CS652: Introduction to Computer Communication Theory

Lecture 2: Classification of Computer

Networks

Name: Mr. Nyamwihula, W.

Classification of Computer Networks

the Communication networks can be classified on basis of: The geographical area covered by the network The roles of computers attached to the network The type switching technique used The type of physical links The type of transmission technology Who can use the network, etc. 2

Classification based on Covered Area

This classification considers the geographical area covered by the network Local Area Network (LAN) Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) Wide Area Network (WAN) The Internet Intranet Extranet 3

LAN
Usually confined to a geographical area such as a room, a building, a cluster of buildings or a campus LANs are privately owned including the attached devices The network management responsibility for a LAN falls solely on the owner LANs come in different configuration. The most common are switched LANs and wireless LANs The switched LANs are also distinguished by the transmission technology used (Architecture) and topology 4

MAN
Basically bigger version of LAN might cover a group of nearby corporate offices or a city

Might either be private or public owned

WAN
Usually refers to a network which covers a large geographical area often a country or continent It consists a number of interconnected switching node using communications circuits They use communications circuits from telephone companies or other communications carriers for the interconnections WAN connectivity include satellite links, microwave transceivers, packet radio and leased telephone lines 6

The Internet
Is a worldwide system of computers Evolved from the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of the U.S. government in 1969 and was known as the ARPANet. The original aim was to create a network to allow researchers in one university to be able to communicate with researchers in another university 7

The Internet..
A side benefit of the ARPANets design was that because messages could be routed in more that one direction, the network could continue to function even if parts were destroyed in the event of a military attack or other disaster ARPANet made use of the new technology of packet switching, which offered advantages over circuit switching. Traditionally, the two primary types of electronic communication were circuit switching (essentially, voice communication) and message switching (telegraph and telex) 8

The Internet..
The Internet today is made up of thousand of overlapping hierarchical networks computers attached to them. Hosts are sometimes grouped together in LANs which are typical configurations in corporate environment. The LANs are connected to the Internet through an Internet Service Provider (ISP) Today, the Internet is a public, cooperative and self- sustaining facility accessible to hundreds of millions of people worldwide. 9

Intranet and Extranet

Network of networks contained within an organisation which may consist of many interlinked LANs and also use leased lines to form WAN The main purpose is to share organisational information and computing resources among employees Larger organisations allow users within their intranet to access the pubic Internet through firewall servers that screen messages in both direction so that organisation security is maintained 10

Intranet and Extranet.

When part of an Intranet is made accessible to customers, partners, suppliers, or others outside the organisation, that part is called an Extranet Extranet allows sharing part of a businesss information, or operation with suppliers, vendors, partners, customers, etc. Extranet facilitates doing business with other organisations as well as to sell products to customers 11

Classification Based on Roles of Computers

The role of a computer it can play on a network is determined by the installed operating system (OS) Client: A networked PC or workstation that can query database and/or other information from a server. Uses but do not provide network resources. Peer: A networked PC or workstation that can use and also provides network resources. Server: Usually a high-powered computer that houses information and resources for manipulation/usage by networked clients. 12

Peer-to-Peer Networks
There is no server and computers share resources among independent peers Computers are normally organised in workgroups Advantages: Network set-up is easy No extra cost for dedicated server hardware and software Network administration is normally not required Users can control sharing of resources 13

Peer-to-Peer Networks.
Advantages: No reliance on other computers for operation Low cost for small networks The security is weak With no central login process, resources in the workgroup are available for every one to use once they logged onto one peer computer 14 Disadvantages:

Peer-to-Peer Networks.
Disadvantages:.. Users are required to administer their own computers Additional load on computers when sharing resources Difficulty to archive files Peer computer can handle limited connections 15

Client-Server Networks
Also known as Server Based Networks The network contains powerful server(s) and supports multiple clients The server provides security and network administration Computers are organised in Domains Advantages: Strong central security 16

Client-Server Networks.
Advantages:.. Provides central file storage which allows all users to work from same set f data and provides easy backup of critical data Pooling of available resources on a server lowers overall cost when using expensive equipment such as laser printers and colour scanners Users do not manage resources sharing. 17

Client-Server Networks.
Advantages:.. Easy management of large number of users, ability to access rights centrally

Disadvantages: It requires expensive dedicated software It requires expensive network operating system software and client licenses A dedicated system administrator is required 18

