CHAPTER THREE

DATA COMMUNICATION AND COMPUTER NETWORK

3.1. DATA COMMUNICATION

A Communication system can be defined as the collection of hardware and software that
facilitates intersystem exchange of information between different devices. When we
communicate, we are sharing information. This sharing can be local (face to face
communication) or it may be remote (communication over distance).
Data communication is the exchange of date between two devices via some form of wired or
wireless transmission medium. It includes the transfer of data, the method of transfer and the
preservation of the data during the transfer process. To initiate data communication, the
communicating devices should be a part of an existing communications system. For data
communication to be effective, the following three fundamental characteristics should be
considered:
 Delivery: The system must deliver data to the correct or the intended destination.
 Accuracy: The system must deliver data accurately (error free).
 Timeliness: The system must deliver data in a timely manner without enough time lags.
Data Communication Components
There are five basic components in data communication system:
1. Message: it is the information that is to be communicated.
2. Sender: The sender is the device that sends the message.
3. Receiver: The receiver is the device that receives the message
4. Medium: The transmission medium is the physical path that communicates the message
from sender to receiver.
5. Protocol: Protocol refers to a set of rules that coordinates the exchange of information.
Both the sender and receiver should follow the same protocol to communicate data. Without
the protocol, the sender and receiver cannot communicate with each other; just as a person
speaking English cannot be understood by a person speaks only Afan Oromo.

COMMUNICATION TYPES
P-to-P Communication (Point to Point Communication): Peer to peer or point-to-point
transmission is done in networks where a single communication channel is not shared by all
nodes. But in this one, the communication channels are only shared between only two
adjoining nodes. To send the packet (data) between two nodes the packet is passed from the
source node to its adjoining node. Upon receiving the packet the address part is checked and
if the packet is not intended for that node then it is regenerated and passed to its adjoining
node according to the routing algorithms which play an important role in point to point
communication. The packet is passed on like this till it reaches the destination. This type of

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 transmission is done over the Wide Area Network (WAN) and Metropolitan Area Network
(MAN).

Broadcasting
Broadcasting is a type of transmission technology in which the transmission of data from one
node to another node is made. Broadcasting systems generally allow addressing a packet to all
destinations by using a single code in the address fields. It is done on the broadcast network. A
broadcast network have a single communication channel that is shared by all the other nodes,
when the packet with this code is transmitted, it is received and processed by every machine on
the network. An address field within the packet specifies for whom it is intended. A machine
Checks the address field if the packet is intended for itself otherwise the packet will be
discarded. This mode of operation is called Broadcasting. This sort of transmission is generally
done on Local Area Network (LAN).

Some broadcast systems support transmission to a subset of the machine, which is known as
multicasting when a packet is sent to a certain group; it is delivered to all machines subscribing
to that group.
Data transmission mode
Data transmission mode refers to the direction of signal flow between two linked devices. There
are three types of transmission modes: simplex, half-duplex, and full–duplex.

Simplex: transmission is unidirectional. The information flows in one direction across the
circuit, with no capability to support response in the other direction. Only one of the
communicating devices transmits information, the other can only receive it. Television
transmission can be considered as an example of simplex mode of transmission where the
satellite only transmits the data to the television, vice versa is not possible.

Half-duplex In half-duplex mode, each communicating device can receive and transmit
information, but not at the same time. When one device is sending the other can only receive at
that point of time. In half-duplex transmission mode, the entire capacity of the transmission
medium is taken over by the device, which is transmitting at that moment. The most common
example of half-duplex transmission is the wireless handsets (generally used by military
personnel) where one user talks at a time and another listens.

