Communication and Connectivity

Computer Communication is the process of sharing data, programs, and information between two or more
computers.
Applications of Communication Systems:
1) E-mail. Provides a fast, efficient alternative to traditional mail by sending and receiving electronic
documents.
2) Instant Messages. Support direct
3) Internet Telephone
4) Electronic Commerce
5) Connectivity is the concept related to using computer networks to link people and resources. You can
link or connect to large computers and the Internet providing access to extensive information resources.
6) Communication Systems are electronic systems that transmit data from one location to another.
Whether wired or wireless, every communication system has four elements:
o Sending and receiving devices these are often a computer or specialized communication devices. They
originate (send) as well as accept (receive) messages in the form of data, information and/or instructions.
o Communication Channel this is the actual connecting or transmission medium that carries the message
this medium can be:
a) Physical Connections; and

b) Wireless Connections

c) Physical Connections use a solid medium to connect sending and receiving devices.

Telephone Lines a single twisted pair culminates in a wall jack into which you can plug your phone and
computer
Coaxial Cable a high-frequency transmission cable, replaces the multiple wires of telephone lines with
a single-copper core
Fiber-optic Cable transmits data as pulses of light through tiny tubes of glass

Wireless Connection does not use a solid substance to connect to sending and receiving devices, rather,
they use the air itself.

Infrared it sometimes referred to as line-of-sight communication because the light waves can only
travel in a straight line

Broadcast Radio wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) is an example of broadcast radio for us to widely connect
computers to each other and to the Internet

Microwave it sometimes referred to as line-of-sight communication because the light waves can only
travel in a straight line

Satellite it rotate at a precise point and speed above the earth

 Connection devices these devices act as an interface between the sending and receiving devices, they
convert outgoing messages into packets that can travel across the communication channel, and they also
reverse the process for incoming messages.
Data Transmission Specifications these are the rules and procedures that coordinate the sending and
receiving devices by precisely defining hoe the message will be sent across the communication channel.
Communication Devices is a hardware device capable of transmitting an analog or digital signal over
the telephone, other communication wire, or wirelessly.
Connection Device Signals

Analog Signal a signal in which some feature increases and decreases in the same way as the thing
being transmitted. In AM radio, for example, the strength of the radio waves goes up and down in
analogy with loudness of the digital sound.

Digital Signal a signal in which the original information is converted into a string of bits before being
transmitted. A radio signal, for example, will be either on or off. Digital signals can be sent for long
distances and suffer less interference than analog signals.

Modems the word modem short for modulator-demodulator. Modulation and Demodulation is the
name of the process of converting from digital to analog computer. The modem enables digital
microcomputer to communicate across analog telephone lines

Types of Modem
o External Modem stands apart from the computer and typically is connected by a cable to the
computers serial port.
o Internal Modem consists of a plug-in circuit board inside the system unit.
o PC Card Modem a credit card-size expansion board that it is inserted into portable computers.
o Wireless Modem may be internal, external, or PC Card. Unlike the other modems, it does not use
cables. Instead, wireless modems send and receive through the air.

Networks is a communication system that connects two or more computers so that they can exchange
information and share resources.

Terms:
Node Any device connected to a network; a printer, a PC, storage device, etc.
Client A node that requests and uses resources available from other nodes
Server A node that shares resources with other nodes. Dedicated servers include application servers, communication
servers, database servers, file servers, printer servers or web servers
Hub The center or central node for other nodes it may be a server or a central connection point
Network Interface Card (NIC) An adapter card for connecting a node to a network
Network Operating System (NOS) Controls and coordinates the activities of all computers and other devices on a
network
Distributed processing A system in which computing power is located and shared at different locations
Host Computer A large, centralized computer, usually a minicomputer or a main frame
Network Manager A computer specialist, also known as a network administrator, responsible for maintaining the
network operations

Local Area Network (LAN) is designed for small physical areas such as an office, group of buildings
or a factory. LANs are used widely as it is easy to design and to troubleshoot. Personal computers and
workstations are connected to each other through LANs. We can use different types of topologies
through LAN, these are Star, Ring, Bus, Tree etc.LAN can be a simple network like connecting two
computers, to share files and network among each other while it can also be as complex as
interconnecting an entire building.LAN networks are also widely used to share resources like printers,
shared hard-drive etc.

Applications of LAN
One of the computers in a network can become a server serving all the remaining computers called
clients. Software can be stored on the server and it can be used by the remaining clients.

 Connecting locally all the workstations in a building to let them communicate with each other locally
without any internet access.
Sharing common resources like printers etc are some common applications of LAN.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) It is basically a bigger version of LAN. It is also called MAN and
uses the similar technology as LAN. It is designed to extend over the entire city. It can be means to
connecting a number of LANs into a larger network or it can be a single cable. It is mainly hold and
operated by single private company or a public company.

Wide Area Network (WAN) it is also called WAN. WAN can be private or it can be public leased
network. It is used for the network that covers large distance such as cover states of a country. It is not
easy to design and maintain. Communication medium used by WAN are PSTN or Satellite links. WAN
operates on low data rates.

Wireless Network is the fastest growing segment of computer. They are becoming very important in our
daily life because wind connections are not possible in cars or aero plane. We can access Internet at any
place avoiding wire related troubles... These can be used also when the telephone systems gets destroyed
due to some calamity/disaster. WANs are really important now-a-days.

