Computer Networks

A computer network is a system for communicating between two or more computers and associated devices. It is an interconnection of computers for the purposes of sharing information and resources. A popular example of a computer network is the internet, which allows millions of users to share information Computer networks can be classified according to their size: Personal area network (PAN) Local area network (LAN) Metropolitan area network (MAN) Wide area network (WAN)

An example of a network

Router Hub Bridge Hub

Segment Node

Internet

Personal Area Network

A PAN is a network that is used for communicating among computers and computer devices (including telephones) in close proximity of around a few meters within a room It can be used for communicating between the devices themselves, or for connecting to a larger network such as the internet PANs can be wired or wireless PANs can be wired with a computer bus such as a universal serial bus: USB (a serial bus standard for connecting devices to a computer, where many devices can be connected concurrently) PANs can also be wireless through the use of bluetooth (a radio standard designed for low power consumption for interconnecting computers and devices such as telephones, printers or keyboards to the computer) or IrDA (infrared data association) technologies

Local Area Network

A LAN is a network that is used for communicating among computer devices, usually within an office building or home LANs enable the sharing of resources such as files or hardware devices that may be needed by multiple users Is limited in size, typically spanning a few hundred meters, and no more than a mile Is fast, with speeds from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps Requires little wiring, typically a single cable connecting to each device Has lower cost compared to MANs or WANs

Major Characteristics of LAN

every computer has the potential to communicate with any other computers of the network high degree of interconnection between computers easy physical connection of computers in a network inexpensive medium of data transmission high data transmission rate

Advantages
The reliability of network is high because the failure of one computer in the network does not effect the functioning for other computers. Addition of new computer to network is easy. High rate of data transmission is possible. Peripheral devices like magnetic disk and printer can be shared by other computers.

Disadvantages
If the communication line fails, the entire network system breaks down.

Use of LAN
Followings are the major areas where LAN is normally used  File transfers and Access  Word and text processing  Electronic message handling  Remote database access  Personal computing  Digital voice transmission and storage

Wide Area Network



The term Wide Area Network (WAN) is used to describe a computer network spanning a regional, national or global area. For example, for a large company the head quarters might be at Delhi and regional branches at Bombay, Madras, Bangalore and Calcutta. Here regional centers are connected to head quarters through WAN. The distance between computers connected to WAN is larger. Therefore the transmission medium used are normally telephone lines, microwaves and satellite links.

Characteristics ofWAN. WAN Followings are the major characteristics of



Communication Facility: For a big company spanning over different parts of the country the employees can save long distance phone calls and it overcomes the time lag in overseas communications. Computer conferencing is another use of WAN where users communicate with each other through their computer system. Remote Data Entry: Remote data entry is possible in WAN. It means sitting at any location you can enter data, update data and query other information of any computer attached to the WAN but located in other cities. For example, suppose you are sitting at Madras and want to see some data of a computer located at Delhi, you can do it through WAN. Centralised Information: In modern computerised environment you will find that big organisations go for centralised data storage. This means if the organisation is spread over many cities, they keep their important business data in a single place. As the data are generated at different sites, WAN permits collection of this data from different sites and save at a single site.

Examples of WAN


Ethernet: Ethernet developed by Xerox Corporation is a famous example of WAN. This network uses coaxial cables for data transmission. Special integrated circuit chips called controllers are used to connect equipment to the cable. Aparnet: The Aparnet is another example of WAN. It was developed at Advanced Research Projects Agency of U. S. Department. This Network connects more than 40 universities and institutions throughout USA and Europe.

Difference between LAN and WAN

 

LAN is restricted to limited geographical area of few kilometers. But WAN covers great distance and operate nationwide or even worldwide. In LAN, the computer terminals and peripheral devices are connected with wires and coaxial cables. In WAN there is no physical connection. Communication is done through telephone lines and satellite links. Cost of data transmission in LAN is less because the transmission medium is owned by a single organisation. In case of WAN the cost of data transmission is very high because the transmission medium used are hired, either telephone lines or satellite links. The speed of data transmission is much higher in LAN than in WAN. The transmission speed in LAN varies from 0.1 to 100 megabits per second. In case of WAN the speed ranges from 1800 to 9600 bits per second (bps). Few data transmission errors occur in LAN compared to WAN. It is because in LAN the distance covered is negligible.

MAN


It is spread across the city from one organization to another & Connected with cable has a same component as that of LAN. MAN is a large network of LANs spread across various buildings, organizations within geographical area of a city or metropolitan city. The geographical area may vary from 25 km radius to 100 km radius. The computer in various organizations and departments are interfaced with each other through telephone lines or through separate cable connections. It is spread across the city from one organization to another & Connected with cable has a same component as that of LAN. MAN is a large network of LANs spread across various buildings, organizations within geographical area of a city or metropolitan city. The geographical area may vary from 25 km radius to 100 km radius. the computer in various organizations and departments are interfaced with each other through leaf telephone lines or through separate cable connections.

