 A computer network is an interconnection of

two or more computers that are able to

exchange information.

 The computer may be connected via any

data communication link, like copper wires,
radio links, etc.

 They may be personal computers or large

main frames.
 The computer network may be located in a
room, building, city, country, or anywhere in
the world.

 Computer networks have opened up an

entire frontier in the world of computing
called the client/server model.
 FILE SHARING – Networks offer a
quick and easy way to share files
directly.

 network
RESOURCE can share – resources
SHARING suchin as
All computers
printers,
the fax machines, scanners, and
modems.

 COMMUNICATION –Those on the network can

communicate with each other via e-mail,
instant messages, etc.
 Flexible Access - Networks allow their
users to access files from computers
throughout the network.

 Sharing of Information - Computer

networks enable us to share data and
information with the computers that are
located geographically large distance apart.
The different types of network are based on
following:

 Size of the network – Refers to the area

over which the network is spread.

 Connection– Refers to the transmission media

and protocols used for connecting.

 Network topology – Arrangement of computers

on the network.
On the basis of size :
 LAN is a computer network widely used for
local communication.

 LAN connects computers in a small area like a

room, building, office, or a campus spread up
to a few kilometers.

 They are privately owned networks, to

exchange information.
 Star, Bus, and Ring are some of the common
LAN networking topologies.

 LAN runs at a speed of 10 mbps to 100 mbps

and has low delays.

 A LAN based on wifi wireless network

technology is called wireless local area
network(WLAN).
METROPOLITIAN
AREA
NETWOR
K (MAN)
 MAN is a computer network spread over a
city.
The computers in a MAN are connected using
cables.

 MAN connects several LAN spread over a city.

 It covers the distance upto 3 0 - 5 0 km.

 Example- Cable television network.

 WIDE
AREA
NETWOR
K (WAN)
 WAN is a network that connects computers
over long distances like cities, countries,
continents or world wide.

 WAN uses public, leased, or private

communication links to spread over long
distances.

 WAN uses telephone lines, satellite link and

radio link to connect.
 We can connect any number of computers
at any number of sites, results in WAN. The
WAN technology is different from the LAN
technology.

 INTERNET is a common example of WAN.

 Itis th e physical way in which
computers are interconnected.

 Five basic network structures are :

 Devices are connected to a central
computer called HUB.

 A Star network is particularly appropriate for

organizations that require a centralized
data base or a centralized processing
facility.

 For example, a star network may be used in

banking for centralized record keeping in an
on-line branch office environment.
 It is easy to add and remove nodes.

 Anode failure does not bring let

down the entire network.

 It is easier to diagnose network problems

through a central hub.
 If the central hub fails, the whole network
ceases to function.

 Its cost is more as compared to other

topologies because it require more cable.
 In Bus topology a single network cable runs in
the building or campus and all nodes are
linked along with this communication line
with two endpoints called the bus or
backbone.

 This structure is very popular for

local area networks
 Reliable in very smallnetwork s as well
as easy to use and understand.

 Requires the least amount of cable to connect

the computers together and therefore is less
expensive than other cabling arrangements.
 Heavy network traffic can slow a
bus considerably.

 Each connection between cables weakens the

electrical signal.
 In Ring topology the network cable passes
from one node to another until all nodes
are connected in the form of a “loop or
ring”.

 Transmits in only one direction.

 Used in LAN’S and WAN’S.

 R ing networks can span longer
distances
than other types of networks.
 Ring networks are easily extendable.
 Relatively expensive and difficult to install.

 Failure of one computer on the

network can affect the whole network.

 Adding or removing computers can disrupt

the network.
 In mesh network, there is random connection
of nodes using communication links.

 Mesh topology is the general topology

for wide area network.

 Amesh network may be fully connected

or connected with only partial links.
 The reliability is very high as there are always
alternate paths available if direct link between
two nodes is down.

 Yields the greatest amount of redundancy in

the event that one of the nodes fails where
network traffic can be redirected to another
node.
 The cost of installation and maintenance is
high ( more cable is required than any other
configuration).
 A tree topology connects one star network to
the other star network.

 It is an extension of star topology.

 Here, we divided the whole network into

segment which can be easily managed and
maintained.
 Each segment is provided with dedicated
point-to-point wiring to central hub.

 Error detection and correction is easy.

 If one segment is damaged, other

segments are not affected.

 Expansion of network is possible and easy.

 As multiple segments are connected to a
central hub, the networks depend heavily on
the hub. Its failure affects the entire network.

 Maintenance is not easy and cost is high.

 With increase in size beyond a point, the

management becomes difficult.
 A network protocol defines
rules and conventions
for communication between
network devices.

 Protocols specify
interactions between the
communicating entities.
Protocol has Five types-
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)

IP (Internet Protocol)

HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol)

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

HTTPS (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure)

 It provides reliable transport service i.e. it
ensures that messages sent from sender to
receiver are properly routed and arrive at the
destination.


TCP converts messages into a set of
packets at the source which are then
reassemble back into messages at the
destination. For this, TCP operates with the
packet switching techniques.
 Packet Switching Techniques –

 The message is divided into small packets.

 Each packet contains address

and information.

 The address is used to route the packet to its

destination .
 IP allows different
communicate. computers
to
 IP handles the dispatch of packets over the
network.

 It handles the addressing of packets, and

ensures that a packet reaches its destination
travelling through multiple networks.
TCP/IP protocol makes it possible for any
pair of computers connected to internet to
communicate, despite their hardware
differences.
 The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a
standard network protocol used to
transfer computer files from one
host to another.

 FTP is built on clientserver

architecture.
 HTTP is the underlying protocol
used by the World Wide Web.

 HTTP defines how messages are

formatted and transmitted and
what actions web servers and
browsers should take in response
to various commands.
 For example, when you enter a URL in your
browser, this actually sends an HTTP
commands to the Web server directing it to
fetch and transmit the requested Web
page.
 HTTPS stands for Hyper Text Transfer
Protocol over SSL(Secure Socket Layer). It is
used by Web servers to transfer and display
web content securely.

 HTTPS used by any website that is collecting

sensitive customer data such as banking
information or purchasing information
HUB

REPEATER

BRIDGE

ROUTER

GATEWAY
A hub is a multiport
connecting device that
is used to interconnect
LAN devices.
A hub can be
used to extend
the physical length of

a network.
 Repeater boost or amplifies
the signal before passing
it through to the next
section of cable.
 It connects the network with same protocol
and topology.

 The main task of a bridge computer is to

receive and pass data from one LAN to
another.
 A router is a device that connects multiple
networks using similar or different protocols.

 Routers are used when several networks are

connected together.
 Gateway is a device that connects two or
more networks with different types of
protocol.

 It receives data from one network and

converts it according to the protocol of
other network.