ASSIGNMENT NO.

Q1) What is a Computer Network?

A computer network is a system that connects two or more computing

devices for transmitting and sharing information.

Network devices or nodes are computing devices that need to be

linked in the network. These devices are:
1. Server :- These are application or storage servers where the
main computation and data storage occur. All requests for
specific tasks or data come to the servers.

2. Router :- Routers are devices that forward these packets

between networks to ultimately reach the destination. They add
efficiency to large networks.

3. Hub :- A hub is a hardware device used at the physical layer to

connect multiple devices in the network. Hubs are widely used
to connect LANs.

4. Switch :- The Switch is a network device that is used to segment

the networks into different subnetworks called subnets or LAN
segments.

5. Repeaters :- Repeater is a type of network node that amplifies

incoming signals and rebroadcasts them over a wider area or
 higher network layer than the original signal. In computer
networks, a repeater is used to increase the network's reach and
to restore a damaged or weak signal.

Q2) Which are Network Types?

1. LAN :
LAN stands for Local Area network. It is a network that interconnects
computers within a limited area such as residence , building , office,
school etc. LAN covers the smallest of all network types.
Advantages of LAN:
1. Easy to set up and manage.
2. Provides fast data transfer rates.

Disadvantages of LAN:

1. Limited geographical coverage.

2. May experience congestion and network performance issues
with increased usage.
 2. CAN:
CAN stands for Campus Area Network. A campus area network (CAN)
is a computer network that covers a limited geographical area. CANs
interconnect multiple local area networks (LAN) within an educational or
corporate campus. It is larger than LAN but smaller than MAN.
Advantages of CAN:
1. The data transfer rate between systems is a little bit faster than
the Internet.
2. With a little effort and maintenance, the network works well.
Disadvantages of CAN:
1. The connection between nodes (computers) is limited in size
3. WAN :
WAN stands for Wide Area Network. It is computer network that covers
large geographical area. It consists of two or more LAN or MAN. It is
largest network type.

Advantages of WAN:
1. It covers large geographical area which enhances the reach of
organisation to transmit data quickly and cheaply.
2. The data can be stored in centralised manner because of remote
access to data provided by WAN.

Disadvantages of WAN:
1. Traffic congestion in Wide Area Network is very high.
4. MAN:
MAN stands for Metropolitan Area Network. It is a computer network
that connects number of LANs to form larger network, so that the
computer resources can be shared. This type of network covers larger
area than a LAN but smaller than the area covered by a WAN which
is designed to extend over the entire city.
Advantages of MAN:
1. The security level in MAN is high and strict as compared to
WAN.
2. MAN offers high-speed connectivity in which the speed ranges
from 10-100 Mbps.

Disadvantages of MAN:
1. The architecture of MAN is quite complicated hence, it is
hard to design and maintain.
2. It provides less fault tolerance.
Q3) Network Topology :

A network topology is the physical and logical arrangement of nodes and

connections in a network. Nodes usually include devices such as switches,
routers and software with switch and router features. Network topologies
are often represented as a graph.

1. Bus topology:
All devices are connected to a central cable (the bus), which
carries data signals.
Advantages:
a. Easy to set up and requires less cable than other
topologies.
b. Generally cheaper due to less cabling and hardware.
Disadvantages:
a. Adding more devices can slow down the network.
b. If adding more devices can slow down the network.
2. Star topology:
All devices are connected to a central hub or switch.
Advantages:
a. Easy to install and configure. Problems can be isolated to
individual devices.
b. Collisions are minimized, and performance is generally
good.
Disadvantages:
a. Requires more cables and network devices (hub/switch),
which can be more expensive.
b. The central hub or switch is a single point of failure; if it
fails, the entire network goes down.

3. Ring topology
4. Hybrid topology
5. Mesh topology
Q4) Transmission Media

Transmission media refer to the physical pathways through which data is

transmitted from one device to another within a network.

Type of transmission media are:

1. Guided
a. Coaxial cable
b. Fibre optic
c. Twisted pair cable
2. Un-Guided
a. Radio waves
b. Infrared waves
c. Microwaves
 1. GUIDED MEDIA :

Guided media is also referred to as Wired or Bounded transmission media.

Signals being transmitted are directed and confined in a narrow pathway by using
physical links.

Features:

• High Speed

• Secure

• Used for comparatively shorter distances

There are 3 major types of Guided Media:

A) Twisted Pair Cable

It consists of 2 separately insulated conductor wires wound about each other.

They are the most widely used Transmission Media.

Twisted pair is of two types:

• Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) : UTP consists of two insulated copper

wires twisted around one another. It is used for telephonic applications.
• Shielded Twisted Pair (STP): This type of cable consists of a special
jacket (a copper braid covering or a foil shield) to block external
interference. It is used in fast-data-rate Ethernet and in voice and data
channels of telephone lines.

