Computer Networks

• Network
• set of devices (often referred to as nodes)
connected by communication links/media
• E.g. nodes - computer, printer, or any other
device capable of sending and/or receiving
data generated by other nodes on the
network.
• Computer network – network of two of more
autonomous computers.
• Two computers are said to be interconnected if
they are able to exchange information.
• Connection can be via
• copper wire, fiber optics, EM waves
(microwaves, infrared, etc.), etc.
Use of Computer Networks
• Business applications
• Resource sharing – distribute information, sharing of printers,
etc.
• Client-server model
• Communication medium (e.g., sending emails, etc.)
• IP telephony or VoIP
• Desktop Sharing, etc.
• Home applications
• Peer-to-peer communication
• E-commerce
• Gaming
• Mobile users
• Text messaging, GPS, Browsing, etc.
• Social issues
• Social networks, content sharing sites, etc.
Components of a communication system
• Computer networks enable data communication.
• Message.
• The information (data) to be communicated. Popular forms of information include text, pictures,
audio, and video.
• Sender.
• The device that sends the data message. It can be a computer, workstation, telephone handset,
video camera, etc.
• Receiver.
• The device that receives the message. It can be a computer, workstation, telephone handset,
television, and so on.
• Transmission medium.
• The transmission medium is the physical path by which a message travels from sender to receiver.
• E.g. of transmission media: twisted-pair wire, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, and radio waves.
• Protocol.
• Set of rules that govern data communications. It represents an agreement between the
communicating devices.
• Without a protocol, two devices may be connected but not communicating, just as a person
speaking French cannot be understood by a person who speaks only Japanese.
Effectiveness of a communications system

• Delivery.
• The system must deliver data to the correct destination. Data must be received by the
intended device or user and only by that device or user.
• Accuracy.
• The system must deliver the data accurately. Data that have been altered in transmission
and left uncorrected are unusable.
• Timeliness.
• The system must deliver data in a timely manner. Data delivered late are useless.
• E.g., In the case of video and audio, timely delivery means delivering data as they are
produced, in the same order that they are produced, and without significant delay.
• Jitter.
• Jitter refers to the variation in the packet arrival time.
• It is the uneven delay in the delivery of audio or video packets.
• E.g., assume that video packets are sent every 30 ms. If some of the packets arrive with 30-
ms delay and others with 40-ms delay, an uneven quality in the video is the result.
Data flow in Communication systems
• Simplex
• the communication is unidirectional, as on a one way
street.
• Only one of the two devices on a link can transmit; the
other can only receive
• E.g., Keyboards and traditional monitors are examples of
simplex devices.
• Half-Duplex
• each station can both transmit and receive, but not at the
same time.
• When one device is sending, the other can only receive,
and vice versa
• E.g., Walkie-talkies and CB (citizens band) radios are both
half duplex systems.
• Full-Duplex
• both stations can transmit and receive simultaneously
• Common example of full-duplex communication is the
telephone network
• both can talk and listen at the same time.
• The full-duplex mode is used when communication in both
directions is required all the time.
 Types of Connections/Links
• Point-to-Point
• provides a dedicated link between two devices.
• The entire capacity of the link is reserved for transmission
between those two devices.
• Most point-to-point connections use an actual length of
wire or cable to connect the two ends, other options, such
as microwave or satellite links, are also possible
• E.g., When you change television channels by infrared
remote control
• you are establishing a point-to-point connection
between the remote control and the television's
control system.
• Multipoint
• more than two specific devices share a single link
• the capacity of the channel is shared, either spatially or
temporally.
• If several devices can use the link simultaneously, it is a
spatially shared connection. If users must take turns, it is a
timeshared connection.
Network Topology
• Topology
• the way in which a network is laid out physically.
• Two or more devices connect to a link; two or more links form a topology.
• the geometric representation of the relationship of all the links and linking devices (usually called
nodes) to one another
• Basic topologies
Mesh topology
• One where every node is connected to every other node
in the network.
• Can be a full mesh topology or a partially connected
mesh topology.
• In a full mesh topology, every computer in the network • Advantages
has a connection to each of the other computers in that • Can handle high amounts of traffic
network. • A failure of one device does not cause a
• The number of connections in this network: n(n-1)/2 break in the network or transmission of
(n is the number of computers in the network) data.
• In a partially connected mesh topology, at least two of • Adding additional devices does not
the computers in the network have connections to disrupt data transmission between other
multiple other computers in that network. devices.
• Disadvantages
• It is an inexpensive way to implement redundancy in a • The cost to implement is higher than
network. other network topologies
• In the event that one of the primary computers or • Building and maintaining the topology is
connections in the network fails, the rest of the difficult and time consuming.
network continues to operate normally • Redundant connections
Star topology
• every node connects to a central network device, like a
hub, switch, or computer.
• central network device acts as a server and the peripheral
devices act as clients.
• Depending on the type of network card used in each • Disadvantages
computer of the star topology, a coaxial cable or a RJ-45
network cable is used to connect computers together. • Can have a higher cost to
implement, especially when using a
• Advantages switch or router as the central
• Centralized management of the network, through the network device.
use of the central computer, hub, or switch. • The central network device
• Easy to add another computer to the network. determines the performance and
• if one computer on the network fails, the rest of the number of nodes the network can
network continues to function normally. handle.
• The star topology is used in local-area networks • If the central computer, hub, or
(LANs), High-speed LANs often use a star topology switch fails, the entire network goes
with a central hub. down and all computers are
disconnected from the network