INTRODUCTION TO

COMPUTER NETWORKS
FORM 4
MKWICHI SECONDARY SCHOOL
DEFINITION OF IMPORTANT TERMS
• Node: is any device that is physically connected to a network.
It could be a computer, printer or data storage device.
• Client: This is a node that requests and uses resources available from
other nodes usually from a host computer. Usually it is a user’s
microcomputer.
• Host Computer: is any node in the network that gives out data to
other nodes. The node to which the host gives out data is called
a client and is usually a large centralized computer such as a
mainframe or a server.
DEFINITION OF IMPORTANT TERMS
• Network Operating system (NOS): This is the software that controls
and coordinates activities between computers and other devices
on the network.
• Protocol: is a set of technical rules for the transmission and receipt of
data between computers over a network.
Has also been described as “The languages that allow nodes to
communicate with each other over a network”.
• Sending and receiving systems need to use the same protocol unless a
gateway service sits between networks and translates from one to
another.
DEFINITION OF IMPORTANT TERMS
• Common protocols available include:
1. Transfer Control Protocol (TCP)
• TCP defines how data are transferred across the Internet to their
destination.
2. Internet Protocol (IP)
• IP defines how data are divided into chunks called packets for
transmission.
• It also determines the path each packet takes between computers.
DEFINITION OF IMPORTANT TERMS
• Any computer that is online must have an IP Address, that is
identifying number that enables any computer on the internet to find
any other computer on the network.
• The IP Address, also called Internet Address, consist of four sets of
numbers separated by periods for example, 123.456.78.90.
• Server: refers to a computer that supplies services or data to other
machines on a network.
• A server allows two or more computer users from different
workstations to have access to the same information.
TYPES OF SERVERS
1. File server
• This stores files and folders that are used by other machines on the
network.
• It can hold applications, text documents or a user’s My Docunents
folder.
• For security, many shared folders are housed on file servers.
2. Print server
• This is a computer that has a printer attached to it and shares the
printer for use on the network.
TYPES OF SERVERS
3. Application server
• This is a computer that has programs that also run on other computers
installed on it.
• Commonly shared applications by application server are databases
(database server) and e-mail clients.
4. Web server
• This computer hosts and manages websites for the Internet or an
intranet.
Note: Because of the need to manage heavy and burst-mode traffic while
maintaining security, a dedicated server is recommended.
TYPES OF COMPUTER NETWORKS
1. Local area network (LAN)
2. Metropolitan area network (MAN)
3. Wide area network (WAN)
4. Storage area network (SAN)
5. Personal area network (PAN)
Local Area Network (LAN)
• Is a computer network that spans a relatively small geographical area like in
one building or a school.
• A local area network is usually owned by one organization.
• Most local area network connect personal computers and server computers
on a small network.
• A server computer is a computer dedicated to servicing requests for
resources from other computers (workstations) on a network.
• Local area networks enable many users to share expensive devices, such as
laser printers, as well as data.
• Local area networks are capable of transmitting data at very fast rates, much
faster than data transmitted over telephone.
Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN)
• Is a network that covers a metropolitan area like a town or city.
• The metropolitan area network size typically covers a radius of between 5 to 50 km
• It is made up of many local area network in a metropolitan area.

WIDE AREA NETWORKS (WAN)

• Is larger than a metropolitan area networks and covers a large geographical area
such as a country, continent or the whole world.
• When it covers the whole world e.g the internet, it is sometimes referred to as a
global area network.
• It consists of many local area networks and metropolitan area network connected
together to form one large network.
Storage Area Network (SAN)
• Modern computing is moving from terminal or desktop computing
where processing power, data and programs are located either on a local
computer or server to cloud computing.
• In cloud computing processing power, data and programs can be located
somewhere on a network of powerful computers and simply accessed by
users.
• These networks of powerful computers that have powerful processors,
huge memories and data storage capacities form storage area networks
(SAN) that can be accessed from anywhere in the world using
computers, mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, laptops
• An example of a SAN is a data center.
Personal Area Network (PAN)
• In modern world, an average home will have a personal computer,
laptop, mobile phone, smartphone, tablet, hifi system etc.
• These devices come with technologies that make it possible to
interconnect them at home.
• One such technology is Bluetooth which interconnect a laptop to a
mobile phone and tablet in order to exchange data like pictures,
music etc.
• This type of network set up is called a personal area network (PAN)
or a home area network (HAN).
NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
• Refers to the way in which computers and other devices have been
arranged.
Or
• How data is passed from one computer to another in the network.
 Therefore network topology can be viewed in two ways namely
a. Logical and
b. Physical
Logical Topology
• Is also called signal topology deals with the way data passes from one
device to the next on the network.
• Examples of logical topologies are Ethernet and token ring.
ETHERNET TOPOLOGY
• In Ethernet topology, all computers listen to the network media and can
only send data when none of the others is sending.
• Sending of data uses broadcasting technology i.e. place the data on the
common bus and all the computers connected to the bus can “see” it.
• However the data has the address of the recipient and only this
computer picks the message from the bus.
TOKEN RING TOPOLOGY
• In token ring topology, a special package for data called a token goes
around the network in a unidirectional manner.
• The token can be taken up by the computer whose address is on the
data held in the token.
• After taking it, the computer reads the data and then release the
token.
• The token can then be captured by another computer which needs to
transmit data.
PHYSICAL TOPOLOGY
• Refers to the physical layout or arrangement of components on the
network.
• Examples of physical topologies include:
 Point – to – point topology
 Star
 Bus
 Ring
 Mesh
 Tree/hierarchical topology
Point – to – point topology
• Point – to – point topology is the simplest, consisting of two
connected computers.
• Thus, the network contains exactly two hosts (computer, switch,
router or server) connected back to back using a single piece of cable.
• The receiving end of one host is connected to the sending end of the
other host and vice versa.
Diagram
Star Topology
• All devices are connected to a central hub.

• Nodes communicate across the network by passing data through the hub.
• When the hub receives data from a transmitting computer, it broadcasts the
message to all the other nodes on network.
 Advantages of Star Topology
• It allows centralization of key networking resources like concentrators
and servers.
• It gives the network administrator a focal point for network
management.
• Star networks are easy to configure
Disadvantages of Star Topology
• Is costly because it requires one complete cable per computer
• If the central hub fails, the entire network will be down
• Installation time consuming because each node forms a segment of its
own.
 Bus Topology
• All devices are connected to a central cable called the bus or backbone.

• The cable can carry only one message at a time and each workstation
on the network must be capable of knowing when it can and cannot
transmit using this shared medium.
 Bus Topology
• A terminator is attached to each end of the cable to avoid signals
from bouncing back and forth on the cable causing signal distortion.
• As the data passes along the cable, each station checks whether the
data is addressed to it.
• If the address matches the machines address, it receives the data
otherwise it rejects it.
• The network addresses of computers on a local area network is called
the medium access control (MAC)
 Advantages of Bus Topology
• It is easy to install
• It is less costly. Does not require a complete cable length per computer.
• Reliable
Disadvantages of Bus Topology
• A cable break in any section brings down the whole network
• Troubleshooting a cable fault is difficult because the fault could be anywhere
on the cable.
• Limits the number of computers that can be connected to the cable because
each computer is listening to the cable in order to transmit. An increase in the
number of computers results in an increased collision as messages compete
for transmission
Ring Topology
• All devices are connected to one another in the shape of a closed loop
as shown below.

• Each station is responsible for regenerating and retransmitting signals

around the network to its neighbor.
• A token is used to exchange data from one station to another.
Ring Topology
• A token can be viewed as an envelope or a bag where data is placed
for transmission and carried around the network.
ADVANTAGES
• They use a short length cable hence are cheap
• Ring topology is simple to install.
DISADVANTAGES
• If one component breaks down, the entire network does not work
• Adding or removing components from the network requires extensive
rewiring.
Disadvantages of Ring Topology
• Data transfer is slower than other topologies such that the maximum
amount of data transferred is 10 mbps (Megabytes per second)
• The overall length of each segment is limited by the type of cables
used.
• Trouble shooting can be difficult.
Mesh Topology
• This is the most common type of topology used in wide area network
where there are many paths between different locations.
• Devices are connected with many redundant interconnections
between the nodes.
• In a true mesh topology every node has a connection to every other
node in the network.
Mesh Topology
Mesh Topology
ADVANTAGES
• The network can still operate even when a node breaks down or a
connection breaks.
• The network is reliable
DISADVANTAGES
• It is expensive on cable due to redundant links
• Administration of the network is difficult because of the peer to peer
connections.
Tree/Hierarchical Topology
• This is a hybrid topology.
• Groups of star-configured networks are connected to a linear bus
backbone.