All of you have used computer networks.

What is a computer network?

1

Computer Network
Multiple computers that are connected together to share information and other resources

Examples of Computer Network Usage

I can send an eMail message to a remote computer using the SMTP protocol I can browse documents residing on a remote computer using the HTTP protocol I can download or upload files to a remote computer using the FTP protocol I can run a program on a remote computer using the TELNET protocol

Computer A

Computer E

Example of a Computer Network

Computer D

Hub

Computer B

Computer C
4

Types of Computer Networks

according to the network access policy

Private

Public

Private Networks (1)

Organizations having many computers usually connect them in the form of private networks Access to these network is restricted to authorized computers only

Private Networks (2)

This allows computers from within the organization to exchange info, but keeps the info private and protected from outsiders

All equipment on a private network is generally for the exclusive use of that organization

Public Networks
All networks that are not private, are public Example: Internet

Communication equipment used in these networks is generally being used by users belonging to several (possibly thousands of) organizations as well as those belonging to no organization
8

Types of Computer Networks

according to the distance between nodes

LAN: Local Area Network. WAN: Wide Area Network.

MAN: Metropolitan Area Network.
9

LAN
A network of computers located in the same building or a handful of nearby buildings Examples:
Computer network at your PVC Computer network of a University campus

10

WAN
A network in which computers are separated by great distances, typically across cities or even continents May consist of several interconnected LANs Example:
The network connecting the ATM of a bank located in various cities A network connecting the local and oversea offices of a SW house 11 Internet

MAN

12

Connecting LANs to other Networks

Special-purpose devices are used to link LANs to other networks They may belong to one of the following categories:
Routers Bridges Gateways Modems
13

Router
A special-purpose computer that directs data traffic when several paths are available A router examines the destination info in each arriving packet and then routes it through the most efficient path available The router either delivers the packet to the destination computer across a local network or forwards the packet to another router that is 14 closer to the final destination

Bridge
Used to form a connection between two separate, but similar networks In a way, it creates an extended LAN by passing information between two or more LANs

15

Gateway
A special-purpose computer that connects and translates between networks that use different communications protocols

LANs may use a gateway (or router) to connect to the Internet

16

Modem (1)
I/O device used for connecting two computers over telephone lines modem = modulator + demodulator

17

Modem (2)
Modulator converts computer messages to electrical pulses that are suitable for transmission over the telephone lines

Demodulator converts electrical pulses received over telephone lines into messages that are comprehensible for computers

18

Network Topologies
The pattern in which computers are connected to form a network Popular patterns:
Point-to-point Star Bus Ring

Networks are also formed by combining 2 or 19 more of these 4 basic patterns

P2P

Computer A

Computer B

20

P2P
Inexpensive Limited connectivity

Quite often used for connecting two LANs to form a WAN

21

Computer D

Star

Computer A

Server

Computer C

Computer B
22

Star (1)
A computer sends the address of the intended receiver and the data to the server The server then sends the message to the intended receiver This topology allows multiple messages to be sent simultaneously
23

Star (2)
Costly, because it uses an additional computer to direct the data Costly, because each node is individually wired to the hub If the server goes down, so does the network If any of the nodes goes down, the rest of the 24 network is not affected

Computer A

Computer C

Bus

Bus: A high speed cable

Computer B

Computer D
25

Bus (1)
No server is required One computer sends data to another by broadcasting the address of the receiver and the data over the bus All the computers in the network look at the address simultaneously, and the intended recipient accepts the data
26

Bus (2)
A bus network, unlike ring or star networks, allows data to be sent directly from one computer to another However, only one computer at a time can transmit data. The others must wait to until the bus gets idle If any of the nodes goes down, the rest of the network is not affected 27

Computer D

Ring

Computer A

Computer C

Computer B
28

Ring (1)
No server is required A computer sends the message to its neighbor. The neighbor examines the message to determine if it is the intended recipient If the data are not intended for that particular neighbor, it passes the message to the next computer in the ring
29

Ring (2)
This process is repeated until the data arrive at their intended recipient This topology allows multiple messages to be carried, simultaneously Data transmission is slow since each message is checked by each computer
30

Ring (3)
New nodes are difficult to add Messages propagate in one direction only

The network fails if a single node fails

31

Computer A

Combination

Computer B

Hub

Computer D

Computer C

Hub

Computer E

Computer 32 F

Types of Communication Channels

1. Wire 2. Wireless
A key characteristic of these channels is bandwidth

33

Bandwidth
Capacity of a communication channel for carrying data Measured in bits/s (bps), kb/s, Mb/s, Gb/s, Tb/s Optical fiber channels have the highest (1 Tb/s) Telephone lines the lowest (56 kb/s)
34

Types of Communication Channels

Wireless
Line-of-sight
Microwave Optical

Wire
Copper
Twisted-pair Coaxial cable

Non-line-of-sight
Satellite Radio Cellular

Optical fiber
35

Wireless (Radio) LANs Are Becoming Popular

Key benefits:
Set-up time Set-up cost Maintenance cost Cost Key challenges: Security & privacy Quality of service Cost
36