Lecture - 1

Computer Networks
Course Content
• Chapter 1: Introduction to Computer Network
• Chapter 2: Physical Layer
• Chapter 3: Data link layer
• Chapter 4: Network Layer
• Chapter 5: Transport Layer
• Chapter 6: Application Layer
• Chapter 7: Introduction to IPV6
• Chapter 8: Network Security
References
Andrew S. Tanenbaum, Computer Network,
3rd Edition Prentice-Hall India,1997
W. Stallings “Data & Computer
Communication” Macmillan Press, 1989.
Grading Guidelines
Theory - Full marks – 20
Continuous tests - 8 marks,
Final assessment – 4 marks,
Attendance – 4 marks,
class presentation, assignments – 4marks
Objectives
To introduce fundamentals of computer networks
• Network definition
• Its advantages & disadvantages
• Fundamental network classification
• Network topology
• Network components
• Switching
• Protocol
• Applications
Network Definition
• A network can be defined as two or more
computers connected together in such a way
that they can share resources.
• The purpose of a network is to share

resources.
Network Definition Contd…
A resource may be:
• A file
• A folder
• A printer
• A disk drive
• Or just about anything else that exists on a
computer.
Network Definition Contd…
A network is simply a collection of computers or
other hardware devices that are connected
together,
• using special hardware and software,
• to allow them to exchange information and
cooperate.
• Networking is the term that describes the
processes involved in designing, implementing,
upgrading, managing and otherwise working
with networks and network technologies.
Advantages of Networking
• Connectivity and Communication
• Data Sharing
• Hardware Sharing
• Internet Access
• Internet Access Sharing
• Data Security and Management
• Performance Enhancement and Balancing
• Entertainment
Disadvantages of Networking
• Network Hardware, Software and Setup Costs
• Hardware and Software Management and
Administration Costs
• Undesirable Sharing
• Illegal or Undesirable Behavior
• Data Security Concerns
Fundamental Network Classification
• LAN, WAN, MAN
– Network in small geographical Area (Room, Building
or a Campus) is called LAN (Local Area Network)
– Network in a City is call MAN (Metropolitan Area

Network)
– Network spread geographically (Country or across

Globe) is called WAN (Wide Area Network)
LAN
Client Client
Client Client
Client Client
MAN
WAN
Network Topology
• The network topology is the way each node is

physically connected to the network.
• A network topology describes the layout of

the wire and devices as well as the paths used
by data transmissions.
Network Topology
Common Topologies - Bus
• Bus: each node is daisy-chained (connected one right after the
other) along the same backbone.
• Information sent from a node travels along the backbone until
it reaches its destination node.
• Each end of a bus network must be terminated with a resistor
Introduction to Computer Networks
Star & Tree Topology

• Most commonly used architecture
in Ethernet LANs
• When installed, resembles spokes in
a bicycle wheel
• Larger networks use the extended
star topology - called tree topology
• When used with network devices
that filter frames or packets, like
bridges, switches, and routers, this
topology significantly reduces the
traffic on the wires by sending
packets only to the wires of the
destination host.
Ring Topology
• Frame travels around the ring,
stopping at each node.
• If a node wants to transmit data, it
adds the data as well as the
destination address to the frame.
• The frame then continues around the
ring until it finds the destination node,
which takes the data out of the frame.
• Single ring – All the devices on the
network share a single cable
• Dual ring – The dual ring topology
allows data to be sent in both
directions.
Mesh Topology
• The mesh topology
connects all devices
(nodes) to each other for
redundancy and fault
tolerance.
• It is used in WANs to
interconnect LANs and for
mission critical networks
like those used by banks
and financial institutions.
• Implementing the mesh
topology is expensive and
difficult.
Network topology (cont.)
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Network Topologies
Topology Advantages Disadvantages
Cheap. Easy to install. Difficult to reconfigure.

Bus
Break in bus disables
entire network.
Cheap. Easy to install. More expensive than bus.

Star
Easy to reconfigure.
Fault tolerant.
Efficient. Easy to install. Reconfiguration difficult.

Ring
Very expensive.
Simplest. Most fault tolerant. Reconfiguration extremely difficult.

Mesh
Extremely expensive.
Very complex.
Network Components
• Physical Media
• Interconnecting Devices
• Computers
• Networking Software
• Applications
Networking Media
• Networking media can be
defined simply as the
means by which signals
(data) are sent from one
computer to another
(either by cable or wireless
means).
Types of Media(Medium)
• Guided Medium: waves are guided along a
solid medium path (twisted pair, coaxial cable,
and optical fiber).
• Unguided medium: waves are propagated
through the atmosphere and
inner/outerspace (satellite, laser, and wireless
transmissions).
Networking Devices
• HUB, Switches, Routers,
,Modems etc.
Hubs
• A hub is the place where data converges from
one or more directions and is forwarded out
in one or more directions.
• Seen in local area networks
Gateways
• A gateway is a network point that acts as an
entrance to another network.
• On the internet, in terms of routing, the network
consists of gateway nodes and host nodes.
• Host nodes are computer of network users and the
computers that serve contents (such as Web pages).
• Gateway nodes are computers that control traffic
within your company’s network or at your local
internet service provider (ISP)
Routers
• A router is a device or a software in a computer that
determines the next network point to which a packet
should be forwarded toward its destination.
• Allow different networks to communicate with each
other
• A router creates and maintain a table of the available
routes and their conditions and uses this information
along with distance and cost algorithms to determine
the best route for a given packet.
• A packet will travel through a number of network
points with routers before arriving at its destination.
Bridge
• a bridge is a product that connects a local area
network (LAN) to another local area network
that uses the same protocol (for example, bus
or token ring).
• A bridge examines each message on a LAN,
"passing" those known to be within the same
LAN, and forwarding those known to be on
the other interconnected LAN (or LANs).
What is the difference between?
• Bridge: device to interconnect two LANs
• Router: device to interconnect SIMILAR
networks, e.g. similar protocols and
workstations and servers
• Gateway: device to interconnect DISSIMILAR
protocols and servers, and Macintosh and IBM
LANs and equipment
Switches
• Allow different nodes of a network to
communicate directly with each other.
• Allow several users to send information over a
network at the same time without slowing
each other down.
Network Interface Card (NIC)
• Every computer and most devices (e.g.
a network printer) is connected to
network through an NIC.
• In most desktop computers, this is an
Ethernet card (10 or 100 Mbps) that is
plugged into a slot on the computer
motherboard.
Peer-to peer network
• A peer-to-peer network is a network where the computers
act as both workstations and servers.
• great for small, simple, and inexpensive networks.
• In a strict peer-to-peer networking setup, every computer
is an equal, a peer in the network.
• Each machine can have resources that are shared with any
other machine.
• There is no assigned role for any particular device, and
each of the devices usually runs similar software.
• Any device can and will send requests to any other.
Peer-to peer network (cont..)
Disadvantages – Peer to Peer
• Security for only a single resource at a
time
• Users may need to know many passwords
• Individual machine backups
• Speed decreases while sharing
• No central location/access of data
Client/Server Networking
• In this design, a small number of computers

are designated as centralized servers and
given the task of providing services to a
larger number of user machines called
clients
Client/Server Networking (cont..)
1
Server Based Networks

• Server is the key to this type
• Centralized control of resources
• Utilize faster processors
• More memory
• Extra peripherals
1
Server Based Advantages

• Central security/ accounts/ access
• Simplify network administration
• Powerful/ efficient access to resources
• Single password for each user
• Best for high use, user, networks
1
Server Based Disadvantages
• Server failure results in unusable network

• Server failure results in loss of resources
• Expert staff to manage increases cost
• Dedicated hardware increases cost
• Dedicated software increases cost
• All disadvantages may be overcome with $$
$
Two ways to share
• Circuit switching (synchronous)
• Packet switching (asynchronous)
Circuit Switching
• It’s the method
Boston
Switch
LA
Switch
used by the
telephone network Caller Callee
• A call has three

phases:
1. Establish circuit
from end-to-end
(“dialing”),
2. Communicate,
3. Close circuit (“tear
down”).
• If circuit not available:
“busy signal”
42
Packet Switching
• Used in the Internet
• Data is sent in Packets Host 1 Host 2
(header contains control info,
e.g., source and destination Node 1 Node 2
addresses)
Header Data propagation

delay
between
Host 1 &
transmission processing
• Per-packet routing time of Packet 1 Node 2
Packet 1 Packet 2
• At each node the entire at Host 1 Packet 1
delay of
Packet 1
Packet 3
packet is received, stored, Packet 2 at Node 2
and then forwarded (store- Packet 3
Packet 1
and-forward networks) Packet 2
• No capacity is allocated Packet 3
43
Protocol
• a formal set of rules, conventions and data
structure that governs how computers and
other network devices exchange information
over a network.
• In other words, protocol is a standard procedure
and format that two data communication
devices must understand, accept and use to be
able to talk to each other
• E.g. TCP/IP, UDP, ARP etc.
Contd…
• Node: anything connected to the network, usually
a computer, but it could be a printer or a scanner
• Segment: any portion of a network that is
separated by a switch, bridge or a router from
another part of a network.
• Backbone: the main cabling of a network that all
of the segment connect to. Usually, the backbone
is capable of carrying more information than the
individual segments.
Networking Protocol: TCP/IP
Applications
E-mail
Searchable Data (Web Sites)
E-Commerce
News Groups
Internet Telephony (VoIP)
Video Conferencing
Chat Groups
Instant Messengers
Internet Radio

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Computer Networks

• The purpose of a network is to share

– Network in a City is call MAN (Metropolitan Area

– Network spread geographically (Country or across

• The network topology is the way each node is

• A network topology describes the layout of

Star & Tree Topology

Topology Advantages Disadvantages

Cheap. Easy to install. Difficult to reconfigure.

Cheap. Easy to install. More expensive than bus.

Efficient. Easy to install. Reconfiguration difficult.

Simplest. Most fault tolerant. Reconfiguration extremely difficult.

• In this design, a small number of computers

Server Based Networks

Server Based Advantages

Server Based Disadvantages

• Server failure results in unusable network

• A call has three

Header Data propagation

and-forward networks) Packet 2

• No capacity is allocated Packet 3

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