Introduction to Computer Networks

A computer network is a telecommunication channel using which we can share

data with other computers or devices, connected to the same network. It is also
called Data Network. The best example of a computer network is the Internet.

A node can be a device that is capable of sending or receiving data generated by

other nodes on the network like a computer, printer, etc. These links connecting
the devices are called Communication channels.
A network must be able to meet specific criteria’s; these are mentioned
below:

• Performance
• Reliability
• Scalability
Computer Networks: Performance

It can be measured in the following ways:

Transit time: It is the time taken to travel a message from one device to another.
Response time: It is defined as the time elapsed between inquiry and response.

Other ways to measure performance are:

1. Efficiency of software
2. Number of users
3. Capability of connected hardware

Computer Networks: Reliability

It decides the frequency at which network failure takes place. The more the
shortcomings are, the less is the network’s reliability.

Computer Networks: Security

It refers to the protection of data from any unauthorized user or access.
While traveling through a network, data passes many layers of a network, and data
can be traced if attempted. Hence security is also an essential characteristic for
Networks.

Properties of a Good Network

1. Interpersonal Communication: We can communicate with each other
efficiently and smoothly. Example: e-mails, chat rooms, video conferencing,
etc, all of these are possible because of computer networks.
2. Resources can be shared: We can share physical resources by making them
available on a network such as printers, scanners, etc.
3. Sharing files, data: Authorized users are allowed to share the files on the
network.
Basic Communication Model

A Communication model is used to exchange data between two parties.

Example communication between a computer, server, and telephone (through
MoDem).
4. Source - Data to be transmitted is generated by this device, for example:
telephones, personal computers, etc.
5. Transmitter - The data generated by the source system is not directly
transmitted in the form it created. The transmitter transforms and encodes
the data in such a way to produce electromagnetic waves or signals.
6. Transmission system can be a single transmission line or a complex
network connecting source and destination.
7. Receiver accepts the signal from the transmission system and converts it
into a form that is easily managed by the destination device.
8. Destination receives the incoming data from the receiver.

Data Communication

The exchange of data between two devices through a transmission medium is called
Data Communication.
Data Communication: Local

Local communication takes place when the communicating devices are in the same
geographical area, the same building, or face-to-face, etc.

Data Communication: Remote

Remote communication takes place over a distance i.e. the devices are farther. The
effectiveness of data communication can be measured through the following
features:
1. Delivery: Delivery should be done to the correct destination.
2. Timeliness: Delivery should be on time.
3. Accuracy: Data delivered should be accurate.

Components of Data Communication

1. Message: It is the information to be delivered.

2. Sender: Sender is the person who is sending the message.
3. Receiver: Receiver is the person to whom the message is being sent to.
4. Medium: It is the medium through which the message is sent. For example:
A Modem.
5. Protocol: These are some set of rules which govern data communication.
Following are some business applications of computer networks:

1. Resource Sharing:
The goal is to make all programs, equipment (like printers, etc), and especially
data, available to anyone on the network without regard to the physical location of
the resource and the user.
2. Server-Client model:

One can imagine a company’s information system consisting of one or more

databases and some employees who need to access it remotely. In this model, the
data is stored on powerful computers called Servers. Often these are centrally
housed and maintained by a system administrator. In contrast, the employees have
simple machines, called Clients, on their desks, using which they access remote
data.

3. Communication Medium:

A computer network can provide a powerful communication medium among

employees. Virtually every company that has two or more computers now has e-
mail (electronic mail), which employees generally use for a great deal of daily
communication

4. eCommerce:

A goal that is starting to become more critical in businesses is doing business with
consumers over the Internet. Airlines, bookstores, and music vendors have
discovered that many customers like the convenience of shopping from home. This
sector is expected to grow quickly in the future.

There are two ways to connect the devices :

Point-To-Point Connection
It is a protocol that is used as a
communication link between two
devices. It is simple to establish. The
most common example for Point-to-
Point connection (PPP) is a computer
connected by telephone line. We can
connect the two devices using a pair
of wires or using a microwave or
satellite link.
Example: Point-to-Point connection
between the remote control and
Television for changing the channels.
MultiPoint Connection
It is also called a Multidrop
configuration. In this connection,
two or more devices share a single
link.
There are two kinds of Multipoint
Connections:
• If the links are used
simultaneously between many
devices, then it is a spatially
shared line configuration.
• If the user takes turns while
using the link, then it is time-
shared (temporal) line
configuration.

Types of Network Topology

1. Bus topology is a network

type in which every
computer and network
device is connected to a
single cable. When it has
exactly two endpoints, then
it is called Linear Bus
topology.

2. RING Topology is called

ring topology because it
forms a ring as each
computer is connected to
another computer, with the
last one connected to the
first. Exactly two neighbors
for each device.
3. STAR topology all the
computers are connected to
a single hub through a
cable. This hub is the
central node and all other
nodes are connected to the
central node.

4. MESH Topology is a point-

to-point connection to other
nodes or devices. All the
network nodes are
connected.

