Unit-3

Introduction to Computer Networks

Introduction to Networks
The collection of interconnected computers is called a
computer network. Two computers are said to be
interconnected if they are capable of sharing and exchanging
information.
Need of Computer Network

Resource Sharing :- Resource Sharing means to make all

programs, data and peripherals available to anyone on the
network irrespective of the physical location of the resources
and the user.

Reliability :- Reliability means to keep the copy of a file on two

or more different machines, so if one of them is unavailable
(due to some hardware crash or any other) them its other copy
can be used.

Cost Factor :- Cost factor means it greatly reduces the cost

since the resources can be shared.

Application of
Computer Networks
1. Sharing of data, services and resources

2. Access to remote database

3. Communication facilities
4. Time saving

Elementary Terminology of Networks :-

1. Nodes (Workstations):- The term nodes refer to the
computers that are attached to a network and are seeking to
share the resources.
Server:- A computer that facilitates the sharing of data, software
and hardware resources on the network.
MAC Address: A (Media access Control) address is a hardware
identification number that uniquely identifies each device on a
network (assigned to a NIC by the manufacturer).
IP Address: Each computer on internet is identified by a unique
number
called IP Address. E.g: 192.168.1.1

Types of Computer Networks

LAN (Local Area Network): A Local Area Network (LAN) is a
network that is limited to a relatively small area. It is generally
limited to a geographic area such as a school building, office or a
university campus. It is generally privately owned networks over
a distance not more than 5 Km. e.g. network in a college, school,
hospital etc.
MAN (Metropolitan Area Network): MAN is the networks that
cover a group of nearby corporate offices or a city and might be
either private or public. E.g. Cable TV Network in a city.
WAN (Wide Area Network): These are the networks spread
over large distances, say across countries or even continents
through cabling or satellite uplinks are called WAN. E.g. Internet

PAN (Personal Area Network): A PAN is a network of

communicating devices (Computer, Phone, MP3/MP4 Player,
Camera etc.) organized around an individual person. A PAN can be
set up using guided media (USB cable) or unguided media
(Bluetooth, Infrared).
Network Devices
1. Modem:-A modem (modulator/demodulator) is a hardware
device that allows a computer to send and receive information
over telephone lines. When sending a signal, the modem
converts (modulates) digital data to an analog signal and
transmit it over a telephone line. Similarly when an analog
signal is received, the modem converts it back (demodulates)
to a digital signal.

2. Hub :- A Hub is an electronic device that connects several

computers together to form a network and redirects the
received information to all the connected nodes in broadcast
mode. The computer(s) for which the information is intended
receive(s) this information and accept(s) it. Other computers
on the network simply reject this information.

Example of how a hub works is shown

below.
Computer A wants to send a message to computer B. It
sends the
message through the Ethernet cable to the hub, then
the hub repeats the message to all of the connected
computers.
Types of Hub-

Passive Hub: This type of does not amplify or boost the signal. It
does not manipulate or view the traffic that crosses it.
Active Hub: It amplifies the incoming signal before passing it to the other
ports.

3. Switch :- A switch is a network device which is used to

interconnect computers or devices on a network. It filters and
forwards data packets across a network. The main difference
between hub and switch is that hub replicates what it receives
on one port onto all the other ports while switch keeps a record
of the MAC addresses of the devices attached to it and forwards
data packets onto the ports for which it is addressed across a
network, that’s why switch is intelligent Hub.
 Diagram of A 4-Port Switch

Example of how a switch works is shown below. Using a

switch, computer A sends a message to computer B—the
other computers do not see the message. Those computers
can send other messages at the same time without
interfering.
4. Repeater :- A Repeater is a device that is used to amplify and
regenerate a signal which is on its way through a
communication channel. A repeater regenerates the received
signal and re-transmits it to its destination.

5. Router :- A device that forwards data packets from one network

to another by finding the shortest route, based on an internal
routing table and the address of the destination network in the
incoming packet, the router determines whether to send the
packet out (in other network) or keep it or forward within the
own network.
Gateway :- A gateway is a device that connects dissimilar
networks (Networks with different software and hardware
configurations

and with different transmission protocol).

