Computer Network – Part 1

Computer Network:
A computer network is an interconnection of two or more computers or computing
devices for the purpose of sharing data and/or resources among each other.

Node:
Each device that is a part of a network and that can receive, create, store or send data to
different network routes is called a node.

Packets:
Data in a network is divided into smaller chunks called packets.

Evolution Of Computer Network

ARPANET:

• ARPANET stands Advanced Research Projects Agency Network.

• It is the first network of computers.
• It was established by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of the United
States Department of Defense.
• The goal was to enable resource sharing between remote computers.
NSFNET:
• The National Science Foundation Network (NSFNET) was a program initiated by the
National Science Foundation (NSF) in the United States from 1985 to 1995.
• It served as a vital infrastructure that linked supercomputers, research centers, and
universities together, creating a robust and collaborative network.
Internet:
The Internet is a globally connected network system that facilitates communication
and data services through a vast collection of networks.

Types of Networks
Based on the geographical area covered and data transfer rate, computer networks are
broadly categorised as:
 PAN ( Personal Area Network)
 LAN (Local Area Network)
 MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
 WAN (Wide Area Network)

PAN (Personal Area Network) :

 It is a network formed by connecting a few personal devices like computers,
laptops, mobile phones, smart phones, printers etc.,
 All these devices lie within an approximate range of 10 metres.
 A personal area network may be formed by wired or wireless medium.

Local Area Network (LAN)

 A local area network is a computer network that interconnects computers,
mobiles, etc., within a limited area such as a campus or building.
 These types of networks can be extended up to 1 km.
 The connectivity is done by means of wires, Ethernet cables, fibre optics, or Wi-
Fi.
 Data transfer rate in LAN usually varies from 10 Mbps to 1000 Mbps.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

 Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is an extended form of LAN which covers a
larger geographical area like a city or a town.
 This kind of network can be extended up to 30-40 km.
 Data transfer rate is considerably less as compared to LAN
 Eg: Cable TV network, cable based broadband internet services

Wide Area Network (WAN)

 Wide Area Network connects computers and other LANs and MANs, which are
spread across different geographical locations of a country or in different
countries or continents.
 The Internet is the largest WAN that connects billions of computers,
smartphones and millions of LANs from different continents.

Network Topology:
The arrangement of computers and other peripherals in a network is called its
topology.
Common network topologies are
◦ Bus
◦ Star
◦ Tree
(i) Bus:
 In bus topology, each communicating device connects to a transmission
medium, known as bus.
 The bus forms the backbone of the network.

Advantages:
▪ It is easy to install
▪ It requires less cable length and hence it is cost effective
▪ It can be easily extended
Disadvantages:-
▪ The entire network shuts down if there is a failure in the central
cable or bus.
▪ Only a single message can travel at a particular time.
▪ Difficult to troubleshoot an error.
(ii) Star:
In star topology each communicating device is connected to a central
node, which is a networking device like a hub or a switch

Advantages:
▪ It is easy to install
▪ It is easy to diagnose the fault in Star topology
▪ It is easy to expand depending on the specifications of central
hub/switch
Disadvantages:
▪ Failure of hub/switch leads to failure of entire network
▪ It requires more cable length and hence its expensive.

(iii) Tree or Hybrid Topology:

It is a hierarchical topology, in which there are multiple branches and
each branch can have one or more basic topologies like star, ring and bus.
 Advantages:
▪ Eliminates network congestion.
▪ The network can be easily extended.
Disadvantages:
▪ Requires a large amount of hardware components and hence is
expensive.
▪ Installation and reconfiguration is very difficult.

Network Devices
 Modem
 Ethernet Card
 Hub
 Switch
 Repeater
 Router
 Gateway
 WIFI Card

Modem
 Modem stands for ‘MOdulator DEModulator’.
 Modem is a network device which converts analog signals to digital signals and
digital signlas to analog signals.
Ethernet Card
• Ethernet card, also known as Network Interface Card (NIC card in short)
• It is a circuit board mounted on the motherboard of a computer that provides a
dedicated network connection to the computer.
• It acts as an interface between computer and the network.
• Each NIC has a MAC address, which helps in uniquely identifying the computer on
the network.
RJ45
RJ 45 or Registered Jack-45 is an eight-pin connector that is used exclusively with
Ethernet cables for networking.

