Introduction to

Computer Networking
A network is simply two or more
computers that are linked together.
 NETWORK - DEFINITION
• A network can be defined as two or more
computers connected together using a connection
medium in such a way that they can share
resources.

• The purpose of a network is to share resources.

 RESOURCES?
A resource may be:
– A file
– A folder
– A printer
– A disk drive
– Or just about anything else that exists on a
computer.
 What is Networking?

Networking is the term that describes the

processes involved in designing, implementing,
upgrading, managing and otherwise working
with networks and network technologies.
 BENEFITS OF NETWORKING
• Information sharing: Authorized users can use other
computers on the network to access and share information and
data. This could include special group projects, databases, etc.
• Hardware sharing: One device connected to a
network, such as a printer or scanner, can be shared by many
users.
• Software sharing: Instead of purchasing and installing
a software program on each computer, it can be installed on the
server. All of the users can then access the program from a
single location.
• Collaborative environment: Users can work
together on group projects by combining the power and
capabilities of diverse equipment.
BENEFITS OF NETWORKING
 BENEFITS OF NETWORKING
• Internet Access & Sharing: Browse World Wide
Web (WWW) to access recourses and share information.
• Data Security and Management : Online data
stores can be created in the cloud with proper security.
• Performance Enhancement and Balancing:
Shared environment reduces the cost and improves the
performance while enabling a well balanced platform to it’s
users.
• Entertainment : Online movies, music, games,
Facebook, etc.
 COST OF NETWORK COMPUTING
• Network Hardware, Software and Setup Costs
• Data Security Concerns
• The security of a computer network is challenged
everyday by:
– Equipment malfunctions (HW Malfunction, SW Crash)
– System failures (Power Failures, Disasters)
– Computer hackers
– Virus attacks
 TYPES OF NETWORKS
Local Area Networks (LANs):

• A local area network (LAN) is a

computer network covering a small
geographic area, like a home,
office, or group of buildings.
NETWORK TO SHARE RESOURCES
Local Area Networks (LANs)
 TYPES OF NETWORKS
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN):

• A metropolitan area network (MAN) is

a network that interconnects users
with computer resources in a
geographic area or a region larger than
local area network (LAN) but smaller
than a wide area network (WAN).
METROPOLITAN AREA NETWORKS
 TYPES OF NETWORKS
Wide Area Networks (WANs):

• Wide Area Network (WAN) is a computer

network that covers a broad area.

• WANs are used to connect LANs and other

types of networks together.

• The largest and most well-known example of

a WAN is the Internet.
WIDE AREA NETWORK - WAN
 MORE TYPES OF NETWORKS
• Storage Area Network - SAN

• Campus Area Network – CAN

• Personal Area Network – PAN

• Body Area Network - BAN

 NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
Networks can be mainly broken into 4 topologies.

 BUS TOPOLOGY

 STAR TOPOLOGY

 RING TOPOLOGY

MESH TOPOLOGY
 BUS TOPOLOGY

Bus topology allows information to be directed from one

computer to the other. Lots of binary collision though.
 STAR TOPOLOGY

Star topology is the most common

type Used. All computers are
attached to a hub. Less collisions
and most efficient.
 RING TOPOLOGY
Ring topology- uses a token to pass information from
one computer to the other.

A token is attached to the message by the Sender to

identify which computer should Receive the message.

As the message moves Around the ring, each computer

examines the token.

If the computer identifies the token as its own, then it

will process the information.
 RING TOPOLOGY
A disadvantage of a token ring is if one computer is
broken or down, the message cannot be passed to the
other computers.
 MESH TOPOLOGY
Full Mesh Topology B

All the computers in A C

the network have
connections with all
the other computers.
D

F
E
 MESH TOPOLOGY
Half Mesh Topology
C D

Computers have
multiple connections, B E
but not with all the
computers.
A

F
NETWORK/COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS
• A protocol is simply an agreed-on set of rules and
procedures for transmitting data between two or
more devices.
• Features determined by the protocol are:
– How the sending device indicates it has finished sending
the message.
– How the receiving device indicates it has received the
message.
– The type of error checking to be used.
– Eg: HTTP, FTP, IP, ICMP, TCP, UDP, SMTP
 OSI 7-Layer Model
• In the 70's, computer networks were ad hoc, vendor-
specific
Open Systems Interconnection model
 Divides the tasks involved in moving information between
networked computers into 7 task groups
 Each task group is assigned a layer

Each layer is reasonably self-contained, so

 Can be implemented independently
 Changes/updates to a layer need not effect other layers
 OSI MODEL
The seven layers of the Open
Systems Interconnection
(OSI) Model are:

Layer 1 P HYSICAL
Layer 2 DATA LINK
Layer 3 NE TWOR K
Layer 4 TR ANSP OR T
Layer 5 SE SSION
Layer 6 P R E SE NTATION
Layer 7 AP P LICATION
OSI MODEL
 OSI 7-Layer Model

