Networks

Ratnesh Dabra
Defining a Computer Network

• A computer network allows

users to communicate with other
users on the same network by
transmitting data on the cables
used to connect them.
• A computer network is defined
as having two or more devices
(such as workstations, printers,
or servers) that are linked
together for the purpose of
sharing information, resources,
or both.
Defining a Computer Network

• A network consists of many

overlapping systems, such
as cabling, addressing
schemes, or applications.
• The layers work together to
transmit and receive data.
• The Open Systems
Interconnection (OSI)
reference model, was
created to define these
multiple layers.
Directory and Name Services

• Directory and name

services make a network
easier to use.
• After the initial setup of the
directory or name service,
this translation takes place
transparently.
• In addition to their ease of
use, they also make the
network more flexible.
The Internet

• The Internet is a worldwide

public network of
networks, interconnecting
thousands of smaller
networks to form one large
“web” of communication.
• The Internet functions like
a highway to facilitate
exchange between
geographically separated
users, organizations, and
branches of companies.
The Internet

• The phrase “information

superhighway” describes
the benefit of the Internet to
business and private
communication.
• The Internet breaks down
barriers of time and space,
enabling the sharing of
information around the
globe almost
instantaneously.
Types of Networks
 Overview

• By using local-area network (LAN) and wide-area

network (WAN) technologies, many computers are
interconnected to provide services to their users.

• In providing services, networked computers take on

different roles or functions in relation to each other.

• Some types of applications require computers to

function as equal partners. Other types of applications
distribute work so that one computer functions to
serve a number of others in an unequal relationship.
Local-Area Networks (LANs)

• A local-area network (LAN)

can connect many
computers in a relatively
small geographical area
such as a home, an office,
or a campus.

• It allows users to access

high bandwidth media like
the Internet and allows
users to share devices such
as printers.
Local-Area Networks (LANs)

• The general shape or layout

of a LAN is called its
topology.

• Topology defines the

structure of the network.
This includes the physical
topology which is the actual
layout of the wire or media,
and the logical topology
which is how the media is
accessed by the hosts.
Wide-Area Networks (WANs)

• A WAN, as the name implies, is

designed to work over a larger area
than a LAN.

• A WAN uses point-to-point or point to

multipoint, serial communications lines.

• Point-to-point lines connect only two

locations, one on each side of the line.
Point-to-multipoint lines connect one
location on one side of the line to
multiple locations on the other side.
 Wide-Area Networks (WANs)

• The following are some of the more

common WAN technologies:
– Modems
– Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
– Digital subscriber line (DSL)
– Frame Relay
– Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
– The T (US) and E (Europe) Carrier series (T1,
E1, T3, E3, and so on)
– Synchronous Optical Network (SONET)
Wide-Area Networks (WANs)

• Connections across WAN lines

may be temporary or permanent.
• Telephone or dialup lines, might
make a temporary connection to
a remote network from a
computer in a home or small
office.
• In both temporary and permanent
cases, computers that connect
over wide area circuits must use a
modem or channel service
unit/data service unit (CSU/DSU)
at each end of the connection.
What is a NIC?

• A network interface card (NIC)

is a device that plugs into a
motherboard and provides
ports for the network cable
connections.
• It is the computer interface
with the LAN.
• The NIC communicates with
the network through serial
connections and
communicates with the
computer through parallel
connections.
Network Topologies

• The network topology defines

the way in which computers,
printers, and other devices
are connected. A network
topology describes the layout
of the wire and devices as
well as the paths used by
data transmissions.
• Commonly referred to as a
linear bus, all the devices on
a bus topology are connected
by one single cable.
Network Topologies

• The star topology is the most

commonly used architecture in
Ethernet LANs.
• When installed, the star topology
resembles spokes in a bicycle wheel.
• Larger networks use the extended
star topology. When used with
network devices that filter frames or
packets, like bridges, switches, and
routers, this topology significantly
reduces the traffic on the wires by
sending packets only to the wires of
the destination host.
Network Topologies

