CPS 422

Computer Networks

Major Muhammad Faisal Amjad

CS Dept
Internet………
Everyone uses it
We want it Everywhere
Even at our fingertips
We even call and meet each other over
the Internet
Why should
TV be an
exception
‰World has become a global village because of
the Internet
‰So… What is Internet ???
‰It is a collection of a very large number of
“inter-connected NETWORKS” that connect
millions of “devices” that can “communicate”
with each other
‰And why should we study networks
What is this course about?

Introductory (first) course in computer networking

‰ Learn principles and Architecture of computer
networking
‰ This is NOT a course on network building or specific
usage, However
‰ Internet architecture/protocols will be studied to
understand networking principles.
 What is this course about?
Goals:
‰ learn a lot (not just facts, but principles)
‰ enjoy learning Computer Networks (Not as a burden)
‰ be able to make intelligent decisions about network
design, use and management
‰ be able to pick up and learn details of a particular
system as you need it
‰ be able to quickly find protocol descriptions and problem
solutions
‰ be able to discuss data communication systems with
supervisors and co-workers on the job (and may be
impress them with high sounding technical jargons)
 Course Information
‰ Who is this course for?
o Undergrads of TE and BESE
‰ Prerequisites:
o Willingness to work hard (for survival in this course and ultimately
in your profession)
‰ Course materials:
o text: Data and Computer Communications By William Stallings
Fifth Edition
o text: Data Communications and Networking By Behrouz
Forouzan, Third Edition
o Other Ref books (if necessary) will be indicated during the course.
o WWW readings.
o Class notes
 Course Information
‰ Credit Hours: 3+1

‰ Workload:
Coursework amount %age
Written assignments as needed 10%
Announced / unannounced quizzes as needed 10%
Midterm Exam 1 30%
Final exam 1 50%

‰ Missing quizzes / assignments / exam will land you into

trouble. DON’T MISS THEM.
 Course Conduct
‰Networking is a Vast subject and only key
concepts can be covered in the class.
You are expected to read the rest from the
book and other refs.
‰Feel free to ask questions during the class
about any concepts that are not clear.
‰Material covered in the class will include some
concepts from other textbooks. Please pay
attention to the class discussion.
 Course Outline
‰Networking Overview
‰Layered Approach to Network Architecture
‰Comparison of OSI and TCP/IP architecture
‰Physical Layer (Will not be covered in detail
since Analog & Digital Comm has already been
studied)
o Analog / Digital Communication
o Transmission Media
o Data Encoding
o Interfacing
o Multiplexing
o Packet Switching / Circuit Switching
 Course Outline (Contd…)
‰Data Link Layer
o Error Detection / Correction / Control
o Elementary Data Link Protocols
o Sliding Window Protocols
o MAC Sub-layer
ƒ MAC Protocols (CSMA, ALOHA, WLANs etc.)
ƒ IEEE 802 Standards for LANs
ƒ Bridges
ƒ High Speed LANs
 Course Outline (Contd…)
‰The Network Layer
o Internetworking Concepts
o Internet Addressing
o ARP
o IP – Connectionless Datagram Delivery
o Routing
o IP – Error and Control (ICMP)
o Subnet and Subnet Extension
 Course Outline (Contd…)
‰The Transport Layer
o Process – to – Process Delivery
o User Datagram Protocol (UDP)
o Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
o Congestion Control
o Quality of Service (QoS)
 Course Outline (Contd…)
‰The Application Layer
o Client-Server Model and the Socket Interface
o Domain Name System (DNS)
o E-mail (SMTP) and File Transfer (FTP)
o HTTP and the WWW

‰Network Security
Networking Overview
 Data Communication
‰ Data Communication is the exchange of data between
two devices via some form of transmission medium
‰ Fundamental characteristics of data communication:
o Delivery – to correct destination
o Accuracy – without errors
o Timeliness
‰ Components of data communication:
o Message
o Sender
Sender
o Receiver Receiver
o Medium Message
o Protocol
Transmission Medium
Step 1
Step 1
Step 2
Protocol Step 3
Protocol Step 2
Step 3
…….
…….
Simplified Communication Model
Simplified Data Communication Model
 Direction / Timing of Data Flow
o Simplex Monitor
Direction of Data

Mainframe
o Half Duplex
Workstation
Workstation Data Direction at time 1

o Full Duplex Data Direction at time 2

Workstation
Data Direction at all times
Workstation
 Protocol
A protocol is a set of rules that governs
data communications. It represents an
agreement between the communicating
devices.
Without protocol, devices may be
connected but not communicating.
Example protocols
a human protocol and a computer network protocol:

Hi TCP connection
req.
Hi
TCP connection
Got the reply.
time? Get http://www.mcs.edu.pk/index.htm
2:00
<file>
time
 Network Criteria
‰Performance
o e.g. transit time, response time
o Depends upon media, no of users, hardware
capabilities, software efficiency etc.
‰Reliability
o Freq of failure
o Failure recovery
o Robustness in a catastrophe
‰Security
 Network Topologies
‰Mesh
‰Star
‰Bus
Network Topologies
‰Ring

Mesh Star Bus Ring

•No of I/O ports
required
Mesh Topology
•Ease of
installation /
reconfigure
•Link failure
•Availability of
link BW

•A fully connected mesh network has n(n-1)/2 physical links

to connect n devices
Is the network in figure above a fully connected mesh ?
 Star Topology

HUB / Switch

•No of I/O ports

required
•Ease of
installation /
reconfigure
•Link failure
•Availability of
link BW
 Bus Topology

Tap Tap Tap Tap

•No of I/O ports

required
•Ease of
installation /
reconfigure
•Link failure
•Availability of
link BW
•No of I/O ports
required
•Ease of
Ring Topology
installation /
reconfigure
•Link failure
•Availability of
link BW
 Network Categories
‰Local Area Network (LAN)
‰Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
‰Wide Area Network (WAN)
Network Categories

LAN MAN WAN

(Within a few buildings) (Within a city) (Across many cities)

‰Can you name some other Network Categories ?

An Example
Networking
Configuration
 Internet Standards
‰ An Internet Standard is a thoroughly tested
specification that is useful to and adhered to by
those who work on the Internet.
‰ Any specification begins as an Internet Draft which
is a working document (work-in-progress) with no
official status and a 6-month lifetime.
‰ Upon recommendation from Internet authorities, a
Draft may be published as a Request For Comment
(RFC). Each RFC is edited, assigned a number and
made available to all interested parties.

Visit the URL http://www.ietf.org

Assignment # 1 (Due: Thur 27th Mar
2009)

‰Give advantages / disadvantages of various

network topologies studied.
‰Find out and list other network categories
(e.g. LAN/MAN). Give a very brief (2-3
lines) explanation of each.
‰Find out Two Internet Drafts and Two
RFCs from the Internet, Give their
numbers/names, Topics and their author(s)
names.