Network Definition:

A network is consist of group of computer systems, servers, networking devices are linked
together over a shared communication path that works for the purpose of sharing resources ,
including a printer or a file server. The connections is established by using either cable media
or wireless media.

Some of the uses of computer networks are the following:

 Communicating using email, video, instant messaging, etc.

 Sharing devices such as printers, scanners, etc.
 Sharing files
 Sharing software and operating programs on remote systems
 Allowing network users to easily access and maintain information

Network Devices

Network devices or nodes are computing devices that need to be linked in the network. Some
network devices include:

 Computers, mobiles, and other consumer devices: These are end devices that users
directly and frequently access. For example, an email originates from the mailing
application on a laptop or mobile phone.
 Servers: These are application or storage servers where the main computation and
data storage occur. All requests for specific tasks or data come to the servers.
 Routers: Routing is the process of selecting the network path through which the data
packets traverse. Routers are devices that forward these packets between networks to
ultimately reach the destination. They add efficiency to large networks.
 Switches: Repeaters are to networks what transformers are to electricity grids—they
are electronic devices that receive network signals and clean or strengthen them. Hubs
are repeaters with multiple ports in them. They pass on the data to whichever ports are
available. Bridges are smarter hubs that only pass the data to the destination port. A
switch is a multi-port bridge. Multiple data cables can be plugged into switches to
enable communication with multiple network devices.

Transmission media

Transmission media which can be of two types:

 Wired: Examples of wired technologies used in networks include coaxial cables,

phone lines, twisted-pair cabling, and optical fiber. Optical fiber carry pulses of light
to represent data.
  Wireless: Network connections can also be established through radio or other
electromagnetic signals. This kind of transmission is called ‘wirelesses. The most
common examples of wireless links include communication satellites, cellular
networks, and radio and technology spread spectrums.

Types of Computer Networks

1. Personal Area Network (PAN)

2. Local Area Network (LAN)
3. Wide Area Network (WAN)

Personal Area Network (PAN):

PAN is the most basic type of computer network. This network is restrained to a single
person, that is, communication between the computer devices is cantered only to an
individual’s work space. PAN offers a network range of 10 meters from a person to the
device providing communication.

Examples of PAN are USB, computer, phone, tablet, printer, PDA, etc.

Local Area Network (LAN)

The Local Area Network (LAN) is designed to connect multiple network devices and systems within
a limited geographical distance. The devices are connected using multiple protocols for properly and
efficiently exchanging data and services.

In this network one can become a server serving all the remaining computers called clients.
Software can be stored on the server and it can be used by the remaining clients.
Without internet access, it is possible to connect all the workstations in a building with each
other locally. It is easy to share common resources like printers with LAN.
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
It is basically a bigger version of LAN. It is designed to extend over the entire city. MANs
extend beyond 100 KM. MANs are usually owned by large organizations to interconnect its
various branches across a city. MAN comprises combination of different hardware and
transmission media. It can be single network such as a cable TV network, or it is a means of
connecting a number of LANs into a larger network so that resources can be shared LAN to
LAN as well as device to device.
Wide Area Network (WAN):

The Wide Area Network (WAN) is designed to connect devices over large distances like
states or between countries. The connection is wireless in most cases and uses radio towers
for communication.

The WAN network can be made up of multiple LAN and MAN networks

Attributes of WAN Network:

 The speed of the WAN data transfer is lower than in comparison to LAN and MAN
networks due to the large distance covered.
 The WAN network uses a satellite medium to transmit data between multiple
locations and network towers.
Network Topology
Network Topology describes the way in which the computers or nodes are connected with
each other in a computer network. It is the arrangement of various elements (link, nodes,
etc.), including the device location and code installation of a computer network. In other
words, we can say that it is the physical layout of nodes, workstations, and cables in the
network.

Types of Network topologies:

BUS Topology

Bus topology is a network type in which every computer and network device is connected to
a single cable. All devices are connected to a common backbone. Maximum nodes that can
be attached are 30.
Features of Bus Topology
1. It transmits data only in one direction.
2. Every device is connected to a single cable.

Advantages of Bus Topology

1. It is cost effective.
2. Installation of device is easy.
3. Cable required is least compared to other network topology.
4. Used in small networks.
Disadvantages of Bus Topology
1. If backbone breaks then whole network fails.
2. It is difficult to isolate problems due to single cable.
3. If network traffic is heavy or nodes are more the performance of the network decreases.
4. Cable has a limited length.

STAR Topology

In this type of topology all the computers are connected to a single hub/switch through a
cable. This hub is the central node and all others nodes are connected to the central node.

Features of Star Topology

1. In this type, every node has its own dedicated connection to the hub.
2. The hub acts as a repeater for data flow.

Advantages of Star Topology

1. The performance is fast with few nodes and low network traffic.
2. The hub can be upgraded easily.
3. It is easy to troubleshoot, to setup and modify.
4. Only the failed node will get affected, and the rest can work smoothly.

Disadvantages of Star Topology

1. If the hub fails then the whole network is stopped because all the nodes depend on the hub.
2. It requires more cable length.
Ring Topology

 Ring topology is like a bus topology, but with connected ends.

 The node that receives the message from the previous computer will retransmit to the
next node.
 The data flows in one direction, i.e., it is unidirectional.
 The data flows in a single loop continuously known as an endless loop.
 It has no terminated ends, i.e., each node is connected to other node and having no
termination point.
 The data in a ring topology flow in a clockwise direction.
 The most common access method of the ring topology is token passing.
o Token passing: It is a network access method in which token is passed from
one node to another node.
o Token: It is a frame that circulates around the network.
Working of Token passing

 A token moves around the network, and it is passed from computer to computer until
it reaches the destination.
 The sender modifies the token by putting the address along with the data.
 The data is passed from one device to another device until the destination address
matches. Once the token received by the destination device, then it sends the
acknowledgment to the sender.
 In a ring topology, a token is used as a carrier.

Mesh topology

 Mesh technology is an arrangement of the network in which computers are

interconnected with each other through various redundant connections.
 There are multiple paths from one computer to another computer.
 It does not contain the switch, hub or any central computer which acts as a central
point of communication.
 The Internet is an example of the mesh topology.
 Mesh topology is mainly used for WAN implementations where communication
failures are a critical concern.
 Mesh topology is mainly used for wireless networks.
 Mesh topology can be formed by using the formula:
Number of cables = (n*(n-1))/2;

Where n is the number of nodes that represents the network.

Mesh topology is divided into two categories:

 Fully connected mesh topology

 Partially connected mesh topology
 Full Mesh Topology: In a full mesh topology, each computer is connected to all the
computers available in the network.
 Partial Mesh Topology: In a partial mesh topology, not all but certain computers are
connected to those computers with which they communicate frequently.