Unit-1

Network

A computer network relates to a group of computers which are interlinked with each other in order to share resources and information. Its most significant uses are data storage and communication. It does not only include desktop or laptop computers, but also several technical and electronic devices which are required to serve the purpose of data sharing, data transmission, and data communication. It comprises equipment such as web servers, databases, perplexed wiring, cables, and connections, and many other advanced devices. All major operations in a computer network are controlled from a place known as the data center, which is the server room. The data center consists of all the important equipment which are required to keep the network operations running smoothly. If anything in the server room goes wrong, it has a negative effect on the complete computer network. A network can be thousands of interconnected computers in a large corporate office, or it can even be two interlinked desktop computers for the purpose of sharing media and other information. The Internet is also a kind of network, and is, undoubtedly, the largest, which is why it is known as the network of networks. Read on to know some computer networking basics.

What is internet ?

Internet is a huge network of computers which links many different types of computer all over the world.

It is a network of networks i.e a global network which make www (world wide web).
Shares common mechanism for addressing different computers. It allows people to have an access to information from different websites It virtually makes accessible a sea of information & a nearly worldwide audience at a click of button

Network of networks

PREREQUISITES
HARDWARE MODEM CABLES
OTHERS
INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER PERSONAL COMPUTER

SOFTWARE WINDOWS WEB BROWSER

Benefits of Computer Network

File Sharing: The major advantage of a computer network is that is

allows file sharing and remote file access. A person sitting at one workstation of a network can easily see the files present on the other workstation, provided he is authorized to do so. It saves the time which is wasted in copying a file from one system to another, by using a storage device. In addition to that, many people can access or update the information stored in a database, making it up-to-date and accurate.

Resource Sharing: Resource sharing is also an important benefit of a

computer network. For example, if there are four people in a family, each having their own computer, they will require four modems (for the Internet connection) and four printers, if they want to use the resources at the same time. A computer network, on the other hand, provides a cheaper alternative by the provision of resource sharing. In this way, all the four computers can be interconnected, using a network, and just one modem and printer can efficiently provide the services to all four members. The facility of shared folders can also be availed by family members.

Increased Storage Capacity: As there is more than one

computer on a network which can easily share files, the issue of storage capacity gets resolved to a great extent. A standalone computer might fall short of storage memory, but when many computers are on a network, memory of different computers can be used in such case. One can also design a storage server on the network in order to have a huge storage capacity.

Increased Cost Efficiency: There are many software

available in the market which are costly and take time for installation. Computer networks resolve this issue as the software can be stored or installed on a system or a server and can be used by the different workstations.

Limitations of network

Security Issues: One of the major drawbacks of computer networks is the security issues involved. If a computer is a standalone, physical access becomes necessary for any kind of data theft. However, if a computer is on a network, a computer hacker can get unauthorized access by using different tools. In case of big organizations, various network security software are used to prevent the theft of any confidential and classified data. Rapid Spread of Computer Viruses: If any computer system in a network gets affected by computer virus, there is a possible threat of other systems getting affected too. Viruses get spread on a network easily because of the interconnectivity of workstations. Such spread can be dangerous if the computers have important database which can get corrupted by the virus.

Expensive Set Up: The initial set up cost of a computer network can be high depending on the number of computers to be connected. Costly devices like routers, switches, hubs, etc., can add up to the bills of a person trying to install a computer network. He will also have to buy NICs (Network Interface Cards) for each of the workstations, in case they are not inbuilt.

Dependency on the Main File Server: In case the main File Server of a computer network breaks down, the system becomes useless. In case of big networks, the File Server should be a powerful computer, which often makes it expensive.

Network Devices
Network Interface Cards (NIC)
A network interface card, also known as a network adapter, is a very important component installed in a computer which is responsible for connecting a particular computer to a network.

Switches
A switch is an equipment responsible for undertaking the forwarding and filtering of data based on the Media Access Control (MAC) address of the network cards involved in communication.

Hubs
This device is similar to a switch, however, it is incapable of filtrating the data packets based on their MAC address, and instead, sends all packets to all devices. It generally has a better performance value on a computer network.

Routers
A router is the primary device responsible for connecting multiple networks together. It connects the computer to the Internet, and functions at the third layer of the OSI model.

OSI: The 7 Layers

APPLICATION LAYER(FTP+SMTP+TELNET+DNS)

L7 DATA

PRESENTATION LAYER( Syntax and semantics)

L6 DATA (TRANSLATION,ENCRYPTED & COMPRESSED

DATA)+H6

SESSION LAYER (Dialog control{half or full duplex} & synchronization)

L5 DATA

TRANSPOTRT LAYER(End to End delivery): packets

L4 DATA (Segmentation & Reassembly))

NETWORK LAYER(ROUTING &ADDRESSING) : PACKETS

L3 DATA+HEADER H3
DATA LINK LAYER (FRAMES) L2 DATA +HEADER H2

PHYSICAL LAYER

BINARY DATA TO TRANSMISSION MEDIA

TCP/IP MODEL

OSI & TCP/IP Models : A comparison

TCP/IP model

Provides a reliable data stream service to network application programs. TCP/IP is also used to refer to a suite of protocols, all based on the Internet Protocol. Unlike a single local network, where every system is directly connected to each other, an internet is a collection of networks, combined into a single, virtual network.

