Computer Netwoks Revision Notes
Computer Netwoks Revision Notes
1. Networking technologies have evolved over time, from early networks like
ARPANET to modern global networks like the Internet.
2. The development of these networks has made it easier for people to
communicate and share information across distances.
3. Real-world examples of this evolution include the rise of social media, online
shopping, video conferencing, mobile networks, and the Internet of Things
(IoT).
Transmission media:
Network devices:
Network protocols:
1. Network protocols are standardized sets of rules and procedures used for
communication between devices on a network, including HTTP, FTP, TCP/IP,
and others.
2. Real-world examples of network protocols include HTTP used for browsing
websites, FTP used for transferring files, and TCP/IP used for sending data
over the internet.
3. Other examples include SMTP
ARPANET
1. ARPANET was one of the earliest computer networks, created by the US
Department of Defense in the late 1960s.
2. Its original purpose was to enable communication and resource sharing
between researchers and universities across the country.
3. ARPANET was a precursor to the modern Internet, and helped to pave the way
for the development of networking technologies that we use today.
NSFNET
1. NSFNET was a computer network created by the US National Science
Foundation in the 1980s.
2. It was designed to support scientific research and enable communication
between researchers across the country.
3. NSFNET was one of the early backbones of the Internet, and helped to
facilitate the growth of the Internet in its early years.
INTERNET
1. The Internet is a global network of interconnected computer networks that
allows for communication and resource sharing between users all around the
world.
2. It was developed over several decades through the collaboration of
researchers and organizations across the globe.
3. Today, the Internet is used for a wide range of purposes, including
communication, entertainment, education, and business. Examples include
sending emails, watching videos on YouTube, taking online classes, and
shopping on e-commerce websites.
concept of communication
1. Communication is the process of exchanging information or ideas between
two or more parties.
2. Communication can occur through various channels, such as spoken or
written language, visual or nonverbal cues, or digital media.
3. Effective communication involves not only the transmission of information,
but also the understanding of that information by the receiver. Real-world
examples of communication include talking to friends, sending text messages,
giving presentations, and writing emails.
IP address
1. IP Address: An IP address is a unique identifier assigned to every device
connected to the internet. It stands for Internet Protocol address and is a
numerical label consisting of a series of four numbers separated by dots. For
example, an IP address might look like this: 192.168.1.1
2. IPv4 vs IPv6: There are two versions of IP addresses currently in use: IPv4 and
IPv6. IPv4 addresses use 32 bits to represent the address, while IPv6
addresses use 128 bits. This means that IPv6 can support many more unique
addresses than IPv4.
3. Real-World Examples:
Local IP Address: Your computer or mobile device will have a local IP address
assigned to it by your local network, such as a Wi-Fi router. This IP address is
used to identify your device on the local network and may look like this:
192.168.1.100.
Public IP Address: Your internet service provider assigns your device a public
IP address, which is used to identify your device on the internet. This IP
address is unique to your device and can be used to access your device from
anywhere in the world. Public IP addresses may look like this: 67.83.55.123.
DHCP: Many networks use a protocol called DHCP (Dynamic Host
Configuration Protocol) to automatically assign IP addresses to devices when
they connect to the network. This allows devices to easily join and leave the
network without requiring manual configuration of IP addresses.
Circuit switching, Packet switching
1. Circuit Switching: Circuit switching is a method of communication where a
dedicated communication channel is established between two devices for the
duration of the communication. This means that the entire capacity of the
communication channel is reserved for the duration of the communication.
For example, a traditional telephone call uses circuit switching.
2. Packet Switching: Packet switching is a method of communication where data
is divided into smaller packets and sent over the network independently. Each
packet is sent separately and can take different routes to reach its
destination. When all the packets arrive at the destination, they are
reassembled to form the original data. For example, the internet uses packet
switching.
3. Real-World Examples:
Telephone System: Circuit switching is used in traditional telephone systems.
When you make a call, a dedicated circuit is established between you and the
person you are calling. The circuit is reserved for the duration of the call, even
if there are periods of silence during the call.
Internet: The internet uses packet switching to transmit data. When you visit
a website, the data is divided into packets and sent over the network
independently. Each packet can take a different route to reach your device,
and the packets are reassembled when they arrive to form the webpage you
see.
Video Streaming: Video streaming services like Netflix and YouTube use a
combination of circuit switching and packet switching. When you start
streaming a video, a dedicated circuit is established to ensure a consistent
streaming experience. However, the video data is still sent in packets over the
network to optimize bandwidth usage.
Coaxial Cable:
Definition: Coaxial cable, often referred to as coax cable, is a type of electrical cable that consists
of a central conductor, surrounded by an insulating layer, a metallic shield, and an outer
insulating layer. The central conductor is usually a copper or aluminum wire, and the metallic
shield helps to minimize signal interference.
Television Broadcasting: Coaxial cables are used to transmit cable television signals from the
cable provider to the user's television.
