Data Communication

and the Internet

A network consists of 2 or more computers
connected together, and they can communicate
and share resources (e.g. information)
• Sharing hardware or software

E.g. print document

• Centralize administration and support

E.g. Internet-based, so everyone can access the same administrative
or support application from their PCs

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• Based on transmission media: Wired (UTP, coaxial
cables, fiber-optic cables) and Wireless
• Based on network size: LAN and WAN and others
• Based on management method: Peer-to-peer and
Client/Server
• Based on topology (connectivity): Bus, Star, Ring.

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 Two main categories:
 Guided ― wires, cables
 Unguided ― wireless transmission, e.g. radio,
microwave, infrared, sound, sonar
 We will concentrate on guided media here:
 Twisted-Pair cables:
 Unshielded Twisted-Pair (UTP) cables
 Shielded Twisted-Pair (STP) cables
 Coaxial cables
 Fiber-optic cables

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 If the pair of wires are not twisted, electromagnetic noises
from, e.g., motors, will affect the closer wire more than the
further one, thereby causing errors

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 Typically wrapped inside a plastic cover (for mechanical
protection)
 A sample UTP cable with 5 unshielded twisted pairs of wires

Insulator Metal

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 STP cables are similar to UTP cables, except there is a metal
foil or braided-metal-mesh cover that encases each pair of
insulated wires

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 In general, coaxial cables, or coax, carry signals of higher freq
(100KHz–500MHz) than UTP cables
 Outer metallic wrapping serves both as a shield against noise
and as the second conductor that completes the circuit

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It is technologically-advanced as compared to the twisted-pair wire
and coaxial cable.
Instead of transmitting frequencies, a fiber optic cable transmits
pulsating beams of light. Since light travels faster than
electricity, fiber optic cables can carry a greater volume of data.
It is also immune from electromagnetic interference which is a
problem for copper-based mediums.
Disadvantage: Not flexible and expensive.

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 Light travels at 3108 ms-1 in free space and is the fastest possible
speed in the Universe
 An optical fiber consists of a core (denser material) and a cladding (less
dense material)
 Light bounces back and forth along the core

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Advantages
 Noise resistance ― external light is blocked by outer jacket
 Less signal attenuation ― a signal can run for miles without
regeneration.
 Higher bandwidth ― currently, limits on data rates come from
the signal generation/reception technology, not the fiber itself
Disadvantages
 Cost ― Optical fibers are expensive
 Installation/maintenance ― any crack in the core will degrade the
signal, and all connections must be perfectly aligned

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Terrestrial microwaves use Earth-based transmitter and receiver.
The equipment looks similar to satellite dishes. Terrestrial
microwaves use low-gigahertz range, which limits all
communications to line-of-sight. Path between relay stations
spaced approx. 30 miles apart. Microwave antennas are usually
placed on top of buildings, towers, hills, and mountain peaks.

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Communications Satellites – The satellites use microwave radio
as their telecommunications medium which are not deflected by
the Earth's atmosphere. The satellites are stationed in space,
typically 22,000 miles above the equator. These Earth-orbiting
systems are capable of receiving and relaying voice, data, and
TV signals.

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Cellular and PCS (Personal Communication Service) Systems –
Use several radio communications technologies. The systems are
divided to different geographic area. Each area has low-power
transmitter or radio relay antenna device to relay calls from one
area to the next area.

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1G: Voice Only
The maximum speed of 1G technology is 2.4 Kbps.

2G: SMS and MMS

The maximum speed of 2G with General Packet
Radio Service (GPRS) is 50 Kbps.
The speed is 1 Mbps with Enhanced Data Rates for
GSM Evolution (EDGE).

3G: More Data, Video Calling, and Mobile Internet

The maximum speed of 3G is estimated to be around
2 Mbps for non-moving devices and 384 Kbps in
moving vehicles.
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4G: The Current Standard
The max speed of a 4G network when the
device is moving is 100 Mbps. The speed is 1 Gbps for
low-mobility communication such as when the caller is
stationary or walking.

4G LTE
LTE (Long Term Evolution) is one of the two
standards offered within 4G, and WiMax being the
second one. The specification calls for downlink
speed of up to 300Mbps and uplink speed of up to
75Mbps.
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5G:
5G is a not-yet-implemented wireless technology that's
intended to improve on 4G.

5G promises significantly faster data rates, higher

connection density, much lower latency, and energy
savings, among other improvements.

The anticipated theoretical speed of 5G connections is

up to 20 Gbps per second.

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Wireless LANs – Wireless local area network use a high-
frequency radio technology similar to digital cellular and a low-
frequency radio technology. Wireless LANS use spread spectrum
technology to enable communication between multiple devices
in a limited area.