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Full-duplex: is transmission mode, also known as the duplex mode, allows both communicating
devices to transmit and receive data simultaneously. A full-duplex mode can be compared to a
two-way road with traffic flowing in both directions. A common example of full-duplex
transmitting mode is the telephone network, where two people communicate over a telephone
line; both can talk as well as listen at the same time.
Transmission media
Transmission media refer to the physical media through which communication signals (data and
information) are transmitted. Transmission media can be divided in to two broad categories:
guided media and unguided media
Guided media
Guided Transmission Media uses a "cabling" system that guides the data signals along a specific
path. The data signals are bound by the "cabling" system. Guided Media is also known as Bound
Media. Cabling refers to transmission medium that consists of cables. There 4 basic types of
Guided Media:
Open Wire
Twisted Pair
Coaxial Cable
Optical Fiber
 Twisted Pair
• There are two type
o Unshielded Twisted pair(UTP)
a) Two insulated and braided copper wires
b) Has longer transmission distance than shielded
twisted pair
o Shielded Twisted pair (STP)
 Advantage
a) Inexpensive, Easy to connect and install
 Disadvantage : prone to noise and law data rate
• Shield the wires and then twist them together (e.g., telephone
wires)
• Minimizes both radiation and susceptibility to radiation

 Coaxial cable: Single wire surrounded by cylindrical metal shield. Shield

provides a barrier in both directions, Shielded twisted pair may be used if wires pass through
strong electromagnetic fields

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Advantages: voice video and data can be handled
 Optical Fiber: Also known as glass fiber - a thin glass tube that reflects
light internally and is coated in plastic for flexibility. Optical Fiber consists of thin glass
fibers that can carry information at frequencies in the visible light spectrum and beyond.
Transmitter uses LED or laser and receiver uses a light sensitive transistor
Advantages
 Very high speed
 no electrical interference
 carry a signal much further than copper
 carry more information at a time
 only needs one fiber - unlike copper that requires a pair to form a
circuit
Disadvantages
 Installation requires more specialized equipment
 Breaks in the fiber are hard to detect and repairs are difficult
Unguided Transmission
Unguided Transmission Media consists of a means for the data signals to travel but nothing to
guide them along a specific path. Unguided Transmission Media is data signals that flow through
the air. The data signals are not bound to a cabling media and as such are often called Unbound
Media. One of the common unguided media is radio frequency propagation, microwave and
satellite.
3.2. COMPUTER NETWORK
Consider a situation in which many employees in an organization need to work with the same
data. A copy of the data can be loaded on each computer so that the employees can access the
data individually. However, a more efficient method is to load the data on one computer and
provide the other computers access to the data from this computer remotely. This option saves
disk space on the computers and provides a central location for storing and managing the data
that multiple users need to access. This need to share data and resources led to the development
of networking. A network is a group of connected computers that allows people to share
information. In a network, multiple users can access the same information and connect to the
same resource. For example, instead of linking each computer to its own printer, all computers
can be linked to a common printer for shared access by multiple users.
Application of network
 Business Applications

