CSC 311: Computer

Networks and Data

Communication
(Lecture 1)
Dr. S. Omaji
Email: [email protected]
Department of Computer Science
Edo State University Uzairue, Edo State Nigeria
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Lecture 01: 2023-2024 Academic Session
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Preface
This lecture gives a very good understanding
of Data Communication and Computer
Networks (DCN).
After completing this lecture, you will find
yourself at a moderate level of expertise in
knowing DCN, from where you can take
yourself to the next levels.
This lecture is prepared to help students to
understand the basic concept of Data
Communication and Computer Networks.

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Objectives Of This Course
 This course aims to expose students to best
practices in computer networks and
communication where they can constantly learn
current methodologies, techniques, and
approaches to create computer networks that are
bug-free, reliable, and efficient.
 Furthermore, students will become better network
administrators and systems analysts through the
set of skills to be taught in this course.

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Objectives Of This Course
The course will enable students to:
Differentiate between the different layers
of OSI and TCP/IP models.
Understand and explore the technologies
in data communication and networks.
Analyze the flow of data at the different
layers of the OSI model.

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Grading
S/N Items to be Evaluated Percentage of
Grade
1 Final Examination 70%

2 Project/Assignments 10%

3 Quiz/Test 10%

4 Class Participation and 10%

Attendance

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Lecture 01: 2023-2024 Academic Session
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Course Structure (1/2)

Data switching principles broadcast techniques,
network structure for packet switching.
Introduction to Network topologies, courier
analysis, measure of communication, channel
characteristics.
Transmission media, noise and distortion,
modulation and demodulation.
Multiplexing, TDM FDM and FCM parallel and
serial transmission (synchronous versus
asynchronous).

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Course Structure (2/2)

Bus structures and loop systems, computer
network Example and design consideration.
Protocols, description of network e.g. APRANET,
etc.
Revision

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Lecture 01: 2023-2024 Academic Session
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Materials
Introduction to Networks lab. University of Jordan
Faculty of Engineering & Technology Computer
Engineering Department Computer Networks
Laboratory 907528
Cisco Certified Network Associate, Study Guild, 6th
edition, Todd Lammle

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Lecture 01: 2023-2024 Academic Session
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Discuss Data Switching

Switching is process to forward packets coming in
from one port to a port leading towards the
destination.
When data comes on a port it is called ingress,
and when data leaves a port or goes out it is
called egress.
A communication system may include number of
switches and nodes.
At broad level, switching can be divided into two
major categories.

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Lecture 01: 2023-2024 Academic Session
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Categories of Switching
Connectionless: The data is forwarded on behalf
of forwarding tables.
No previous handshaking is required and
acknowledgements are optional.
Connection Oriented: Before switching data to
be forwarded to destination, there is a need to
pre-establish circuit along the path between both
endpoints.
Data is then forwarded on that circuit.
After the transfer is completed, circuits can be
kept for future use or can be turned down
immediately.
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Circuit Switching (2/2)

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Circuit Switching (2/2)

When two nodes communicate with each other
over a dedicated communication path, it is called
circuit switching.
There is a need of pre-specified route from which
data travels and no other data is permitted.
In circuit switching to transfer the data, circuit
must be established so that the data transfer can
take place.
Circuits can be permanent or temporary.
Applications which use circuit switching may have
to go through three phases.

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Phases of Circuit Switching
 Establish a circuit
 Transfer the data
 Disconnect the circuit
Circuit switching was designed for voice
applications.
Telephone is the best suitable example of circuit
switching.
Before a user can make a call, a virtual path
between caller and callee is established over the
network.

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Advantages/Disadvantages of
Circuit Switching (1/2)
 Advantages
The communication channel (once established)
is dedicated.
 Disadvantages
Possible long wait to establish a connection, (10
seconds, more on long-distance or international
calls.) during which no data can be transmitted.
More expensive than any other switching
techniques, because a dedicated path is
required for each connection.
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Advantages/Disadvantages of
Circuit Switching (2/2)
 Disadvantages
Inefficient use of the communication channel,
because the channel is not used when the
connected systems are not using it.

