Computer Networks

Introduction
 Introduction
• Data Communication-
Exchange of information between two devices via
transmission medium.

Characteristics:
• 1. Delivery: System must deliver data to the correct
destination.
• 2. Accuracy: System must deliver the data accurately.
• 3. Timeliness: System must deliver data in a timely manner.
• 4. Jitter: It refers to the variation in the packet arrival time.
• Components: Data communication has five
components.
1. Message - It is the information to be communicated. Popular forms
of information include text, pictures, audio, video etc. that are converted
into different forms.
2. Sender - It is the device which sends the data messages. It can be a
computer, workstation, telephone handset etc.
3. Receiver - It is the device which receives the data messages. It can
be a computer, workstation, telephone handset etc.
4. Transmission Medium - It is the physical path by which a message
travels from sender to receiver. Some examples include twisted-pair wire,
coaxial cable, radio waves etc.
5. Protocol - It is a set of rules that governs the data communications.
It represents an agreement between the communicating devices. Without
a protocol, two devices may be connected but not communicating.
 Data Representation
• Data can be represented in different forms.
• Text.
• Numbers.
• Images.
• Audio.
• Video.
Data represented by sequence of bit pattern
following ASCII standard.
Data Flow
• Simplex mode: Data flow only in one direction. Its mean
in simplex if two devices are connected only one device will
send data, the other device will only receive data it can not
send.
• Half-Duplex mode: In this type of data flow, data will flow in
both directions but not at the same time. E.g,: If two devices are
connected both of them can send information to each other but not at the
same time. When one device will send data the other will receive it cannot
send back at the same time after receiving it can send data.
• Full Duplex mode: In Full Duplex data will flow
in both directions at the same time. For
Example: If two devices are connected in
communication both of them can send and
receive data at the same time.
 Network
• A Network is a set devices 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.
• Distributed processing: Most networks use
distributed processing, in which a task is divided
among multiple computers. Instead of one single
machine being responsible for all aspects of a
process, separate computer handles different
tasks.
 Computer Network
• A Computer Network is a set of 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.

Fig: A typical example of a Computer Networks

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• It is an interconnection of computers or devices across the
globe .

Fig: A network1
• It allows easy / efficient communication among individuals.

Fig: A network2
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• It facilitates access to shared resources.

Fig: A network3

• It allows remote access to machines/servers.

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 Network Criteria
• A Network must be able to meet a certain no.
of criteria. These are:
• Performance: Its evaluated by two metrics:
throughput and delay.
• Reliability: Frequency of message delivery
failure and the time it takes a link to recover
from a failure.
• Security: Protecting data from unauthorized
access and loss.
Network Connection Types
 Connection Topology
• BUS topology: Bus topology is a network type in which
every computer and network device is connected to single
cable.
 BUS topology
• Features of Bus Topology
• It transmits data only in one direction.
• Every device is connected to a single cable
• Advantages of Bus Topology
• It is cost effective.
• Cable required is least compared to other network topology.
• Used in small networks.
• It is easy to understand.
• Easy to expand joining two cables together.
• Disadvantages of Bus Topology
• Cables fails then whole network fails.
• If network traffic is heavy or nodes are more the performance of the network
decreases.
• Cable has a limited length.
• It is slower than the ring topology.
• RING Topology: It is called ring topology because it
forms a ring as each computer is connected to another
computer, with the last one connected to the first. Exactly two
neighbors for each device.
 RING Topology
• Features of Ring Topology
• A number of repeaters are used for Ring topology with large number of nodes, because if
someone wants to send some data to the last node in the ring topology with 100 nodes, then
the data will have to pass through 99 nodes to reach the 100th node. Hence to prevent data loss
repeaters are used in the network.
• The transmission is unidirectional, but it can be made bidirectional by having 2 connections
between each Network Node, it is called Dual Ring Topology.
• In Dual Ring Topology, two ring networks are formed, and data flow is in opposite direction in
them. Also, if one ring fails, the second ring can act as a backup, to keep the network up.
• Data is transferred in a sequential manner that is bit by bit. Data transmitted, has to pass
through each node of the network, till the destination node.
• Advantages of Ring Topology
• Transmitting network is not affected by high traffic or by adding more nodes, as only the nodes
having tokens can transmit data.
• Cheap to install and expand
• Disadvantages of Ring Topology
• Troubleshooting is difficult in ring topology.
• Adding or deleting the computers disturbs the network activity.
• Failure of one computer disturbs the whole network.
• STAR Topology: In this type of topology all the
computers are connected to a single hub through a cable. This
hub is the central node and all others nodes are connected to
the central node.
 STAR Topology
• Features of Star Topology
• Every node has its own dedicated connection to the hub.
• Hub acts as a repeater for data flow.
• Can be used with twisted pair, Optical Fibre or coaxial cable.
• Advantages of Star Topology
• Fast performance with few nodes and low network traffic.
• Hub can be upgraded easily.
• Easy to troubleshoot.
• Easy to setup and modify.
• Only that node is affected which has failed, rest of the nodes can work smoothly.
• Disadvantages of Star Topology
• Cost of installation is high.
• Expensive to use.
• If the hub fails then the whole network is stopped because all the nodes depend
on the hub.
• Performance is based on the hub that is it depends on its capacity
• MESH Topology: It is a point-to-point connection to
other nodes or devices. All the network nodes are connected
to each other.
 MESH Topology
• Features of Mesh Topology
• Fully connected.
• Robust.
• Not flexible.
• Advantages of Mesh Topology
• Each connection can carry its own data load.
• It is robust.
• Fault is diagnosed easily.
• Provides security and privacy.
• Disadvantages of Mesh Topology
• Installation and configuration is difficult.
• Cabling cost is more.
• Bulk wiring is required.