CN Unit 1

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What Is a Computer Network?

A computer network is a system that connects two or more computing


devices for transmitting and sharing information. Computing devices
include everything from amobile phone to a server. These devices are
connected using physical wires such as fiber optics, but they can also be
wireless.

The first working network, called ARPANET, was created in the late 1960s and
was funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. Government researchers used to
share information at a time when computers were large and difficult to move. We
have come a long way today from that basic kind of network. Today’s world
revolves around the internet, which is a network of networks that connects
billions of devices across the world. Organizations of all sizes use networks to
connect their employees’ devices and shared resources such as printers.

An example of a computer network at large is the traffic monitoring systems in


urban cities. These systems alert officials and emergency responders with
information about traffic flow and incidents. A simpler example is
using collaboration software such as Google Drive to share documents with
colleagues who work remotely. Every time we connect via a video call, stream
movies, share files, chat with instant messages, or just access something on the
internet, a computer network is at work.

Computer networking is the branch of computer science that deals with the
ideation, architecture, creation, maintenance, and security of computer
networks. It is a combination of computer science, computer engineering, and
telecommunication.

Applications of Computer Networking


Some of the applications of Computer Networking are discussed below:
• Resource Sharing: Resource Sharing is one of the important applications of
Computer Networking. You can share a single software among Multiple users. We
can also share Hardware Devices via this technique.
• Communication: Communication Medium means various ways through which we
can communicate like Email Calls, broadcasts, etc.
• Home Applications: Home Applications are an important application of Computer
Networking. Examples are User-to-User Communication, Entertainment, E-
Commerce, etc.
• Business Applications: Business Application is also an important application of
Computer Networking. Almost all companies are doing business online with the help
of Computer Networking.
• Social Media: Social Media is one of the recent and widely used applications of
Computer Networking. It helps people in getting news, feed, current trending topics
of all types, etc.
• Access to Remote Information: Computer Networking helps in accessing remote
information from the end-users. For Example. details required for train tickets, plane
tickets, etc.
• Cloud Computing: Computer Networking has facilitated the development of cloud
computing, which allows users to store and access data and applications from
remote servers via the internet.
• Virtualization: Networking technologies also enable virtualization, which allows
multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical machine, improving resource
utilization and reducing costs.
• Online Education: Computer Networking has revolutionized education by providing
online learning platforms, distance education, and virtual classrooms.
• Remote Working: Networking technologies have enabled remote working, allowing
employees to work from home or other locations outside of the office. This has
become especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• E-commerce: Computer Networking has facilitated the growth of e-commerce by
allowing businesses to sell their products and services online and reach a global
market.
• Telemedicine: Networking technologies have also enabled telemedicine, allowing
doctors and healthcare providers to provide remote medical consultations and
diagnosis to patients in remote locations.
• Real-time Collaboration: Networking technologies enable real-time collaboration,
allowing people to work together on projects and share information in real-time, no
matter where they are located.
Advantages of Computer Networking
Some of the main advantages of Computer Networking are discussed below:
• Central Storage of Data: Files can be stored on a central node (the file server) that
can be shared and made available to every user in an organization.
• Connectivity: There is a negligible range of abilities required to connect to a
modern computer network. The effortlessness of joining makes it workable for even
youthful kids to start exploring the data.
• Faster Problem-solving: Since an extensive procedure is disintegrated into a few
littler procedures and each is taken care of by all the associated gadgets, an explicit
issue can be settled in lesser time.
• Reliability: Reliability implies backing up information. Due to some reason
equipment crashes, and so on, the information gets undermined or inaccessible on
one PC, and another duplicate of similar information is accessible on another
workstation for future use, which prompts smooth working and further handling
without interruption.
• Flexible: This innovation is known to be truly adaptable, as it offers clients the
chance to investigate everything about fundamental things, for example,
programming without influencing their usefulness.
• Security through Authorization: Security and protection of information are
additionally settled through the system. As just the system clients are approved to
get to specific records or applications, no other individual can crack the protection
or security of information.
• Storage capacity: Since you will share data, records, and assets with other
individuals, you need to guarantee all information and substance are legitimately put
away in the framework. With this systems administration innovation, you can do
most of this with no issue, while having all the space you require for capacity.
Disadvantages of Computer Networking
Some of the main disadvantages of Computer Networking are discussed below:
• Expensive: Execution of the network can be expensive in the case of an initial
setup, as the wires and the cost of the cable are high and sometimes equipment is
also costly.
• Virus and Malware: Computer Networking can lead to the spreading of viruses to
another computer through the network.
• Management of the network: Management of the Network is quite difficult as it
requires skilled persons to handle that large network. It requires training of people
who are employed in this work.
• Loss of Information: In case of a crash of the Computer Network, it can lead to the
loss of information or not being able to access information for some time.
• The system can be Hacked: In the case of Wide Area Networks(WAN), there is a
threat of Hacking of the System. Some security features should be added to prevent
such things.