Inter Network
When we connect two or more networks then they are called internetwork or internet. We can join two
or more individual networks to form an internetwork through devices like routers gateways or bridges.

Network Topologies
a) BUS TOPOLOGY
Bus topology is a network type in where every computer and network device is connected to single
cable.
Features of Bus Topology
1.

It transmits data only in one direction.

2.

Every device is connected to a single cable

3. Advantages of Bus Topology

1.
2.

It is cost effective.
Cable required is least compared to other
network topology.

3.

Used in small networks.

4.

It is easy to understand.

5.

Easy to expand joining two cables together.

6. Disadvantages of Bus Topology

1.
2.

Cables fails then whole network fails.

If network traffic is heavy or nodes are more
the performance of the network decreases.

3.

Cable has a limited length.

4.

It is slower than the ring topology.

b) 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 neighbor for each device.
Features of Ring Topology
1.

A number of repeaters are used and the transmission is unidirectional.

2.

Date is transferred in a sequential manner that is bit by bit.

3. Advantages of Ring Topology

1.

2.

Transmitting network is not affected by high traffic or by adding more nodes, as only the nodes having
tokens can transmit data.
Cheap to install and expand
3. Disadvantages of Ring Topology

1.

Troubleshooting is difficult in ring topology.

2.

Adding or deleting the computers disturbs the network activity.

3.

Failure of one computer disturbs the whole network.

c) STAR Topology

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.
Features of Star Topology
1.

Every node has its own dedicated

connection to the hub.

2.

Acts as a repeater for data flow.

4. Advantages of Star Topology

3.

Can be used with twisted pair, Optical Fiber

or coaxial cable.

1.

Fast performance with few nodes and low

network traffic.

4.
5.

2.

Hub can be upgraded easily.

3.

Easy to troubleshoot.

Easy to setup and modify.

Only that node is affected which has failed
rest of the nodes can work smoothly.
6.

7. Disadvantages of Star Topology

1.

Cost of installation is high.

2.

Expensive to use.

4.

Performance is based on the hub that is it

depends on its capacity
5.

3.

If the hub is affected then the whole network

is stopped because all the nodes depend on the
hub.

6.

d) MESH Topology
7. It is a point-to-point connection to other nodes or devices. Traffic is carried only between two devices or
nodes to which it is connected. Mesh has n (n-2)/2 physical channels to link the devices.
8. Types of Mesh Topology
1.

2.

Partial Mesh Topology: In this topology some of the systems are connected in the same fashion as
mesh topology but some devices are only connected to two or three devices.
Full Mesh Topology: Each and every nodes or devices are connected to each other.
9. Features of Mesh Topology

1.

Fully connected.

2.

Robust.

3.

Not flexible.

4. Advantages of Mesh Topology

1.

Each connection can carry its own data load.

3.

Fault is diagnosed easily.

2.

It is robust.

4.

Provides security and privacy.

3.

Bulk wiring is required.

5. Disadvantages of Mesh Topology

1.

Installation and configuration is difficult.

2.

Cabling cost is more.

e) TREE Topology
It has a root node and all other nodes are connected to it forming a hierarchy. It is also called hierarchical
topology. It should at least have three levels to the hierarchy.
Features of Tree Topology
1.

Ideal if workstations are located in groups.

2.

Used in Wide Area Network.

3. Advantages of Tree Topology

1.

Extension of bus and star topologies.

3.

Easily managed and maintained.

2.

Expansion of nodes is possible and easy.

4.

Error detection is easily done.

5. Disadvantages of Tree Topology

1.

Heavily cabled.

2.

Costly.

3.

4.

If more nodes are added maintenance is

difficult.
Central hub fails, network fails.

f) HYBRID Topology/ Hierarchal

It is two different types of topologies which is a mixture of two or more topologies. For example if in an office
in one department ring topology is used and in another star topology is used, connecting these topologies will
result in Hybrid Topology (ring topology and star topology).
Features of Hybrid Topology
1.

It is a combination of two or topologies

2.

Inherits the advantages and disadvantages of the topologies included

3. Advantages of Hybrid Topology

1.

2.

Reliable as Error detecting and trouble

shooting is easy.
Effective.
5. Disadvantages of Hybrid Topology

1.

Complex in design.

2.

Costly.

3.

Scalable as size can be increased easily.

4.

Flexible.

Organizational Internets. Networks have grown in complexity over time. One approach to managing them is to apply
Internet technologies to support communications between organizations using intranets and extranets.
Intranets
An intranet is a private network that resembles the Internet
Intranets use browsers, web sites, and web pages, but the access is restricted to those users within the organization
They are commonly used to provide information to the employees, such as job openings, human resource
information, etc.
Extranets
An extranet is a private network that resembles the Internet, but it connects more than one organization
A company may set one up to link key suppliers and customers of the organization
Firewalls
A firewall is a security system that is designed to protect the organizations network against external threats.
Firewalls consist of both hardware and software to block access to those people who shouldnt connect with an
Intranet or Extranet.
Proxy servers act as a gateway to block IP traffic between the organizations network and the Internet. The proxy
server looks at the addresses of all messages, and decides whether to let them pass or not.
3.

4. Practical uses of Communication and Connectivity

5.

Social Networks
Online shopping / Online buying
Research
Freedom to express
We can be an artist