Hub:
 Hub is a network device which is used to connect multiple devices on a network
through wires.
 In a Hub, Data arriving on any of the lines are sent out on all the other lines.
 The limitation of Hub is that if data from two devices come at the same time, they will
collide.

Switch:(also called Intelligent Hub)

 A switch is a networking device which is used to connect multiple computers or
communicating devices.
 When data arrives, the switch extracts the destination address from the data packet
and looks it up in a table to see where to send the packet.
 Thus, it sends signals to only selected devices instead of sending to all.
 It can forward multiple packets at the same time.
 Hub Switch
It broadcasts the received data to all the It forwards the received data only to the
network devices connected with it. intended network device connected with it.
Its not an intelligent device It is an intelligent device
It can forward only one packet at a time It can forward multiple packets at a time.
Its inexpensive Its more expensive than Hub.

Repeater :

 Repeater is a network device which is used to amplify the signals.

 It regenerates the weak signal and makes them stronger so that it can travel longer
distances.

Router :

 A router is a networking device that forwards data packets between different

computer networks.
 It guides and directs the data packets to reach their intended IP addresses.
 It helps to choose the best rout for the data packets to reach the destination device.

Gateway:
 A gateway is a network device that connects two networks with different transmission
protocols together.
 Gateways serve as an entry and exit point for the data in a network.
 It acts as a connecting point for different networks
Wi-Fi Card:
• A Wi-Fi card (also known as a wireless network adapter or Wi-Fi adapter) is a hardware
component that adds wireless connectivity to your computer or device.
• It allows your system to connect to Wi-Fi networks for internet access, file sharing, and
other online activities.
Transmission Media

Transmission media are the links that carry messages between two or more
communicating devices.

Transmission can be classified as

(i) Guided or Wired Media:
There is a physical link made of wire/cable through which data in terms of
signals are propagated between the nodes.
(ii) Unguided or Wireless Media:
Data travels in air in terms of electromagnetic waves using an antenna
(i) Wired Transmission Media or Guided Media:

Three commonly used guided/wired media for data transmission are,

(i) Twisted pair
(ii) Coaxial cable, and
(iii) Fiber optic cable

Twisted-pair and coaxial cable carry the electric signals whereas the optical fiber cable
carries the light signals.

(A) Twisted Pair Cable :

• A twisted-pair consists of two copper wires twisted like a DNA helical structure
• The use of twisted configuration minimises the effect of electrical interference
from similar pairs close by.
• Twisted pairs are less expensive and most commonly used in telephone lines
and LANs.

These cables are of two types:

• Unshielded twisted-pair (UTP)
• Shielded twisted-pair (STP),
(B) Coaxial cable :
◦ It has a copper wire at the core of the cable which is protected by three layers of
material which are
• Insulating material.
• Outer conductor (usually a copper mesh).
• Plastic cover (Top most cover)
◦ It is better shielded and has more bandwidth than a twisted pair.
◦ Its shielded design allows to transmit data quickly, without interference of
environmental factors.
◦ They are used to carry signals of higher frequencies to a longer distance.

(C) Optical Fibre:

• The optical fiber cable carries data as light, which travels inside a thin fiber of
glass.
• A thin transparent strand of glass at the centre is covered with a layer of less
dense glass called cladding. This whole arrangement is covered with an outer
jacket made of PVC or Teflon.
• These cables have higher bandwidth which means higher data transfer rate.
• Signals can travel longer distances and electromagnetic noise cannot affect the
cable.
• Optic fibers are expensive and unidirectional.

(ii) Wireless
Transmission Media or
Unguided Transmission
Media :

• In wireless communication technology, information travels in the form of

electromagnetic signals through air.
• Based on the frequency range Wireless Transmission Media can be divided into 4
categories
◦ Radio waves
◦ Microwaves
◦ Infrared waves
Classification of transmission waves and their properties