5. TREE Topology has a root

node and all other nodes are
connected to it forming a
hierarchy. It is also called
hierarchical topology. It
should at least have three
levels to the hierarchy.
6. HYBRID topology is two
different types of topologies
which is a mixture of two or
more topologies. For
example, if in an office in
one department ring
topology is used and in
another star, topology is
used, connecting these
topologies will result in
Hybrid Topology (ring
topology and star topology).
 What’s More

General Directions: Read the items very carefully. Write your answer in a
a clean sheet of paper.

Test I. True or False

Directions: Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if otherwise.
1. Person-to-person communication is not one of the most important uses of
the Internet for home users.
2. Performance is one of the criteria in computer networks.
3. Reliability decides the frequency at which network failure takes place.
4. In Communication Model Source Data to be transmitted is generated by
this device, such as telephones, personal computers, etc.
5. In Data Communication: Remote Delivery should not be done to the
correct destination.
 What I Have Learned

Directions: Now that you’ve learned a lot from the very start of our module, let’s
summarize our lesson from the very start by filling the blanks with an appropriate
answer.

Fill in the Blank

1. It is a which is used as a communication link between two

devices.
2. is connection between remote control and Television for
changing the channels.
3. MultiPoint Connection It is also called configuration.
4. topology is two different types of topologies which is a mixture
of two or more topologies..
5. A can be a device which is capable of sending or receiving data
generated by other nodes on the network like a computer, printer etc...
 What I Can Do

Now, it’s about time for us to use our knowledge in real life situations. Let’s answer
the following questions below.
1. Your mother wants to transfer files from her smart phone to her new laptop.
What possible network connection can be used to do the job since both
devices capable to connect via wireless transmission. Explain your answer
and give the steps how smart phone connects to laptop.

2. Jerald wants to buy a new pair of shoes on the shopping mall but the size of
his shoes is no longer available. What possible business application you can
offer to him to buy the shoes? Why?
 Assessment

Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Use a separate sheet for your
answer.

1. Which of the choices defined when the time elapsed between inquiry and
response?
a. Increase time
b. response time
c. link time
d. thinking time

2. What type of topology when each computer forms like a circle and connected to
another computer, with the last one connected to the first?
a. bus
b. ring
c. star
d. mesh

3. What type of topology when each computer is connected via point-to-point

connection to other nodes and all network nodes are connected to each other
a. bus
b. ring
c. star
d. mesh

3. Which components of data communication means that the information is to be

delivered?
a. message
b. sender
c. receiver
d. medium

4. It is the person who is sending the message. What components of data

communication is this?
a. message
b. sender
c. receiver
d. medium

5. What type of connection if a dedicated link connects two and only two devices.
a. multi-drop
b. point to point
c. link
d. cable
 6. This type of communication model can be a single transmission line or a
complex network.
a. Transmitter
b. point to point
c. Transmission system
d. Transmission system protocol

7. What is other term of multi-drop configuration?

a. transmitter
b. point to point
c. transmission
d. multipoint

8. Which one is better among the choices if the goal is make available to
anyone on the network without regard to the physical location of the
resource and the user?
a. resource sharing
b. source mapping
c. receiver mapping
d. communications

9. Which one is better among the choices if the goal that is starting to become
more important in businesses is doing business with consumers over the
Internet?
a. Server-Client model
b. Client System model
c. E-commerce model
d. Server-Server model

10. What type of connection uses two or more devices share a single link?
a. protocol
b. point to point
c. multi-drop
d. dedicated link

Test II. Match UP!

Direction: Match Column A with Column B.

A B
1. It is a telecommunication channel using which we can a. Interpersonal
share data with other computers or devices, connected Communication
to the same network.
b. Security
2. It decides the frequency at which network failure take
place. More the shortcomings are, less is the network’s c. message
reliability.
d. Destination
3. Properties of a good network, we can communicate with
each other efficiently and easily. Example: e-mails, chat e. Reliability
rooms, video conferencing etc, all of these are possible
because of computer networks. f. protocol
4. It refers to the protection of data from any unauthorized g. node
user or access. While travelling through network, data
passes many layers of network, and data can be traced h. Sharing files and
if attempted. Hence security is also a very important data
characteristic for Networks.
i. Receiver
5. Properties of good network, an authorized user are
allowed to share the files on the network. j. Computer Network

6. In communication model, it accepts the signal from the k. source

transmission system and converts it into a form which
is easily managed by the destination device.

7. In communication model, this is the one who receives

the incoming data from the receiver.

8. In Components of Data Communication, Data to be

transmitted is generated by this device, example:
telephones, personal computers etc.

9. In Components of Data Communication, these are some

set of rules which govern data communication.

10. It can be a device which is capable of sending or

receiving data generated by other nodes on the network
like a computer, printer etc.
 Additional Activities

Congratulations! You’ve come this far. I know you’ve learned a lot about the lesson.

Now for your additional activities, just answer the following questions.
1. In Computer Networks, among Business Applications, what is more useful to
you in terms of transferring files in your smartphone to another device?

2. What part of lesson did you find interesting or useful in your everyday lives?
Answer Key
References

Learning Material

Online Resources:
• 2020 Studytonight.”Computer Network”: Introduction To Computer Networks.
https://www.studytonight.com/computer-networks/overview-of-
computer-networks
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