University of Technology, Jamaica

School of Computing & Information Technology

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER NETWORKS
Handout #1
COMPUTER NETWORK
- A communication system that allows computers to exchange information with each
other in a meaningful way.
- A collection of computers and devices, connected by communication channels
that facilitate communications among users, and allows users to share resources
with other users
- Networks may link computer that are all of the same type (homogeneous), or they
may link computers of several diferent types (heterogeneous)
- nformation is transmitted across computer networks in packets which are
se!uences of bits containing both signaling information and user data, each packet
being no greater than a maximum length determined by the network.
Advantages (See Fig 1.0 Below)
"acilitates communication
#haring hardware
#haring data $ information
#haring software
%igh reliability (in the event of failures)
#aving money
"ig &.'
Sem 1 2008/9 1
CATEGORIES OF COMPUTER NETWORK
1. Local Area Network (LAN)
- (fers high speed communication (order of &'mb)s) between computers situated
within a limited area, typically a building or small site.
- n general a low error rate can be achieved, all computers are connected to a single
transmission medium and access to the medium is controlled in a distributed
manner with all the computers working to agreed rules.
- *ach computer or device on the network is called a node. (ften, nodes are
connected to the network via cables
- +sually owned and managed by a single organi,ation.
- %ave three (-) characteristic features.
&. A diameter of not more than a few kilometers
/. A total data rate of at least several 0bps
-. 1omplete ownership by a single organi,ation
. !i"e Area Network (!AN)
- 0ost 2ANs connect computers within a single country, but others (for example #3A
which serves the international airline organi,ations) cover many countries using a
communications channel that combines many types of media such as telephone
lines, cables and airwaves.
- 3he nternet is the world4s largest 2AN.
- %as the following characteristic features.
&. #pan greater distances than 5ANs. 3ypically span entire countries
/. %ave much lower data rates usually under & 0bps
-. (wned by multiple organi,ations
Sem 1 2008/9
6. 2ANs can be connected on demand or permanently connected7 5ANs have
permanent connections between stations
8. 2ANs can use public or private network transports7 5ANs primarily use
private network transports.
#. $etro%olitan Area Network ($AN)
- 1overs an area of the si,e of a typical city, but uses 5AN technology.
- 3hey ofer a simple, fast way to link diferent organi,ations for the exchange of
information.
Sem 1 2008/9 #
NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
- 1omputers can be connected together in many diferent ways.
- 3he layout or topology of the network will in9uence how reliable the network is and
how easy it is to access.
- 3he main physical topologies include wired or wireless networks. 3he main physical
wired topologies are. #tar, ring, bus, with many other derivatives
Star Topolo!
All devices are connected to a central device called a hub by a separate cable. Nodes
communicate across the network by passing data through the hub.
Advantages include:
New stations can be added easily and !uickly
A single cable failure won4t bring down the entire network
t is relatively easy to troubleshoot
Disadvantages include:
3otal installation cost may be higher than that for a bus network because of the
larger number of cables, but prices are constantly becoming more and more
competitive.
t has a single point of failure
Sem 1 2008/9 &
R"n Topolo!
All devices are connected to one another in the shape of a closed loop, so that each device
is connected directly to two other devices, one on either side of it.
:ata is transmitted on a ring network from device to device around the entire ring, in one
direction. 2hen a computer sends data, the data travels to each computer on the ring until
it reaches its destination.
Advantages:
;rowth of system has minimal impact on performance
*ach node (or workstation) in the network is able to purify and amplify the data
signal before sending it to the next node, therefore introducing less signal loss as
data travels.
1an cover larger geographical areas where star implementations would be di<cult.
Sem 1 2008/9 '
Difculties:
A break anywhere in the n)w shuts down the entire network.
0ost expensive topology
"ailure of one computer may impact others
Non=destination users may access data passing around the network when it reaches
his)her computer.
:i<cult to add or subtract a station without brining down the entire network (physical
ring topology is hardly ever used)
#u$ Topolo!
All devices are connected to a single central cable, called the bus or backbone.
+sing the bus and a destination address, data is transmitted from the source device to the
destination device (all along the single cable).
Advantages:
>us topology is inexpensive and easy to install. ?ou can attach $ detach devices to
the network at any point without afecting the rest of the network.
"ailure of one device usually doesn4t afect the rest of the network.
3he transmission simply bypasses the failed device.
@e!uires less cabling than a star network.
Disadvantages:
*ntire n)w shuts down if there is a break in the main cable.
3erminators are re!uired at both ends of the backbone cable.
:i<cult to identify the problem if the entire network shuts down.
Not meant to be used as a stand=alone solution to cover a large building.
Sem 1 2008/9 (
M%$& Topolo!
:evices are connected with many redundant interconnections between network nodes. n a
true mesh topology every node has a connection to every other node in the network.
Tr%% Topolo!
A hybrid topology. ;roups of star=conAgured networks are connected to a linear bus
backbone.
Sem 1 2008/9 )
NETWORK PROTOCOLS
- *ach type of computer system has its own method of storing information and
interfacing to the outside world.
- A protocol deAnes the rules of procedure, which computers must obey when
communicating with each other.
- At the basic level protocols deAne when and how packets shall be transmitted onto
the network7 these access protocols allow for the fundamental exchange of
information.
- At a higher level, an agreed character code must be used and the information must
be interpreted by the appropriate application software.
- 1ommunicating computers must follow rules in order to convey useful information.
- 3he following list indicates some of the re!uirements which have to be resolved for
a point to point link between two computers.
&. 3he order of progress must follow an agreed procedure.
/. nformation representation (*g. a character) must be agreed.
-. 3he recipient must be able to check that the information has arrived at its
destination in the order and the format in which it was sent, and must detect
missing or duplicated pieces.
6. 3he recipient may have to acknowledge information that has been received
correctly and indicate any errors that have occurred in order for the source to
retransmit information.
8. 3he source should be prevented from 9ooding the destination with information, but
the link should be used e<ciently and deadlocks should be prevented.
B. Cackets belonging to each of several conversations on the same link must be
identiAed correctly.
La!%r"n o' Proto(ol$ La!%r"n o' Proto(ol$
3o reduce their design complexities, most networks are organi,ed as a series of
layers.
3he purpose of each layer is to ofer services to the higher layers.
Proto(ol 'un(t"on$ Proto(ol 'un(t"on$
Crotocols are used to improve (and standardi,e) the communication process between two
computers of diferent manufacturers. A protocol is a set of conventions or rules that the
computers must follow to complete a data communication task.
&. #tarting the communication
- dentify which computers are DhostsE $ which are DslavesE
- 2hether communication starts automatically
- dentify which computers are allowed to communicate
/. 1haracter identiAcation
- @ules for identifying frames of characters
- @ules for identifying characters in frames
Sem 1 2008/9 *
-. 0essage control
- "rames (of several messages) may arrive (at the receiver) at random and
must be assembled in order before being passed on to the user.
6. *rror control
- @ules for identifying electrical signals on the lines (transmission media) and
provide feedback to the sender.
"eedback may include a success or a failure message.
8. *nding the communication
- @ules for terminating (normally $ abnormally) communication between two
computers.
Sem 1 2008/9 +