B) Coaxial Cable
It has an outer plastic covering containing an insulation layer made of PVC or
Teflon and 2 parallel conductors each having a separate insulated protection
cover. Cable TVs and analog television networks widely use Coaxial cables.

Advantages of Coaxial Cable

• Coaxial cables support high bandwidth.

• It is easy to install coaxial cables.

Disadvantages of Coaxial Cable

• Coaxial cables are expensive.

• The coaxial cable must be grounded in order to prevent any crosstalk.

C) Optical fiber Cable

Optical fiber cable uses the concept of refraction of light through a core made
up of glass or plastic. The core is surrounded by a less dense glass or plastic
covering called the cladding.

Advantages of Optical Fibre Cable

• Increased capacity and bandwidth

• Lightweight
• Less signal attenuation

Disadvantages of Optical Fibre Cable

• Difficult to install and maintain

• High cost
• Fragile
 2. UNGUIDED MEDIA

It is also referred to as Wireless or Unbounded Transmission Media. No physical

medium is required for the transmission of electromagnetic signals.

Features of Unguided Media :

• The signal is broadcasted through air

• Less Secure

• Used for larger distances

A) Radio waves

Radio waves are easy to generate and can penetrate through buildings.

The sending and receiving antennas need not be aligned. Frequency

Range : 3KHz – 1GHz. AM and FM radios and cordless phones use

Radio waves for transmission.

B) Micro waves

It is a line of sight transmission i.e. the sending and receiving antennas need
to be properly aligned with each other. Frequency Range : 1GHz – 300GHz.
Microwaves are majorly used for mobile phone communication and television
distribution.
C) Infrared waves

Infrared waves are used for very short distance communication. They cannot
penetrate through obstacles. This prevents interference between systems.
Frequency Range:300GHz – 400THz. It is used in TV remotes, wireless
mouse, keyboard, printer, etc.
Q6. Explain Crimping Tool? What is Straight & Cross Connection?

• A crimping tool is a handy device that allows to create secure connections

between wires and connectors. It works by deforming the connector onto
the wire, ensuring a strong bond. With a crimping tool, we can easily join
electrical wires, network cables, coaxial cables, and more.
• A crimping tool consists of two hinged handles with jaws or dies at the
end. To use it, you insert the wire and the connector into the appropriate
die, then squeeze the handles together. This applies pressure on the
connector, causing it to deform and grip the wire tightly. The result is a
reliable and durable connection.

There are various types of crimping tools designed for specific applications.
Some common ones include:

• Wire crimping tools: Ideal for attaching connectors to electrical wires.

• Coaxial cable crimping tools: Used to crimp connectors onto coaxial

cables for audiovisual and data transmission.

• Network crimping tools: Specifically designed for ethernet cables,

allowing you to create reliable network connections.

• Modular plug crimping tools: Used for crimping connectors onto

modular plugs, such as those used in telephone cables.

Advantages:

• Reliable connections: Crimping ensures a strong and secure connection

between wires and connectors, reducing the risk of loose connections or
electrical failures.
 • Ease of use: Crimping tools are relatively easy to use, even for beginners.
They provide a straightforward and efficient way to join wires and
connectors.

• Versatility: With different dies or interchangeable heads, crimping tools

can be used for various applications, making them versatile tools to have
on hand.

• Cost-effective: Crimping tools are affordable and offer long-term value,

as they allow you to create durable connections without the need for
additional materials like solder.

STRAIGHT CONNECTION :

• When connecting between two dissimilar devices, for example, from the
computer to the router, a straight-through cable will be needed. There are
no left or right constrictions on the straight-through cable, as both ends
have the same wiring signals, so the wires correspond to the same pins at
the other end, too.
• In such a way, the transceiver protocol can be set up in such a manner that
the information is transmitted from one device to another without any need
for manual configuration.

Features of Straight through cable :

• Direct Connection: Links devices of different categories for instance a

computer with a switch or a router, Computer-to-Device connection.

• Standard Ethernet Cable: It is particularly used in Ethernet networks for

data transmission purposes.

• Color Code Consistency: The endings of the electrodes have identical

sequences in terms of the color codes applied to the wires.
 • Common Usage: Sometimes used in home and office networks for sharing
devices among the nodes and link points.

CROSS CONNECTION :

• Crossover cables are found primarily on connections between similar

devices like two computers or two switches.
• A difference between straight-through and crossover cables is that the
order of the wires differs at each end of the cable. This will allow
communication of devices indicating if they are transmitting or receiving
by ‘cross-overing’ the ‘Tx’ and ‘Rx’ so that data can be obtained by both
similar devices.

Features of Crossover Cable :

• Device-to-Device Connection: Mostly used in direct connectivity

between composites of similar types like two computers or two switches.

• Pin Configuration: Pins connected on two ends with different

arrangements for example T568 A on one end and T568B on the other end.

• Transmit/Receive Swapping: Exchange the two ports’ T/R signal

between the two ends.

• Specific Purpose: Typically employed in scenarios where devices must be

able to interface without requiring a hub or switch.