DATA COMMUNICATION AND
COMPUTER NETWORKS
Lecture 1
Course Lecturer: Dr Alao O.D
Email adr: jimialao@[Link]
03/29/25 1
QUIZ
1. What is the rationale for networking a set
of
PC .
2. Mention and describe five standards
organizations in the field of computer
networking .
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Course Description and Rationale
• This module assumes no prior knowledge of
networks although it is possible that some students
may have some basic understanding.
• The module starts from initial principles and
network types and then develops greater
understanding of computer networks.
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Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of
this module, students should be able to:
• Have a comprehensive description on
computer networks, from underlying
physical layer up to application layer and
today’s most popular network applications.
• Identify and use internetworking,
broadband, electrical interface, and data
transmission concepts
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Course Requirements
• Regular class attendance and active participation in class
• Assignment requiring students to study and produce a simple documented
write-up on a particular area of the subject coverage.
• Design Project
• Quizzes
• Mid-semester examination
• Final Semester examination
• Recommended Textbook
Grading
The following assessments and grading system as prescribed by the University will
apply:
Attendance =5%
Assignments =10%
Quizzes =10%
Mid-Semester Exam =15%
Final Exam = 60%
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Tentative Teaching Schedule
(Scheduled topics are subject to changes to enhance understanding
and more effective course delivery)
PART 1
Topic 1: Network Fundamentals, Network Requirements and Concepts
Topic 2: Network Topologies
Topic 3: Networking Technologies: Ethernet, Token Ring
Topic 4: Connectivity Devices :Hubs, Switches, routers and Brigdes
Topic 5: Transmission Mediums
Topic 6: OSI Model ,TCP/IP Architecture
Topic 7: IP addressing
Topic 8: Network protocols standards
Topic 9: Network Security
PART 2
Telecomunication
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Recommended Textbook
Introduction to Computer Networks and Telecommunications
By
Alao Olujimi
Jonah V Joshua
Ibironke A Ajayi
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TOPIC 1: Network Fundamentals
•Networking like any other technical
discipline has a language of its own.
•To master any technology, the
language used to describe that
technology needs to be understood
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1.0 Networking Terminology
Packets
A packet is a unit of data sent across a network
• Size : ranges from 1,000 to 1,500 bytes.
• also known as a datagram
• contains addressing and handling information on how data
should be sent over the network
• contents of a packet depend on the network protocol used.
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Figure 1-1: A data packet carries
information.
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What is a computer network?
A group of computers that are connected
together to communicate and share resources
such as files, printers, and email.
include
• network media such as a cable to carry network data,
• network adapter to translate data between a computer and the
network media,
• network operating system to enable a computer to recognize
the network,
• network protocol to control the network communications.
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Figure 1-2: A network of
various resources.
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Servers
A server is a network computer that shares resources with and
responds to requests from other network computers, including
other servers.
• provide centralized access and storage for resources.
• provide specialized services such as email.
• can be optimized and dedicated to one specific function, or it
can serve general needs.
Multiple servers can exist on a single network.
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Figure 1-3: Servers provide various services to other
resources.
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Clients
A client is a network computer that utilizes the resources of other
network computers, including other clients.
It has its own processor, memory, and storage.
It can maintain some of its own resources and perform its own
tasks and processing.
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Server Categories
Servers can be categorized into many types based on their
functionality.
Web server
A web server is a server computer on the Internet that stores
and distributes web content and other resources to web
clients.
File server
A file server stores programs and data files shared by users.
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Print server
A print server enables many network users to share printers.
It
can either be part of the network operating system (NOS) or
an add-on utility that stores the print-image output from
users’ machines and feeds it to the printer, one job at a time.
Mail server
A mail server provides “post office” facilities by storing
incoming mail for distribution to users and forwards outgoing
mail
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Fax server
A fax server provides a bank of fax modems. It may be a
dedicated machine or implemented on a file server that
provides other services.
Application server
An application server performs data processing in a
client/server environment. The difference between a file
server and an application server is that the file server stores
the programs and data, while the application server runs the
programs and processes data.
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Database server
A database server holds the Database Management System
(DBMS) and databases. It is dedicated to data storage and
retrieval and is a key component in a client/server
environment.
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• Peers
• A peer is a self-sufficient computer that acts both as a
server and a client to other similar computers on the
network. Peer computing is often used on smaller
networks with no dedicated central server.
• Host Computers
• A host computer is a powerful, centralized computer
system, such as a mainframe computer, that performs data
storage and processing tasks on behalf of clients and other
network devices. On a host-based network, the host
computer does all the computing tasks and returns the
resultant data to the end user's computer.
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Figure 1-6: A host computer performs tasks for other
resources.
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• Terminals
• A terminal is a specialized network device on a host-based
network that transmits data entered by a user to the host
for processing and displays the results. Terminals are often
called “dumb” because they have no processor or memory
of their own.
Figure 1-7: A terminal on a network.
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• Network Operating Systems
• A network operating system (NOS) is the software that
controls a network, allows multiple users to access files,
and performs important operations such as securing and
connecting computers and devices to the network.
Common Network Operating Systems
• Windows Server 2008: Microsoft's Windows Server 2008
is built on the Windows NT 6.0 and is the successor to
Windows Server 2003.
