Chapter

Communication Trends and

Applications

N. Ganesan, Ph.D. , All rights reserved.

Chapter Objectives
Describe the status of information
communication past and present
List the factors that led to the growth of
computer communications
Outline a few sample communication
applications
Discuss the evolution of Wide Area
Network communications and its current
convergence to digital technology

Module

Information Communication
Past and Present

N. Ganesan, Ph.D. , All rights reserved.

Communication in the Past

Known as Data Communications
Mostly concerned with alphanumeric
data

A highly specialized topic

Focus
Mainframes
Analog telecommunication technology
WANs

Communications at
Present
Known as Information Communication
Data, image, audio and video
communications

A necessary topic for IT professionals

Focus
Microcomputers
Digital communication technology
LANs, WANs etc.

Internet
Internet, Intranet and Extranet

Data and Information

Communication
Data

Computer
Data

Information

Image

Audio

Video

Real-time streaming

Audio and Video

Transmission
Requirements
More bandwidth is required
Real-time transmission may also be
required

Solution
Compression
Streaming

Note: Streaming includes

compression as well

Comparison of Data and

information Communication

Data and Information

Communications
Data Communications
Alphanumeric data
Mainframe focused
Analog technology
Specialized topic
Private network based
WANs

Information
Communications
Data, image, audio
and video
Microcomputer
focused
Digital technology
General topic
Internet based
LANs and WANs

Key Words

Mainframe
Centralized
Analog
Data
Telecommunicatio
n network

LANs
Distributed
Digital
Information
Computer
network (Internet)

Hosting Services
Godaddy
1&1
MediaTemple
Yahoo hosting service

Homework
Difference between Internet,
Intranet, Extranet
Explore Godaddy and other hosting
services
Download, install and experiment
with Microsoft Encoder and Audacity
Convert between different audio file
formats

End of Module

Module

Opportunities and
Certification

N. Ganesan, Ph.D. , All rights reserved.

Opportunities in
Communications
Specialized knowledge is required for
specialist in the communication field
Example: Network Engineer
Certification examinations are available for
attesting to the special skills

Some knowledge of communications is

required of all in the computer field

Certification
Microsoft Certification
MCSA & MCSE

CISCO Certification etc.

Network+ Certification
Different vendors offer certifications at
different levels of expertise
Contact their web sites for further information

Certification Websites
Microsoft
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp
/certifications.mspx

CISCO
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/learning/l
e3/learning_career_certifications_and
_learning_paths_home.html

Key Words
Microsoft certifications
MCS*

CISCO certification
Network+

End of Module

Module

Information Communication
Growth Factors

N. Ganesan, Ph.D. , All rights reserved.

Information
Communications: Growth
Factors

Internet
Fast access technologies for the Internet
ramp
Emergence of microcomputers as a serious
business and home computing tool and the
focus on connectivity
Move from large mainframe based
infrastructure to LAN based structures
Client-server computing architectures
Emerging concept of terminal servers

Growth Factors Continued

Home networking
Digitization of telecommunication lines
Wireless networking
Multimedia on the Internet
Internet security
Virtual Private Network
Voice over IP (VoIP)

Homework
Fast access technologies
DSL, Cable, T1, T3, OC1, OC2
Home fiber connections

IBM business computers

Replacements for mainframes

End of Module

Module

Evolution Physical Network

Architecture

N. Ganesan, Ph.D. , All rights reserved.

Evolution
Physical architecture
From mainframes to LAN based

Functional architecture
Centralized mainframe based architecture to
LAN based client-server architecture
In the case of LAN based architecture, clientserver evolved following the initial
introduction of the peer-to-peer network
architecture
Client-server architecture is now followed by
terminal server architecture

Early Mainframe-based
Centralized Architecture
External Analog
Lines

Mainframe
MiniComputer

Term.

Front End Processor

Modem
Server
Concentrator
Term.

Term.

