Introduction

To
Computer Networks

By:
Dr. Abhinav Sharma
Assistant Professor-SS
Department of Electronics
 1-1 DATA COMMUNICATIONS
The term telecommunication means communication at a
distance. The word data refers to information presented
in whatever form is agreed upon by the parties creating
and using the data. Data communications are the
exchange of data between two devices via some form of
transmission medium such as a wire cable.

The communication system consists of communicating devices

which are made up of combination of hardware (physical
equipment) and software (programs).
The effectiveness of a data communications system
depends on four fundamental characteristics:

1. Delivery- Data must be delivered to correct destination.

2. Accuracy- Data must be delivered accurately.
3. Timeliness- Data must be delivered without significant
delay.
4. Jitter- Jitters refer to variation in the packet arrival
time.
Figure 1.1 Components of a data communication system
A data communication system has five components:

1. Message
2. Sender
3. Receiver
4. Transmission medium
5. Protocol

Protocol is a set of rules that govern data

communications and represents an agreement between
the communicating devices.
Data Representation

1. Text
2. Numbers
3. Images
4. Audio
5. Video
 DATA FLOW

1. Simplex- The communication is unidirectional.

Example- Keyboard, Monitors.

2. Half-Duplex- In this mode each station can transmit and

receive, but not at the same time.
Example- Walkie-talkies.

3. Duplex- In this mode, both station can transmit and

receive simultaneously.
Example- Telephone network.
Figure 1.2 Data flow (simplex, half-duplex, and full-duplex)
1-2 NETWORKS

A network is a set of devices (often referred to as nodes)

connected by communication links. A node can be a
computer, printer, or any other device capable of sending
and/or receiving data generated by other nodes on the
network. A link can be a cable, air, optical fiber, or any
medium which can transport a signal carrying
information.
Distributed Processing
The task is divided among multiple computers, instead of
one single machine.
Network Criteria

 Performance
 Transmit time and Response time
 Depends on Network Elements
 Transmission medium
 Capabilities of the hardware and efficiency of the software
 Measured in terms of Delay and Throughput
 Reliability
 Failure rate of network components
 Measured in terms of availability/robustness
 Security
 Data protection against corruption/loss of data due to:
 Errors
 Malicious users
 Physical Structures

 Type of Connection
 Point to Point - single transmitter and receiver
 Multipoint - multiple recipients of single transmission
 Physical Topology
 It refers to the way in which the network is laid out physically.
 Two or more devices connect to a link; two or more links form a
topology.
 Topology of a network is the geometrical representation of all
the links and the linking devices to one another.
Figure 1.3 Types of connections: point-to-point and multipoint
Figure 1.4 Categories of topology
Figure 1.5 A fully connected mesh topology (five devices)

In a mesh topology, every device has a dedicated point-to-point link to every

other device.
In a mesh topology, the number of duplex-mode links are n(n-1)/2
Advantages
1. Eliminate traffic problems
2. Robust
3. Privacy and security
4. Easy fault identification and elimination
Disadvantages
1. Large number of cabling and I/O ports
required.
2. Installation and reconnection is difficult.

Example
Connection of regional telephone offices.

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Figure 1.6 A star topology connecting four stations

In this topology, each device has a dedicated point-

to-point link only to a central controller, called hub.
Figure 1.7 A bus topology connecting three stations

A bus topology is multipoint. One long cable acts as

a backbone to link all the devices in a network.
Figure 1.8 A ring topology connecting six stations

In a ring topology, each device has a dedicated

point-to-point connection with only the two devices
on either side of it.
Figure 1.9 A hybrid topology: a star backbone with three bus networks
 Categories of Networks

 Local Area Networks (LANs)

 Short distances upto few Km.
 Designed to provide local interconnectivity
 The most common LAN topologies are bus, ring and star.
 Speed are 100 or 1000 Mbps.
 Wide Area Networks (WANs)
 Long distances communication that comprises of country,
continent and whole world.
 Provide connectivity over large areas.
 It can be classified as switched WAN and point-to-point WAN.
 Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs)
 Provide connectivity over areas such as a city, a campus.
 Example- Telephone company network
Cable TV Network
Figure 1.10 An isolated LAN connecting 12 computers to a hub in a closet
Figure 1.11 WANs: a switched WAN and a point-to-point WAN
Figure 1.12 A heterogeneous network made of four WANs and two LANs
 1-3 THE INTERNET

The Internet has revolutionized many aspects of our daily

lives. It has affected the way we do business as well as the
way we spend our leisure time. The Internet is a
communication system that has brought a wealth of
information to our fingertips and organized it for our use.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)- There are international service

provider, national service providers, regional service providers,
local service providers. The Internet today is run by private
companies and not by government.
Hierarchy
1. International service provider
2. National service provider
3. Regional service provider
4. Local Service provider- provide direct
service to the end users and can be
connected to regional ISPs or directly
to national ISPs.
Figure 1.13 Hierarchical organization of the Internet
1-4 PROTOCOLS

A protocol is synonymous with rule. It consists of a set of

rules that govern data communications. It determines
what is communicated, how it is communicated and when
it is communicated. The key elements of a protocol are
syntax, semantics and timing

Topics discussed in this section:

 Syntax
 Semantics
 Timing
 Elements of a Protocol

 Syntax
 Structure or format of the data
 Indicates how to read the bits - field delineation
 Semantics
 Interprets the meaning of the bits
 Knows which fields define what action
 Timing
 When data should be sent and what
 Speed at which data should be sent or speed at which it is being
received.
 Standards
• Standards provide guidelines to manufacturer,
vendors, government agencies and other service
providers to ensure the kind of interconnectivity
necessary in today’s marketplace and in international
communications.
• Defacto- Standards that have not been approved by
an organized body but have been adopted as
standards through widespread use. Established by
manufacturers.
• Dejure- Standards that have been legislated by an
officially recognized body.

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 Standard Organizations
• Standard Creation Committees
 International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
 International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
 American National Standard Institute (ANSI)
 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
(IEEE)
 Electronic Industries Association (EIA)
• Forums
• Forums is made up of representatives from
corporations and work with universities to test,
evaluate and standardize new technologies.
• Regulatory Agencies
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in US.1.30