CHAPTER 4

COMPUTER NETWORK

A computer network is a collection of computers and other devices that communicate to share
data, hardware and software.

LAN
A local area network (LAN) is a computer network covering a local area, like a home, office or
small group of buildings such as a college. LANs are distinguished from other kinds of networks
by three characteristics: (1) their size, (2) their transmission technology, and (3) their topology.

MAN
Metropolitan Area Networks or MANs are large computer networks usually spanning a campus
or a city. They typically use wireless infrastructure or optical fiber connections to link their sites.
For instance a university may have a MAN that joins together many of their campus local area
networks (LANs) around a city.

WAN
A wide area network or WAN is a computer network covering a wide geographical area,
involving a vast array of computers. The best example of a WAN is the Internet. WANs are used
to connect local area networks (LANs) together, so that users and computers in one location can
communicate with users and computers in other locations. Many WANs are built for one
particular organization and are private.

We can have two types of networks (configurations).

 Client/server network where we have one server and many clients.
 Peer-to-peer network – all computers have the same capability and can communicate
with each other.

Network Hardware for LAN

1. Network interface card (NIC)
This is the key hardware component for connecting a computer to a LAN. It is a small circuit
board designed to plug into an expansion slot on a computer main-board. The NIC sends data
from your workstation out over the network and collects incoming data for your workstation.
Most recent computers have them integrated onto the motherboard.

2. Connecting cables:-
The cables commonly used for interconnecting PCs are the twisted pair copper wires, either
Category 5 (CAT 5) or Category 6 (CAT 6) cables. Or fiber optic conections.

Instead of using cables, some wireless networks use radio or infrared signals to transmit data
from one network device to another. The NIC on a wireless network contain the transmitting
device necessary to send data to other devices on the LAN.

3. Network Servers
These are different kinds of network servers.
A dedicated file server is devoted only to the task of delivering programs and data files to
workstations. It does not process data or run programs for the Workstations. Instead programs
run using the memory and processor of the workstation.

Non-dedicated server (peer-to-peer capability) here a network computer performs a dual role as
both file server and workstation.

4. Print server – stores files in a print queue and sends each queued file to the network printer.
A print job is a file that has been sent to the printer.

Application server is a computer that runs application software and forwards the results of
processing to workstations as requested. It makes it possible to use the processing power of both
the server and the workstation.

5. Modem - These are devices that modulate and demodulate data. Modulation is the process of
conversion of the computer data into analog signals before being transferred over a standard
telephone line.

Demodulation refers to converting back the data to digital form. The quality of a modem is
determined by its transmission speed. It can be either internal or external.

Software for Network

Network operating system
A network requires network software or network operating system to control the flow of data,
maintain security, and keep track of user accounts.

Examples:
Network Operating Systems such as Novell Network, Banyan lines, and LANtastic are software
packages designed to control data flow.

Network software is sometimes included as a component of popular computer Operating systems

such as windows for workgroup, windows 9x, UNIX, OS. A network OS has both the server and
client software.

Standalone Applications
Most applications designed for standalone computers can be installed on a network server, which
sends them to individual workstations as requested.

GroupWare
A workgroup is basically two or more people who work on the same project. GroupWare is
application software that support collaborative work, usually on a LAN.

Network permits use of application programs by multiple people on a network.

Network Topologies
This refers to how devices on LAN are connected to each other.
Bus-topology
Here the new nodes are easily added to a bus and all nodes may directly communicate with each
other, we use the coaxial cable to connect the workstations:

PC PC PC PC

Advantages
 Easy to implement and extend
 Well suited for temporary networks (quick setup)
 Typically the cheapest topology to implement
 Failure of one station does not affect others

Disadvantages
 Difficult to administer/troubleshoot
 Limited cable length and number of stations
 A cable break can disable the entire network
 Maintenance costs may be higher in the long run
 Performance degrades as additional computers are added

Ring topology
Here every node is connected to two other nodes. Movement of data on the ring is normally in
one direction to prevent signals from interfering with each other.

PC

PC

PC

PC

Advantages
 Growth of the system has minimal impact on performance
 All stations have equal access
 Each node on the ring acts as a repeater, allowing ring networks to span greater distances than other
physical topologies.
 Because data travels in one direction high speeds of transmission of data are possible

Disadvantages
 Often the most expensive topology
 Failure of one computer may impact others

Star topology
Here all the messages pass through a central switch/hub. It allows any node to communicate
with every other node by sending messages to the hub.

HUB

PC PC PC

Advantages
 Easy to implement and extend, even in large networks
 Well suited for temporary networks (quick setup)
 The failure of a non central node will not have major effects on the functionality of the
network.

Disadvantages
 Limited cable length and number of stations
 Maintenance costs may be higher in the long run
 Failure of the central node can disable the entire network.

Network Protocols:
A communication protocols is a set of rules that ensures the orderly and accurate transmission
and reception of data. The most widely used network communications protocol are:
TCP/IP (Transmission control protocol/Internet protocol) which is used on minicomputer, micro
computer and mainframe networks. It is frequently used in UNIX and Win. NT systems and is
the basis for a communication on the network.

IPx (Internet-work packet exchange) is the protocol used by Novell NetWare, the most popular
microcomputer network software.