Computer

Network

Chapter Four
Introduction
 1.1 data communication
• A computer network is a set of computers connected
together for the purpose of sharing resources.
• The most common resource shared today is connection
to the Internet.
• Other shared resources can include a printer or a file
server.
When we communicate we share information between
two parties, communication could occur:
• locally: face2face, or
• remotely: over distance.
 Network Benefits
• Efficient communication: E-mail and instant messaging are just two
ways that networks allow us to communicate more efficiently.
• Effective resource management: Networks allow easy sharing of
software, hardware, and data resources.
• Complete, accurate, reliable, and timely information: Multiple users
can access or update data quickly from a central database.
• Expanded marketing and customer service capabilities: Businesses
and individuals can carry out remote business transactions anytime
and anywhere.
 1.1 data communication (cont)
• Is the exchange of data between two OR MORE
devices using some form of transmission medium
(wired or wireless).
• Data forms (char, numeric, audio, video, images..
• Characteristics for effective data comm.:
1- delivery : to the right destination.
2- accuracy : accurate data delivery.
3- timeliness : delivery at the right time.
 1.1 data communication (cont)
4- Jitter is defined as a variation in the delay of
received packets. The sending side transmits
packets in a continuous stream and spaces them
evenly apart. Because of network congestion,
improper queuing, or configuration errors, the
delay between packets can vary instead of
remaining constant.
Real-time transmission: delivering data
as they are produced in the same order and
without significant delay.
 Data communication Components
1-Message: is the data to be communicated.
2-Sender : the device that sends the message.
3-Receiver: the device that receive the message.
4-Transmission medium: is the physical path by
which the message travels.(wired or wireless)
5-Protocols: set of rules to exchange messages
with other Internet points at the information
packet level. Agreement between devices.
 1.1.3 Data flow methods:
1-Simplex: sender uses the entire medium
capacity.
2- Half duplex: medium capacity is taken by
which ever of the two devices is transmitting
at a time. (using the same medium BUT NOT
at the same time)
3-Full duplex: medium capacity is divided
between signals traveling in both directions.
 1.2 Networks
A network is a system of hardware,
software and transmission
components that allow two
application programs on two different
stations (computers) connected to
the network to communicate and
exchange data.
• To form a NW, we need at least two devices.
 1.2.1 NW criteria
1- performance
- transit time : amount of time needed for a
message to travel from one device to another.
- response time: time elapsed between an
inquiry and response.
Performance depends on the following factors:
Number of NW users, type of transmission
medium, capabilities of HW and SW efficiency.
 1.2.1 NW criteria(cont.)
• Performance is evaluated by throughput and
delay.
2- Reliability which is measured by:
Frequency of failure, time needed to recover in case
of a disaster and NW robustness on catastrophe.
3- security: protecting data from unauthorized
access, protecting data from damage and
implementing policies and procedures for
recovery from data loss.
 1.2.2 physical structure
Type of communication:
1- point-to-point connection: provides
dedicated link between two devices, the
entire capacity of the link is reserved for
transmission between those two devices.
 Types of communication (cont.)
2- Multipoint: more than two devices share a
single link, channel capacity is shared among
devices using the medium.
multipoint
 NW Physical topology
• Topology is the way in which a network is
physical laid out.
• 4 types of topologies mostly used (mesh, star,
bus, ring)
 1-Mesh topology
• Characteristics:
- each device in the NW has a dedicated point-to-
point connection to every other nodes or device.
- All the network nodes are connected to each
other.
- Number of links increases as the number of
devices in the NW is increased.
- If number of devices is n then we need
n(n-1)/2 links and n-1 I/O ports.
 2- Star topology
• Characteristics:
- In this type of topology all the computers are connected to
a single hub through a cable. This hub is the central node
and all others nodes are connected to the central node.
- Each device has a dedicated link to a central HUB.
- No direct communication between devices.
- Each device needs one link and one I/O port.
• Features of Star Topology
• Every node has its own dedicated connection to the hub.
• Hub acts as a repeater for data flow.
• Can be used with twisted pair, Optical Fibre or coaxial
cable.
Star topology
 3- Bus topology
• Bus topology is a network type in which every
computer and network device is connected to
single cable. When it has exactly two
endpoints, then it is called Linear Bus
topology.
Features of Bus Topology
• It transmits data only in one direction.
• Every device is connected to a single cable
 3- Bus topology (cont)
• Characteristics:
- multipoint, one cable (backbone) links all devices
in the NW.
- Nodes are connected to backbone using a drop-
line and a tap.
- Drop lines run between the backbone and the
device.
- Tap is either splices into the backbone cable or
punctures the cable to create connection with
metallic core.
Bus topology
 Bus topology(cont.)
• A signal travels through the backbone cable,
some of its energy is transformed into heat
which weakens as it ravels further.
• There is a limit on number of taps a bus
connection can support and on the distance
between taps.
 4- Ring topology
• It is called ring topology because it forms a ring as each
computer is connected to another computer, with the
last one connected to the first. Exactly two neighbours
for each device.
• Characteristics:
- Each device has a dedicated point-to-point connection
with only two devices on either side of the device.
- Signal pass the ring in one direction (Unidirectional).
- Each device has a repeater, when a device receives a
signal intended to another device, its repeater
Regenerates the bits and pass them.
 Network Architecture
• Network architecture refers to the layout of
the network, consisting of the hardware,
software, connectivity, communication
protocols and mode of transmission, such as
wired or wireless.
• Two types of Network Architecture:
A- Client server
B- peer-to-peer
 Client/Server Architecture
• What does it mean?
• Client/server architecture is a computing model
in which the server hosts, delivers and manages
most of the resources and services to be
requested by the client.
• This type of architecture has one or more client
computers connected to a central server over a
network or Internet connection.
• This system shares computing resources.
• The shared files and applications are stored in
the server but Network clients can still store
files on their own PCs.
• A Server is a computer that shares information
and resources with other computers on the
network.
• Client is a computer which requests services
or files from server computer.
• Client/server architecture is a producer-consumer
computing architecture where the server acts as
the producer and the client as a consumer.
• The server houses and provides high-end,
computing-intensive services to the client on
demand.
• These services can include applications access,
storage, file sharing, printer access and/or direct
access to the server’s computing power.
• Client/server architecture works when the client
computer sends a request to the server over the
network connection, which is then processed and
delivered to the client.
• A server computer can manage several clients
simultaneously.
• One client can be connected to several servers at a
time, each providing a different set of services.
• The Internet is based on client/server architecture
where the Web server serves many simultaneous users
with Web page and website data
Client server
 Peer-to-Peer
• What does P2P Architecture mean?
• A network with all nodes acting as bother servers
and clients.
• A PC can access files located on another PC and
can also pro vide files and services to another PC.
• all computers in the Peer-to-peer architecture
(P2P architecture) have equal capabilities and
responsibilities to use the resources available on
the network.
• With Peer-to-Peer Network, no need for a server.
Peer to Peer Model
• Each PC acts as an independent workstation that
stores data on its own hard drive but which can
share it with all other PCs on the network.
• Computers connecting with each other in a
workgroup can share files, printers, and internet
access.
P2P networks have many applications such as
science, networking, search and communication
networks.
 1.3 Network types
• LAN = Local Area Network
• Characteristics:
- Privately owned
- Connects devices in a single office or building.
- Could be simple (2 devices) or complex ( many
devices)
- Each device (host) has an address (MAC) or IP
used to uniquely identify host in the LAN.
 LAN (cont.)
- Hosts exchange packets of data.
- Each packet contains two addresses (source
and destination)
- Most LAN uses switch to send packets from a
device to another.
LAN (Continued)
 WAN
• WAN  Wide Area Network
• Characteristics:
- Covers a wide geographical area like an entire
country or the whole world .
- It interconnects connection devices such as
switches, routers and others.
- Not privately owned, its created and operated
by communication companies and leased by
organization that uses it.
WAN
 The Internet
• What is the Internet?
• The Internet, sometimes called simply "the
Net," is a worldwide system of computer
networks - a network of networks in which
users at any one computer can, if they have
permission, get information from any other
computer (and sometimes talk directly to
users at other computers).
 Who owns the Internet?