Cable Internet: Coaxial cables are often used to provide high-speed internet access via cable
modems.
Fiber-Optic Cable:
Definition: Fiber-optic cable is a type of cable that transmits data using light signals through thin
strands of glass or plastic fibers. The core of the cable carries the light signals, and it is
surrounded by a cladding layer that reflects the light back into the core, preventing signal loss.
Examples: Fiber-optic cables are widely used in various applications for high-speed data
transmission due to their advantages, including:
Telecommunications: Fiber-optic cables are commonly used for long-distance telephone and
internet communication.
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): Many ISPs use fiber-optic cables to provide high-speed internet
connections to homes and businesses.
Cable Television: Fiber-optic cables can be used in cable TV networks for transmitting high-
definition video signals.
Data Centers: Fiber-optic cables are essential for high-bandwidth connections within data
centers, ensuring fast and reliable data transfer.
Radio Waves: Radio waves are used to transmit radio and television
broadcasts, as well as in cellular networks for mobile phones and other
wireless devices. They are also used in satellite communications for TV and
internet services.
Microwaves: Microwaves are used in microwave ovens for cooking food, as
well as in radar systems for detecting objects and measuring distances. They
are also used in wireless communication systems, such as Wi-Fi and
Bluetooth.
Infrared Waves: Infrared waves are used in remote controls for TVs and other
electronic devices, as well as in thermal imaging cameras for detecting heat
signatures. They are also used in communication systems, such as infrared
data transfer between devices.
(Modem, Ethernet card, RJ45, Repeater, Hub, Switch, Router, Gateway, WIFI card
1. Modem: A modem is a device that modulates and demodulates signals to
allow computers to transmit data over telephone lines or cable lines. It is
commonly used to connect to the internet via a broadband connection.
2. Ethernet Card: An Ethernet card, also known as a network interface card
(NIC), is a hardware component that allows a computer to connect to a wired
Ethernet network. It provides a physical connection between the computer
and the network.
3. RJ45: RJ45 is a type of connector used for Ethernet cables. It is a rectangular-
shaped connector with eight pins that are used to connect Ethernet devices,
such as computers and routers.
4. Repeater: A repeater is a device that amplifies and retransmits signals to
extend the range of a network. It is used to boost signals that have degraded
over long distances.
5. Hub: A hub is a device that connects multiple Ethernet devices together to
form a network. It operates by broadcasting all incoming data to all connected
devices.
6. Switch: A switch is a device that connects multiple Ethernet devices together
and selectively forwards data to the appropriate device based on the device's
MAC address. It provides better network performance and security than a hub.
7. Router: A router is a device that connects multiple networks together, such as
a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN). It directs data
traffic between the networks using IP addresses.
8. Gateway: A gateway is a device that connects two different types of networks,
such as a LAN and the internet. It translates data between the two networks
to ensure that they can communicate with each other.
9. WIFI Card: A Wi-Fi card is a device that allows a computer or other device to
connect to a wireless network. It is a hardware component that is typically
built into laptops and mobile devices, but can also be added to desktop
computers as an expansion card.
Real-World Examples:
1. Bus Topology:
A small home network that connects computers via a single Ethernet cable.
A school computer lab where all computers connect to a single switch.
A small business with only a few computers that are connected via a single
Ethernet cable.
2. Star Topology:
A Wi-Fi network in a home where all devices connect to a single wireless
router.
A large office network where each computer connects to a central switch or
router.
A retail store with multiple point-of-sale systems that connect to a single
server.
3. Tree Topology:
A large corporate network where multiple buildings are connected to a central
server room via their own set of switches and routers.
A hospital with multiple departments that connect to a central network via
their own set of switches and routers.
An internet service provider network that connects multiple cities via their
own set of switches and routers.
WWW, Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML), Extensible Markup Language (XML),
domain names, URL, website, web browser, web servers, web hosting
WWW:
Stands for World Wide Web, a system of interlinked hypertext documents that
are accessed over the Internet.
Examples: Google, Facebook, Amazon.
A markup language used to create and structure content for the web.
Examples: Websites created using HTML, such as Wikipedia or CNN.
A markup language used to store and transport data over the Internet.
Examples: RSS feeds, configuration files for software applications.
Domain names:
A unique name that identifies a website on the Internet.
Examples: google.com, facebook.com, cnn.com.
URL:
Stands for Uniform Resource Locator, a web address that specifies the
location of a resource on the Internet.
Examples: https://www.google.com, https://www.facebook.com,
https://www.cnn.com.
Website:
A collection of web pages that are accessed through a single domain name
and URL.
Examples: Wikipedia, CNN, Etsy.
Web browser:
Software that allows users to access and view web pages on the Internet.
Examples: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari.
Web servers:
Computers that store and serve web pages and other web resources to users
on the Internet.
Examples: Apache, Nginx, Microsoft IIS.
Web hosting: