NETWORK COMMUNICATION

DEVICES

A Network communication device is

a device that can be used to move
information from one system to
another within the same network or
different types of network.
In simple terms we can say
communication devices are the
machines that assist in transmission
of data.
There are various
communication devices in
computer networks, which
help in data transmission are

1.Network Interface Card

2.Hub
3.Switch
4.Router
5.Bridge
6.Gateway
7.Brouter
NIC:
NIC is a very important component of the
computer system without which a computer
cannot be connected over a network.

Adapter card or simply a network card

Most of the computer systems have built-in
network card.

In addition to providing the physical connection

to the networks, NIC also prepare the data so
that it can transmit through the network cable.

NIC transmit and receive data frame, so they

have built-in buffers the enable them to store
data arriving either from the computer or from
the network until a frame is complete and ready
Network Interface Card
Hub
A hub is basically a multiport
repeater. A hub connects multiple
wires coming from different
branches, for example, the
connector in star topology which
connects different stations. Hubs
cannot filter data, so data packets
are sent to all connected devices.
Also, they do not have intelligence to
find out best path for data packets
which leads to inefficiencies and
wastage.
Switch

• Switch is a small hardware device

that joins multiple computers
together within one local area
network LAN.
• A switch is a kind of multiple port
connecting device which filters the
incoming data packet and sends it
towards correct destination
through network.
•Switch is considered as more
advanced than hub because it
sends message to the requested
device only.
ROUTER

A router is Another network

communication device that
forwards data packets from one
network to another. 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.
In homes or small offices , a
wireless router is commonly used
to direct traffic to and from
Bridge
A bridge is used to create segments in
a network. Bridge reduce amount of
traffic on LAN by dividing it into two
segments.
Example : office with departments
A bridge connect departments that
transfers data regularly while separate
the others that are not. A bridge checks
if the destination computer is port of its
segment before sending. If it is not
drops signal.
A Bridge connect similar type
of network segments
Gateway

A gateway, as the name suggests, is

a passage to connect two networks
together that different network
protocols. They basically works as the
messenger agents that take data
from one system, interpret it, and
transfer it to another system.
Gateways are also called protocol
converters. Gateways are generally
more complex than switch or router.
Brouter

It is also known as bridging router

is a device which combines
features of both bridge and router.
Working as router, it is capable of
routing packets across networks
and working as bridge, it is
capable of filtering local area
network traffic.
Repeater