• No one actually owns the Internet, and no

single person or organization controls the
Internet in its entirety.
• The Internet is more of a concept than an
actual tangible entity, and it relies on a
physical infrastructure that connects networks
to other networks.
 Access the Internet
• Home users access the Internet through dial-
up over traditional telephone lines or
broadband through cable or DSL.
• Most users connect through an Internet
Service Provider (ISP) using Internet access
software.
• Internet access has moved into libraries,
airports, or coffee shops using Wi-Fi.
• Wi-fi stands for 802.11 standards for wireless
network access.
 The World Wide Web
• The World Wide Web (WWW) is one the two most popular
Internet applications (e-mail is the other.)
• The Web provides a hypertext system that operates over the
Internet.
• Hypertext provides an easy way to publish information on a
network in documents that incorporate hyperlinks to other
information on the network.
• Web browser software enables user to view hypertext
document and use hyperlinks to browse other related
documents.
 Web Standards

The Web relies on three basic standards:

1. A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) which specifies a
unique address for each page that indicates the location
of a document.
2. The Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) provides rules
used by browsers and servers as they respond to each
other.
3. Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) provides a
language for encoding the information so a variety of IT
devices can display it.
Internet today
 Intranet

• An intranet is a local, restricted and

private network that is contained within
an organization.
• Its created using WWW software.
• It may consist of many interlinked local area
networks and also use leased lines in the WAN.
• The main purpose of an intranet is to share
organization information and computing
resources among authorized users only.
 Extranet
• is a private network that uses Internet technology and
the public telecommunication system to securely share
part of an organization's information or operations
with partners, users, customers, or other organizations
usually doing the same business.
• can be viewed as part of an organization’s intranet that
is extended to users outside the company.
• You can access an extranet only if you have a valid
username and password, and your identity determines
which parts of the extranet you can view and use.
 channel capacity
• The Maximum amount of data, energy or
material an appropriate channel can carry under
given conditions.
• Bandwidth
• Rate at which electrical signals can travel through
a medium wired or wireless. Bandwidth may be
thought of as the width of the 'pipe' through
which data travels: greater the width, larger
the amount of data that can flow through it.
 data transfer rate (DTR)

• Speed at which data can be moved between

two devices, such as from a disk drive to
a computer's main memory.
• DTR is measured in bits per second (bps), and
between a computer.
• data access time
Time taken by a computer, or a data storage device
or medium, to respond to a user’s request for
data. Measured in milliseconds or nanoseconds.