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Message Switching (1/3)

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Message Switching (2/3)
This technique was somewhere in middle of circuit
switching and packet switching.
In message switching, the whole message is
treated as a data unit and is switching / transferred
in its entirety.
A switch working on message switching, first
receives the whole message and buffers it until
there are resources available to transfer it to the
next hop.
If the next hop is not having enough resource to
accommodate large size message, the message is
stored and switch waits.
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Message Switching (3/3)
This technique was considered substitute to
circuit switching.
As in circuit switching the whole path is blocked
for two entities only.
Message switching is replaced by packet
switching.

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Advantages/Disadvantages of
Message Switching
 Advantages
Channel efficiency can be greater compared to
circuit-switched systems, because more devices
are sharing the channel.
Traffic congestion can be reduced, because
messages may be temporarily stored in route.
Message priorities can be established due to store-
and-forward technique.
Message broadcasting can be achieved with the
use of broadcast address appended in the
message.
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Advantages/Disadvantages of
Message Switching
 Disadvantages
Every switch in transit path needs enough storage
to accommodate entire message.
Because of store-and-forward technique and waits
included until resources are available, message
switching is very slow.
Message switching was not a solution for
streaming media and real-time applications.

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Packet Switching (1/3)

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Packet Switching (2/3)

Shortcomings of message switching gave birth to
an idea of packet switching.
The entire message is broken down into smaller
chunks called packets.
The switching information is added in the header
of each packet and transmitted independently.
It is easier for intermediate networking devices to
store small size packets and they do not take
much resources either on carrier path or in the
internal memory of switches.

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Packet Switching(3/3)
Packet switching enhances line efficiency as
packets from multiple applications can be
multiplexed over the carrier.
The internet uses packet switching
technique.
Packet switching enables the user to
differentiate data streams based on
priorities.
Packets are stored and forwarded according
to their priority to provide quality of service.
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Advantages/Disadvantages of
Packet Switching (1/3)
 Advantages
Packet switching is cost effective, because
switching devices do not need massive amount of
secondary storage.
Packet switching offers improved delay
characteristics, because there are no long
messages in the queue (maximum packet size is
fixed).
Packet can be rerouted if there is any problem,
such as, busy or disabled links.

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Lecture 01: 2023-2024 Academic Session
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Advantages/Disadvantages of
Packet Switching (2/3)
 Advantages
The advantage of packet switching is that many
network users can share the same channel at the
same time.
Packet switching can maximize link efficiency by
making optimal use of link bandwidth.

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Advantages/Disadvantages of
Packet Switching (3/3)
 Disadvantages
Protocols for packet switching are typically more
complex.
It can add some initial costs in implementation.
If packet is lost, sender needs to retransmit the
data.
Another disadvantage is that packet switched
systems still cannot deliver the same quality as
dedicated circuits in applications requiring very
little delay - like voice conversations or moving
images.
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Summary (1/2)
Circuit switching: it is a technique that directly
connects the sender and the receiver in an
unbroken path.
Packet switching can be seen as a solution that
tries to combine the advantages of message and
circuit switching and to minimize the
disadvantages of both.
There are two methods of packet switching:
Datagram and virtual circuit.
In both packet switching methods, a message is
broken into small parts, called packets.

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Summary (2/2)
With message switching there is no need to
establish a dedicated path between two stations.

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Assignments
Assignment 1.1 What are the 3 phases of circuit
switching?
Assignment 1.2 Explain packet switching?
Assignment 1.3 Explain switching techniques?
Assignment 1.4 What are the advantages and
disadvantages of message switching?

“CSC 311: Computer Networks and Data Communication” Unit:3

Lecture 01: 2023-2024 Academic Session