• A frame travels around the ring,

stopping at each node. If a node
wants to transmit data, it adds the
data as well as the destination
address to the frame.
• The frame then continues around
the ring until it finds the destination
node, which takes the data out of
the frame.
– Single ring – All the devices on the
network share a single cable
– Dual ring – The dual ring topology
allows data to be sent in both directions
although only one ring is used at a time.
Network Topologies

• The mesh topology connects

all devices (nodes) to each
other for redundancy and
fault tolerance.
• It is used in WANs to
interconnect LANs and for
mission critical networks like
those used by governments.
• Implementing the mesh
topology is expensive and
difficult.
Physical versus Logical Topology

• Networks have both a

physical and logical
topology:
– Physical topology –the
layout of the devices and
media.
– Logical topology – the
paths that signals travel from
one point on the network to
another.
– The way in which data
accesses media and
transmits packets across it.
Networking Media

• Networking media can be defined

simply as the means by which
signals (data) are sent from one
computer to another (either by cable
or wireless means).
• Coaxial cable is a copper-cored
cable surrounded by a heavy
shielding and is used to connect
computers in a network.
• There are several types of coaxial
cable, including thicknet, thinnet,
RG-59 (standard cable for cable
TV), and RG-6 (used in video
distribution).
Networking Media

• Twisted-pair is a type of cabling

that is used for telephone
communications and most
modern Ethernet networks.
• A pair of wires forms a circuit
that can transmit data. The pairs
are twisted to provide protection
against crosstalk, the noise
generated by adjacent pairs.
• There are two basic types,
shielded twisted-pair (STP) and
unshielded twisted-pair (UTP).
Networking Media

• Fiber-optic cable is a
networking medium capable
of conducting modulated
light transmissions.
• Fiber-optic refers to cabling
that has a core of strands of
glass or plastic (instead of
copper), through which light
pulses carry signals.
• Signals that represent data
are converted into beams of
light.
Networking Media

• If the cost of running cables is

too high or computers need to
be movable without being
tethered to cables, wireless is
an alternative method of
connecting a LAN.
• Wireless networks use radio
frequency (RF), laser, infrared
(IR), and satellite/microwaves
to carry signals from one
computer to another without a
permanent cable connection.
Common Networking Devices

• A hub is a device that is

used to extend an Ethernet
wire to allow more devices
to communicate with each
other.
• Hubs are most commonly
used in Ethernet 10BASE-T
or 100BASE-T networks,
although there are other
network architectures that
use them.
Common Networking Devices

• Bridges connect network segments.

• The basic functionality of the bridge
resides in its ability to make
intelligent decisions about whether to
pass signals on to the next segment
of a network.
• A switch is a more sophisticated
device than a bridge, although the
basic function of the switch is
deceptively simple.
• Ethernet switches are becoming
popular connectivity solutions
because they increase network
performance.
Common Networking Devices

• Routers are slower than

bridges and switches, but
make “smart” decisions on
how to route (or send)
packets received on one
port to a network on
another port.
• Routers contain tables of
network addresses along
with optimal destination
routes to other networks.
Networking Protocols and the OSI Model
OSI Model Overview

• The Open Systems

Interconnection (OSI)
reference model is an
industry standard
framework that is used to
divide the functions of
networking into seven
distinct layers.
• Each layer provides specific
services to the layers above
and below it in order for the
network to work effectively.
OSI Model Overview

• A message begins at the top

application layer and moves down
the OSI layers to the bottom
physical layer.
• As the message descends, each
successive OSI model layer adds a
header to it.
• A header is layer-specific
information that basically explains
what functions the layer carried out.
• Conversely, at the receiving end,
headers are striped from the
message as it travels up the
corresponding layers.
What is a Protocol?

• Protocol is a controlled
sequence of messages that
is exchanged between two
or more systems to
accomplish a given task.
• Protocol specifications
define this sequence
together with the format or
layout of the messages that
are exchanged.
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol

• The Transmission Control

Protocol/Internet Protocol
(TCP/IP) suite of protocols
has become the dominant
standard for inter-
networking.
• TCP/IP represents a set
of public standards that
specify how packets of
information are
exchanged between
computers over one or
more networks. 
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol