Computer Networking Principles

CSC 225

Classification of computer networks

 Classification of computer
networks
• There is no generally accepted taxonomy into which all
computer networks fit
• Two dimensions stand out: transmission technology and
scale
 Classification of computer
networks

Transmission technology dimension

 Classification of computer
networks
• When classified by transmission technology, there are broadly two
types networks
 Broadcast networks
 Point-to-point networks
Broadcast networks
 Broadcast networks
• Broadcast systems have a single communication channel
that is shared by all the machines on the network.
• Packets sent by any machine are received by all others.
 Broadcast networks
• An address field within the packet specifies for whom it is
intended.
• When a station sends a frame it includes a source
address and a destination address
• Upon receiving a packet, a machine checks the address
field to check if the destination address matches one of the
three addresses: unicast, multicast, broadcast.
• If the address matches it is received else the packet is
intended for some other machine and it is ignored.
 Broadcast networks
• Unicast addressing
• Unicast addressing means one-to-one communication
• A station sends a frame that is received by only one
station
• Upon receiving a packet, a machine checks the address
field. If the destination address in the packet matches
its unicast address it is received else it is intended for
some other machine and it is ignored.
 Broadcast networks
• Broadcast addressing
• Broadcast addressing means one-to-all communication.
A station sends a frame that can be received by all other
stations.
• Broadcast systems generally also allow the possibility
of addressing a packet to all destinations by using a
special code in the address field.
• When a packet with this code is transmitted, it is
received and processed by every machine on the
network.
• This mode of operation is called broadcasting
 Broadcast networks
• Multicast addressing
• Multicasting means one-to-many communication. A
station sends a frame that is received by a subset of the
stations.
• Transmission to a subset of the machines, is known
as multicasting. A group of machines can have a
multicast address which is different from the unicast
address.
• May be achieved by reserving one bit for multicasting
with the remaining n-1 bits address bits holding the
group number
• Each machine can subscribe to any or all of the groups
• When a packet is sent to a certain group, it is delivered
to all machines subscribing to the group
 Broadcast networks
• Broadcast networks have some limitations
• Number of computers that can be attached to the shared medium is
limited.
• The geographical area that can be covered by the network is often
limited
• How then can we facilitate communication between hosts that are
distant from one another?
• Point-to-point networks.
• Point to point networks are scalable and can grow to a large
number of nodes.
Point-to-point networks
 Point to point Networks
• In point-to-point networks individual pairs of computers are
connected, not necessarily directly. They can be linked indirectly via a
communications network.
• The communications network is a network of intermediate computers
which are connected using point-to-point links.
• Therefore point-to-point networks consist of many point-to-point links
between individual machines
 Point-to-point networks
• Communication is typically achieved by transmitting data from
source to destination(s) through the network of intermediate nodes .
• To go from source to destination a packet being transmitted on this
type of network may have to visit many intermediate nodes.
• Often multiple routes of different lengths are possible between any
two computers.
• Point-to-point transmission with one sender and one receiver is often
called unicasting
• Multicast or broadcast communication is possible but complex to
achieve in point-to-point networks.
 Point-to-point networks
• A general rule:
 Smaller geographically localized networks tend to use
broadcasting
 Larger networks tend to use point-to-point
 Classification of computer networks
Broadcast networks Point to point networks
A single communication channel that is shared by Multiple communication channels. Pairs of
all the machines on the network computers are linked indirectly via a network of
intermediate computers.

Frames sent by any machine are received by all Communication is received only by intended
others. A frame is accepted by intended recipient(s). Communication is typically achieved
recipient(s) and discarded by others (non in by transmitting data from source to destination(s)
tended recipients) through the network of intermediate nodes

Often a single route between any two computers. Often multiple routes of different lengths are
possible between any two computers.

Unicast, multicast and broadcast communication Unicast, multicast and broadcast communication
are all possible. are all possible. However it is difficult to achieve
multicast and broadcast communication.

Used in smaller geographically localized networks Used in larger networks

classification of computer
networks

Scale dimension
 classification of computer
networks

• An alternative criterion for classifying networks is their

scale
• These can be divided into
 Local Area networks (LAN)
 Wide area networks (WAN)
 Metropolitan area networks (MAN)
 Internetworks
 classification of computer
networks

Classification of computer networks by scale

Local area networks
 Local area networks
• Ownership: Private
• LANS are usually privately owned.
• The owning organization usually owns all the attached devices.
• Uses
• They are widely used to connect Personal computers and
workstations in offices to share resources and exchange
information
• Management
• The management responsibilities of a LAN are carried out solely
by the owning organization
 Local area networks
• Size
 A LAN covers a small geographical area
 A LAN is usually the interconnection of a collection of computer
systems in a single building or a cluster of buildings
 Network is usually up to a few kilometers in size
 In TCP/IP networking, a LAN is often but not always
implemented as a single IP subnet.
• Cost
 Cost low (thousands of dollars).
 Local area networks
• Transmission technology
 Broadcast: A shared cable to which all machines are attached and
can transmit
• Speed
 Fast.
 The internal data rates of LANs are typically (10Mbps-10 Gbps).
• Topology:
• Various topologies are possible for broadcast LANS
• Bus
• Ring
 Local area networks