Introduction to Computer Networks

Applications of Networks
Resource Sharing Hardware (computing resources, disks, printers) Software (application software) Information Sharing Easy accessibility from anywhere (files, databases) Search Capability (WWW) Communication Email Message broadcast Remote computing Distributed processing

Introduction to Computer Networks

Network Topology
The network topology defines the way in which computers, printers, and other devices are connected. A network topology describes the layout of the wire and devices as well as the paths used by data transmissions.

Star Network


In this configuration, multiple computers are connected to a host computer. That is, the computers in the network are not linked directly to each other and can communicate only via the host computer. The routing function is performed by the host computer, which centrally controls communication between any two other computers by establishing a logical path between them. The hub in a broadcast star network can be active or passive. An active hub generates the electrical signals and sends it to all the computers connected it. This type of hub is called multiple repeater. Active hub require external power supply. A passive hub is a wiring pannel which acts as a connection point. It does not amplify or regenerates the signal. Passive hubs do not require electrical power supply.

Advantages 1. Star topology has minimal line cost because only n-1 lines are required for connecting n nodes. 2. Transmission delay between two nodes do not increase by adding new nodes to the network because any two nodes may be connected via two links only. 3. If any of the local computer fails, the remaining portion of the network is unaffected. Disadvantage 1. The system crucially depends on the central node. If the host computer fails, the entire network fails.

Tree Topology

A tree topology is the variation of a star network. As in a star, nodes in a tree are linked to a central hub that controls the traffic to the network. However, not every computer plugs into the central hub, majority of them are connected to a secondary hub, which in turn, is connected to the central hub as shown in the fig. The central hub in the tree is an active hub which contains repeater. The repeater amplifies the signal and increase the distance where a signal can travel. The secondary hubs may be active or passive. A passive hub provides a simple physical connection between the attached devices.

Advantages 1. It allows more devices to be attached to a single hub and can therefore increase the distance of a signal can travel between devices. 2. It allows the network to isolate and priorities communications from different computers. Disadvantage 1. If the central hub fails, the system breaks down. 2. the cabling cost is more. N1,n2.= comp.
n1 hub hub hub n1 n2 n3 n1 n2 hub n1 n2 n3 n2

Ring Network


Each computer in the network has communicating subordinates, but within the ring there is no matter computer for controlling other computers. A node receives data from one of its two adjacent nodes. The only decision a node has to take is whether the data is for its own use or not. If it is addressed to it, utilizes it. Otherwise, it merely passes it on to the next nodes. Advantages 1. The ring network works well where there is no central-site computer system. 2. It is more reliable than a star network because communication is not dependent on a single host computer, If a link between any two computers breaks down, or if one of the computers breaks down, alternate routing is possible. Disadvantages 1. In a ring network, communication delay is directly proportional to the number of nodes in the network. Hence addition of new nodes in the network increase the communication delay. 2. The ring network requires more complicated control software than star network.

Single ring All the devices on the network share a single cable Dual ring The dual ring topology allows data to be sent in both directions.

Completely Connected Network (Mesh Network)



a completely connected network has a separate physical link for connecting each node to any other node. Thus, each computer of such a network has a direct dedicated link, called a point-topoint link, with all other computers in the network. The control is distributed with each computer deciding its communication priorities.

Advantages 1. This type of network is very reliable, as any link break-down will affect only communication between the connected computers. 2. Each node of the network need not have individual routing capability. 3. Communication is very fast between any two nodes. Disadvantage 1. It is the most expensive network from the point of review of link cost. If there are n nodes in the network, then n*(n1)/2 links are required. Thus, the cost of linking the system grows with the square of the number of nodes.

Multi Access Bus Network



A single transmission medium is shared by all nodes that is, all the computers are attached to the same communication line (channel). When a particular computer wants to send a message to another computer, it appends the destination address to the message and checks whether the communication line free. As soon as the line become free, it broadcasts (places) the message on the line, each computer check whether it is addressed to it. The message is picked up by the addressee computer, which sends an acknowledgement to the source computer and free the line. This type of network is also known as multipoint or broadcasting network.

Advantages 1. The main advantage of a multimultiaccess bus network is the reduction in physical line. 2. The failure of a computer in the network does not affect the network functioning for other computers. 3. Addition of new computers to the network is easy. Disadvantage 1. All computers in the network must have good communication and decision making capacity. 2. If the communication line fails, the entire system breaks down.