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  Resource sharing – printers, scanners, CD burners, information such as financial
statements, payrolls, tax information, product inventory, customer records, etc.
 Communication medium among employees.
o e.g. e-mail, writing report together,
o videoconferencing – communication vs transport race
 Real-time business
o Placing orders on-line. e.g. aircraft, automobile, computer suppliers and
buyers
o Banks: Real-time transactions, application processing,
o Business: Accounting, payrolls, purchasing, human resources.
E-Commerce: business with consumers, music vendors, airline tickets,
bookstores,
 Interactive Entertainment
o Families sharing photos, movies, genealogical information, sharing public
domain music, multi-person on-line games
o Gambling over internet- roulette wheels, blackjack dealers
o Telephone calls over internet, internet radio, video phone
o Tele-learning, telemedicine,
o Video on demand, Interactive tv, interactive films, interactive game playing
o Controlling home appliances through internet: refrigerators, vending
machines, tv, car, utility meters etc.
3.2.1 Categories of Computer Network
A computer network can be one of the following depending on the dispersion of the computers
over a geographical area.
Local Area network (LAN)
A LAN, or local Area Network, is a computer network that spans only a small geographical area
(usually within a square mile or less), such as an office, home or building.
A LAN has hardware and software components.
♠ Hardware:
o File server: high capacity computer its functions is that:
 Data repository end aphis load
 Network traffic management
 Data security provision
 File retrieval
o Workstation: computer that directly used by the user , running application
software
o Cabling (transmission media): is used to establish connection between
workstation and server. It can be coaxial, twisted(STP,UTP), or fiber optics
o Network Interface Card (NIC): is a card plugged in the expansion slot used to
connect workstation and server
o HUB: A hub contains multiple ports. When a packet arrives at one port, it is
copied to all the ports of the hub for transmission. When the packets are copied,
the destination address in the frame does not change to a broadcast address. It
does this in a rudimentary way: It simply copies the data to all of the Nodes
connected to the hub
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 ♠ Software
o NOS: it is software of file server
 Function
• Data management
• Controls all activity on the network
• Data security
• Multiuse capacity
o Workstation OS
o Network shell requester, redirector
Metropolitan Area network (MAN)
A MAN, or Metropolitan Area network, is a network of computers spread over a “Metropolitan”
area such as a city and its suburbs, As the name suggests, this sort of network is usually reserved
for metropolitan areas where the city bridges its local area networks with a series of backbones,
making one large network for the entire city. It may be a single network such as a cable
television network or it may be a means of connecting a number of LANs, Note that, MAN may
be operated by one organization ( a corporate with several offices in one city), or be shared
resources used by several organization in the same city.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN, or Wide Area Network, is a system of interconnecting many computers over a large
geographical area such as cities, states, countries or even the whole world. These kinds of
networks use telephone lines, satellite links, and other long-rang communications technologies to
connect. Such networks are designed to serve an area of hundreds or thousands of miles such as
public and private packet switching networks and national telephone networks.
Computer networking can also be categorized based on the method of operation as:
Peer to peer: Peer-to-peer networks allow you to connect two or more computers in order to pool
their resources. Individual resources such as disk drives, CD-ROM drives, scanners and even
printers are transformed into shared resources that are accessible from each of the computers.
The information stored over a peer-to-peer network is stored locally on each individual
computer. Since peer-to-peer computers have their own hard disk drives that are accessible and
sometimes shared by all of the computers on the peer-to-peer network, each computer acts as
both a client (or node) and a server (information storage).

The advantages of peer-to-peer over client-server NOSs include:

• No need for a network administrator
• Network is fast/inexpensive to setup & maintain
• Each PC can make backup copies of its data to other PCs for security.
• Easiest type of network to build, peer-to-peer is perfect for both home and office use.

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Client-server: In a client-server environment files are stored on a centralized, high speed file
server PC that is made available to client PCs. Network access speeds are usually faster than
those found on peer-to-peer networks, which is reasonable given the vast numbers of clients that
this architecture can support. Server allows networking tasks to be tracked. Public data and
applications are stored on the file server, where they are run from client PCs' a location, which
makes upgrading software a simple task, network administrators can simply upgrade the
applications stored on the file server, rather than having to physically upgrade each client PC.
File servers are often set up so that each user on the network has access to his or her "own"
directory, along with a range of ”public" directories where applications are stored. A message
from one client to another is first sent to the file server, where it is then routed to its destination.

NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
The term topology refers to the way a network is laid out, either physically or logically. A
topology can be considered as the network’s shape. It is the geometric representation of the
relationship of all the links. There are five basic topologies: Bus, Ring, Star, Tree, and Mesh.
Bus Topology
Bus topology uses a common bus or backbone (a single cable) to connect all devices with
terminators at both ends. The backbone acts as a shared communication medium and each node
(file server, Workstations, and peripherals) is attached to it with an interface connector.
Whenever a message is to be transmitted on the network, it is passed back and forth along the
cable, past the stations (computers) and between the two terminators, from one end of the
network to the other. As the message passes each station, the station checks the message’s
destination address. If the address in the message matches the station’s address, the station
receives the message. If the addresses do not match, the bus carries the message to the next
station, and so on. Figure below illustrates how devices such as file serve workstations, and
printers are connected to the linear cable or the backbone.
Bus topology is used for:
♠ Small workgroup Local Area Networks (LANs) whose computers are connected
using a thin-net cable
♠ Trunk cables connecting hubs or switches of departmental LANs to form a larger
LAN
♠ Back-boning, by joining switches and routers to form campus-wide networks