A repeater 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.
Repeaters do not amplify the signal.
When the signal becomes weak,
they copy the signal bit by bit and
regenerate it at the original
strength.
Physical communication media
Physical communication media or communication channel are
the transmission media through which information is
transmitted between the computers in a network. It is the
medium that carry the information from sender to receiver.
1.Guided / bounded/ wired Media
2.Unguided/ unbounded/ wireless media
Guided/ Bounded/ Wired media:
The guided media is a media that guides the data signal along a
specific path. In this transmission media, the transmission
speed depends upon the distance and whether the medium is
point to point or multipoint.
The three guided transmission media commonly used for data
transmission are
1. Twisted pair cable 2. Coaxial cable 3. Fiber-optic cable
1. Twisted Pair cable
 This is one of the most common transmission media used
in local telephone communication and short distance
digital data transmission up to about 1Km.
 A twisted pair cable is made up of two plastic insulated
copper wires twisted together to form a single
communication link.
 Insulated copper wire is are twisted on each other to
reduce interference by adjacent wire.
Characteristics of twisted pair cable
 It may be used for transmitting either analog and digital
signal
 Upto 1000 cables can be accommodated
 Low bandwidth
 Repeater is required for every 2 to 3 kms
 Inexpensive and easy to install
 Frequency range 0 to 3.5 KHz
Applications of twisted pair cable
Support digital signaling
Commonly used in the Telephone Network
Support personal computers within Local area network
2. Coaxial Cable
A coaxial cable also uses two wires of copper. PVC Insulation
is used surrounding the central copper wire. The signal is
transmitted by the inner copper wire.
Characteristics of coaxial cable
It is used to transmit both analog and digital signals
Frequency ranges between 100KHz to 500 MHz
Repeater is required every 1 to 9 km
Extensively used in long distance telephone lines and as
cables in closed TV circuits
The more expensive than twisted pair wiring
Less loss of signal
Moderate bandwidth.
Applications of coaxial cable
 Long distance telephone transmission
 Distribution of television signals to individual
cable TV at home
 Support digital signaling
3. Fiber optic cables
Fiber optic cables are made of glass or transparent plastic.
Fiber optic works on the properties of light i.e it uses light to
transmit information.
It comes in two modes , Single mode fiber can carry a single
Ray of light whereas multimode is capable of carrying
multiple beams of light.
Cylinder shape consists of three concentric sections
1. The core 2. The cladding and 3. The jacket
Each core surrounded by its own cladding made up of glass
or plastic. The jacket is composed of plastic and other
material layer to protect against moisture, crushing and other
environmental damage.
Only cable data is transmitted as pulses of light which passes
through the cable. These cables are secured and transmit large
volumes of data over long distance
Characteristics of Optical Fiber
 Transmission of signal is at very high speed
 The use of optical fibers is very cost effective
 Repeater is required every 120 kilometre
 High bandwidth
 smaller size and lighter weight
 Noise level is low
Applications of Optical Fiber
 Long distance telephone transmission
 Local area network
 Rural exchange trunks
 Metropolitan trunks
 Twisted Pair Coaxial Cable Optical fiber
 Transmission of  Transmission of signal  Transmission of signal
signal takes place in takes place in takes place in light
electrical form electrical form form
 Signal Travels over
metallic conducting  signal Travels over  Signal Travels over a
wire inner conductor of the glass fiber
 Affectedd by cable  Not affected by
external magnetic  Less affected by external magnetic
field external magnetic field field
 offers low because of foil  Offers very high
bandwidth  Offers moderately bandwidth
bandwidth
 Attenuation is very  Attenuation is very low  Attenuation is very
high high
 Electromagnetic  EMI is less due to  EMI is not present
interface EMI exist shielding
 Support load data  Supports
rate  Supports high data veryhighdata rates
 Cost is very low rate  Cost is quite
 Offer low security  Cost is moderate expensive
 Easy to install  Offers low security  Offer high security
 Noise immunity is  Easy to install  Difficult to install
Unguided/ Unbounded /Wireless transmission media
Unguided media is a media that does not contain any
conducting material or media to carry data signal.
Transports electromagnetic signal through air.
Transmission and reception are achieved by antenna.
The four and guided transmission used for data
transmission are
1. Radio wave transmission
2. Microwave transmission
3. Satellite transmission
1. Radio wave transmission
In this transmission media, radio waves are used for
transmission purpose. These rays are electromagnetic in
nature and are not disturbed by external electric and magnetic
fields. This waves suffer from security and low rate of data
transfer.
Characteristic of radio wave transmission
 Radio Waves are unidirectional
 With radio waves transmission, transmitter and receiver
need not to be aligned
 They have frequencies between 3 KHz to 1 GHz
 These are more flexible, less expensive and allow portable
work stations.
 It is widely used in broadcast communication.
 They are less sensitive to attenuation from rainfall
Applications of Radio Waves Transmission
 Broadcast radio signals i.e (FM radio).
 Broadcast Television Signals.
 Cordless telephones
 Cellular phones
 Wireless LAN
1. Microwave Transmission
Microwaves are high frequency electromagnetic in nature.
These waves are transmitted by antennas placed on local
peaks, such as the tops of buildings. They cannot bend or
pass obstacles like hills etc. so transmitters and receivers
should be in a line of sight.
Characteristics of Microwave transmission
 Unidirectional
 Used for both voice and television transmission
 Transmission rate very high
 Attenuation increases with rainfall
Applications of Microwave Transmission
 Point to point links between buildings.
 Cellular phones
 Satellite communication
1. Satellite transmission
Both microwave signals and telephone signals can be relayed
to an earth station for transmission to a communication
satellite. The earth station consists of satellite dish that
functions as an antenna and communication equipment to
transmit and receive data from satellites passing overhead.
These satellites are launched by rockets or space shuttles.
Characteristics of Satellite transmission
 Frequency range from 1 t0 10GHz
 The satellite receives transmission on one frequency
band called uplink, amplify the signal, and transmit it
to another frequency called downlink.
Applications of Satellite Transmission
 Television distribution.
 Long distance telephone transmission
 Weather forecasting
 Remote sensing
Application Layer
This layer is responsible for providing interface to the
application user. This layer encompasses protocols which
directly interact with the user.
Presentation layer
This layer defines how data in the native format of remote
host should be presented in the native format of host.
Session layer
This layer maintains sessions between remote hosts. For
example, once user/password authentication is done. The
remote host maintains this session for a while and does not
ask for authentication in that time span.
Transport layer
This layer is responsible for end-to-end delivery
between hosts.
Network layer
This layer is responsible for address assignment and
uniquely addressing hosts in a network
Data link Layer
This layer is responsible for reading and writing data
from and onto the line. Link errors are detected at this
layer.
Physical layer
This layer defines the hardware, cabling, wiring,
power output etc.
TCP/IP MODEL