Computer Network Components


Computer network components are the major parts which are needed to install the software. Some
important network components are NIC, switch, cable, hub, router, and modem. Depending on the
type of network that we need to install, some network components can also be removed. For example,
the wireless network does not require a cable.

Following are the major components required to install a network:

NIC
o NIC stands for network interface card.
o NIC is a hardware component used to connect a computer with another computer onto a
network
o It can support a transfer rate of 10,100 to 1000 Mb/s.
o The MAC address or physical address is encoded on the network card chip which is assigned
by the IEEE to identify a network card uniquely. The MAC address is stored in the PROM
(Programmable read-only memory).

There are two types of NIC:

1. Wired NIC
2. Wireless NIC
Wired NIC: The Wired NIC is present inside the motherboard. Cables and connectors are used with
wired NIC to transfer data.

Wireless NIC: The wireless NIC contains the antenna to obtain the connection over the wireless
network. For example, laptop computer contains the wireless NIC.

Hub
A Hub is a hardware device that divides the network connection among multiple devices. When
computer requests for some information from a network, it first sends the request to the Hub through
cable. Hub will broadcast this request to the entire network. All the devices will check whether the
request belongs to them or not. If not, the request will be dropped.

The process used by the Hub consumes more bandwidth and limits the amount of communication.
Nowadays, the use of hub is obsolete, and it is replaced by more advanced computer network
components such as Switches, Routers.

Switch
A switch is a hardware device that connects multiple devices on a computer network. A Switch
contains more advanced features than Hub. The Switch contains the updated table that decides where
the data is transmitted or not. Switch delivers the message to the correct destination based on the
physical address present in the incoming message. A Switch does not broadcast the message to the
entire network like the Hub. It determines the device to whom the message is to be transmitted.
Therefore, we can say that switch provides a direct connection between the source and destination. It
increases the speed of the network.

Router
o A router is a hardware device which is used to connect a LAN with an internet connection. It is
used to receive, analyze and forward the incoming packets to another network.
o A router works in a Layer 3 (Network layer) of the OSI Reference model.
o A router forwards the packet based on the information available in the routing table.
o It determines the best path from the available paths for the transmission of the packet.

Advantages Of Router:
o Security: The information which is transmitted to the network will traverse the entire cable,
but the only specified device which has been addressed can read the data.
o Reliability: If the server has stopped functioning, the network goes down, but no other
networks are affected that are served by the router.
o Performance: Router enhances the overall performance of the network. Suppose there are 24
workstations in a network generates a same amount of traffic. This increases the traffic load
on the network. Router splits the single network into two networks of 12 workstations each,
reduces the traffic load by half.
o Network range

Modem
o A modem is a hardware device that allows the computer to connect to the internet over the
existing telephone line.
o A modem is not integrated with the motherboard rather than it is installed on the PCI slot
found on the motherboard.
o It stands for Modulator/Demodulator. It converts the digital data into an analog signal over
the telephone lines.

Based on the differences in speed and transmission rate, a modem can be classified in the following
categories:

o Standard PC modem or Dial-up modem


o Cellular Modem
o Cable modem

Cables and Connectors


Cable is a transmission media used for transmitting a signal.

There are three types of cables used in transmission:

o Twisted pair cable


o Coaxial cable
o Fibre-optic cable

Types of Transmission Technology


Transmission is actually the process of sending and propagating analog or signals of
digital information. Transmission technology generally refers to physical layer protocol
duties like modulation, demodulation, line coding, and many more. It might also include
higher-level protocol duties such as digitizing analog signals, data compression, etc.
Types of Transmission Technology :
Transmission media is basically divided into two categories: Broadcast Networks,
Point-to-Point Networks. These are explained as following below.
1. Broadcast Networks :
Broadcast networks are also known as terrestrial networks. It is basically a group of
radio stations, television stations, or any other electronic media outlets that simply
generate agreement to air, or broadcast, content generally from a centralized source.
Broadcasting is simply a method of transferring messages to all the recipients
simultaneously.
In this network, a message that is sent by a node is received by all the other nodes
connected to the network and share a common medium of communication. Broadcast
networks also avoid procedures of complex routing of switched network by simply
confirming and ensuring that each transmission of nodes is basically received by all
the other nodes in the network. This is the reason why the broadcast network has
single communications channel.
In this network, each receiving station just receives all signals that are sent by
transmitters. Even routing of signals is highly affected passively. These networks
generally have single communication that is shared by all machines present on the
network. Short messages also are known as packets that are sent by any of the
machines present are received by all of the others present over there. Some of the
systems of broadcast also support transmission to subset of machines also known as
multicasting. It just links, in contrast, communication channel that is basically shared
by all of machines in network.
Advantages of Broadcast Networks –
• In this network, packets are generally transmitted and received by all of computers.
• It allows multicasting in the network.
• It has no limit. Even events can also run as long as required.
• It ensures better utilization of all resources available.