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 Advantages of Bus Topology
 Connecting a computer or peripheral to a linear bus is easy.
 This topology requires least amount of cabling to connect the computers and therefore, less
expensive than other cabling arrangement.
 It is easy to extend a bus since two cables can be joined into longer cable with a connector.
Disadvantages of Bus Topology
 Entire network shuts down if there is a failure ion the backbone
 Heavy traffic can slow down a bus because computers on such networks do not
coordinate with each other to reserve time to transmit.
 Comparatively difficult to re-configure
 Imposes limitation on maximum number of nodes on a segment cable, as the signal
weakens as it passes each node.
Ring Topology
In ring topology, computers are placed on a circle of cable without any terminated ends since
there are no unconnected ends. Every node has exactly two neighbors for communication
purposes. All messages travel through a ring in the same direction (clockwise or
counterclockwise) until it reaches its destination. Each node in the ring incorporates a repeater.
When a node receives a signal intended for another device, its repeater regenerates the bits and
passes them along the wire.

Advantage of Ring Topology

 Ring topology is easy to install and reconfigure.
 Every computer is given equal access to the ring. Hence, no single computer can monopolize
the network.
Disadvantages of Ring Topology
 Failure in any cable or node breaks the loop and can take down the entire network.
 Maximum ring length and number of nodes are limited.
 Difficult to re-configure since adding or removing a node can disrupts the network
 Trouble shooting can be difficult

Star Topology
In star topology, devices are not directly linked to each other but they are connected via a
centralized network component known as hub or concentrator. The hub acts as a central
controller and if a node wants to send data to another node, it boosts up the message and sends
the message to the intended node. This topology commonly uses twisted pair cable; however,
coaxial cable or fiber optic cable can also be used.

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Advantages of Star Topology
 Star topology is easy to install and wire.
 The network is not disrupted even if a node fails or is removed from the network.
 Fault detection and removal of faulty parts is easier in star topology.
Disadvantages of Star Topology
 It requires a longer length of cable.
 If the hub fails, nodes attached to it are disabled.
 The cost of the hub makes the network expensive as compared to bus and ring topology.

Mesh Topology
In the mesh topology, every node has a dedicated point-to-point link to every other node.
Messages sent on a mesh network can take any of several possible paths from source to
destination. A fully connected mesh network has n(n-1)/2 physical links to link n devices. For
example, if an organization has 5 nodes and wants to implement a mesh topology, 5(5-1)/2, that
is, 10 links are requires. In addition, to accommodate that many links, every device on the
network must have n-1 communication (input/output) ports.
Advantages of Mesh Topology
 The use of large number of links eliminates network congestion.
 If one link becomes unusable, it does not disable the entire system.
 Easy fault detection and fault isolation
 Availability of link is granted
 Excellent redundancy
 Robust
 Good privacy and security
Disadvantages of Mesh Topology
 The amount of required cabling is very large.
 As every node is connected to the other, installation and reconfiguration is very difficult.
 The amount of hardware required in this type of topology can make it expensive to
implement.

Chapter Four
Introduction to Internet

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4.1 Some history of Internet
The Internet is actually a child of the Cold War. Faced with the prospect of a Nuclear war, a
flexible network was required such that, should one communications centre be destroyed,
messages would automatically re-route themselves to ensure they could still get from A to B.
This led to ARPANET (Advanced research Project Agency Network) which became an
American Universities network, and ultimately the Internet of today. The real breakthrough for
the Internet was the invention of the World Wide Web with the introduction of the Mosaic
hypertext browser developed. This coincided with affordable graphics-capable home computers
and almost overnight, the Net went from a text-based paradise, to the user-friendly click and
point world we know today.

4.2 What do mean by the Internet?

The word Internet is derived from two words: Interconnection and Networks. Computer
networks can connect to other computer networks to get an even bigger computer network.
Internetworking evolved as a solution to three key problems: isolated LANs, duplication of
resources, and a lack of network management. Isolated LANs made electronic communication
between different offices or departments impossible. Duplication of resources meant that the
same hardware and software had to be supplied to each office or department, as did separate
support staff. This lack of network management meant that no centralized method of managing
and troubleshooting networks existed. The challenge when connecting various systems is to
support communication among disparate technologies. Different sites, for example, may use
different types of media operating at varying speeds, or may even include different types of
systems that need to communicate.

With the growth in popularity and networking of computers, intercommunication between

different computers became easier, which led to the phenomenon called Internet. The set of
connected computer networks is called internet. The Internet is a global collection of networks
that is owned by no one and operated by no single organization. It consists of thousands of
separately administered networks of various sizes and types. The Internet is best characterized
as "the biggest network of computer networks on earth." i.e. Internet is the name given to the
largest set of interconnected internets in the world.

The difference between "Internet" and "internet" is when you say "internet," you must always
identify which internet you mean--there are millions and millions of internets in the world.
However, when you say "Internet," you have said it all--there is precisely one and only one
Internet in the universe. The Internet is not run by any one organization nor operated by any
single agency.

Rocketed to prominence during the late 20th century, the Internet today has become important in
information, trade, resource sharing and communication. In particular, the method by which this
data is exchanged on the Internet is through the TCP/IP protocol suite.
4.3 Basic internet terms
Under this topic some of basic term related with Internet will be discussed
Gateway: a computer that connects one network to another for a purpose of transferring files or
e-mails when the two networks use different protocols.

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Search engine: A program, usually reachable through a web page, used to search a web site, the
entire Internet, some domain in between.
Bandwidth is an expression of how much data can be sent through a communication channel in
a given amount of time. The type data transmission that allows only one signal at a time is called
baseband transmission. When several signals can be transmitted at once it’s called broadband
transmission.
Downloading and uploading: Downloading is the transmission of data from the remote
computer to a local computer, as from a website to your own computer. The reverse of this
transmission, which is the transmission of data from a local computer to remote computer, as
from your pc to a website you are constructing is called Uploading.
Online and Offline: online means currently connected to the Net. When you connect to the
Internet, you are online or live. Hence, any activity undertaken while the computer is connected
to another computer or network is said to be online. However, offline means not currently
connected to the Net. It refers to the actions performed when the user is not connected, via
telecommunications, to another computer or a network like the Internet. Hence, offline means
that the user is no longer connected to a remote computer
Internet service provider (ISP): ISP is the organizations that offer access to the internet. In
Ethiopia, the only ISP is ETC.
Hypertext: Hypertext refers to the text that connects to other documents. These texts are known
as hypertext link, hyperlink, hotlink or simply links. A hyperlink is used to “jump” to another
part of the same page or to load a different web page. Hypertext is a method of instant cross-
referencing. It is used for organizing information and to link related documents together using
words and graphics (also known as image maps). Usually hypertext links appear in a different
color (typically in blue and underlined) from the rest of the text. When the cursor is moved over
a text link or over a graphic link it will change from an arrow to a hand. The hypertext words
often provide a hint about the connected page. When the user returns to a page with a link he/she
had already visited, the hypertext words will often be in a different color (usually magenta),
indicating that the link is already been used. However, the user can certainly use that link again.
World Wide Web (web or www): A collection of hypertext documents and associated files,
linked together, that spans the internet.
Web page: is a hypertext document on the web. It is generally a single HTML (Hypertext
Markup Language) document, which might include text, graphics, sound files, and hypertext
links. These web pages are liked together through a system of connections (called hypertext
links, hyperlinks or links), which enable the user to jump from one web page to another by
clicking on a link.
Web Site: A web site is a set of related (linked through hypertext links) web pages, published by
an organization or individual. Normally a web site contains a home page along with other
additional web pages. Each web site is owned and updated by an individual, company or
organization. It is an area on the web, which is accessed by its own address (known as URL or
the Uniform Resource Locator). Note that, the quality, detail, and style of web sites vary
enormously, depending on how it is designed.
Home page: A home page, which is also known as the index or index page, is page you begin
with when you start your web browser or a doorway to the web site. Like the table of contents of
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a book, the home page usually provides an overview of what could be found at the web site. If
there is not much information, the home page may be the only page of the web site. However,
usually you will find at least a few other pages.
Web browser a web client program that allows you to view hypertext pages and follow links (a
program that allows you to read the web). It is a computer program that accesses web pages and
displays them on the computer screen. It is the basic software that is needed to find, retrieve,
view, and send information over the Internet. The most popular browsers are Microsoft internet
Explorer and Netscape navigator. Browsers are of two types:
1. Graphical browsers: allow retrieval of text, images, audio, and video. Navigation is
accomplished by pointing and clicking with a mouse on highlighted words and graphics.
Both Netscape navigator and Internet Explorer are graphical browsers.
2. Text browsers: provide access to the Web in text-only mode. Navigation is accomplished
by highlighting emphasized words on the screen with the arrow up and down keys, and
then pressing the Enter key to follow the link. Lynx is an example of text-based browser.
Web address: Each web page has a unique address, called a Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
that identifies its location on the Internet. Web browsers utilize the URL to retrieve a file from
the computer on which it resides. Usually, the format of an URL consists of four parts: protocol,
server (or domain), path, and filename. Here is an example,
http://www.xyz.com/tutor/start/main.htm. The structure of this URL
 Protocol: http
 Host computer name: www
 Domain name: xyz
 Domain type: com
 Path: tutor/Start/
 File name: main.htm
The first part of the address, the part before the colon, is the access method. Apart from http, you
could also find other protocols such as ftp (file transfer protocol), mailto (mail server, used for
accessing E-mail server) and telnet (for accessing remote computers). The protocol is separated
by colons and slashes. After the slashes, the host computer’s name is displayed, that is, an
indicator such as www, which stands for World Wide Web. Next comes the name of the
computer where the information is located. Note that it is not necessary that all the addresses
contain www. Although most Internet addresses include a www, a web page can reside on the
part of the Internet that is not found on the World Wide Web.
After the domain name, the domain type is displayed such as com. A domain type is a unique
and case sensitive human-readable name for a host on the Internet. A domain type represents the
type of organization or country to which the host belongs. The last part of a URL consists of the
path and the file name. Path name specifies the hierarchic location of the said file on the
computer. For instance, in http://www.xyz.com/tutor/start/main.htm, the file main.htm is located
in start, which is a subdirectory of tutor.

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Web server: A server is a computer equipped with server software, which provides a specific
kind of service to client software running on other computers. The term can refer to a particular
piece of software, for example, a web server, or to the machine on which the software is running.
A web server is a computer that answers requests from user’s computers. It serves images and
static content, such as web pages, to fill client’s (browser) requests. Web server is a web
application that allows you to store home page and make them available via the hypertext
transfer protocol. Web servers can run on any hardware platform and operating system and store
documents in HTML.

4.4 Getting started on the Internet

The Internet is now available on a vast range of technologies, such as mobile phones and other.
It's now becoming difficult to define what you need to get started on the Internet. Therefore this
topic will concentrate on the fact you want to connect to the Internet using a personal computer.
Below is a list of the things you will require,
 Phone line or digital phone line (ISDN and ADSL).
 Computer operating system that supports networking software.
 Modem - this changes the analog data from the phone line into digital data for the
computer to understand.
 Networking / web browser application such as Internet Explorer or Netscape
Navigator.
 An account on an Internet Service Provider.
Types of Connection to the Internet
To connect to the Internet you need a PC (personal computer) with requisite software including a
browser, a telephone connection or a leased line, a modem, which allows the PC to communicate
with other computer. When trying to connect to the Internet you may see there are various type
of connections and speeds such as:-
• Modem/Dial-Up connection: use the telephone line used for voice calls. In this type of
connection while you are online you can not use that phone line to make voice calls and
people calling you also get a busy signal.
In Dial-up connection, you dial a phone number (provided by the ISP) to get connected to a
server at ISP. Once connected to the ISP server, you get to access Internet. It means you are
not directly connected to Internet; you access the Internet through an ISP. It transfers data
over an analog line. So before the data is sent it has to be converted from digital to analog
signal, likewise, when data is received it has to be converted from analog to digital signal
(this is what the MODEM does), this adds performance overhead which affects the speed of
the connection.
• ISDN line( Integrated services Digital Network) enhancement of old plain old telephone
system that consist of hard ware and soft ware that allow voice and video and data to be
communicated over traditional copper-wire telephone line. In the ISDN process of
connecting to server to access Internet is almost same as Dial-up, but it offers connectivity
through the use of digital phone lines instead of standard line Analog. It offers Internet
connectivity at speeds of up to 128 Kbps, allows the user to receive or make calls
simultaneously on the same line.
Benefits:
 Single connection can support both voice and data.