The layers
Application Layer
Application programs using the network Transport Layer (TCP) Management of end-to-end message transmission, error detection and error correction

Network Layer (IP) Handling of datagrams : routing and congestion

Data Link Layer
Management of cost effective and reliable data delivery, access to physical networks

Physical Layer Physical Media

TCP is known as a connection-oriented protocol.

When establishing a connection, one program must assume the role of the client, and the other the server. The client is responsible for initiating the connection, while the server's responsibility is to wait, listen and respond to incoming connections. Once the connection has been established , both sides may send and receive data until the connection is closed.

Categories of network

The system for connecting computers using a single transmission technology is called Computer Networking.

Computer networks can be classified under the following heads: a) LAN b) WAN C) MAN

LAN (LOCAL AREA NETWORK)

A local area network is a communication network that interconnects a variety of devices and provides a means for information exchange among those devices over a small physical area, viz., a single building or a cluster of buildings spread over a campus. The way the computers are physically connected is called the network topology.

LAN contd..
Types of topologies : a) Bus topology

The Bus Topology is a straight line data highway that carries network information from one network workstation to another. It results in information being broadcast to all workstations on the network in both directions.

A workstation desirous of sending information to another workstation transmit packets of data along with the address of the receiver.
Each workstation examines the address on the packets of information of the Bus and accepts only those meant for it discarding others. In a Bus network, at any instant, one machine is the master and is allowed to transmit. All other machines are required to refrain from sending.

Advantages:

Bus topology is easy to install.

At each end of the Bus is a terminator, which absorbs signals flowing out of the Bus avoiding their getting reflected back into the Bus

Disadvantages:

The biggest drawback of the topology is that a break in the cable can bring down the whole network.
Terminators are required at both ends of the backbone cable. Difficult to identify the problem if the entire network shuts down. The cable used for Bus topology is coaxial cable.

TERMINATOR

b) Star Topology

Star Topology is a LAN architecture in which the end points on a network are connected to a common central Switch, by dedicated links.
Star topology looks more like a tree. The message works its way to the top and is then rebroadcast down to all stations. Large LANs use the star topology.

Advantages

Easy to install and wire.

No disruptions to the network when connecting or removing devices. Easy to detect faults and to remove parts.

Disadvantages

Requires more cable length than a linear topology. If the hub, switch fails, nodes attached are disabled. More expensive than linear bus topologies because of the cost of the hubs, etc.

c) Tree

Here, the Server Computer is situated at the highest order of hierarchy and workstations are connected in a tree-like hierarchical fashion.

Advantages

Point-to-point wiring for individual segments. Supported by several hardware and software vendors.

Disadvantages

Overall length of each segment is limited by the type of cabling used. If the backbone line breaks, the entire segment goes down. If the upper level computer fails to work, the computer network working is held up.

More difficult to configure and wire than other topologies.

d) Ring Topology

A Ring Topology is a LAN architecture that consists of devices called repeaters(regenerates signals) connected to one another by point-to-point transmission links to form a single closed loop. Each station is attached to the ring and receives all messages on the ring.

Therefore this network is a broadcast technology in that one station broadcast to all.
Each station examines a destination address that resides in the message passing on the ring. If the message is destined for this station, it copies it. If not, it ignores it. The ring is usually unidirectional i.e the traffic passes in one direction around the ring.

Advantage of Ring Topology

The data being transmitted between two nodes passes through all the intermediate nodes and a central server is not required for the management of this topology.

Disadvantages of Ring Topology

The failure of a single node of the network can cause the entire network to fail. The movement or changes made to network nodes affects the performance of the entire network.

e) Mesh or Point-to-Point Network

Each communication channel connects two or more computers.

It can be partially or fully connected. It allows flexibility in communication hardware, packet formats, etc. It also provides security and privacy because the communication channel is not shared.

Advantage of Mesh Topology

The arrangement of the network nodes is such that it is possible to transmit data from one node to many other nodes at the same time.

Disadvantage of Mesh Topology

The arrangement wherein every network node is connected to every other node of the network, many of the connections serve no major purpose. This leads to the redundancy of many of the network connections.

MAN (metropolitan area network) A Metropolitan Area Network is basically a bigger version of a LAN
and normally uses similar technology.

It might cover a group of nearby corporate offices or a city and might be either private or public. Metropolitan Area Network is defined for less than 50 km. and provides regional connectivity typically within small geographical area. It is designed to extend over an entire city. It may be a single network such as cable television, network, or it may be a means of connecting a number of LANs into a large network, so that resources may be shared LAN to LAN as well as device to device. For example, a company can use a MAN to connect to the LANs in all of its offices throughout a city.

WAN ( wide area network)

Wide Area Networks (WANs) are those networks that cover a large geographic area, spanning cities, countries or even continents. Wide Area Network provides no limit of distance. Transmission lines also called circuits or channels or links, switching and routing devices (switches & routers). Transmission-lines are used for moving bits between machines, whereas routers are used to connect two or more transmission lines.