INTRODUCTION TO NETWORKING AND DATA

COMMUNICATION

Technical University of Mombasa

What is a network?

A computer network is a link of two or more computers in order to exchange data. In computer
networks, networked computing devices pass data to each other along data connections. Data is
transferred in the form of packets. The connections between nodes are established using either cable
media or wireless media. The best-known computer network is the Internet.
Advantages of a Network

1. Sharing devices such as printers saves money.

2. Centralized Software Management: Site (software) licences are likely to be cheaper than buying
several standalone licences.
3. Files can easily be shared between users.
4. Network users can communicate by email and instant messenger.
5. Security is good users cannot see other users files unlike on stand-alone machines.
6. Data is easy to backup as all the data is stored on the file server.
7. Speed: Networks provide a very rapid method for sharing and transferring files. Without a
network, files are shared by copying them to floppy disks, then carrying or sending the disks from
one computer to another which is time-consuming.
8. Cost: The network version of most software programs are available at considerable savings when
compared to buying individually licensed copies. Besides monetary savings, sharing a program on a
network allows for easier upgrading of the program.

Disadvantages of a Network

1. Purchasing the network cabling and file servers can be expensive.

2. Managing a large network is complicated, requires training and a network manager usually needs to
be employed.
3. If the file server breaks down the files on the file server become inaccessible. Email might still
work if it is on a separate server. The computers can still be used but are isolated.
4. Viruses can spread to other computers throughout a computer network.
5. There is a danger of hacking, particularly with wide area networks. Security procedures are needed
to prevent such abuse, e.g. a firewall.

Components of a Network

A computer network comprises the following components:

1. A minimum of at least 2 computers
2. Cables that connect the computers to each other, although wireless communication is becoming
more common
3. A network interface device on each computer (this is called a network interface card or NIC)
4. A ‘Switch’ used to switch the data from one point to another. Hubs are outdated and are little used
for new installations.
5. Network operating system software (NOSS)

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TYPES OF TRANSMISSION MEDIA
Classification

1. Conducted or guided media: Use a conductor such as a wire or a fiber optic cable to move the
signal from sender to receiver.
2. Wireless or unguided media: Use of waves of different frequencies and do not need a wire or
cable conductor to transmit signals.

Conducted or guided media

Guided media provide a physical path along which the signals are propagated; these include twisted
pair, coaxial cable, and optical fibre.

Media Type Maximum distance Picture

1. Twisted pairs 2 km
(multi-pair cables)

2. Coaxial cable 1 to 9 km

3. Optical fibre 40 km

Unguided media/ Radiated Media/Wireless Transmission

Transmission and reception are achieved by means of an antenna

1. Radio waves particularly those waves that propagate in the sky mode, can travel long distances.
This makes Radio waves a good candidate for long distance broadcasting such as AM Radio
Application areas
• The omnidirectional characteristics of Radio waves make them useful for multicasting,
in which there is one sender but many receivers.
• AM and FM Radio, television, maritime radio, cordless phone, and paging are examples
of multicasting.
2. Infrared Radio (wireless) data transmission uses the same basic principles as standard radio
transmission.
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 Infrared Radiation: is the transfer of energy from one place to another by an electromagnetic
wave. They are used in:
 remote controls for television sets and DVD player
 used in communication between devices such as Keyboard, PCs and Printers.
 data links over short distances mobile phones
3. A microwave is an extremely high frequency radio communication beam that is transmitted over a
direct line-of-sight path between two points. The techniques include using a dish parabolic antenna
that broadcasts and receives in only one specific direction.

4. Satellite: similar to transmission via microwave except, that it is used to link to point several
thousands of kilometres in space.

DATA FLOW MODE

There is three way to transmission of data: simplex, half-duplex, and full-duplex.
 Simplex is one way transmission, it uses one circuit in one direction only such as in radio or TV
transmission. It is simple and relatively inexpensive.
 Half-duplex (HDX) is two-way transmission which use only one circuit as simplex does but it is
used in both directions, walkie-talkie is the good example of the half-duplex processor. Half duplex
is a circuit, which can transmit the signal in two directions but only once at a time. In Half-duplex
users can transmit and receive signals or data but cannot do both simultaneously.
 Full duplex (FDX) Full duplex transmission is also the two-way transmission but it uses two
circuits for communication. Full duplex allows users to communicate in both way simultaneously
(i.e. a common telephone) with no turnaround time. This mode is clearly easier to use then the half
duplex but the cost may be significant, especially over long distance.

