COMPONENTS OF A NETWORK

By Sameer Khan (B.B.A I Sem.)

14/12/11

COMPONENTS

OF

NETWORK

Sender (Source Host) Communication interface devices Communication channel Receiver (Destination Host) Communication software

SENDER (SOURCE HOST)

A host is any computer on a network that is repository for services available to other computers on a network. A host is simply an end point where user gets access to computer network. Sender is the system or node which sends the data through the computer network. It is also called source host. Sender is one of the most important components of computer network.

COMMUNICATION INTERFACE DEVICE

The devices through which data is communicated from one end to other end are known as communication interface devices. Some of them are;

Network Interface Card (NIC): It is a computer hardware component that connects a computer to a computer network NIC has a permanent and unique physical address called MAC (media access control) address. The NIC requires drivers to operate.

Switches: It is a kind of multiport connecting device which makes intelligent routing decisions on the basis of MAC addresses. Switches are full duplex devices i.e data receiving and transmitting can takes place simultaneously.

Routers: It is a kind of connecting device which makes forwarding decisions of data packet on the basis of network addresses. The primary purpose of router is to examine the source and destination IP addresses of data packets it receives and to direct these packets out the appropriate port over the best path available at the time.

Hubs: It is a multiport connecting device that is used to interconnect LAN devices. It broadcast the data packets to each and every networked computer and not just the target computer to which the data packets were originally intended to be sent. Hubs are half-duplex devices.

Bridges: It is a network device that is used to connect two network segments together.

Repeaters: It is a device in which data is transmitted along the various cables. The repeater receives and retransmits the signals at higher level onto the other side so that the signals can cover longer distances.

Gateways: It is a network node for interfacing with another network that uses different protocols. In other words, it is the network point that acts as an entrance to another network. The computer that control traffic between ISPs computer and users are known as gateway nodes.

 MODEM:

It is an encoding/decoding device. The data is transmitted via various communication channels like telephone lines, microwave links or satellite transmission. The encoding/decoding device converts code format of computer to those of communication channels for transmission and vice [Link] stands for Modulator/Demodulator. It performs the processes modulation and demodulation. The process of converting digital signals into analog signals is known as modulation and the reverse process of converting analog signals into digital signals is known as demodulation.

Multiplexer: It enables several devices to share one

communication line. It scans each device to collect and transmit data on a single line to the CPU. It also performs reverse transmission .

Front-end processor: This is programmable device

that control he functions of communication system. It supports the operations of mainframe computer by performing various functions like code conversion, editing and verification of data, terminal recognition and control of transmission lines.

COMMUNICATION CHANNELS (MEDIUMS)

It comprises different types of cables and wireless techniques that are used to connect network devices in a LAN, WLAN or WAN. It is divided into two groups:
Guided

media: Twisted pair, coaxial cable and fiber

optics. Unguided media: Wireless.

Twisted Pair Cables It is most commonly used transmission media to transmit electrical signals. It contains pair of insulated copper wires twisted together. Twisting reduces the impact of interferences. Twisted pair cables can carry data at a speed of 10Mbps, 100Mbps and 1000Mbps and can transmit data upto 100mtrs. There are two types of twisted pair cables:

Unshielded twisted pair It is 8-wires twisted in pair of 2.

Shielded twisted pair It is 8-wires cable twisted in pair of 2 surrounded by an additional shielding which makes STP cables more secure, less prone to interferences but expensive.

Co-axial CablesIt is an electrical cable with an inner copper wire surrounded by dielectric insulator, woven copper shield and outer plastic sheath. This shielding reduces electromagnetic interferences. It can transmit data at a maximum speed of 10Mbps and can transmit data upto 500 mtrs without using repeaters.

The jacket protects the cable from the external environment. It is usually made of rubber (or sometimes Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) or Teflon). The shield (metal envelope) surrounding the cables protects the data transmitted on the medium from interference (also called noise) that could corrupt the data. The insulator surrounding the central core is made of a dielectric material that prevents any contact with the shield that could cause electrical interactions (short circuit). The core, which actually transports the data, generally consists of a single copper strand or of several braided strands.

Fiber OpticsIt is a thin, flexible, transparent fiber that acts as a waveguide to transmit light between the two ends of the fiber. It is used in fiber optic communication which permits transmission over long distances and at higher bandwidth. Fibers are used instead of metal wires because signals travel along them with less loss and they are resistant to electromagnetic interference.

COMMUNICATION SOFTWARE

It is used to manage the flow of data across a network. The functions of communication software are as follows:
Access

Control Network Management Data and file transmission Error detection and control Data security

RECEIVER (DESTINATION HOST)

A host is any computer on a network that is repository for services available to other computers on a network. A host is simply an end point where user gets access to computer network. Receiver is the system or node which receives the data through the computer network. It is also called destination host.

THANK YOU