Course: Computer Networks

Unit-1
Introduction to computer networks and
Internet

Mr. Bhushan B. Shaharkar

([email protected])
Assistant Professor, Information Technology

Walchand Institute of Technology, Solapur.

(www.witsolapur.org)

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 What is computer networking?

● Computer networking refers to interconnected computing

devices that can exchange data and share resources with
each other.

● These networked devices use a system of rules, called

communications protocols, to transmit information over
physical or wireless technologies.

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 How does a computer network work?

● Nodes and links are the basic building blocks in computer networking.

● A network node may be data communication equipment (DCE) such

as a modem, hub or, switch, or data terminal equipment (DTE) such as
two or more computers and printers.
● A link refers to the transmission media connecting two nodes.
● Links may be physical, like cable wires or optical fibers, or free space
used by wireless networks.

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 Transmission Terminology
• Data transmission occurs between transmitter and
receiver over some transmission medium

Communication is
in the form of
electromagnetic
waves
Unguided media
Guided media (wireless)
Propagation
Twisted pair,
through air,
coaxial cable,
vacuum, and
optical fiber
seawater
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 Transmission Terminology
Direct link

• No intermediate devices other than

amplifiers or repeaters used to
increase signal strength

Point-to-point

• Direct link between two devices

• Are the only 2 devices sharing
medium
Multi-point

• More than two devices share the

same medium
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PHYSICAL TRANSMISSION MEDIA
Physical Mediums
• Physical transmission media used in communications include twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable, and fiber-optic
cable.
• These cables typically are used within or underground between buildings.
• Ethernet and token ring LANs often use physical transmission media.
Twisted-Pair Cable
▪ One of the more commonly used transmission media for network cabling and telephone systems is twisted-
pair cable.
▪ Twisted-pair cable consists of one or more twisted-pair wires bundled together (Figure) .
▪ Each twisted-pair wire consists of two separate insulated copper wires that are twisted together.
▪ The wires are twisted together to reduce noise.
▪ Noise is an electrical disturbance that can degrade communications.

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Physical Mediums

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 Physical Mediums
Coaxial Cable
▪ Coaxial cable, often referred to as coax (pronounced KO-ax), consists of a single copper wire surrounded
by at least three layers: (1) an insulating material, (2) a woven or braided metal, and (3) a plastic outer
coating (Figure).
▪ Cable television (CATV) network wiring often uses coaxial cable because it can be cabled over longer
distances than twisted-pair cable.
▪ Most of today’s computer networks, however, do not use coaxial cable because other transmission media
such as fiber-optic cable transmit signals at faster rates.

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Physical Mediums

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Fiber-Optic Cable
Physical Mediums
▪ The core of a fiber-optic cable consists of dozens or hundreds
of thin strands of glass or plastic that use light to transmit
signals.
▪ Each strand, called an optical fiber, is as thin as a human hair.
▪ Inside the fiber-optic cable, an insulating glass cladding and a
protective coating surround each optical fiber (Figure).
▪ Fiber-optic cables have the following advantages over cables
that use wire, such as twisted-pair and coaxial cables:
✔Capability of carrying significantly more signals than wire
cables
✔Faster data transmission
✔Less susceptible to noise (interference) from other devices
such as a copy machine
✔Better security for signals during transmission because they are
less susceptible to noise
✔Smaller size (much thinner and lighter weight)
▪ Disadvantages of fiber-optic cable are
1. It costs more than twisted-pair or coaxial cable and can be
difficult to install and modify.
2. Despite these limitations, many local and long- distance
telephone companies are replacing existing telephone lines with
fiber-optic cables, enabling them to offer fiber Internet access to
home and business users. Walchand Institute of Technology, Solapur 10
Physical Mediums

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Twisted Pair Cable Coaxial Cable Optical Fiber Cable

Signals are transmitted Transmission of signals takes Signal transmission takes

through the electrical place in the electrical place in an optical structure

system through the structure over the inner over glass fiber.

opposing metallic wires. conductor of the cable.

Noise resistance is poor, Due to the existence of a Higher noise immunity as the
hence there is increased shielding conductor, it has a light rays are unaffected by

distortion. higher noise immunity than a electrical noise.

twisted pair cable.

It can get affected due to It is less affected by external It is not affected at all by the
the external magnetic field. magnetic field. presence of an external
magnetic field.

A short circuit between the A short circuit between the Short circuit is not possible.
two conductors is possible. two conductors is possible.
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It supports low data It can support relatively Supports very high data
rates. high data rates. rates

Power loss due to Power loss due to Power loss due to

conduction and conduction absorption, scattering
radiation dispersion and bending.

Node capacity per Node capacity per Node capacity per

segment is 2. segment is 30 to 100. segment is 2.

Attenuation is very Attenuation is low. Attenuation is very low.

high.

Installation is easy and Installation is relatively Installation is

it is the most cost- easy, but moderately complicated and quite
effective option. expensive than twisted expensive too.
pair cables. 13
 Networking
Computer network
• A collection of computing devices connected in order to
communicate and share resources

• Connections between computing devices can be physical

using wires or cables or wireless using radio waves or
infrared signals

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 Overview
•Network Topology how is hardware (physically) connected?
•Addressing how is a message’s destinations identified?
•Message Deliveryshould all data be sent in the same fashion?
•Routing what path through the network is
taken?
•Security how can strangers pass (private)
messages?

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 Networking key terms
Node (host)
Any device on a network

Data transfer rate (bandwidth)

The speed with which data is moved from one
place to another on a network

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 Networking
Computer networks have opened up an entire
frontier in the world of computing called the
client/server model

17 Figure 1 Client/Server interaction

 Networking
Protocol
A set of rules that defines how data is formatted and processed
on a network; i.e., rules that allow client/server interaction.

File server
A computer that stores and manages files for multiple users on
a network.

Web server
A computer dedicated to responding to requests (from the
browser client) for web pages.

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 Topology
• If every pair of computers on a network had a dedicated
communication link, passing messages would be direct and
straightforward.

• Unfortunately, with hundreds, thousands or millions of

computers on a network, they cannot all have direct links
to each other.

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 Network topology
Local-area network
(LAN)
A network that connects
a relatively small number
of machines in a
relatively close
geographical area
Ring topology connects all
nodes in a closed loop on
which messages travel in one
direction
Star topology centers
around one node to which all
others are connected and
through which all messages
are sent
Bus topology nodes are
connected to a single
communication line that
carries messages in both
directions
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 Types of Networks

Figure 15.2 Various network topologies Ethernet

The industry standard bus technology for local-
area networks
 Pros and Cons
Pro’s and Con’s
– Number of links (they cost money)
– Network Performance
How efficient is communication?
– Network Reliability
How does network respond to overload?
How susceptible is network to collapse?

Best choice depends on the size of the network

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 Types of Networks
Wide-area network (WAN)
A network that connects local-area networks over a potentially
large geographic distance
Metropolitan-area network (MAN)
The communication infrastructures that have been developed in
and around large cities
Gateway
One particular set up to handle all communication going
between that LAN and other networks

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 Types of Networks

Figure 15.1 Local-area networks connected across a

24 distance to create a wide-area network
 Types of Networks
Internet
A wide area network that spans the planet
So, who owns the Internet?

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 Internet Connections
Internet backbone
A set of high-speed networks that carry Internet
traffic, provided by companies such as AT&T,
Verizon, GTE, British Telecom, and IBM

Internet service provider (ISP)

A company that provides other companies or
individuals with access to the Internet

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 Reference

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