Introduction to

Computer
Networking
WMSU
What is Network?
✓ A network is a group of computers, devices, and
other equipment that are connected together in
order to share resources, exchange information,
and communicate with each other. This
connection can be wired, wireless or through
internet.

✓ The purpose of a network is to share resources.

Advantages of networking
✓ Connectivity and Communication
✓ Data Sharing
✓ Hardware Sharing
✓ Internet Access
✓ Internet Access Sharing
✓ Data Security and Management
✓ Performance Enhancement and
Balancing
✓ Entertainment
The Disadvantages (Costs) of
Networking
✓ Network Hardware, Software and Setup Costs
✓ Hardware and Software Management and
Administration Costs
✓ Undesirable Sharing
✓ Illegal or Undesirable Behavior
✓ Data Security Concerns
Types of Network

✓ Local Area Network (LAN)

✓ Wide Area Network (WAN)
✓ Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Types of Network
Local Area Networks (LANs):
✓ A local area network (LAN) is a computer network covering a small
geographic area, like a home, office, or group of buildings.
Attributes of LAN Network:
✓ The data transmit speed in the LAN network is relatively higher than the
other network types, MAN and WAN.
✓ LAN uses private network addresses for network connectivity for data and
service exchange, and it uses cable for network connection, decreasing
error and maintaining data security.

Advantages and Disadvantages of LAN Network

 Types of Network
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN):
✓ A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is a type of computer network that
connects multiple devices, such as computers and servers, within a
metropolitan area. A metropolitan area is a geographic region that typically
includes a city and its surrounding suburban and rural areas.
Attributes of MAN Network:
✓ Network covers an entire town area or a portion of a city.
✓ Data transmission speed is relatively high due to the installation of
optical cables and wired connections.

Advantages and Disadvantages of MAN Network:

Types of Network
Wide Area Networks (WANs):
✓ Wide Area Network (WAN) is a computer network that covers a broad area
(i.e., any network whose communications links cross metropolitan, regional,
or national boundaries). Or, less formally, a network that uses routers and
public communications links
✓ The largest and most well-known example of a WAN is the Internet.
✓ WANs are used to connect LANs and other types of networks together, so
that users and computers in one location can communicate with users and
computers in other locations
Attributes of WAN Network:
✓ The speed of the WAN data transfer is lower than in comparison to
LAN and MAN networks due to the large distance covered.
✓ The WAN network uses a satellite medium to transmit data between
multiple locations and network towers.

Advantages and Disadvantages of WAN Network:

Intranet and Internet Specifications
Intranet
✓ is a private computer network that is used within an organization. It
typically uses the same types of technologies as the Internet, such
as the Internet Protocol (IP) and web browsers, but is only
accessible to a specific group of users, such as employees of a
company or students of a school.
✓ Intranets are useful in organizations as they can improve
communication and collaboration among employees, increase
productivity, and provide a centralized location for sharing and
storing important information. They can also help to improve the
overall security of an organization's network and data.
✓ An intranet uses TCP/IP, HTTP, and other Internet protocols and in
general looks like a private version of the Internet. With tunneling,
companies can send private messages through the public network,
using the public network with special encryption/decryption and other
security safeguards to connect one part of their intranet to another.
Internet:
✓ is a global network of interconnected computers and servers that
communicate with each other using a standardized set of protocols, such
as the Internet Protocol (IP). It allows users to access and share
information, communicate with each other, and perform various online
activities such as browsing websites, sending emails, making video calls,
and accessing cloud-based services.
✓ The Internet is based on a decentralized architecture, which means that
there is no central authority or organization that controls it. Instead, it is
made up of millions of interconnected networks, each operated by
different organizations such as governments, corporations, and
individuals.
Client and Server computer role in
networking
• Server is a computer or system that is designed to process
requests and deliver data to other computers or devices
on a network. It serves as a central repository for data,
software, and services, and allows multiple users or
devices to access them simultaneously.
• A server computer provides a link to the resources
necessary to perform any task.
• The link it provides could be to a resource existing on the
server itself or a resource on a client computer.
• Client is a computer or device that requests and
receives services or resources from a server. Clients are
typically end-user devices, such as personal computers,
smartphones, tablets, or other Internet of Things (IoT)
devices, that need access to the services or resources
provided by a server.
• computers normally request and receive information
over the network client. Client computers also depends
primarily on the central server for processing activities.
Peer-to peer network
• A peer-to-peer (P2P) is a type of network architecture in
which each computer or device on the network has the
same capabilities and acts as both a client and a server. In
a P2P network, there is no central server or authority that
controls the network, and all of the participating devices
work together to share resources, such as files, processing
power, and storage.
Examples of P2P networks include:
✓ File sharing networks, such as BitTorrent, that allow users
to share files such as music and movies directly with each
other.
✓ P2P messaging apps, such as WhatsApp, that allow users
to communicate with each other directly, without the need
for a central server.
Peer-to peer network (cont..)
Advantages of peer-to-peer network
-Server is not required
-No additional cost for dedicated-machine

Disadvantages of peer-to peer network

-Provides share level security
-Can work in small environments only.
Client/Server Networking
• is a common architecture used for computer networks. In a
client/server network, devices are divided into two
categories: clients and servers. Clients are the devices that
request and receive services or resources from servers.
Servers are the devices that provide those services or
resources.
Example of client/server
✓ Web-based system. When a user types a URL into their
web browser (client), the browser sends a request to a web
server (server) for the webpage associated with that URL.
The web server, which is connected to the Internet,
receives the request and retrieves the requested webpage
from its storage. The web server then sends the webpage
back to the browser, which displays it to the user.
Client/Server Networking (cont..)
Advantages of Client /Server network
-Provides user level security
-You always gain centralize administration
-Can work in big environments also

Disadvantages of Client /Server network

-Dedicated machine is required
-Cost of the system is more compared to peer-to
peer networks
Network Devices
✓ are physical devices that allow hardware on a computer
network to interact and communicate with one another.

✓ to communicate data through different transmission

media and to configure networks with different
functionality, we require different devices like Modem,
Hub, Switch, Repeater, Router, Gateway.
Modem
✓ Modem stands for ‘MOdulator DEModulator’. It refers to
a device used for conversion between analog signals and
digital bits.
Ethernet Card
✓ Ethernet card, also known as Network Interface Card
(NIC card in short) is a network adapter used to set up a
wired network. It acts as an interface between computer
and the network. It is a circuit board mounted on the
motherboard of a computer.
RJ45
✓ RJ 45 or Registered Jack-45 is an eight-pin connector
that is used exclusively with Ethernet cables for
networking.
Repeater
✓ A repeater is an analog device that works with signals
on the cables to which it is connected. The weakened
signal appearing on the cable is regenerated and put
back on the cable by a repeater
Hub
✓ An Ethernet hub is a network device used to connect
different devices through wires. Data arriving on any of
the lines are sent out on all the others. The limitation of
Hub is that if data from two devices come at the same
time, they will collide.
Switch
✓ A switch is a networking device that plays a central role
in a Local Area Network (LAN). Like a hub, a network
switch is used to connect multiple computers or
communicating devices.
Router
✓ A router is a network device that can receive the data,
analyze it and transmit it to other networks. A router
connects a local area network to the internet.
Gateway
✓ it is a key access point that acts as a “gate” between an
organization's network and the outside world of the
Internet .Gateway serves as the entry and exit point of a
network, as all data coming in or going out of a network
must first pass through the gateway in order to use
routing paths.
 Introduction to
Computer
Networking
WMSU