Network and Network Mechanisms

• A computer network is created when several

computers and terminal devices are connected
together by data communication system.

•The three basic types of computer networks are

– Local area network

– Metropolitan area network

– Wide area network

• A local area network (LAN) is two or more
computers directly linked within a small well
defined area such as a room, office building or a
campus.

• Main benefits of a LAN is the reduction of

hardware and software costs because users can
share several computers, peripherals devices
such as laser, printers, color plotters, hard disks,
modems, LAN platforms software.

• Another benefit is that the users can share the

same data.
 A LAN generally consists of the following
• Two or more computer.

•Software to control the operation of the computer.

• Peripherals devices such as modems, printers,

plotters etc.

• Coaxial or fiber optic cables are usually used to

connect the computers and other devices.

•A plug in board to handle the data transmission.

 Network Topology

• Each computer or device in a network is called a

node.

• The geometrical arrangement of computer

resources, remote device, communication
facilities is known as network topology.

• A network can be made in one of the five

different topologies.
1. Bus Network

2. Ring Network

3. Star Network

4. Tree Network

5. Mesh Network
 Bus Network
• In a bus network each computer is connected to
a single communication cable via an interface and
every computer can directly communicate with
every other computer or device in the network.

Advantages in Bus Network

•Short cable and single wiring layout.

• Resilient architecture.

• Easy to extend
 Disadvantages of Bus Network

• fault diagnosis is difficult.

• Fault isolation is difficult.

• Repeater configuration.

• Nodes must be intelligent.

 Micro computer
Printer

Hard disk

Bus
Network
Micro computer Micro computer
 Ring Network

• In a ring network several devices or computers

are connected to each other in a closed loop by a
single communication cable.

• A ring can be unidirectional or bi-directional.

• In a unidirectional ring, data moves in one

direction only and in a bi-directional ring, data
moves in both direction.
 Advantages of Ring Network

• Short cable length.

• No wiring closet space required.

• Suitable for optical fibers.

 Disadvantages of Ring Network

• Node failure causes network failure.

• Difficult to diagnose faults.

• Network reconfiguration is difficult.

• Topology affects the access protocol.

 Ring
Network
 Star Network
• In a star network several devices or computers
are connected to one centralized computer.

Advantages of the Star Network

• Ease of service.

• One device per connection.

• Centralized control/problem diagonals.

• Simple access protocols.

 Disadvantages of Star Network

• Long cable length.

• Difficult to expand.

• Central node dependency.

Central computer
Star Network
 Tree Network

• In a tree network, several devices or computers

are linked in a hierarchical fashion.

• This type of distribution system is commonly

used in the organization where headquarters
communicate with regional offices and regional
offices communicate with district offices and so
on.
 Advantages of Tree Network

• Easy to extend.

• Fault isolation.

Disadvantages of Tree Network

• Dependent on the root.

 Mainframe
computer

Node g Node f

Tree
Node n Node i Network Node d Node d
 Mesh Network

• A mesh network has point to point connections

between every device in the network.
 Advantages and disadvantages of
Mesh Network

• Units affected by media failure.

• Ease of installations.

• Ease of troubleshooting.

• Ease of reconfiguration.
Mesh Network
 Basic Elements In Networking

• Network services - At least two individuals

who have something to share.

• Transmission media - A method or pathway

for contacting each other.

• Protocols - Rules so that two or more

individuals can communicate.
 Network services

• Network services are provided by numerous

combinations of computer hardware and
software.

• Depending upon the task, network services

require data, input/output resources and
processing power to accomplish their goals.
 Service Providers and Requestors

Three types of service providers & requestors are :

1. Servers - Servers are only allowed to provide

services.

2. Clients - Clients are only allowed to request

services from others.

3. Peers - Peers may be both concurrently.

 Transmission media
• Transmission media is a pathway by which
networked entities use to contact each other.

• Computer transmission media includes cable and

wireless technologies that allow networked
devices to contact each other.

• Transmission media cannot guarantee that other

network devices will understand a message.

•It can, however guarantee a message delivery path.

 Protocols

• A protocol can be one rule or a complete set of

rules and standards that allow different devices
to hold conversations.

• Human communication would be impossible

without language, grammar & cultural rules.

• The following is an example of set of rules and

standard. in which network service requestors
and service providers can communicate.
• How is the transmission media physically set up.

• How do network entities contact one another.

• How do network entities know how much data

can be transmitted.

• How are network entities guaranteed that a

message has been received correctly.

• How is a message passed to the intended

recipients.
• How is the transmission media physically set up?

• How do network entities contact one another?

• How do network entities know how much data

can be transmitted?

• How are network entities guaranteed that a

message has been received correctly?
• How is a message passed to the intended
recipients?

• How are bits transmitted on the media?

• How do network entities, with disparate

languages communicate?

• How do network entities know when to

transmit data?