Chapter Four

Data Communication and Computer Network

What is Communication System?
A Communication system can be defined as the collection of hardware and software that facilitates
intersystem exchange of information between different devices. When we communicate, we are
sharing information. This sharing can be local (face to face communication) or it may be remote
(communication over distance).
What is Data communication?
Data communication is the exchange of date between two devices via some form of wired or
wireless transmission medium. It includes the transfer of data, the method of transfer and the
preservation of the data during the transfer process. To initiate data communication, the
communicating devices should be a part of an existing communications system.

Data Communication Components

There are five basic components in data communication system:
1. Message: it is the information that is to be communicated.
2. Sender: The sender is the device that sends the message.
3. Receiver: The receiver is the device that receives the message
4. Medium: The transmission medium is the physical path that communicates the message
from sender to receiver.
5. Protocol: Protocol refers to a set of rules that coordinates the exchange of information.
Both the sender and receiver should follow the same protocol to communicate data.
Without the protocol, the sender and receiver cannot communicate with each other; just as
a person speaking English cannot be understood by a person speaks only Hindi.

Sender Receiver

Message Medium
Fig: Data communication component

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Data Transmission Mode
Data transmission mode refers to the direction of signal flow between two linked devices. There
are three types of transmission modes: simplex, half-duplex, and full–duplex.
Simplex: transmission is unidirectional. The information flows in one direction across the circuit,
with no capability to support response in the other direction. Only one of the communicating
devices transmits information, the other can only receive it. Television transmission can be
considered as an example of simplex mode of transmission where the satellite only transmits the
data to the television, vice versa is not possible.

Sender Receiver

Fig: Simplex
Half-duplex, in half-duplex mode, each communicating device can receive and transmit
information, but not at the same time. When one device is sending the other can only receive at
that point of time. In half-duplex transmission mode, the entire capacity of the transmission
medium is taken over by the device, which is transmitting at that moment. The most common
example of half-duplex transmission is the wireless handsets (generally used by military
personnel) where one user talks at a time and another listens.

Sender Receiver
Fig: Half - duplex
Full-duplex: Full-duplex transmission mode, also known as the duplex mode, allows both
communicating devices to transmit and receive data simultaneously. A full-duplex mode can be
compared to a two-way road with traffic flowing in both directions. A common example of full-
duplex transmitting mode is the telephone network, where two people communicate over a
telephone line; both can talk as well as listen at the same time.

Sender Receiver

Fig: Full - duplex

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Transmission Media
Transmission media refers to the physical media through which communication signals (data and
information are transmitted. Transmission media can be divided in to two broad categories: guided
media and unguided media.
A. Guided media
Guided transmission media use a cabling system that guide the data signals along a specific path.
The data signals are bound by the cabling system. Cabling refers to transmission medium that
consists of cables. There are four basic types of guided media.
o Open wire o Coaxial cable
o Twisted pair o Optical fiber
Open wire: Traditionally used to describe the electrical wire system or power transmission wire
strung along power pole.
o No shielding or protection from noise interface.
o It suffers from lose of energy problem and it can be easily tapped.
Twisted Pair: In this kind of cabling, pairs of wires are twisted together which are surrounded by
an insulating material and an outer layer called Jacket.

 Each pair consists of a wire, used for receiving data signal, and for transmission data signal.

 The wires are twisted in order to reduce noise (unwanted signal) and interface for external
sources.
 Used in short distance communication (<=100 meters).
Forms of Twisted Pair: There are two forms of Twisted Pair. These are
 Unshielded Twisted Pair, and
 Shielded Twisted Pair
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP): It is the most common type of telecommunication medium
in use today.
 It is most suited for both data and voice transmission, and hence is commonly use in
telephone system.
 Have a maximum transmission speed of up to 9600 bps.

Fig: UTP
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 Shielded Twisted Pair (STP): Has a metal foil or braided-mesh covering that covers each
pair of insulated conductor.
 The metal foil is used to prevent infiltration of electromagnetic noise.
 Helps to eliminate cross talk.

Fig: STP
Coaxial cable: Has a single central conductor, which is made up of solid wire (usually copper).
This conductor is surrounded by an insulator.
 It is very robust and is commonly used in cable TV network.
 As compared to twisted pair, it offers higher band width.
 Transmitting data at a rate of 10mbps.

Copper
core
Insulation Metal connector

Braided outer conductor

Protective plastic
covering
Fig: Coaxial cable
Optical fiber: Both twisted pair and coaxial cable transmit data in the form of current, but optical
fiber carry information in the form of visible light.
 Has three parts, i.e. Core, cladding , and jacket

Fig: Optical fiber

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Advantages of Optical fiber
o Since transmission is light based rather than electricity, it is immune to noise interface.
o Transmission distance is greater than other guided media, because of less signal
attenuation.
o It is more secure because cable cannot be tapped.
o They are smaller and lighter than copper wire and are free from corrosion as well.

Disadvantages of Optical fiber

 It is expensive
 They are more fragile.
Unguided media: Unguided transmission media is data signals that flow through air. They are not
bounded to a fixed channel to follow. One of the common unguided media is radio frequency
propagation. Microwave and Satellite

What is a Computer Networking?

A network is a group of connected computers that allows people to share information. Networking,
a system in which a number of independent computers are linked together to share data and
peripherals. A computer network refers to the system of a number of independent interconnected
computers by a wired or wireless transmission medium media that allows them to share data,
device, peripherals, and remote computer databases. A computer that is not connected to other
computers is called a standalone system.
Why Computer Networks are needed?
With the availability and power of today's personal computers, you might ask why networks are
needed. Networks increase efficiency and reduce costs. Computer networks achieve these goals in
three primary ways:
1. Sharing information (or data)
2. Sharing hardware and software
3. Centralizing administration and support
More specifically, computers that are part of a network can share:
 Documents (memos, spreadsheets,  Word-processing software.
invoices, and so on).  Project-tracking software.
 E-mail messages.