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Bluetooth – A short range wireless technology. Operate at approx.
1Mbps with range from 10 to 100 meters. Bluetooth is an open
wireless protocol for data exchange over short distances.

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• Small network, short distance
• A room, a floor, a building
• Limited by no. of computers and distance covered
• Usually one kind of technology throughout the LAN
• Serve a department within an organization
• Examples:
• Network inside the Student Computer Room
• Network inside your home

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A 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.

The largest and most well-known example of a WAN is the

Internet.

WAN often uses transmission facilities provided by common

carriers, such as telephone companies.
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• Wide Area Network (WAN)
• A network that uses long-range telecommunication links to connect 2 or
more LANs/computers housed in different places far apart.
• Towns, states, countries
Your home
• Examples:
• Network of our Campus
• Internet

WAN USA

Student Computer
Centre

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A campus area network (CAN) is a computer network
made up of an interconnection of local area networks
(LANs) within a limited geographical area. It can be
considered one form of a metropolitan area network,
specific to an academic setting.

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A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a network that
connects two or more local area networks or campus area
networks together but does not extend beyond the
boundaries of the immediate town/city. Routers, switches
and hubs are connected to create a metropolitan area
network.

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A global area networks (GAN) specification is in
development by several groups, and there is no common
definition. In general, however, a GAN is a model for
supporting mobile communications across an arbitrary
number of wireless LANs, satellite coverage areas, etc. The
key challenge in mobile communications is "handing off" the
user communications from one local coverage area to the
next.

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•The nodes of a network can act as a
server, a node, or both. The notion of a specialized
node such as a server is not found in peer-to-peer
networks. Exchanging files and programs is easy with
a peer-to-peer network.

•Peer-to-peer network is also called workgroup

•No hierarchy among computers  all are equal

•No administrator responsible for the network

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Peer-to-peer

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• Advantages of peer-to-peer networks:
• Low cost
• Simple to configure
• User has full accessibility of the computer

• Disadvantages of peer-to-peer networks:

• May have duplication in resources
• Difficult to uphold security policy
• Difficult to handle uneven loading

• Where peer-to-peer network is appropriate:

• 10 or less users
• No specialized services required
• Security is not an issue
• Only limited growth in the foreseeable future
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One particular computer is used for a specialized
task of serving the needs of each node. These
computers which are called servers are accessed
by the nodes (clients) in order to perform a
particular function. All shared resources within the
network are accessed from the server.

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• Network Clients (Workstation)
Workstation
• Computers that request network resources or services

• Network Servers
• Computers that manage and provide network resources and
services to clients
• Usually have more processing power, memory and hard
disk space than clients
• Run Network Operating System that can manage not only
data, but also users, groups, security, and applications on
the network
• Servers often have a more stringent requirement on its
performance and reliability

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• Advantages of client/server networks
• Facilitate resource sharing – centrally administrate
and control
• Facilitate system backup and improve fault tolerance
• Enhance security – only administrator can have
access to Server
• Support more users – difficult to achieve with peer-to-
peer networks

• Disadvantages of client/server networks

• High cost for Servers
• Need expert to configure the network
• Introduce a single point of failure to the system
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A network’s topology refers to the physical connection
of wires that connect the nodes of the network. There
are four basic types of network topology and they are
as follows:

• Linear Bus Topology

• Star Topology
• Ring Topology
• Hybrid Topology

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• The nodes of a bus network transmit data and
hope that the data will not collide with data
transmitted by other nodes. If collision occurs,
each node waits for a small, random amount of
time before attempting to retransmit.
• Simple and low-cost
• A single cable called a trunk (backbone, segment)
• Only one computer can send messages at a time
• Passive topology - computer only listen for, not
regenerate data

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• In a star topology, the server(s), nodes and other hardware devices are
connected to a central hub. All messages and data from the source
node must first pass through the central hub before it can reach the
target node. The hub is responsible for preventing data collision. In
addition, a broken down node will not cause the whole system to break
down. However, if a hub is broken, the whole network is lost.
• Each computer has a cable connected to a single point
• More cabling, hence higher cost
• All signals transmission through the hub; if down, entire network down
• Depending on the intelligence of hub, two or more computers may send
message at the same time

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Hub

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• In a ring network topology, the server(s), the nodes and
other hardware devices are connected in a circular chain
where each node is connected to the next. The last node to
be connected is connected to the first node which forms a
ring. With this topology, sent messages will pass through
connecting nodes until it reaches the target node.

• Disadvantages
• Difficult to add computers
• More expensive
• If one computer fails, whole network fails

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In this topology, the other types of topologies are
combined to form a combination or hybrid network
topology. Hybrid topologies are usually used to
connect different floors or rooms of a building.

Star-Ring
Star-Bus

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