Hybrid Networks
Hybrid networks contain both workgroups and domains Most networks fall under this category They combine the best features of server-based and peer-to-peer approaches

They are implemented by running two types of operating systems on the same network A major disadvantage is that it requires extensive planning and training to ensure adequate security 19

Classification Based on Switching Technique

In switched communication networks, data from source is routed to the destination by being switched from one node to node through Intermediate Systems Computers should be able to form a link from the sending point to the receiving point To create these links, switching has to take place Switching in this instance means selecting a pathway that gets information to, or at least closer to, its destination, and then directing the data down that path 20

Classification Based on Switching Technique..

Switching may mean selecting the best paths between machines that store messages Switching may mean breaking up data messages into small units (packets) and individually directing each packet down the best path Whatever the case, each method offers particular advantages and disadvantages 21

Message Switching Network

An entire message (analogous to a letter) is routed to a destination (recipient The message will follow several paths and decisions as to the proper pathway must also be made Storage and routing devices will determine the appropriate route to the destination that have minimal delay Message switching network is also now as store and forward network 22

Message Switching Network

C B
Personal Compter Workstation

Message Storage & Routing Devices

4
Server

A
Workstation

Laptop computer

23

Message Switching Network

In this scheme, messages are received in their entirety and stored while a route to or closer to their destination is being determined Once the route has been established, then the message is sent to either its final destination or another intermediate storage and forwarding point One of the prime users of this type of technology is electronic mail systems. In E-mail networks, all devices storing E-mail (typically called E-mail or mail servers) may not be connected all of the time 24

Message Switching Network

No exclusive pathway is required to get the message from Point A to Point B, only a series of links that are created as needed. The message itself contains information as to where it is going. Storing and forward on a message switched system is slow. Obviously to store a whole message, select a route, and then retransmit the message takes time This mechanism is totally unsuitable for communicating in real time (interactively, with no gaps in communication) 25

Circuit Switching Network

Involves the creation of a physical path for data flow between a source and a destination The whole connection from the sender to the receiver is called a circuit The path is a connected sequence of physical links between nodes. On each link, a logical channel is dedicated to the connection Data generated by the source station are transmitted along the dedicated path as rapidly as possible 26

Circuit Switching Network

The most common example of circuit switching is the telephone network The problems associated with circuit switching is that overhead is required to create the physical pathway. It takes time to put all the links in place to complete the circuit Circuit switching offers the advantages of having dedicated communication channel between senders and receivers, but suffers from overhead to create the channel as well as maintain it even after transmission is halted 27

Packet Switching Network

Involves the breaking up of messages into smaller components called packets Each packet contains source and destination information, and is treated as an individual message These mini-messages are received and routed through optimal pathways by various nodes on a wide area network

28

Packet Switching Network.

29

Packet Switching Network.

Each individual packet is directed down what seems to be the optimal path at transmit time So a packets from a message may end up taking a different pathway from another packet from the same message Packet switched networks incorporate a special device known as a Packet Assembler/Disassembler device (or PAD). The job of a PAD device is to make sure the packets are placed in the right order as they are received 30

Packet Switching Network.

A sequence number in each packet designating which packet of a message is which. The PAD simply looks at that number in the packet and is able to subsequently reassemble the message that was originally sent The pad is also responsible for taking messages coming into the network, breaking them up into packets and then assigning sequence numbers to each packet Packet switching is faster because messages are not stored in their entirety for later retrieval 31

Classification Based on Type Physical Links

Dial-up The normal telephone network also known as POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) can be used for voice or data. While it is more than acceptable for voice, speed restrictions exist for data The bandwidth limitation is the major roadblock to fast dial-up data communications. Modems are used at each end 32

Classification Based on Type Physical Links ..

Modem
Modem

Telephone

Modem
Modem

In order for the telephone network to support higher bit rates, more bandwidth is needed This can be achieved by converting the world-wide telephones network to an all digital format A digital standard already exists called ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Network) 33

Classification Based on Type Physical Links..

Dedicated or Leased Line This is a full-time service of a communications link that operates at higher speeds and is more reliable than dial-up lines High speed modems are used These dedicated or leased telephone lines are also known as private facilities Leased lines are usually configured to support point-to-point or multi-point line configurations 34

Classification Based on Type Transmission Technology

Broadcast Networks These have single communication channel that is shared by all the machines the network on Short messages, called packets sent by any machine are received by all the others. An address field within the packet specifies for whom it is intended Upon receiving a packet, a machine checks the address field 35

Classification Based on Type Transmission Technology

Broadcast Networks If the packet is intended for itself, it processes the packet, otherwise it is just ignored.

Commo n Networ k

36

Classification Based on Type Transmission Technology .

Broadcast Networks Allows the possibility of addressing a packet to all destinations by using a special code in the address field

When the address with this code is transmitted, it is received and processed by every computer on the network Some broadcast systems also support transmission to a subset of the machines, this is known as multicasting 37

Classification Based on Type Transmission Technology .

Point-to-Point Networks Two computers share a transmission path Point-to-point networks consist of many connections between individual pairs of machines. To go from the source to the destination, a packet may have to first visit one or more intermediate machines geographically localized Smaller, networks tend to use broadcasting, whereas larger networks usually are point-to-point 38

Classification Based on Type Transmission Technology .

Internet

39

Classification Based on Who Uses the Network

Private Networks LANs and WAN are private networks with provision to access the Internet path Private networks can also have limited access from outsiders through firewalls. Public Networks Can be used by anyone e.g. PSTN and Internet 40

Classification Based on Who Uses the Network

Virtual Private Networks Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) can be implemented as an Intranet also and completely replace a private WAN VPN connect branch offices and into an enterprise-wide corporate network via the Internet VPNs serve as private network overlays on public network infrastructures such as the Internet 41

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is an interconnection of computers and peripheral devices contained within a limited geographical area Computer communication on a LAN involves the use of shared transmission media to achieve high data rates over relatively short distances The essential technology underlying all forms of LANs comprises topology, transmission medium and media access control technique 42

LAN Topologies
The interconnection of computers on a LAN follows a physical and logical layout This layout, called a topology, governs many aspects of LANs There are three basic types of topologies Star Bus Ring 43

Star Topology
Star topology derives its name from the arrangement of devices so that they radiate from a central point At the central point we usually see a device generically called a hub The hub unit which may vary in function from a simple signal splitter (called a passive hub) to one that amplifies and keeps statistics on data travelling through them (termed as an active and intelligent hub). 44

Star Topology.
Hub

Hu b

PC 5 PC 1

PC 2

PC 3

PC 4 45

Star Topology
Star topology derives its name from the arrangement of devices so that they radiate from a central point At the central point we usually see a device generically called a hub The hub unit which may vary in function from a simple signal splitter (called a passive hub) to one that amplifies and keeps statistics on data travelling through them (termed as an active and intelligent hub). 46

Star Topology.
Advantages: Easy to modify and add computer Easy to diagnose network problems Single computer failure does not bring the whole network down Disadvantages: More cabling cost If the hub dies, the whole network dies Needs expensive active devices like hubs and switches 47

Bus Topology
Consists of several computer connected to a common cable Also known as linear bus topology Terminations are required at both ends There is no central hub or switch

48

Bus Topology.
PC 1 PC 3 PC 5

Terminato r

Terminato r

PC 4 PC 2 49

Bus Topology.
Advantages: Simple and reliable in small networks Requires the least amount of cables Easy to extend the network

Disadvantages: Trouble shooting can be very difficulty Many extensions can weaken the electrical signal Heavy network traffic seriously degrades the network 50

Ring Topology
In a ring topology, computers are connected on a single circle of cable, the last one being connected to the first

Information travels in one direction around the ring Each computer retransmits what is receives As the message travels around the ring, the computers check the address of the incoming signal and acknowledge the receipt or retransmit the message to the next computer 51

Ring Topology.
PC 4

PC 1 PC 2

PC 3

52

Ring Topology.
Advantages: Every computer is given equal time on the network The network efficiency can approach 100% Disadvantages: Failure of one computer on the ring affects the whole network Trouble shooting is very difficulty Adding or removing a computer disrupts the network 53

Hybrid Topology
Design of a network is not necessarily restricted to one simple topology Many networks may form a hybrid topology which may well incorporate two or more of the basic designs This topology description usually refers to a collection of networks Overall operation and control of a hybrid network can be very complicated and expensive. However, the flexibility and efficiencies that they offer may well outweigh the risks and costs involved 54