Two broadcast networks (a) Bus (b) Ring

 Local area networks
• Characteristics
• Geographical scope?
• Ownership?
• Classification based on transmission Technology?
Metropolitan area networks
 Metropolitan area networks
 Geographical scope:
 A MAN covers a medium-size geographic region (e.g. entire town
or city).
 A MAN is larger than a LAN and smaller than a WAN and is
constrained to a defined geographical area.
 Ownership and management
 May be owned and operated by a single company or by a
consortium of users. A MAN may be controlled by an
organization, or by a Telecommunications provider or may be a
regional resource.
 Metropolitan area networks
 Uses:
 A MAN often acts as a high speed network to allow sharing of
regional resources.
 It is also frequently used to provide a shared connection to other
networks using a link to a WAN.
 Metropolitan area networks
 Examples of MANs
 Best known example of a MAN is the cable television network
that originally was designed for cable TV, but today can also be
used for high-speed data connection to the Internet.
 Metropolitan area networks
• Cable network system
• A cable network system consists of
• A headend
• A distribution network
 Metropolitan area networks
• Headend
• A headend is where all cable signals are received, processed and
formatted . The signals are then transmitted over the distribution
network from the headend
• A number of television channels collected at a central location
(the headend)
• These are distributed to subscribers within a community by
means of a network of optical fibers and/or coaxial cables.
 Metropolitan area networks
• Distribution network
• The distribution network is typically based on high bandwidth
copper wire and/or fiber optic cabling.
• The fiber forms the trunk part of the network
• Cable is installed in towns and cities to service a small service
area. May serve up to 2000 customers over distances of up to 50
kilometers .
• The distribution network is used for the transmission of television
programming and other services directly to peoples homes
 Metropolitan area networks
• Cable Internet services
• With the increased use of internet, cable TV systems are now
offering two way internet services in the unused part of the
spectrum.
• Cable is used to provide data, voice and video (digital/analog)
• Both the TV signals and internet are being fed into the headend
for subsequent distribution into peoples homes.
• The ISP connects to the cable operator’s headend.
• Cable may provide up to 2Mbps download speed shared by all
subscribers.
 Metropolitan area networks

Metropolitan area network based on cable TV

 Metropolitan area networks
• Characteristics
• Geographical scope?
• Ownership?
• Classification based on transmission Technology?
Wide area networks
 Wide area networks
a) A WAN covers a large geographical area (e.g. a country
or continent).
• Typically a WAN is a geographically-dispersed
collection of LANs.
• Connects multiple LANs to one another over great
geographic distances, the size of a country or continent.
 Wide area networks
• WANs consist of a collection of user machines (hosts)
connected to a communication subnet.
 Wide area networks

Relationship between hosts and subnet

 Wide area networks
b) A WAN relies in part on common carrier circuits
• A WAN typically uses transmission facilities provided by common
carriers, such as telephone companies. The WAN can be based on
a dedicated point to point link or switched circuits.
• A point-to-point link provides a single, pre-established WAN
communications path from the customer premises through a
carrier network, such as a telephone company, to a remote
network. Point-to-point lines are usually leased from a carrier
and thus are often called leased lines
• Switched circuits allow data connections that can be initiated
when needed and terminated when communication is
complete.
 Wide area networks
• Most organizations do not build their own WANs by laying
cables, building Microwave towers or sending up
satellites.
• They require crossing of public right-of-ways. Hence
WANs depend on telecommunication providers for actual
data transmission when communicating computers are
located in different sites.
 Wide area networks
c) WAN circuits come in all types and sizes but typically provide data
transmission rates from 56Kbps to 10Gbps.
• The speed available on a WAN varies depending on the cost of the
connections (which increases with distance) and may be low
• Cost varies depending on type of circuit. Point-to-point links are
generally more expensive than switched circuits. Leased circuits
are generally priced based on bandwidth required and distance
between the two connected points.
 Wide area networks
d) There are different WANs technologies
• Circuit switching
• Packet switching
• Frame relay
• Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
 Wide area networks
• Characteristics
• Geographical scope?
• Ownership?
• Classification based on transmission Technology?
Internetworks
 Internetworks
a) An internetwork is a collection of networks that are
interconnected together
• People connected to one type of network often want to
communicate with people attached to a different one.
This requires incompatible networks to be connected.
Internetworking means connecting different types of
networks that use different technologies such as
Ethernet, ATM, FDDI.
b) A common form of internet is a collection of LANs
connected by a WAN
 LAN-WAN-LAN
 Internetworks
c) These different networks are connected, sometimes by
means of machines called routers to make connections
and provide the necessary translation in terms of both
hardware and software
 Internetworks

d) The world wide Internet is the most widely used

interconnection of networks to which a large number of
networks are connected.
• The Internet is an internetwork of widely used
networks.
e) While Internet is a specific world-wide connection of
networks, internet is a generic term.
 Self study
• Additional Reading/Assignment:
• Other types of area networks
• Personal Area Network
• Storage Area Network
• System Area Network
• Other classifications
• Intranet/Extranet
• Wired /wireless
 Internetworks
• Additional Reading/Assignment:
• Personal Area Network
• Storage Area Network
• System Area Network
• Intranet/Extranet
 References
• Local Area networks by Behrouz A. Forouzan Chapter 1
Questions?