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  Eight terminals can be connected on a single line.
 Signal on ISDN line-voice or data is sent in digital mode, so less prone to
noise, have very high quality service.
 Two calls (which could be voice, data, image or combination of any two)
can be established simultaneously on a single pair of lines.
 High-speed data transfer from PC to PC.
Drawbacks:
 A special ISDN line must be installed at the customer’s location.
 A special ISDN modem or router is also required.
• Direct Internet Access (Leased Line Connection)
Leased line is a “permanent connection” between a computer system (single CPU or LAN,
and the Internet). It involves establishing your own Internet gateway (connection) and paying
to have a direct full time line with the network. Your Computers, in effect, become part of
the Internet. Dedicated links are established through service provider who places a computer-
controlled router (message director) at the site. A router is used to connect local network to
the Internet, and it allows all the members of the network complete access to Internet.
• DSL line (Digital subscriber line) use regular phone line, a DSL modem, and special
technology to transmit data in Mega bite per second. Incoming data is significantly faster
than outgoing data. It is faster than ISDN. It is always on and transmission rate is
relatively consistent.
The difference between DSL and dial-up / ISDN is that a DSL Internet connection uses a
high-speed dedicated circuit filtering out standard phone calls and Internet signals.
• Broadband Cable
• Satellite Broadband :with satellite dish you can receive data
• Wireless
How do I start using the Internet?
 Get to a Internet-connected computer
 Start up a Web browser: Once you have access to an Internet-connected computer, you can
access the Web if that computer has Web browser software installed.
 Use the Web browser: To open a Web address (URL), use your browser's menu and chose
File-> Open. You might also be able to click on the text in the "Address" box at the top of
your browser, alter or enter a URL there, and press the Return key.

4.5 Application of the Internet

An Internet user has access to a wide variety of services: electronic mail, file transfer, vast
information resources, interest group membership, interactive collaboration, multimedia
displays, real-time broadcasting, breaking news, shopping opportunities, and much more. Some
services provided by the internet are listed as follow.

World Wide Web

The World Wide Web (abbreviated as the Web or WWW) is one of the most popular services
available on Internet. It is a subset of the internet and it presents text, images, animation, video,
sound, and other multimedia in a single interface. This greatly enhances the experience of the
Internet surfer. Although the World Wide Web is often referred to as the Internet, they are
actually two different concepts. The internet is the decentralized global network of computers
that transfer information and the wiring that make all this possible where as the Web is a

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collection of documents or web sites, that users can access using the Internet and a web browser.
Almost every protocol type available on the Internet is accessible on the Web. This includes E-
mail, FTP, Telnet, and Usenet News. In addition to these, the World Wide Web has its own
protocol: HyperText Transfer Protocol, or HTTP. Since the WWW is a subset of the Internet, it
stands to reason that the Web could not exist without the Internet. However, the Internet would
still be the Internet without the web.

E-mail
Electronic mail, or e-mail, allows computer users locally and worldwide to exchange messages.
Each user of e-mail has a mailbox address to which messages are sent. Messages sent through e-
mail can arrive within a matter of seconds. A powerful aspect of e-mail is the option to send
electronic files to a person's e-mail address. Non-ASCII files, known as binary files, may be
attached to e-mail messages. These files are referred to as MIME attachments. MIME stands for
Multimedia Internet Mail Extension, and was developed to help e-mail software handle a variety
of file types. For example, a document created in Microsoft Word can be attached to an e-mail
message and retrieved by the recipient with the appropriate e-mail program. Many e-mail
programs offer the ability to read files written in HTML, which is itself a MIME type.