Disadvantages of Broadcast Networks –


• It cannot accommodate huge number of devices.
• It doesn’t allow personalization of message.
2. Point-to-Point Networks :
Point-to-Point Networks or Point-to-Point Connection is type of private data connection
that is connecting securely two or more locations for private data services. It might also
be configured to usually carry voice, internet, and data services together all over same
point-to-point network. It simply refers to type of communication connection among two
endpoints or nodes of communication. It is connection among pairs of machines.
Transmission from point-to-point with one sender and receiver is commonly known as
unicasting.
This network is generally used for two locations that are required to securely send data
that is very sensitive and confidential among each of locations. A point-to-point or P2P
(Data Link) also gives or provides path from one point that is fixed to other point being
fixed. It is very closed network data transport service that does not travel through
public Internet. This network includes various connections among individual pairs of
machine. A packet present on these types of networks might be needed to go through
intermediate computers before they reach desired or destination computer. The
packets also need to follow multiple routes of different length sizes.
Therefore, routing algorithms are very essential and important in point-to-point
connection. This network is generally available in range of bandwidth speeds along
with point-to-point T1, point-to-point Ethernet, or many more.
Advantages of Point-to-Point Networks –
• It increases productivity.
• It generally uses leased lines so that speeds are guaranteed.
• It provides better security so that data can be transferred securely with confidence.

Disadvantages of Point-to-Point Networks –


• With this network, we can only connect two sites.
• It is very expensive for distant locations.

Types of Computer Networks


There are mainly five types of Computer Networks
1. Personal Area Network (PAN)
2. Local Area Network (LAN)
3. Campus Area Network (CAN)
4. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
5. Wide Area Network (WAN)

Types of Computer Networks

1. Personal Area Network (PAN)


PAN is the most basic type of computer network. This network is restrained to a single
person, that is, communication between the computer devices is centered only on an
individual’s workspace. PAN offers a network range of 1 to 100 meters from person to
device providing communication. Its transmission speed is very high with very easy
maintenance and very low cost.
This uses Bluetooth, IrDA, and Zigbee as technology.
Examples of PAN are USB, computer, phone, tablet, printer, PDA, etc.
Personal Area Network (PAN)

2. Local Area Network (LAN)


LAN is the most frequently used network. A LAN is a computer network that connects
computers through a common communication path, contained within a limited area,
that is, locally. A LAN encompasses two or more computers connected over a server.
The two important technologies involved in this network are Ethernet and Wi-fi. It
ranges up to 2km & transmission speed is very high with easy maintenance and low
cost.
Examples of LAN are networking in a home, school, library, laboratory, college, office,
etc.
Local Area Network (LAN)

3. Campus Area Network (CAN)


CAN is bigger than a LAN but smaller than a MAN. This is a type of computer network
that is usually used in places like a school or colleges. This network covers a limited
geographical area that is, it spreads across several buildings within the
campus. CAN mainly use Ethernet technology with a range from 1km to 5km.
Its transmission speed is very high with a moderate maintenance cost and moderate
cost.
Examples of CAN are networks that cover schools, colleges, buildings, etc.
Campus Area Network (CAN)

4. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)


A MAN is larger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN. This is the type of computer
network that connects computers over a geographical distance through a shared
communication path over a city, town, or metropolitan area. This network mainly uses
FDDI, CDDI, and ATM as the technology with a range from 5km to 50km. Its
transmission speed is average. It is difficult to maintain and it comes with a high cost.
Examples of MAN are networking in towns, cities, a single large city, a large area
within multiple buildings, etc.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)


5. Wide Area Network (WAN)
WAN is a type of computer network that connects computers over a large geographical
distance through a shared communication path. It is not restrained to a single location
but extends over many locations. WAN can also be defined as a group of local area
networks that communicate with each other with a range above 50km.
Here we use Leased-Line & Dial-up technology. Its transmission speed is very low and
it comes with very high maintenance and very high cost.
The most common example of WAN is the Internet.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

Wireless Networks

Computer networks that are not connected by cables are called wireless networks. They
generally use radio waves for communication between the network nodes. They allow devices
to be connected to the network while roaming around within the network coverage.
Types of Wireless Networks
• Wireless LANs − Connects two or more network devices using wireless distribution techniques.
• Wireless MANs − Connects two or more wireless LANs spreading over a metropolitan area.
• Wireless WANs − Connects large areas comprising LANs, MANs and personal networks.

Advantages of Wireless Networks


• It provides clutter-free desks due to the absence of wires and cables.
• It increases the mobility of network devices connected to the system since the devices need not be connected
to each other.
• Accessing network devices from any location within the network coverage or Wi-Fi hotspot becomes
convenient since laying out cables is not needed.
• Installation and setup of wireless networks are easier.
• New devices can be easily connected to the existing setup since they needn’t be wired to the present
equipment. Also, the number of equipment that can be added or removed to the system can vary
considerably since they are not limited by the cable capacity. This makes wireless networks very scalable.
• Wireless networks require very limited or no wires. Thus, it reduces the equipment and setup costs.

Examples of wireless networks


• Mobile phone networks
• Wireless sensor networks
• Satellite communication networks
• Terrestrial microwave networks

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