Distributed LAN Based

Architecture
LAN
Mainframe/
Minicomputer
Systems

External Digital/
Analog Lines

Fiber Optic Backbone

(FDDI) or Switched Network
Connectivity

Modem
Gateway
LAN

WAN (Internet)
Gateway
(TCP/IP)

Current Trend in
Distributed Architecture
Source:
CISCO

Major Components of the

Distributed Architecture

Clients
Servers
Network interface cards
Cables (copper and fiber)
Switches
Routers
Internet ramps
Internet

Key Words

Mainframe based
Centralized
Distributed
Fiber ring

Fiber switches

End of Module

Homework
Explore some of the Catalyst
switches at Cisco

Module

Evolution of the Network

Functional Architecture

N. Ganesan, Ph.D. , All rights reserved.

Network Architectural
Evolution
Mainframe
LAN
Peer-to-Peer
Client Server
File server
Application server
Terminal server

Peer-to-Peer Networking
Initial architecture of the LAN prior
to client-server architecture
Each client operates on equal
footing in sharing resources
Unlike the client-server
architecture, there is no server on
the network in peer-to-peer
networking

P2P Sharing
Basic sharing is supported
Files
Printers
Internet connection

Large scale sharing of databases

and other business applications
are not included in P2P sharing

Client-Server Evolution
Client-server architecture is always
identified by the presence of a server
The evolution of client-server can be
traced to three sub-architectures that
are based on the functional feature of
the server
File server
Application server
Terminal server

Preview of File Server

Computing
Back-end data storage.
Server

Clients

Front-end computing
All the processing of the application is done at the client.

Preview of Application
Server
ack-end data storage and local retrieval
of data.
Computing
Server

Clients
Front-end interface and data manipulation tools.
Application processing is shared between the client and
the server.

A Preview of Terminal
Server Computing
Powerful
Terminal
Server

Extensive back-end data

storage, retrieval and
Processing

Thin Clients

Front end processing limited to terminal operations

Factors Used in the

Comparison of Architectures
Point of execution of applications
Network traffic
Security
Hardware/Software requirements
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Path of Evolution
More power to the user
Peer-to Peer
Distributed
Network

Centralized
Mainframe

Terminal
Server

Application
Server

File Server

Reduced cost of ownershipBetter management of shared dat

Homework
Browse for wiring closet, RJ-45
patch cables, wiring rack, punch
block etc.

End of Module

Module

Digitization of
Telecommunication Lines

N. Ganesan, Ph.D. , All rights reserved.

Digitization Of Telecom
Network
Initial telecom network was based on
analog technology
Copper wire
Electronic transmission
Coaxial cables and twisted pair cables

Current telecom
Copper wires and fibers
Electronic and optical transmission
Fiber cables and twisted pair cables

Digital WAN Carrier

Technologies
DSL
ISDN
T1, T3 etc.
OC1, OC3 etc.

WAN Communication
Technologies
FDDI and CDDI
Frame Relay
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)

Voice Transmission
Past is based on analog technology
Currently, it is moving to digital
technology
VoIP

Access Speeds
Fastest speed of an analog modem is
around 56K bps
Newer and mostly digital access
technologies such as DSL can operate at
faster speeds
Download speed is usually in Mbps
Upload speed is in Kbps

ADSL and SDSL

In SDSL both upload and download
speeds are the same

Typical DSL Speed

Upload
128K bps

Download
1.3M bps

Some DSL Providers

Covad
http://
www.covad.com/products/access/
dsl.shtml

SBC
http://www02.sbc.com/DSL/

DSL Extreme

Testing the Access Speed

The current bandwidth of a
connection can be tested by
accessing websites that test the
connection speed
www.dslreports.com
www.2wire.com

Access Security
www.grc.com

Summary of Access
Technologies
for
the
s
s
t
e
c
c
Internet
re Ac
i
DN
D
e
t
Sa

t
lli

IS

le
b
Ca

m
e
od

xD
SL

End of Module

Module

Internet Architectures

N. Ganesan, Ph.D. , All rights reserved.

Architectures
Internet
Intranet
An Internet restricted to the
companys own perimeter

Extranet
Intranet extended to include outside
organizations dealing with the
organization

Internet Defined
Internet Backbone
run by major carriers
(TCP/IP etc.)

SOHO
User

Internet
Service
Provider
(ISP)

Internet
Service
Provider
(ISP)

Individuals

Company
Network

Firewall

Internet

Intranet Defined

Internal Company
Backbone
(TCP/IP)

Departmental
LAN

Departmental
Computer
System

Mini or Mainframe
Computer systems

Extranet Defined
Other businesses
dealing with
company A.