Network Topologies
Topology means the way by which a network is formed.

1. Bus Topology
Bus Topology :-Bus topology is a topology for a Local Area
Network (LAN) in which all the nodes are connected to a single cable.
The starting and ending point of cable is called terminator.

ADVANTAGES

• It is easy to install.

• It requires less cable length and hence it is cost effective.

• Failure of a node does not affect the network.

DISADVANTAGES

• In case of cable or terminator fault, the entire network

breaks down.

• Not suitable for large number of computers.

• At a time only one node can transmit data.

The STAR Topology: -

A STAR topology is based on a central node which acts as a

hub. In star topology each node is directly connected to a
Hub/Switch .

Advantages:
• Easy to troubleshoot
• A single node failure does not affect the entire network.
• Fault detection and removal of faulty parts is easier.
• In case a workstation fails, the network is not affected.

Disadvantages:-
• Difficult to expand.
• Longer cable is required.
 • The cost of the hub and the longer cables makes it
expensive over others.
• In case hub fails, the entire network stop working.

TREE Topology
Tree topology is a combination of bus and star topologies. It is
used to combine multiple star topology networks. All the stars
are connected together like a bus.

Features of Tree Topology

• Ideal if workstations are located in groups.
• Used in Wide Area Network.

Advantages of Tree Topology

• Extension of bus and star topologies.
• Expansion of nodes is possible and easy.
• Easily managed and maintained.
 • Error detection is easily done

Disadvantages of Tree Topology

• Heavily cabled.
• Costly.
• If more nodes are added maintenance is difficult.
• Central hub fails, network fails.

Mesh Topology :-

Mesh topology is a group of nodes which are all connected to

each other and many types of connections are possible in a
mesh topology.
Advantage of Mesh Topology

• The arrangement of the network nodes is such that it

is possible to transmit data from one node to many other
nodes at the same time.
• Fault is diagnosed easily.

Disadvantage of Mesh Topology

• Installation and configuration is difficult.

• Cabling cost is more.
• Bulk wiring is required.

Introduction to Internet
The Internet is a massive network of networks, a
networking infrastructure. It connects millions of
computers together globally, forming a network in which
any computer can communicate with another computer as
long as they are both connected to the Internet. The World
Wide Web, or simply Web is a way or medium of accessing
information over the Internet. It is an information sharing
model that is built on top of the Internet.
” The Internet emerged in the United States in the 1970s
but did not become visible to the general public until the
early 1990s. By 2020, approximately 4.5 billion people, or
more than half of the world’s population, were estimated to
have access to the Internet”.

The Internet provides a capability so powerful and general

that it can be used for almost any purpose that depends on
information, and it is accessible by every individual who
connects to one of its associated networks.

URL :- URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. A URL is

nothing more than the address of a given unique resource on
the Web or address of a website. The URL is an address that
matches users to a specific resource online, such as
webpage.

Example- http://www.python4csip.com
WWW : The World Wide WEB (WWW), commonly known as

the ‘Web’. It is an information system where all the web

resources are identified by Uniform Resource Locator (URL).
Tim Berners-Lee invented the WWW in 1989. He wrote the
first web browser in 1990.

The World Wide WEB (WWW) or ‘Web’ is a

collection of WebPages found over the internet. Web
browser uses the internet to access the ‘Web’.

Application of Internet

Web 2.0 :

The term web 2.0 is used to refer to a new generation of

websites that are supposed to let people to publish and
share information online. It aims to encourage the sharing
of information and views, creativity that can be consume
by the other users. E.g:Youtube

The Main characteristics of web 2.0 are:

✓ Makes web more interactive through online social

media web-based forums, communities, social
networking sites.

✓ It is a website design and development world which

aim to encourage sharing of information and views,
creativity and user interactivity between the users.

✓ Video sharing possible in the websites

Web 3.0: It refers to the 3rd Generation of web where user
will interact by using artificial intelligence and with 3-D
portals. Web 3.0 supports semantic web which improves web
technologies to create, connect and share content through the
intelligent search and the analysis based on the meaning of
the words, instead of on the keywords and numbers.

e-mail: email (or e-mail) is defined as the transmission

of messages over communications networks. Typically
the messages are notes entered from keyboard and
sent over internet using computer or mobile.

