Course Introduction

Computer Networks
(KCS603)
What is a Network?
 What is a Computer Network?
• A set of computers which
are connected together.
• This can mean two
computers cabled together
on the same desk, or
thousands of computers
across the world.
• The connections can be
cables or wireless.
Advantages of Computer Networks
• Enables users to share hardware like
scanners and printers. This reduces costs by
reducing the number of hardware items
bought.
• Allows users access to data stored on
others' computers. This keeps everyone up-
to-date on the latest data
• Can share access to the Internet.
Advantages of Computer Networks

• Can even let users run programs that

are not installed on their own computers
but are installed elsewhere in the
network.
 reduces the effort for networks
administrators to keep programs configured
correctly and saves a lot of storage space.
 Network Categories
Network category is determined by its size,
ownership, the distance it cover and its
physical architecture.
 Local Area Networks
• A LAN is a Local Area Network.
This would include networks where the
computers are relatively close together.
So LANs would be within the same
office, a single building, or several
buildings close together.
Local Area Network Example 2
 Single-Building LAN
Used in business environments, links a
workgroup of task-related computer.
Multiple-building LAN
 LAN ( Local Area Network)
• Privately owned and links the devices in a
single office, building or campus
• LANs designed to allow resources to be shared
between PCs or workstations. The resources
may be H.W (e.g. printer) or S.W (applications
program) or data.
• In LANs one of the computers has a large
capacity drive and becomes a server to other
clients.
 LAN ( Local Area Network)
• S/W stored on server and used as needed by
the whole group.
• LAN size determined by licensing restrictions
(no of users per copy of S/W)
• LAN use only one type of transmission
medium.
• The most common LAN topologies are bus,
ring and star.
 LAN ( Local Area Network)
• Traditionally LAN have data rates in the 4 to
16 Mbps. Today Speed can reach to 100Mbps
or 1000MBps(1G).
MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
• Owned by private company or it may be a
service provided by public company ( such
as local tel.-company)
• Extended over an entire city.
• May be single network such as a cable
television network, or it may be connected
number of LANs into a large network so
that resources may be shared LAN-TO-
LAN.
MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

• Examples:
 Company can use MAN to connect
the LANs in all its offices throughout
the city.
 A part of the telephone line network
that can provide DSL line to the
customer
MAN
 Wide Area Network
• A WAN is a Wide Area Network,
which would be all networks too large
to be LANs.
• A WAN would be most useful for
large companies with offices or
factories in widely separated areas, like
Microsoft, IBM, Ford, AT&T, etc.
Wide Area Network Example 2
Home Computer Networks
 KCS603: Computer Networks
• Objective: Covering the necessary concepts in
communication networks, topics include: network
architicture, layering concepts, packet and circuit switching,
internetworing, TCP/IP protocol suite and network
applications.

• Prerequisites: Operating Systems

 Course’s TextBook
• Data Communication and
Networking, Behrouz
Forouzan, McGrawHill,
2006.
• Andrew Tanenbaum
“Computer Networks”,
Prentice Hall.
 Chapter 1
Introduction
• Data Communication
• Networks
• Protocols and Standards
• Standard Organizations

WCB/McGraw-Hill  The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1998

1.1 Data Communication
 Definitions
• Data: information presented in whatever form
is agreed upon by the parties creating and using
the data.
• Data Communication: exchange of data
between two devices via transmission medium
(wire cable / link).
• Data Communication System: Made up of a
combination of hardware (physical equipment)
and software (programs) to facilitate for
effective communication of data.
 Components of a Data
Communication System

Figure 1-1

Protocol: is a set of rules that governs data communications.

It represents an agreement between the communicating
devices. Without a protocol, two devices may be connected
but not communicating.
Characteristics of a Data Communication
System
Delivery : System must deliver data to correct
destination. Data must be received by only
intended device or user.
Accuracy: The system must deliver data
accurately
Timeliness: the system must deliver data in a
timely manner. Data delivered later are useless.
Jitter: Variation in the packet arrival time. It is
the uneven delay in the delivery of audio or
video packets.
 Data Flow
• Path taken by data within a device, network,
or organization, as it moves from its source
to its destination (a data repository or a data
user).
• Categorized by direction of flow:
Simplex
Half-duplex
Full-duplex
 Simplex
• Communication is unidirectional, one of
the two devices on a link can transmit; the
other can only receive (one-way street).
• Ex: keyboard (input), monitors (output)
 Half-duplex
Each station can both transmit and receive ,
but not at the same time. When one device
is sending the other can receive and vice
versa. (one-lane road with two direction).
 Full-duplex
• Both stations can transmit and receive
simultaneously. (two way street with traffic
flowing in both directions at the same time).
• Ex: telephone network.