• UNIX: UNIX is a trademark for a family of operating
systems originally developed in the early 1960s at Bell
Laboratories.
• Linux: Linux is an open-standard UNIX derivative
originally developed and released by Linus Torvalds, a
Finnish computer science student.
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• Networking Standards
• A networking standard is a set of specifications,
guidelines, or characteristics applied to network
components to ensure interoperability and consistency
among the components. Networking standards determine
everything from the size, shape, and type of connectors on
network cables to the number of computers that can be
attached to a network.
Figure 1-9: Network standards specify the characteristics of network
components.
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• Standards Organizations
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO):The
largest standards development body in the world, comprising the national
standards institutes of 148 countries
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE):is
an organization dedicated to advancing theory, technology, and
standards in electrical sciences
• American National Standards Institute (ANSI):is the national
standards institute of the United States
• Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and
Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA): accredited by ANSI to
jointly develop and issue and standards for telecommunications and
electronics.
• Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF):IETF develops and
maintains the Internet standards and contributes to the evolution and
smooth operation of the Internet..
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Part 2
Network Fundamentals 2
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Network Building Blocks
The primary building blocks that are used to
construct networks are describe as follows:
Nodes
A node is any network device that can connect to
the network and can generate, process, or transfer
network data. Every node has at least one unique
network address.
Network nodes can either be endpoints or redistribution
points. Endpoints are nodes that function as the source or
destination of data. Redistribution points are devices, such as
network hubs or routers, that are used to transfer data
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A network with multiple nodes.
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The Network Backbone
The network backbone is the high-speed transmission path that carries
majority of the network data. It can connect small networks together or server
nodes to networks.
The backbone carries network data.
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Others Network building block
components are
Hubs
Switches
Routers
Bridges
N.B : more on this later (Connectivity
Devices)
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Segments
A segment is any discrete physical subdivision of a network. It is bounded by
physical internetworking devices such as hubs, switches, and routers.
Segments on a network.
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Subnets
A subnet is a portion of a network that shares a common network
address. The subnet can be on a separate physical network
segment, or it can share segments with other logical subnets.
A network with different subnets.
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Standard Network Models
A network model is a design specification of how nodes
on a network interact and communicate. The network
model determines the degree to which communication
and processing are centralized or distributed.
Different types of network models.
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Centralized Networks
A centralized network is a network in which a central host computer controls
the entire network communication and performs data processing and storage on
behalf of clients.
•Users can connect to the host
•Centralized networks provide high performance and centralized management,
•they are expensive to implement
Client/Server Networks
A client/server network is a network in which servers provide services to
clients
Peer-to-Peer Networks
A peer-to-peer network is a network in which resource sharing, processing,
and communication control are completely decentralized.
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Mixed Mode Networks
A mixed mode network is a network that incorporates elements from more than one of
the three standard network models.
A network containing different models
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Virtual Private Networks
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a private network that is configured
by tunneling through a public network such as the Internet
o VPNs provide secure connections among endpoints, such as routers,
clients, or servers, by using tunneling to encapsulate and encrypt data.
o Special protocols are required to provide the VPN tunneling, security,
and data encryption services
A VPN connects various networks.
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What is Tunneling?
Tunneling is a data-transport technique in which a data packet from one
protocol, called the passenger protocol, is transferred inside the frame or
packet of another protocol, called the carrier protocol.
This enables data from one network to pass from one endpoint of a tunnel
to the other through the infrastructure of another network.
VPN Advantages
Most companies implement VPNs because of the cost. The cost to
maintain a VPN is generally lower than that of other remote access
technologies
For instance, if a remote access technology depends on long-distance or
toll-free calls, a company's phone bill can become enormously expensive.
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Network Categories
Companies can deploy different categories of networks depending on the
company's size and its need for communication.
The primary categories of networks are as follows:
Local Area Networks
A Local Area Network (LAN) is a self-contained network that spans a
small area such as a single building, a floor, or a room. In a LAN, all
nodes and segments are directly connected with cables or short-range
wireless technologies.
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LANs in a building.
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Wide Area Networks
A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a network that spans multiple geographic
locations. WANs typically connect multiple LANs using long-range transmission
media. However, a WAN may be built by interconnecting individual users as well.
A WAN containing many LANs.
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Metropolitan, Campus, and Other Network
Coverage Areas
There are several other network categories named according
to the geographic area they cover.
Network Category Description
MAN Metropolitan Area Network: covers an area equivalent to a city or any other
municipality.
CAN Campus Area Network: covers an area equivalent to an academic campus or a
business park.
A CAN is typically owned or used exclusively by a company, a school, or an
organization.
GAN Global Area Network: any worldwide network. The Internet is a GAN.
WPAN Wireless Personal Area Network: a network that connects wireless devices in very
close proximity, but not through a wireless access point.
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Assignment 1 (due next week)
Write briefly on each of the following:
Network Directory
Network Operations Centre
Virtual LAN
Intranet
Extranet
Enterprise Network
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THE END
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QUIZ
1. What is an NIC use for?
2. List and describe five standards organizations in the field of computer
networking
3. What is an application server.
03/29/25 44