Chat : Chat may refer to any kind of communication over the

Internet that offers a real-time transmission of text messages
from sender to receiver. Chat messages are generally short in
order to enable other participants to respond quickly.

Voip :- Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), is a

technology that allows you to make voice calls using a
broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (or
analog) phone line. VoIP services convert your voice
into a digital signal that travels over the Internet. If you
are calling a regular phone number, the signal is converted to
a regular telephone signal before it reaches the destination.
VoIP can allow you to make a call directly from a computer.
Examples of Voip:-Whatsapp, Skype, Google Chat etc.
Advantage of Voip:

✓ Save a lot of money.

✓More than two people can communicate or speak.

✓ Supports great audio transfer.

✓ Provide conferencing facility.

✓ More than voice (can transfer text, image, video

along with voice).

Disadvantages of Voip:

✓ Reliable Internet connection required.

✓ No location tracking for emergency calls.

Website :- a website is a group of web pages, containing

text, images and all types of multi-media files.
Difference between Website and Webpage :-
Website Webpage
A collection of web
1. pages A document which can be
whic are displayed in a web browser
h grouped together such
usuall connecte
and y d as Firefox, Google Chrome,
togethe variou
r in s ways, Opera, Microsoft Internet
Often called a "web site"
or Explorer etc.
simply a
"site."
Has content about single
2. Has content about various entity.
entity.
developme Les
3. More nt time is s development time is
required
. required.
Webpage address
4. Website address does not depends on
depend on Webpage
address. Website address.
Difference between Static and Dynamic webpage :-
Static Webpage Dynamic Webpage
The static web pages displayIn the dynamic Web pages,
the the
page content
same content each time when changes according
someone visits it. to the user.
Dynamic web pages
It takes less time to load over take more
internet. time while loading.
A database a
No Database used. is used in t the
server end in a dynamic web
page.
Chang
Changes rarely. es frequently.

Web Server :- a web server is a computer that stores web

server software and a website's component files (e.g.
HTML documents, images, CSS style sheets, and JavaScript
files).

When client sends request for a web page, the web server
search for the requested page if requested page is found then it
will send it to client with an HTTP response. If the requested
web page is not found, web server will the send an HTTP
response :Error 404 Not
found.
 The basic objective of the web server is to store,

process and deliver web pages to the users using Hypertext

Transfer

Protocol (HTTP). Apart from HTTP, a web server also supports SMTP

(Simple Mail transfer Protocol) and FTP (File Transfer Protocol) protocol

for e-mailing, for file transfer and storage.

Web Hosting :- Web hosting is an online service that enables

you to publish your website or web application on the
internet. When you sign up for a hosting service, you
basically rent some space on a server on which you can store
all the files and data necessary for your website to work
properly.

A server is a physical computer that runs without any

interruption so that your website is available all the time
for anyone who wants to see it.
Types of Web Hosting:

One server acts as

One can use the space
multiple servers for
allotted to him to host
multiple websites.
websites for other third
party users.
Web Browswer :- A web browser, or simply "browser," is
an application used to access and view websites.
Common web browsers include Microsoft Internet
Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple
Safari.

Plug-ins:- a plug-in (or plugin, add-in, add-on) is a software

component that adds a specific feature to an existing computer
program. When a program supports plug-ins, it enables
customization. Plug-ins are commonly used in Internet browsers
but also can be utilized in numerous other types of applications.
 Add-ons( in terms of H/W): An Add-on is either a
hardware unit that can be added to a computer to
increase the capabilities or a program unit that
enhances primary program. Some manufacturers and
software developers use the term add-on.

Examples of add-ons for a computer

include card for sound, graphic acceleration, modem
capability and memory. Software add- ons are
common for games, word-processing and accounting
programs.

Cookies :- cookies are small files which are stored on a user’s

computer and contains information like which Web pages
visited in the past, logging details Password etc. They are
designed to hold a modest amount of data specific to a
particular client and website and can be accessed by the web
server or the client computer.