INTRODUCTION TO

COMPUTER NETWORKS
V Sahana
XII A
12108
Computer Network
A computer network is a set of nodes like computers and networking devices that are
connected through communication for the purpose of communication
resources(hardware/software) among the users.
Networks are used to:
(Benefits of computer network) and sharing
• Facilitate communication through email / video conferencing / instant messaging or any
other mode.
• Share hardware devices like a printer or scanner
• Enable file sharing
• Share software or operating programs
• Share information
• Disadvantages of computer network Lack of robustness, security issue, cost of network
Types of network
1. Personal Area Network (PAN)– communication between two three
mobile devices or PC for personal purpose.
2. Local Area Network (LAN)– limited area (within building)
3. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)– within city
4. Wide Area Network (WAN)– within multiple city/state/ countries
1. Personal Area Network(PAN)
Spread in the proximity of an individual. Cover an area of a few meters'
radius. Set up using guided media(USB cable) or unguided media
(Bluetooth, Infrared). Owned, controlled, and managed by a single
person.
Examples: A network of devices such as computer, Phone, MP3/MP4
Player, Camera etc. Transferring songs from one cell phone to another is
a PAN of two phones. Transferring files from a PC to anMP3playeris a
PAN between the two.
2. Local Area Network (LAN)
LANs are the most frequently used/discussed networks.It is one of the
most common one of the simplest types of network.It is designed for
small physical areas such as an office, group of buildings.Any of different
types of topologies can be used to design LAN like Star, Ring, Bus, Tree
etc.
Characteristics of LAN
• private networks means no need of regulatory control.
• Operate at relatively high speed.
• Ethernet, Token ring etc type media access controls are used
• Connects computers in a single building, block or campus
Advantages of LAN
• Resource Sharing
• Software Applications Sharing
• Easy and Cheap Communication
• Centralized Data
• Data Security
• Internet Sharing
Disadvantages of LAN
• High Setup Cost
• Privacy Violations
• Data Security Threat
• LAN Maintenance Job
• Covers Limited Area
Examples
• A networked office building, school or home. Sometimes one building
can contain a few small LANs (Like some schools have independent
LANs in each computer lab.).
3. Metropolitan Area Network(MAN)
Spread within a city . Cover an area of a few kilometres to a few
hundred kilometres radius. Set up using all types of all guided and
unguided media. Owned and operated by a government body or a large
corporation.
Examples: A network of schools, or banks, or Government offices etc.
within a city. A MAN is usually formed by interconnecting a number of
LANs and individual computers.
4. Wide Area Network (WAN)
Slightly more complex than a LAN, a WAN connects computers across longer
physical distances. The Internet is the most basic example of a WAN,
connecting all computers together around the world. Because of a WAN’s vast
reach, it is typically owned and maintained by any single person or owner.
Characteristics of WAN
• Covers large distances(states, countries, continents).
• Communication medium like satellite, public telephone networks etc and
routers are used establish connection.
Examples: A network of ATMs, BANKs, National Government Offices,
International Organizations' Offices etc., spread over a country, continent, or
covering many continents.
Advantages of WAN
• Long distance business can connect on the one network.
• Shares software and resources
• Messages can be sent very quickly to wide range of nodes
• Hardware devices can be shared.
Disadvantages of WAN
• Need a good firewall to restrict unauthorized access
• Setting up a network can be an expensive, slow and complicated.
• Maintaining a network is a full-time job
• Security is a mazor issue when many different people have the ability
to use information
Network devices
Computer hardware devices which are used to connect computers,
printers, or any other electronic device to a computer network are
called network devices. These devices transfer data in a fast, secure and
correct way with some specific functionality over same or different
networks.
Some devices are installed on the computer, like Internal modem, NIC
card or RJ45 connector, whereas some are part of the network, like
router, switch, etc
Repeater
In a network signal travels a long distance in transmission media. Due
to resistance of media signal becomes weak. Repeater is a networking
device which regenerates the signal and forwards these signal with
more power
Modem
• Modem is short for Modulator Demodulator. It’s an electronic device
used to access the Internet that modulates carrier waves to encode
information to be transmitted and also demodulates incoming carrier
waves to decode the information they carry.Modulation means digital
to analog signal conversion and its vice versa is known as
demodulation.
HUB
HUB is used to connect multiple computers in a single LAN network of one workgroup.
Generally HUBs are available with 4,8,12,24,48 ports. When a hub receives signal on its
port, it repeats the signal and forwards that signal from all ports except the port on
which the signal arrived. In below diagram leftmost node try to send signal to rig
There are two types of HUB
Passive HUB:- It only forwards the signal on all ports without amplifying the signal.
Active HUB:- it forwards the signal with improvement in the quality of data signal by
amplifying it. That why such hubs need additional power supply.
Based on port type, there are two types of HUB:
Ethernet HUB :- All ports have RJ-45 connectors.
Combo HUB :- Several different types of connectors such RJ-45, BNC, and AUI available
as ports in such HUB.htmost node ,but signals are distributed to all ports(nodes).
Router
• Routers operate in the physical, data link and network layers. Router
is a networking device which chooses the best optimal path from
available pats to send the signals. It interconnects different networks.
The simplest function of a router is to received packets from one
connected network and pass them to second connected network.
Gateway
• A networking device capable to convert protocols so that two
different network architecture based system can communicate with
each other. It works as protocol convertor.
Hub Vs. Switch
• A hub works on the physical layer (Layer 1) of OSI model while Switch
works on the data link layer (Layer 2). Switch is more efficient than
the hub. A switch can join multiple computers within one LAN, and a
hub just connects multiple Ethernet devices together as a single
segment. Switch is smarter than hub to determine the target of the
forwarding data. Since switch has a higher performance, its cost will
also become more expensive.
Switch Vs. Router
• In the OSI model, router is working on a higher level of network layer
(Layer 3) than switch. Router is very different from the switch because
it is for routing packet to other networks. It is also more intelligent
and sophisticated to serve as an intermediate destination to connect
multiple area networks together. A switch is only used for wired
network, yet a router can also link with the wireless network. With
much more functions, a router definitely costs higher than a switch
Router vs Gateway
• Gateway regulates traffic between two dissimilar networks, while router regulator
traffic between similar networks. A router is a hardware device that forwards data
