Dr. Emad A.

Mohammed Data Communication and Networking

4th year

Networks
A network is a set of devices (often referred as nodes) connected by
communication links. A node could be a computer, printer, or any other
device capable of sending and/or receiving data generated by other nodes
on the network.
Network criteria
A network must be able to meet a certain number of criteria.
1. Performance
It can be measured in many ways, including transit time ( the time
required for the data to travel from one device to another) and response
time (the time between an inquiry and response). The performance of a
network is depending on a number of factors, including the number of
users, the type of transmission medium, the capabilities to connected
hardware, and the efficiency of the software.
2. Reliability
Network reliability is depending on accuracy of delivery, the
frequency of failure, recovery time, and network robustness in
catastrophe.
3. security
It means protecting data from unauthorized process.

Categories of Networks

Networks

Local Area Networks metropolitan Area Networks Wide Area Networks

LAN MAN WAN

1
Dr. Emad A. Mohammed Data Communication and Networking
4th year

LAN
Is the data communication network that spans a limited area such
as building or localize group of buildings interconnections such as
university. Because LANs are normally installed and maintain by the
organization they referred to as a private data network. They provide high
bandwidth communication and inexpensive media (coaxial cables or
twisted pair) also LANs offer low error rate.
LAN Performance
There are several ways in which LAN performance can be
evaluated:
1. Data rate: is the measure of the amount of data transferred from the
transmitter to the receiver per unit time.
2. data throughput : which measure the amount of information
transferred by the network during the measurement period.
3. Transfer delay: which is the measure of the amount of time taken
between the system accepting a data transfer request and the data
being delivered by the receiver to recipient.
4. Response time: which is measure of the delay between submitting
a request for data transfer and receiving an acknowledge that the
request has been successfully completed. Response time depends
on:
1. Transfer delay.
2. Types of host protocols supporting the system.
3. Efficiency of host protocol implementation.
MAN
It designs to extend over entire city. It may be single network such
as cable television network or it may be a means of connected a number
of LANs into larger network.

2
Dr. Emad A. Mohammed Data Communication and Networking
4th year

WAN
It provides long-distance transmission of data, voice, images, and
video information over large geographic area. WANs are divided into two
types:
1. Enterprise Network (EWAN): which combines LANs of a single
company in one country or more.
2. Global Network (GWAN): which combines LANs of many
different establishments.

Network Topologies

Network Topologies

Ring Bus Star Mesh Hybrid

1. Ring topology
Each device has dedicated point to point connection only with two
devices either side of it. A signal is passed along the ring in one direction,
from device to device, until it reaches the destination. Each device in the
ring incorporates as repeater.

D B

3
Dr. Emad A. Mohammed Data Communication and Networking
4th year

Advantages:
- easy to install.
- easy to reconfiguration.
Disadvantage:
- Traffic consideration depends on the number of devices and
maximum ring length.

2. Bus topology
It is a multipoint topology. One long cable acts as a backbone to
link all the devices in the network.
Nodes are connected to a bus cable by drop lines and taps. A drop line is
a connection running between the device and the main cable.

A B C D
Drop line Drop line Drop line Drop line

Tap Tap Tap Tap

Cable Cable
End End

Advantages:
- easy installation.
- less cabling than star and mesh.
- easy to reconfiguration.
- simple, reliable in small network easy to use and easy to
understand.
Disadvantages:
- difficult to isolate fault.
- reflection at taps degrades the signal.
- bus fault stop transmission.

4
Dr. Emad A. Mohammed Data Communication and Networking
4th year

3. Star topology
All nodes has direct point-to-point link to central device called a
hub.

B C
Hub
A D

Advantages:
- robust
- easy to modify and add new node.
- easy fault isolation.
- the set of rules govern access to the node is easy.
- different types of cables can be used in this topology.
Disadvantages:
- if the central hub fails, the entire network fails.
4. Mesh topology
Every device has direct point-to-point link to other devices.

E B

D C

Every device has (n-1) input/output ports, where n is the number of nodes
in the network.
There is n(n-1)/2 physical channel in the network.

5
Dr. Emad A. Mohammed Data Communication and Networking
4th year

Advantages:
- No traffic problems.
- Robust topology ( each link is independent to anther).
- High security.
- Easy fault isolation.
Disadvantages:
- Expensive.