Internet

Companys
Intranet

Business
Associates

Virtual Private Network

(VPN)

A Note on VPN
Created by tunneling into the
public network
Tunneling is done largely by
encrypting the computer data

Virtual Private Network

(VPN)

Internet

Fire Wall
Companys
Intranet

Point-to-Point
Tunneling Protocol
(PPTP)

End of Module

Module

Internet Access

N. Ganesan, Ph.D. , All rights reserved.

Access
Analog Access
Digital Access
Remote execution
Telecommuting

Analog Internet Access

Software:
Web Browser
Serial Port
Micro

Gain access to the

resources on the WWW.

Modem

Access provider
ISP

Internet

Digital Internet Access

Software:
Web Browser

Network
Port
Micro

Gain access to the

resources on the WWW.

Access provider
DSL
Modem

ISP

Internet

Computer to Computer
Access
Gain access to a companys
mainframe to run Unix applications

Micro

Modem

Public
Switched
Network (PSN)

Software: ProComm Plus, Hyper

Terminal, PCAnywhere, Remote
Desktop
Micro

Modem

Telecommuting
Terminal Services
Satellite
Office
PSN
Home
Terminal Services

Terminal Server

Main Office

Telecommuting Options
Employer supported
Previous example falls into this category
where the employer provides access to the
office computer from home
Example: Terminal services

User initiated
Gain access to ones computer in the
office
A remote control software is required
Examples: XP Remote Desktop and
GoToMyPC

Some Communication
Software
Hyper Terminal
Telnet
FTP
Procomm Plus
Remote Desktop

Homework
Dlink home network router
Linksys home network router

Remote Operation
Gotomypc
logmein

End of Module

Module

Networks

N. Ganesan, Ph.D. , All rights reserved.

Computer Networks
Simple
A single LAN

Intermediate
Departmental

Enterprise
Campus LANs and organizational LANs

Advanced
WANs such as an Internet based Virtual
Private Networks (VPNs)

Typical Wired LAN

Client OS
Client 1

Switch

Windows
2000/2003,
Linux

Windows XP/Vista; Linux

Client 2

Server:
Network OS,
Applications,
Data etc.

Client 3

Server Operating
System

Typical Wireless LAN

Client OS
Client 1

Windows XP/Vista; Linux

Client 2

Client 3

Wireless NIC

Wireless Access
Point

Server:
Network OS,
Applications,
Data etc.

Windows
2000/2003
Server,
Linux

Some LAN Applications

Share business applications

Share data
Share printers, modems etc.
Share the Internet and Internet resources
Send electronic-mail
Engage in audio/video streaming and
conferencing
Act as the infrastructure for the .net or J2EE
architecture

End of Module

Module
Network Security

N. Ganesan, Ph.D. , All rights reserved.

Network Security
Network security is an important
issue given the fact that many
computers are connected to the
Internet using broadband
connections

General Security Threats

Viruses
Denial of service attack
OS vulnerabilities
E-mail vulnerabilities
Macro execution vulnerabilities
Ect.

General Security Measures

Anti-virus
Anti-spyware
Anti-spam software
Firewalls
Both software firewalls and hardware
firewalls can be installed

Secure Communications
Cryptography
Encryption

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

IPSec and other secure protocols
Digital signatures

Examples of Protocols for

Secure VPN
PPTP
IPSec with encryption
IPSec with L2TP
SSL with encryption

Examples of Protocols for

Trusted VPN
MPLS with constrained distribution
of routing information through BGP
("layer 3 VPNs")
Transport of layer 2 frames over
MPLS ("layer 2 VPNs")
(Source:
http://www.vpnc.org/vpn-standards.
html
)

Encryption

PKI
RSA ?
MD5 ?
PGP
SSH
HTTPS
DES
AES

End of Module

Module

Wide Area Networks

N. Ganesan, Ph.D. , All rights reserved.

WAN: The Early Days

Telecommunication needs
Centered on analog technology

Data communication needs

Centered around digital technology

Digital to analog interface

For long distance computer
communications

Long-distance
Communications
Modulation
Interface

Digital

Digital
Analog

Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS)

Initial WANs
Overcome the limitations of general
purpose analog telephone lines
Better conditioned lines such as leased
lines were used on the network segment
Driven by a collection of computers to
route the data traffic from its source to
its destination
Arpanet was the first WAN that was
created

A Summary of the Basic

Components of the WAN
Routing devices

Leased lines

Computers/
Routing algorithms

Present Status of WANs

Information is carried in digitized
form
Digital communication lines
Over copper wire
Over fiber-optics

Digital merger
Telecommunications
Computer communications

WANs: Present and Future

Fully digital
Technologies
Frame Relay
ATM

Point-to-point digital
communication will become the
norm

Emerging WAN
ATM Switches

ATM operating at several

hundred Mbps
Digital
Ramp
Business
Computer
System

High speed digital lines:

OC3, OC48 etc.

Summary:Possible
Convergent Technology
Networks

Local
Enterprise
Wide area
Global

ATM

Point-to-point ATM connection may become

possible?

ATM Possibility
Internet Backbone
Client 1

Client 2

1 Gbps

25 Mbps
300 Mbps
Server

100 Mbps

ISP

Likely Scenario
Ethernet on the desktop
Possibly, ATM on the backbone

Ethernet Challenge
Client 1

Client 2

10 Gbps
1 Gbps
(Gigabit)

Hub
ISP

10 Mbps/
100 Mbps/
1 Gbps/
Server
10 Gbps

100 Mbps
(Fast)
10 Mbps
1 Mbps
(Past)

Current Ethernet Speeds

1G bps used widely
10G bps is gradually gaining
grounds
100G bps is on the horizon

Net Result
At the local level (LAN) Ethernet
will remain the technology of
choice for the foreseeable future
At the WAN level, ATM will
dominate over other WAN
technologies

The Digital Future: Fusion

Digital fusion
Computing
Telecommunications

Use of computers and the Internet

in all forms of communications that
would include data as well as all
forms of media
An example is Voice over IP (VoIP)

Possible Scenario
IP based universal digital
communication over the Internet
with IP addresses as the point of
identification
Data, voice and video communication
will be done over the Internet

Explore High-speed
Internet
10 Gpbs solutions

End of Module

Module
Sample Applications

N. Ganesan, Ph.D. , All rights reserved.

Some Application Areas

Networking
Various server applications such as
database server application,
messaging server application etc.

Web hosting and E-commerce

Voice over IP (VoIP)
Network Security

End of Module

Module
Voice over IP (VoIP):
Effect of Evolution

N. Ganesan, Ph.D. , All rights reserved.

Voice Over IP (VoIP)

VoIP is the digital replacement for
the traditional analog phone line
VoIP is based on the Internet
It is packet switched as opposed to
the traditional phone service that is
circuit switched

Voice Over IP Growth

Growth of VoIP is fuelled by the economy
of using the Internet and the technological
advantage of the digital technology
It signifies the inevitable use of digital
technology and the Internet to carry voice
VoIP is poised to grow and probably
become the de facto public voice carrier
technology

VoIP Challenges
Latency inherent to the IPv4
protocol
Availability of bandwidth

VoIP Remedies
Newer protocol such as IPv6 is
designed to address latency
Faster Internet backbones such as
those using Optical Carrier (OC)
lines and ATM transport
technologies are being introduced
to increase the bandwidth of the
communication lines

Long Term Developments

Indications are that residential
connections in the long term would
evolve into Internet connections
replacing the phone connection

Business and Residential End

Points
Instead of identifying an end point
in a business or a residence with a
phone number, it is plausible that
the end point could be identified
with a number similar to an IP
address

VoIP Application: Broadband

Phone
Broadband phone may be touted
as the first real sign of
convergence between computer
and telephone networks
VoIP application in the form of
broadband phone will also
contribute to the growth of
communication on the Internet

Broadband Phone
Uses a DSL or cable modem
connection
Sample vendor
Vonnage

Broadband phone is known as an

Internet appliance

Emergence of Internet
Appliances
Internet appliances are devices that
can be used without explicit
programming
The software code necessary will be
stored in firmware in the appliances
Functionalities of the appliances
could well be chosen with the use of
buttons that may resemble the
buttons on a telephone dial pad

Internet Appliances
A broad range of Internet appliances will
then become available for residential
use with the broadband phone featuring
prominently as perhaps the most used
Internet appliance
Other Internet appliances may include
Radios, Interactive TV, Evolving Palm
Pilots etc.

End of Module
End of Chapter

END OF MODULE

END OF CHAPTER