packets between computer networks. Routers perform the traffic directing functions
on the Internet.
• Connection In One Network With Router- For example, there are 30 computers
connected inside Network A. All these computers communicate with each other. In
this situation, no gateway is needed. Because a router with a routing table that
defines the hops within those 30 computers is enough.
• Connection Between Different Networks With Gateway- In another hand, we suppose
that there are two networks, that are Network A and Network B. Computer X from
Network A wants to send data to Computer Y from Network B, then there need to
have both a Gateway A and a Gateway B sothat the two networks will be able to
communicate
Network Topologies
• Structure of a network
The geometrical arrangement of computer resources, network devices along with
communication channel is known as Network structure or Network topology.
Topology can be physical or logical
• Physical Topology-physical layout of nodes and cables in the network.
• Logical topology- the way information flows between different components.
Types of Physical Network Topologies
• Star Topology
• Bus Topology
• Tree Topology
• Mesh Topology
The STAR Topology
A STAR topology is based on a central node which acts as a hub. In star
topology each node is directly connected to a Hub/Switch.
Advantages:
• Easy to troubleshoot
• A single node failure does not affect the entire network.
• Fault detection and removal of faulty parts is easier.
• In case a workstation fails, the network is not affected.
Disadvantages:-
• Difficult to expand.
• Longer cable is required.
Bus Topology
Bus topology is a topology for a Local Area Network (LAN) in which all the nodes are
connected to a single cable. The starting and ending point of cable is called
terminator.
ADVANTAGES
• It is easy to install.
• It requires less cable length and hence it is cost effective.
• Failure of a node does not affect the network.
DISADVANTAGES
• In case of cable or terminator fault, the entire network breaks down.
• Not suitable for large number of computers.
• At a time only one node can transmit data.
TREE Topology
Tree topology is a combination of bus and star topologies. It is used to combine multiple star
topology networks. All the stars are connected together like a bus.
Features of Tree Topology
• Ideal if workstations are located in groups.
• Used in Wide Area Network.
Advantages of Tree Topology
• Extension of bus and star topologies.
• Expansion of nodes is possible and easy.
• Easily managed and maintained.
• Error detection is easily done
Disadvantages of Tree Topology
• Heavily cabled.
• Costly.
• If more nodes are added maintenance is difficult.
• Central hub fails, network fails.
Mesh Topology
Mesh topology is a group of nodes which are all connected to each
other and many types of connections are possible in a mesh topology.
Advantage of Mesh Topology
• The arrangement of the network nodes is such that it is possible to
transmit data from one node to many other nodes at the same time.
• Fault is diagnosed easily.
Disadvantage of Mesh Topology
• Installation and configuration is difficult.
• Cabling cost is more.
• Bulk wiring is required.
Introduction to Internet
The Internet is a massive network of networks, a networking infrastructure. It
connects millions of computers together globally, forming a network in which any
computer can communicate with another computer as long as they are both
connected to the Internet. The World Wide Web, or simply Web is a way or medium
of accessing information over the Internet. It is an information sharing model that is
built on top of the Internet
The Internet emerged in the United States in the 1970s but did not become visible to
the general public until the early 1990s. By 2020, approximately 4.5 billion people, or
more than half of the world’s population, were estimated to have access to the
Internet”.
The Internet provides a capability so powerful and general that it can be used for
almost any purpose that depends on information, and it is accessible by every
individual who connects to one of its associated networks.
URL
• URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. A URL is nothing more than
the address of a given unique resource on the Web or address of a
website. The URL is an address that matches users to a specific
resource online, such as webpage.
WWW
The World Wide WEB (WWW), commonly known as the ‘Web’. It is an
information system where all the web resources are identified by
Uniform Resource Locator (URL). Tim Berners Lee invented the WWW
in 1989. He wrote the first web browser in 1990.
The World Wide WEB (WWW) or ‘Web’ is a collection of WebPages
found over the internet. Web browser uses the internet to access the
‘Web’.
Application of Internet
• Web 2.0 : The term web 2.0 is used to refer to a new generation of websites that are supposed
to let people to publish and share information online. It aims to encourage the sharing of
information and views, creativity that can be consume by the other users. E.g:Youtube
• The Main characteristics of web 2.0 are:
• Makes web more interactive through online social media web-based forums, communities,
social networking sites. ✓
• It is a website design and development world which aim to encourage sharing of information
and views, creativity and user interactivity between the users.
• Video sharing possible in the websites
Web 3.0: It refers to the 3rd Generation of web where user will interact by using artificial
intelligence and with 3-D portals. Web 3.0 supports semantic web which improves web
technologies to create, connect and share content through the intelligent search and the
analysis based on the meaning of the words, instead of on the keywords and numbers.
E-mail
• email (or e-mail) is defined as the transmission of messages over
communications networks. Typically the messages are notes entered
from keyboard and sent over internet using computer or mobile.
Chat
• Chat may refer to any kind of communication over the Internet that
offers a real-time transmission of text messages from sender to
receiver. Chat messages are generally short in order to enable other
participants to respond quickly.
Voip
• Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), is a technology that allows you to
make voice calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a
regular (or analog) phone line. VoIP services convert your voice into a
digital signal that travels over the Internet. If you are calling a regular
phone number, the signal is converted to a regular telephone signal
before it reaches the destination. VoIP can allow you to make a call
directly from a computer. Examples of Voip:-Whatsapp, Skype, Google
Chat etc.
Voip
Advantage of Voip:
• Save a lot of money.
• More than two people can communicate or speak.
• Supports great audio transfer.
• Provide conferencing facility.
• More than voice (can transfer text, image, video along with voice).
Disadvantages of Voip:
• Reliable Internet connection required.
• No location tracking for emergency calls.
Website
A website is a group of
• Web pages,
• Containing text
• Images and all types of multi-media files.
Difference between Website and
Webpage
Website Webpage
1. A collection of web pages which are grouped A document which can be displayed in a web
together and usually connected together in browser such as Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera,
various ways, Often called a "web site" or simply Microsoft Internet Explorer etc.
a "site."
2. Has content about various entity. Has content about single entity.