Signals going in either direction share the capacity of the link in

two ways:
Either the link must contain two physically separate transmission
paths one for sending and the other for receiving.
Capacity of the channel is divided between signals traveling in both
direction
1.2 Networks
 Definitions
• A network is a set of devices (often
referred to as nodes) connected by
communication links.
• A node can be a host (such as a computer,
a laptop, a smart phone etc.) or a network
device (such as a switch, a router, etc.).
• A link is a communication pathway that
transfer data from one device to another.
 Network Criteria
• A network must be able to meet a
certain number of criteria.
 Performance
Reliability
Security
Figure 1-2

WCB/McGraw-Hill  The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1998

 Performance
• Can be measured in many ways!
– Transmit time: the amount of time
required for a message to travel from one
device to another.
– Response time: the elapsed time between
an inquiry and a response.
• Often evaluated by two networking
metrics: throughput and delay.
 Throughput
• Throughput is an important network metric
which is also known as bandwidth.
• The bandwidth of a network is given by the
number of bits that can be transmitted over
the network in a certain period of time.
• Depends on the network technology
(hardware capabilities) and therefore is
constant.
 Throughput Example
• A network might have a bandwidth of
10 million bits/second (Mbps),
meaning that it is able to deliver 10
million bits every second.
 Delay
• Also known as latency.
• corresponds to how long it takes a
message to travel from one end of a
network to the other.
• Latency is measured strictly in terms of
time.
• Effected by number of users and hence
may change from time to time.
 Delay Example
• A transcontinental network might have
a latency of 24 milliseconds (ms); that
is, it takes a message 24 ms to travel
from one end of North America to the
other.
Factors Affecting Performance
Type of transmission media,
Capabilities of connected H.W and
the efficiency of software.
Number of user
 Network Criteria
• A network must be able to meet a
certain number of criteria.
 Performance
Reliability
Security
 Reliability
• Accuracy of delivery.
• Measured by:
– Frequency of failures
– Time it takes to recover from a failure
– The network’s robustness in a catastrophe.
 Network Criteria
• A network must be able to meet a
certain number of criteria.
 Performance
Reliability
Security
 Security
• Many issues at the different layers!
• Examples:
– Protecting data from unauthorized access.
– Protecting data from damage.
– Implementing policies and procedures for
recovery from breaches and data losses.
 Network Configuration
• There are a number of ways that
computers can be connected together to
form networks.
• Physical attributes of a network
include:
Type of connection
Physical topology
 Type of Connection
• For communication to occure, two devices
must be connected in someway to the same
link at the same time.
• Two possible connections:
– Point-to-point
– Multipoint
 Physical Structures: Type of
connection
1. Point –to-point
Dedicated link between two devices. Most of them uses an
actual length of wire or cable to connect the two ends but
other options ,such as microwave satellite are possible.
 Physical Structures: Type of
connection
2. Multipoint
Is one in which more than two specific devices share a
single link
 Links
Each node needs one interface for each link.

point-to-point(a)

multiple-access
(b)

Geographical coverage and scalability are limited.

1/18/2006 CSCI 363 Computer Networks 50

 Network Configuration
• Physical attributes of a network
include:
Type of connection
Physical topology
Topologies
 Physical Topology
• Two or more links for a topology.
– The topology of a network refers to the
geometric representation of the
relationship of all the links and linking
devices (nodes) to one another.
• The term physical topology refers to the
way in which a network is laid out
physically.
 Physical Topology
• The way in which a network is laid out physically.
 Mesh Topology
• Every device has a dedicated point-to-point
link with every other device on the network.

• How many links do we need in a network with N nodes?

– Half duplex
- Full duplex

link carries traffic

only between the
two devices.
Fully connected mesh topology (for five devices)
• Every device has a dedicated point-to-point link to every other
devices
• Fully connected mesh network has n(n-1)/2 physical
connection to link n devices.
• Every device on the network must have n-1 input/output (I/O)
ports
 Advantages of a Mesh topology
• Privacy or security (every message travels
along a dedicated line, only the intended
recipient sees it. Physical boundaries
prevents other user from gaining access
the message
• eliminating the traffic problems The use
of dedicated links guarantees that each
connection can carry its own data load;
that can occur when links must be shared
by multiple devices.
 Advantages of a Mesh topology
• A mesh is robust. If one link becomes
unusable, it does not incapacitate the
entire system.
• Fault identification and fault isolation
easy. This enables the network manager to
discover the precise location of fault and
aids in finding its cause and solution.
Disadvantages of a Mesh topology
Related to the amount of cabling devices
and the amount of I/O ports required:
– Every device must be connected to every other
device, installation and reconnection are
difficult
– The sheer bulk of the wiring can be greater
than the available space can accommodate.
– The H.W required to connect each link (I/O
ports and cable) expensive.
Disadvantages of a Mesh topology
So a mesh topology is usually
implemented in a limited fashion( as a
backbone connecting the main
computers of a hybrid network that can
include several other topology
 Star topology
Each device has a dedicated point-to-point link only to a
central controller (hub)
Unlike a mesh , a star topology does not allow direct traffic
between devices, if one device want to send data to another ,
it send it to the hub, which send it to other device
• The star pattern connects
everything to a host computer,
a network switch, or a
network hub, which handles
the network tasks.
• All communications
between computers
go through the
host/switch/hub.
 Advantages of a Star topology
1. Easy to install and reconfigure and
less expensive
– each device need only one link and I/O
port to connect it to any other devices.)
2. Robustness:
– if one link fails, only that link affected
and other links remain active.
3. Identification and fault isolation
Disadvantages of a Star topology
• The dependency of the whole topology
on one single point, the hub. If the hub
goes down, the whole system is dead.
 Tree topology : Is a variation of star
- Not every device plugs directly into the
central hub. The majority of devices connect
to secondary hub that in turn is connected to
the central hub.
 Tree topology : Is a variation of star
The advantages and disadvantages of tree
topology are generally the same as those of star .
- The addition of secondary hubs bring more
advantage: allows for more devices to be
attached to a single central hub, therefore
increase the distance a signal can travel between
devices.
 Bus topology
•Multipoint connection. Acts as a backbone to
link all the devices in a network.
• The bus pattern connects the computer to the
same communications line. Communications
goes both directions along the line. All the
computers can communicate with each other
without having to go through the server.
 Bus topology