• Physical layer
– describes the physical & electrical properties
of the communications media
e.g. voltage levels, data rates, max distances
• Data Link layer
– describes the logical organization of data
bits transmitted on a particular medium
e.g. frame sequencing, traffic control, error
notification.
 OSI 7-Layer Model

• Network layer
– describes how a series of exchanges over
various data links can deliver data across a
network
e.g. frame fragmentation, addressing and
routing
• Transport layer
– describes the quality and nature of data
delivery
e.g. message acknowledgment, message
segmentation, how retransmissions are used
to ensure delivery
 OSI 7-Layer Model
• Session layer
– describes the organization of large data sequences &
manages communication session
e.g., coordinates requests/responses (“traffic flow”)
• Presentation layer
– describes the form of data being transferred &
ensures that it will be readable by receiver
e.g., floating point formats, data conversions, data
compression, encryption
• Application layer
– describes how applications will communicate
e.g., HTTP, FTP, Telnet, SMTP
 IP ADDRESS
• An IP address is a 32-bit address.
• The IP addresses are unique.
• IP stands for Internet Protocol and is basically an
address that the packets will be sent to.

• An example would be 172.16.254.1

216. 27.61.137
Octets
IP ADDRESS
 IP ADDRESS
If you look at the IP Address, the number are broken
into different categories.

216. 27.61.137

Network Hosts
 SUBNET MASK
A Subnet mask is a 32-bit number that masks
an IP address, and divides the IP address into
network address and host address.
Eg: IP 216.3.128.12
Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0
Network Part Host Part
IP: 1101 1000 . 0000 0011 . 1000 0000 . 0000 1100 (216.3.128.12)
Mask: 1111 1111 . 1111 1111 . 1111 1111 . 0000 0000 (255.255.255.0)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NW: 1101 1000 . 0000 0011 . 1000 0000 . 0000 0000 (216.3.128.0)
IP ADDRESS CLASSES
 IPv6
– Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is the most
recent version of the Internet Protocol (IP)

– IPv6 extends address size to 128 bits

– IPv6 was developed by the Internet Engineering

Task Force (IETF) to overcome the limitations of
IPv4.

– Eg: 2001:0db8:85a3:0042:1000:8a2e:0370:7334
 TRANSMISSION MEDIA
• The transmission medium is the physical path by which a message
travels from sender to receiver.

• Computers and telecommunication devices use signals to

represent data.

• These signals are transmitted from a device to another in the

form of electromagnetic energy.

• Examples : power, radio waves, infrared light, visible light,

ultraviolet light, and X and gamma rays.
CLASSES OF TRANSMISSION MEDIA
 TWISTED-PAIR CABLE
• Twisted pair consists of two conductors (normally copper),
each with its own plastic insulation, twisted together.
• Twisted-pair cable comes in two forms: Unshielded and
Shielded
• The twisting helps to reduce the interference (noise) and
crosstalk.
 TWISTED-PAIR CABLE
Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) – Used In Phone Lines,
Networks

Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) - Used In Phone Lines,

Networks
 CAT CABLES
In the context of the 100-ohm UTP (Unshielded
Twisted Pair) type of cable used for Ethernet
wiring the only categories of interest are Cat3,
Cat4, Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat7.
 CAT CABLES
Category Bandwidth Data Rate Digital/Analog Use

1 very low < 100 kbps Analog Telephone

2 < 2 MHz 2 Mbps Analog/digital T-1 lines

3 16 MHz 10 Mbps Digital LANs

4 20 MHz 20 Mbps Digital LANs

5 100 MHz 100 Mbps Digital LANs

6 (draft) 200 MHz 200 Mbps Digital LANs

7 (draft) 600 MHz 600 Mbps Digital LANs

 COAXIAL CABLES
• Coaxial cable carries signals of higher frequency ranges than
twisted-pair cable.

• Coaxial Cable standards: RG-8, RG-9, RG-11 are used in thick

Ethernet RG-58 Used in thin Ethernet RG-59 Used for TV
 OPTICAL FIBER
• Metal cables transmit signals in the form of electric current.

• Optical fiber is made of glass or plastic and transmits signals in

the form of light.

• Light, a form of
electromagnetic energy,
travels at 300,000
Kilometers/second in a
vacuum.
FIBER CONSTRUCTION
Network Peripherals
 Network Devices
• Network Interface Card (NIC) (LAN card)
– Connection between the network and the
computer bus
– Have built-in transceiver, for data transmitting and
receiving
– Usually 100 MB/s
• Wireless LAN card
– Usually 11 MB/s
– Work within the distance range, and no blocking
in between.
 Network Devices
• Connectors
–RJ-45
• For connecting twisted pairs LAN cable
–RJ-11/13
• For connecting telephone lines
–BNC connector
• For connecting coaxial cables
 Network Device
• Hub
– To connect the workstations
within a room on same floor
• Switch
– To connect the workstations for
different floors in a building, it is
faster and more efficient than a
Hub.
• Router
– To connect different
LANs together to form a
Wide Area Network (WAN)