FTP
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. This is both a program and the method used to transfer
files between computers. Anonymous FTP is an option that allows users to transfer files from
thousands of host computers on the Internet to their personal computer account. FTP sites
contain books, articles, software, games, images, sounds, multimedia, course work, data sets, and
more. FTP transfers can be performed on the World Wide Web without the need for special
software. In this case, the Web browser will suffice. Whenever you download software from a
Web site to your local machine, you are using FTP. A typical use of FTP is to set up a file server
onto which users can login and download software and other files.

E-mail Discussion Groups

One of the benefits of the Internet is the opportunity it offers to people worldwide to
communicate via e-mail. The Internet is home to a large community of individuals who carry out
active discussions organized around topic-oriented forums distributed by e-mail. These are
administered by various types of software programs. When you subscribe to a group, messages
from other subscribers are automatically sent to your electronic mailbox. You subscribe by
sending an e-mail message to the address of the group. You must have a e-mail account to
participate in a listserv discussion group.

Telnet
Telnet is a program that allows you to log into computers on the Internet and use online
databases, library catalogs, chat services, and more. There are no graphics in Telnet sessions, just
text. To Telnet to a computer, you must know its address. This can consist of words
(locis.loc.gov) or numbers (140.147.254.3). Telnet is available on the World Wide Web.
Probably the most common Web-based resources available through Telnet have been library
catalogs, though most catalogs have since migrated to the Web. A link to a Telnet resource may
look like any other link, but it will launch a Telnet session to make the connection. A Telnet

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program must be installed on your local computer and configured to your Web browser in order
to work. With the popularity of the Web, Telnet is less frequently used as a means of access to
information on the Internet.

Chat & Instant Messaging

Chat programs allow users on the Internet to communicate with each other by typing in real time.
They are sometimes included as a feature of a Web site, where users can log into the "chat room"
to exchange comments and information about the topics addressed on the site. Chat may take
other, more wide-ranging forms. Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a service through which
participants can communicate to each other on hundreds of channels. These channels are usually
based on specific topics. While many topics are playful, substantive conversations are also taking
place. To access IRC, you must use an IRC software program. A variation of chat is the
phenomenon of instant messaging. With instant messaging, a user on the Web can contact
another user currently logged in and type a conversation

Usenet News
Usenet News is a global electronic bulletin board system in which millions of computer users
exchange information on a vast range of topics. The major difference between Usenet News and
e-mail discussion groups is the fact that Usenet messages are stored on central computers, and
users must connect to these computers to read or download the messages posted to these groups.
This is distinct from e-mail distribution, in which messages arrive in the electronic mailboxes of
each list member. Usenet itself is a set of machines that exchanges messages, or articles, from
Usenet discussion forums, called newsgroups. Usenet administrators control their own sites, and
decide which (if any) newsgroups to sponsor and which remote newsgroups to allow into the
system.

Video Conferencing
Video conferencing uses the same technology as IRC, but also provides sound and video
pictures. It enables direct face-to face communication across networks. A video conferencing
system has two or more parties in different locations, which have the ability to communicate
using a combination of video, audio, and data. A videoconference can be person to person
(referred to as ‘multipoint’) and the video conferencing terminals are often referred to as
‘endpoints’.
Commerce through internet
Today business is taking place through electronic telecommunication media. Nowadays various
organizations offer the facility of shopping online. This type of business model is known as
Electronic commerce of E-Commerce. E-commerce refers to buying and selling goods and
services online. It integrated communication, data management and security capabilities, which
allow organizations to exchange of information needed to conduct business including Electronic
Data Interchange ( EDI) and Electronic funds Transfer (EFT) EDI is the computer – to –
computer exchange of routine business transactions including payments, information exchange,
and purchase order requests. EFT is a technology that allows the transfer of funds from the bank
account of the person or organization to that of another.

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