information.
Topics discussed in this section:
 Network Criteria
 Physical Structures
 Categories of Networks

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

Network Criteria
 Performance (Transmit & Response time)
Depends on Network Elements
Measured in terms of Delay and Throughput
 Reliability(frequency of failure)
Failure rate of network components
Measured in terms of availability/robustness
 Security
Data protection against corruption/loss of data due to:
Errors
Malicious users

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

_x0010_Physical Structures

 Type of Connection
 Point to Point - single transmitter and receiver
 Entire capacity of the channel used between two devices
 Multipoint - multiple recipients of single transmission
 The capacity of the channel is shared, either spatially(If several devices use the link
simultaneously) or temporally(If devices must take turns- timeshared connection).
 Physical Topology
 Connection of devices
 Type of transmission - unicast, mulitcast, broadcast

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

Figure 1.3 Types of connections: point-to-point and multipoint

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

Figure 1.4 Categories of topology

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

Figure 1.5 A fully connected mesh topology (five devices)

Application – connection of telephone regional offices

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

Mesh
 Every device has a dedicated(link carries only between two devices) point-to-
point link to every other device.
 For a mesh network with n nodes, we need n(n-1)/2 duplex-mode links
 To accommodate that many links, every device must have n-1
input/output(I/O) ports to be connected to other n-1 stations.
 Advantages:
 Dedicated link – eliminates traffic problem

 Robust – If one system becomes unusable, it doesn’t incapacitate the

entire system
 Privacy and security

 Fault identification and fault isolation are easy

 Disadvantages:
 Amount of cabling and the no of I/O ports

 Installation and reconnection are difficult

 Accommodate more space

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

Figure 1.6 A star topology connecting four stations

Application – LAN(Local Area Networks)

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

Star
 Each device has a dedicated point-to-point link only on a central controller,
usually called a hub.
 The devices are not directly linked to other devices – hence it does not allow
direct traffic between devices.
 The controller acts as an exchange: If one device wants to send data to
another, it sends data to the controller and then it relays the data to the other
connected device.
 In star, each device needs only one link and one I/O port to connect to any
other devices.
 Advantages:
 Less cabling needed

 Less expensive than mesh topology

 Robustness, fault identification and fault isolation are easy.

 Disadvantages:
 Dependency of the whole topology on a single point, the hub. If the hub

goes down, the whole system is dead.

Subject: Computer Networks
 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

Figure 1.7 A bus topology connecting three stations

Application – Ethernet LANs ( first LANs)

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

Bus
 Multipoint connection – One long cable acts as a backbone to link all the
devices in the network.
 Nodes are connected to the bus cable by drop lines(connection running
between the device and the main cable) and taps(connectors that either
splices into the main cable or punctures the sheathing of a cable to create a
contact with the metallic core).
 Advantages:
 Ease of installation

 Uses less cabling than mesh and star topologies

 Redundancy is eliminated – Only one backbone cable stretches through

the entire facility.

 Disadvantages:
 Difficult in reconnection and fault isolation

 Difficult to add new devices

 Does not Robust – if a fault or break in the bus cable, then it stops all

transmission.

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

Figure 1.8 A ring topology connecting six stations

Application – High Speed LANs

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks
Ring
 Each device has a dedicated point-to-point connection with only the two
devices on either side of it.
 A signal is passed along the ring in one direction, from device to device,
until it reaches the destination.
 Each device in a ring incorporates a repeater – regenerates the bits and
passes them along
 Advantages:
 Easy to install and configure

 Fault isolation is simplified – if one device does not receive a signal

within a period, it can issue an alarm. Then the alarm alerts the
network operator to the problem and its loction.
 Disadvantages:
 Unidirectional traffic

 A break in the ring can disable the entire network.

 This weakness is solved by a dual ring or a switch capable of closing off

the break.

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

Figure 1.9 A hybrid topology: a star backbone with three bus networks

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Department
Course of Applied
Code :(KCS- Computational
603) Course ScienceNetworks
Name:Computer & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

x0010_Categories of Networks
 Local Area Networks (LANs)
 Short distances
 Designed to provide local interconnectivity
 Common topologies – bus, ring and star.
 Data rates – 4 to 6 Mbps
 Speed – 100 or 1000 Mbps
 Wide Area Networks (WANs)
 Long distances
 Provide connectivity over large areas
 Switched WAN –X.25(ATM(Asynchronous Transfer Mode) netowrk),
Frame Relay
 Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs)
 Provide connectivity over areas such as a city, a campus
 Size- between LAN and WAN – high speed connectivity
 Telephone company network – DSL line, Cable TV network

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

Figure 1.10 An isolated LAN connecting 12 computers to a hub in a closet

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

Figure 1.11 WANs: a switched WAN and a point-to-point WAN

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

Figure 1.12 A heterogeneous network made of four WANs and two LANs

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

THE INTERNET
The Internet has revolutionized many aspects of our daily
lives. It has affected the way we do business as well as the
way we spend our leisure time. The Internet is a
communication system that has brought a wealth of
information to our fingertips and organized it for our use.
The internet is a collaboration of more than hundreds of
thousands of interconnected networks.

Topics discussed in this section:

Organization of the Internet
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

Figure 1.13 Hierarchical organization of the Internet

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

PROTOCOLS
A protocol is synonymous with rule. It consists of a set of
rules that govern data communications. It determines
what is communicated, how it is communicated and when
it is communicated. The key elements of a protocol are
syntax, semantics and timing

Topics discussed in this section:

 Syntax
 Semantics
 Timing

Subject: Computer Networks

 Department of Applied Computational Science & Engg
Course Code :(KCS- 603) Course Name:Computer Networks

x0010_Elements of a Protocol
 Syntax
 Structure or format of the data
 Indicates how to read the bits - field delineation
 Semantics
 Interprets the meaning of the bits
 Knows which fields define what action
 Timing
 When data should be sent and what
 Speed at which data should be sent or speed at which it is being
received.

Subject: Computer Networks