3. More development time is required. Less development time is required.

4. Website address does not depend on Webpage address depends on Website address.
Webpage address.
Difference between Static and Dynamic
webpage
Static Webpage Dynamic Webpage
The static web pages display the same content n the dynamic Web pages, the page content
each time when someone visits it. changes according to the user.

It takes less time to load over internet. Dynamic web pages take more time while
loading.

No Database used. A database is used in at the server end in a

dynamic web page.

Changes rarely. Changes frequently.

Web Server
a web server is a computer that stores web server software and a website's
component files (e.g. HTML documents, images, CSS style sheets, and
JavaScript files).
When client sends request for a web page, the web server search for the
requested page if requested page is found then it will send it to client with an
HTTP response. If the requested web page is not found, web server will the
send an HTTP response :Error 404 Not found.
The basic objective of the web server is to store, process and deliver web
pages to the users using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). Apart from HTTP,
a web server also supports SMTP (Simple Mail transfer Protocol) and FTP (File
Transfer Protocol) protocol for e-mailing, for file transfer and storage.
Web Hosting
Web hosting is an online service that enables you to publish your
website or web application on the internet. When you sign up for a
hosting service, you basically rent some space on a server on which you
can store all the files and data necessary for your website to work
properly.
A server is a physical computer that runs without any interruption so
that your website is available all the time for anyone who wants to see
it.
Web Browswer
A web browser, or simply "browser," is an application used to access
and view websites. Common web browsers include Microsoft Internet
Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari.
Add-ons
An Add-on is either a hardware unit that can be added to a computer to
increase the capabilities or a program unit that enhances primary
program. Some manufacturers and software developers use the term
add-on.
Examples of add-ons for a computer include card for sound, graphic
acceleration, modem capability and memory. Software add- ons are
common for games, word processing and accounting programs.
Plug-ins
A plug-in (or plugin, add-in, add-on) is a software component that adds
a specific feature to an existing computer program. When a program
supports plug-ins, it enables customization. Plug-ins are commonly
used in Internet browsers but also can be utilized in numerous other
types of applications.
Cookies
Cookies are small files which are stored on a user’s computer and
contains information like which Web pages visited in the past, logging
details Password etc. They are designed to hold a modest amount of
data specific to a particular client and website and can be accessed by
the web server or the client computer.
Cookies are stored in Hard-drive and are referenced by web browser.