TYPES OF COMPUTER NETWORKS

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(a) Personal Area Network (PAN) is the interconnected network of technology devices within the
reach of an individual person, but usually limited to a range of maximum 10 meters.
(b) Local Area Network (LAN):-consists of microcomputers or terminals located in the same general
area and connected by a common cable so that they can exchange information. LANs are typically
used within the same building or set of buildings situated close together.
(c) Wide Area Network (WAN): is a network spanning a large geographical area. Its nodes
(microcomputers) can span cities, states or network boundaries
(d) Metropolitan Area Network (MAN): is a network spanning a geographical area that usually
encompasses a city or country. It interconnects various buildings or other facilities within this city
or network
(e) Metropolitan Area Network (MAN): is a network that spans a city, a large campus, or an entire
urban area. A MAN, just like a WAN, interconnects LANs using high-capacity backbone
technologies. A MAN is smaller than a WAN but bigger than a LAN.

NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
A Network Topology is the way computer systems or network equipment connected to each other.
Topologies may define both physical and logical aspect of the network. The four most common
topologies are the bus, the star, the ring and the mesh.

Point-to-point

Point-to-point networks contains exactly two hosts (computer or switches or routers or servers)
connected back to back using a single piece of cable. Often, the receiving end of one host is connected
to sending end of the other end and vice-versa.

The bus network

In a bus network all the workstations, servers and printers are joined to one cable (the bus). At each
end of the cable a terminator is fitted to stop signals reflecting back down the bus.

Advantages and disadvantages of a bus network;

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 Advantages Disadvantages
easy to install If the main cable fails or gets damaged the whole network will fail
cheap to install, as it doesn’t as more workstations are connected the performance of the
require much cable network will become slower because of data collisions
Every workstation on the network "sees" all of the data on the
network – this is a security risk

The star Network

In a star network each device on the network has its own cable that connects to a switch or hub. A hub
sends every packet of data to every device, whereas a switch only sends a packet of data to the
destination device.

Advantages and disadvantages of a star network

Advantages Disadvantages
Very reliable - if one cable or device fails Expensive to install as this type of network uses the most
then all the others will continue to work cable (network cable is expensive)
High performing as no data collisions can Extra hardware required (hubs or switches) which adds to
occur cost
If a hub or switch fails all the devices connected to it will
have no network connection

The Ring Network

In a ring network each device (workstation, server, and printer) is connected to two other devices, this
forms a ring for the signals to travel around. Each packet of data on the network travels in one
direction and each device receives each packet in turn until the destination device receives it

Advantage Ring Network

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This type of network can transfer data quickly, even if there are a large number of devices connected
because the data only flows in one direction, so there won’t be any data collisions.
Disadvantage Ring Network

If the main cable fails or any device is faulty then the whole network will fail.
Mesh Topology

In this type of topology, a host is connected to one or two or more than two hosts. This topology may
have hosts having point-to-point connection to every other hosts or may also have hosts which are
having point to point connection to few hosts only.

Tree Topology

Also known as Hierarchical Topology is the most common form of network topology in use present
day. This topology imitates as extended Star Topology and inherits properties of Bus topology.

This topology divides the network in to multiple levels/layers of network. Mainly in LANs, a network
is bifurcated into three types of network devices. The lowest most is access-layer where user’s
computer are attached. The middle layer is known as distribution layer, which works as mediator
between upper layer and lower layer. The highest most layer is known as Core layer, and is central
point of the network, i.e. root of the tree from which all nodes fork.

Daisy Chain

This topology connects all its hosts in a linear fashion. Similar to Ring topology, all hosts in this
topology are connected to two hosts only, except the end hosts.

Hybrid Topology

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A network structure whose design contains more than one topology is said to be Hybrid Topology.
Hybrid topology inherits merits and demerits of all the incorporating topologies.

PEER NETWORK AND A CLIENT SERVER NETWORK MODEL

Peer-To-Peer Network

In a peer-to-peer network there are no dedicated servers or hierarchy among the computers. All of the
computers on the network handle security and administration for themselves. Each workstation on the
network shares its files equally with the others.

Client Server Network

A computer network in which one centralized, powerful computer (called the server) is a hub to which
many less powerful personal computers or workstations (called clients) are connected. The clients run
programs and access data that are stored on the server.

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Other Terms used in Networking

Broadband Refers to a higher speed always on internet connection

Narrowband Refers to speeds of up to 128kbps

Dial up Refers to having to dial up the internet every time one goes online.

Download speed The speed at which data is delivered to a school modem from the internet

Upload speed The speed at which data is sent to the internet from a school modem.

ISP Internet Service Provider

Mbps Megabits per second (1,000,000 bits per second)

Kbps Kilobits per second (1,000 bits per second)

Ethernet Ethernet is a standard for transferring data over networks

Modem A simple device used to access the internet

Router A more technically advanced device used to access the internet

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