Computer Networks
Introduction
Network Definition
A network is a set of devices often referred to as nodes
connected by a media link or via radio.
A node can be computer, server, router, printer, handheld,
notebook, tablet, smart phone or any device capable of
sending and/or receiving data generated by other nodes on
the network.
A network can be as simple as two computers connected by a
single cable or as complex as hundreds of computers
connected to devices that control the flow of information.
Network Definition
People use the following networks every day:
- Wireless network
- Satellite network
- Telephone system network
- The Internet (www)
Advantages of Networks
Different types of Resources can be shared among devices such as:
* Services, such as printing or scanning.
* Storage space such as hard drives.
* Applications, such as databases.
Reducing cost by using minimum resources (i.e. sharing printer and
CD-drives) among devices.
Reducing wasted time in transferring data (data can be
transferred in real-time).
Increasing guarantee and security when user send/receive
information from a device to another (ensuring that the network users
may only have access to certain files and applications).
Data remains safe by putting redundancy backup inside networks.
Network Applications
Marketing and sales (booking hotel, buying airplane ticket)
Financial services (Auto Teller Machine (ATM), Exchanging
money)
Manufacturing (multi user work on project simultaneously)
Electronic messaging (email)
Directory services (list of files stored in central location to
speed up www search)
Remote login (remote desktop, telnet)
Teleconferencing (text, voice, video conferencing)
Cellular telephone (wireless phone connection)
Data Communication
Data Communication
Data Communication: is the exchange of data (in the form of
0s and 1s) between two devices via some form of transmission
medium (wire or wireless).
For data communication to occur, communicating devices must
be part of communication system.
The effectiveness of a data communication system depends on
three fundamental characteristics, as illustrated in next slide:
Data Communication
1. Delivery: the system must deliver data to the correct destination.
2. Accuracy: the system must deliver data accurately. Data that
have been altered in transmission and left uncorrected are
unusable.
3. Timeliness: the system must deliver data in a timely manner.
Data delivered late are useless. In case of video, audio and
voice data, timely delivery mean delivering data as they are
produced.
Data Communication Components
A data communication system is made up of five components,
they are (Message, sender, receiver, medium, protocols)
Data Communication Components
Message: the message is the information (data) to be
communicated. It can consist of text, numbers, pictures, sound,
or video, etc…
Sender: the sender is the device that sends the data message.
It can be computer, workstation, telephone handset, video
camera, and so on.
Receiver: the receiver is the device that receives the data
message. It can be computer, workstation, telephone handset,
television, and so on.
Medium: the transmission medium is the physical path by which
a message travels from sender to receiver. It can consist of
twisted pair wire, coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, laser, or
radio waves (satellite micro wave).
Data Communication Components
Protocol: is a set of rules that govern data communication. It represents
an agreement between the communicating devices. Without a protocol,
two devices may be connected but not communicating.
Network Criteria
Network Criteria
1- Performance: can be measured in many ways, including
transit time and response time. Transit time is the amount of
time required for a message to travel from one device to
another. Response time is the time between inquiry and a
response.
* Number of users: having a large number of concurrent users
can slow response time in a network not designed to
coordinate heavy traffic loads.
* Type of transmission medium: the medium defines the speed
at which data can travel through a connection (the data rate).
(i.e. 10mbps, 100mbps, 1000mbps, 10000mbps).
* Hardware: the types of hardware included in a network
affect both the speed and capacity of transmission.
Network Criteria
* Software: the software used to process data at the sender,
receiver, and intermediate nodes also affects network
performance.
2- Reliability: measured by frequency of failure, the time it
takes a link to recover from a failure, and the network’s
robustness in catastrophe.
* Frequency of failure: all networks fail occasionally.
A network that fails often, however, is little value to a user.
* Recovery time of network after failure: how long does it take
to restore service? A network that recovers quickly is more
useful than one that does not.
Network Criteria
* Catastrophe: network must be protected from catastrophic
events such as fire, earthquake, one protection against
unforeseen damage is a reliable system to back up a network
software.
3- Security: network security issues include protecting data
from unauthorized access and viruses.
* Unauthorized access: for the network to be useful, sensitive data
must be protected from unauthorized access. Protection can be
accomplished at a number of levels. At the lowest level are
user identification codes and passwords. At a higher level are
encryption techniques (if they are intercepted by an
unauthorized user, they will be unclear).
Network Criteria
* Viruses: because a network is accessible from many points, it
can be susceptible to computer viruses. A virus is a malware
program that damages the system. A good network is
protected from viruses by hardware and software designed
specially for that purpose.
Resources:
Networking Basics CCNA 1 Companion Guide (Cisco Networking Academy Program)
By Wendell Odom & Thomas Knott
Publisher: Cisco Press
Copyright: 2006
Format: Cloth Bound w/CD-ROM; 624 pp
ISBN-10:1587131641ISBN-13:9781587131646Published: 03/22/20062
Data Communication and Networking
By Behrouz Forouzan
Publisher:McGraw-Hill
ISBN: 0-07-251584-8
Copyright: 1998, 2004
IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software course, Cisco certifications
Principles of Digital Communication Systems and Computer Networks
by Dr. K.V. Prasad ISBN:1584503297 Charles River Media © 2003
