29/05/2024, 22:31 Types of Errors in Computer Network - GeeksforGeeks

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Types of Errors in Computer Network Improve

Last Updated : 12 Sep, 2023

Computer networks are the backbone of communication systems by which
data and information can be exchanged between multiple communicating
devices and users. In modern days, computer networks are essential for daily
work life real-time video streaming, online gaming, various communicative
applications, etc. However, there are many types of errors present in
computer networks which can lead to restricted communication, and delay in
packet transmission that produces glitches in videos and distorts the audio
in real-time applications. In this article, we will discuss various types of
errors in computer networks with their cause and countermeasures.

Common Network Problems

There are basically 5 ways through which errors occurred during
transmission that are mentioned below.

1. Transmission Error

During the data transmission phase, data may be transmitted inaccurately

due to many reasons like external electromagnetic interference,
interrupted/degraded signal faulty hardware, etc. This leads to loss of data
or corrupted data packets and inconsistency in data packet arrivals which
triggers non-reliable data communication. This type of mis-transmission of
data is called Transmission error. Transmission errors can easily resolved by
using error detection and correction mechanisms(CRC, checksums etc.), and
high-quality networking equipment and data cables can reduce this error.

2. Data Packet Loss

Data packets can be lost during data transmission due to the presence of
errors in routing protocols, highly congested networks, or may be for faulty
networking devices. Data packet losses can lead to back-to-back packet
retransmission which results in delay in next packet arrival and reduced
network performance. During real-time communication, data-packet loss
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may badly affect the live streaming with distorted audio and videos with
glitches. Countermeasures involve implementing forward error correction
and congestion control technique reduces packet loss. Also, it is required to
ensure that all networking devices are up-to-date and these devices are
using optimized network configurations as per requirements.

3. Network Latency

If one of the two communicating devices uses high latency but another one
is running at low latency then the delay may occur during data transmission
which is called a network latency problem. It can be a consequence of high
network congestion and different processing power of two communicating
devices which leads to processing delays. The latency problem can directly
effect real-time applications like online gaming and video conferencing. In
modern technology, this problem can be easily solved by only implementing
Quality of Service(QoS) techniques. Also, increasing the network bandwidth,
optimizing network routing protocols, and utilizing a caching system can
reduce this problem.

4. Configuration Errors

Misconfigured or pirated software faces configuration errors which results in

inaccurate network operations. Configuration errors may lead to security
vulnerabilities(mainly unauthorized access), instability in network
connectivity, and incorrect packet routing which results in communication
failures.

5. Hardware Failures

Using very old and unmaintained network devices(switches, routers etc.), no

backups for power-cuts or manufacturing defect lead to hardware failure.
This results network outages, high downtime, restricted productivity for
business farms or users and loss of data if no backup taken. This problem
can be handled by performing regular maintenance of networking devices,
preparing alternative device if possible, taking data backups and disaster
management tools to minimize the data loss and downtime and it is also
required to replace the aged hardware in time.

Types of Errors in Computer Network

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1. Single-Bit Error

It is nothing but a special type of transmission error. During transmission of

data packets from one networking device to another, if only one bit from this
whole data packet is being changed/corrupted/altered then Single-bit
transmission error occurs. This single bit corruption can be occurred due to
induced noise in data transmission cable or presence of electromagnetic
interference.

The word single-bit error can lead to be sound a very simple and harmless
but in reality single-bit errors can corrupt the whole data and the receiver
may get fully incorrect data when they decode it. Also a very worthy error
detection mechanism is required to detect it as the error is truly very small
but results high data damage. For example say one sender sent a data
packet to a receiver and the data packet is 0111. And during transmission
single-bit error occurred and receiver receives 0011 instead 0111 i.e. only
one bit is flipped. Now let receiver will decode it to decimal and so receiver
will get 3(0011) instead of the correct data 7(0111). So, when this data is
used for complex logic a huge data corruption will occur. Countermeasures
involve implementing error detection and correction methods like CRC,
parity bits etc.

2. Burst Error

Similarly it is one kind of Transmission error and very likely to single bit
error. But in Burst error, multiple data bits of a data packets are being
changed/corrupted/ altered during transmission. And these multibit
corruption occurs in a very short period so it is called ‘Burst’. Communication

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line interference, impulsive noise are the main factors which lead to burst
error. As multiple bit are being corrupted so it can fully corrupt a data packet
and making it fully valueless. Burst errors can be rectified by retransmission
but it consumes additional network resources and burst error can occur in
that also. So, we need to implement robust error detection and correction
techniques like Reed-Solomon codes or convolutional codes. These
algorithms adds redundancy bits of data so that the receiver can reconstruct
the original data from that if burst error occurred. For example the sender
sends a data block of 110001 and receiver receives 101101. Here, we can
see that in a single instance total 3bits of data corrupted i.e. burst error
occurred.

Difference Between Single Bit Error and Burst Error in

Computer Network

Single-Bit error Burst Error

Multiple bits of a data packet is being

Only one bit of a data packet
corrupted in a very short period of
is altered or corrupted.
time(bursting).

May occur randomly and can

It occurs like a cluster and affect consecutive
affect individual bits in a data
bits of a data packet.
packet.

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Single-Bit error Burst Error

Minor data corruption and High data corruption(Clustered errors) and

easy to restore the original. hard to detect and restore to original. Robust
This error can be handled coding required like Reed-Solomon codes or
using CRC, parity bit etc. convolutional codes.

As only one bit is altered so In a short sequence multiple bits are altered so
it is easy to correct the it is hard to correct and may lead to entire
wrong sequence. corruption of data packet.

FAQs On Types of Errors in Computer Network

Q.1: Write some common causes of errors in computer networks?

Answer:

Various factors can lead to result in errors in computer networks like

transmission problem(electromagnetic interference, signal degradation
etc.), malfunctioning communication cables or outdated networking
devices, misconfigured networking devices, excessive network traffic,
data packet loss etc.

Q.2: How to detect and correct errors in computer network?

Answer:

Implementing error detection and correction mechanisms within the

transmission network can restrict errors. Some very common and
widely used algorithms are Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC), parity bits
, checksum etc. Also some more robust codes are Reed-Solomon
codes(for Burst error) and Hamming codes(For single-bit error) etc.

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