There is a limit on the number of taps a

bus can support and on the distance
between those taps
• As a signal travels along the backbone, it
becomes weaker
 Advantages of a Bus topology

Ease of instulation, use less cabling than

mesh or star.
-
 Disadvantages of a Bus topology
1. A fault in bus cable (break) stops all
transmissions even between devices on the
same side of the problem. The damaged area
reflects signals back the direction of origin,
creating noise in both directions
2. Reconnection
It can difficult to add new devices (adding
more require modification or replacement of
the backbone).
 Ring Topology
• Each device has a dedicated point-to-
point connection only with the two
devices on either side of it
• A signal is passed along the ring in one
direction from device until it reaches its
destination.
• The ring pattern
connects the
computers and other
devices one to the
other in a circle.
• There is no central
host computer that
holds all the data.
• Communication flows
in one direction around
the ring.
 Ring Topology
Each device in the ring incorporate as repeater
Repeater :regenerates the signal
 it receives a weakened signal, creates a copy,
bit for bit, at the original strength
 Ring Topology
Advantages:
• Easy to install and reconfigure.
Each device is linked only to its immediate neighbors. To add or
delete a device requires hanging only 2 connections
• Fault isolation is simplified :
A signal is circulating at all times (token) if one device does not
receive a signal within specified period, it can issue an alarm. The
alarm alerts the network operator to the problem and its location
Disadvantages
• Unidirectional traffic.
A break in the ring (such as disabled station) can disable the entire
network. This can be solved by use dual ring
 Advantages of a Ring Topology
• Easy to install and reconfigure.
Each device is linked only to its immediate
neighbors. To add or delete a device requires
hanging only 2 connections
• Fault isolation is simplified :
A signal is circulating at all times (token) if one
device does not receive a signal within specified
period, it can issue an alarm. The alarm alerts the
network operator to the problem and its location
Disadvantages of a Ring Topology
• Unidirectional traffic
A break in the ring (such as disabled
station) can disable the entire network.
This can be solved by use dual ring
A hybrid topology: a star backbone with
three bus networks
 Networks Models
• Computer networks are created by different
entities.
• Standards are needed so that these
heterogeneous networks can communicate.
• The two most know standards:
– OSI model: defines a seven layer network.
– Internet model: defines a five layer network.
 WAN (Wide Area Network)
• Provides long distance transmission of data, voice , image
and video information over large areas ( country or whole
world)
• In contrast to LAN, WAN may utilize public or private
communication equipments or combination.
 Interconnection of Networks:
Internetwork
An internet (small i) is two or more networks
that can communicate with each other.
 Internetworking
To interconnect two or more
networks, one needs a gateway or
router.
Host-to-host connectivity is only
possible if there’s a uniform
addressing scheme and a routing
mechanism.
Messages can be sent to a single
destination (unicast), to multiple
destinations (multicast), or to all
possible destinations (broadcast).

1/18/2006 CSCI 363 Computer Networks 82

1.3 The Internet
 Internet
• In mid of 1960: The Advanced Research Projects
Agency (ARPA) in the department of defense was
interested in finding a way to connect computers
so that the researchers they funded could share
their findings, to reduce costs and eliminating
duplication of effort.
 Brief History
• 1n1967
– ARPA presented its ideas for ARPANET, small
network of connected computers (mainframe).
• 1n 1969,
– ARPANET was reality. Four nodes at the UNV.
Of California,(at los angles and Santa Barba), univ.
of utah and SRI (Stand ford Research Institute
connected via IMPs computers to form a network.
Software called Network Control Protocol (NCP)
provided communication between the hosts.
 Brief History
• In 1972,
– Protocol to achieve end -to-end delivery of packets,
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP).
– Authorities made decision to split TCP into two protocols:
– IP: Internetworking protocol to handle datagram routing and
– TCP: responsible for higher-level-functions such as error
detection, segmentation and reassembly.
• Internet today
– Made up of many wide and local area networks joined by
connecting devices and switching stations. Today most end
users use the services of internet service providers (ISPs).
 Internet service providers
(ISPs)
• Hierarchical organization of the Internet
includes:
– International Internet Service Providers
– National Internet Service Providers
– Regional Internet Service Providers
– Local Internet Service Providers
Internet service providers
(ISPs)