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Illustrations, photographs, videos, and audio files, Live audio and video broadcasts, Printers, Fax
machines, Modems, CD-ROM drives and other removable drives, Hard drives.
1. Sharing Information (or Data)
The ability to share information quickly and inexpensively has proven to be one of the most
popular uses of networking technology.
By making information available for sharing, networks can reduce the need for paper
communication, increase efficiency, and make nearly any type of data available simultaneously to
every user who needs it.
2. Sharing Hardware and Software
Computer networks can be used to share printers, plotters, and other peripherals. Networks can be
used to share and standardize applications, such as word processors, spreadsheets, inventory
databases, and so on, to ensure that everyone on the network is using the same applications and
the same versions of those applications.
3. Centralizing Administration and Support
Networking computers can simplify and support tasks as well. It is far more efficient for technical
personnel to support one version of one operating system or application and to set up all computers
in the same manner than to support many individual and unique systems and setups. And also used
to centralized control.
4.2 Network components and functions
 Servers—Computers that provide shared resources to network users.
 Clients—Computers that access shared network resources provided by a server.
 Media—the wires/air that make the connections.
 Resources—any service or device, such as files, printers, or other items, made available
for use by members of the network.
4.3 Types of Networks
Depending on their geographical coverage, size and function of computer networks are mostly
classified into three groups.
1. Local area network (LAN):
o It is the smallest form of a network and the basic building block of any computer network.
o It is limited by geography that covers within a mile-perhaps one office, one building, or a
college campus.

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 o A LAN can range from simple (two computers connected by a cable) to complex (hundreds
of connected computers and peripherals throughout a major corporation).
2. Metropolitan area network (MAN):
o Is a communication network covering a geographical area such as the size of a city.
3. Wide area network (WAN):
o On the other hand, has no geographical limitation.
o It can connect computers and other devices on opposite sides of the world.
o A WAN is made up of a number of interconnected LANs. Perhaps the ultimate WAN is the
Internet.
4.4 Network Topology
The term network topology refers to the arrangement or physical layout of computers, cables, and
other components on the network.
A network's physical topology is the wire itself. A network's logical topology is the way it carries
signals on the wire. Logical topology refers the flow of information. That means it determine how
computers communicate on the network.
Topology mostly classify into four basic topologies. They are Bus , Star , Ring and Mesh
1. Bus topology:
The bus topology is often referred to as a "linear bus" because the computers are connected in a
single straight line called a trunk (also called a backbone or segment) that connects all of the
computers in the network in a single line. Computers on a bus topology network communicate by
addressing data to a particular computer and sending out that data on the cable as electronic signals.
Collision will occur, when two computers send data simultaneously.
Sending the Signal Network data in the form of electronic signals is sent to all the computers on
the network. Only the computer whose address matches the address encoded in the original signal
accepts the information. All other computers reject the data. Because only one computer at a time
can send data on a bus network.
Signal Bounce Because the data, or electronic signal, is sent to the entire network, it travels from
one end of the cable to the other. If the signal is allowed to continue uninterrupted, it will keep
bouncing back and forth along the cable and prevent other computers from sending signals.

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Terminator To stop the signal from bouncing, a component called a terminator is placed at each
end of the cable to absorb free signals. Absorbing the signal clears the cable so that other computers
can send data.

Figure 4.1 bus topology

2. Star Topology:
In the star topology, each computer is connected to a centralized component called a hub. Signals
are transmitted from the sending computer through the hub to all computers on the network. The
star topology offers the advantage of centralized resources and management. This topology
requires a great deal of cable in a large network installation. Also, if the central point fails, the
entire network goes down. If one computer or the cable that connects it to the hub—fails only the
failed computer will not be able to send or receive network data

Figure 4.2 star topology

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3. Ring topology:
The ring topology connects computers on a single circle of cable. Unlike the bus topology, there
are no terminated ends and no collisions. Since only one terminals can send data at a given time.
The signals travel around the loop in one direction and pass through each computer, which can act
as a repeater to boost the signal and send it on to the next computer. The failure of one computer
can have an impact on the entire network. One method of transmitting data around a ring is called
token passing. (A token is a special series of bits that travels around a token-ring network. Each
network has only one token.) The token is passed from computer to computer until it gets to a
computer that has data to send. The data passes by each computer until it finds the one with an
address that matches the address on the data. The receiving computer returns a message to the
sending computer indicating that the data has been received.

Figure 4.3 ring topology

4. Mesh topology:
In a mesh topology, each computer is connected to every other computer by separate cabling. This
configuration provides redundant paths throughout the network so that if one cable fails, another
will take over the traffic. These networks are expensive to install because they use a lot of cabling.
These four topologies can be combined in a variety of more complex hybrid topologies. Many
working topologies are hybrid combinations of the bus, star, ring, and mesh topologies. There are
many factors to consider when deciding which topology best suits the needs of an organization.

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 Figure 4.4 mesh topology
 A fully connected mesh network has n(n-1)/2=(number of cable required) physical links to
link n devices.
n(n-1)/2=(number of cable required)
 For example, if an organization has 5 nodes and wants to implement a mesh topology, 5(5-
1)/2, that is, 10 links are requires.
 In addition, to accommodate that many links, every device on the network must have n-
1(number of port or from how many number of computer it able to connect one compute
) communication (input/output) ports.
 n-1 = number of port

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 Table 4.1 Topology Advantages and Disadvantages
Topology Advantages Disadvantages
Bus -Use of cable is economical. -Network can slow down in heavy traffic.
-System is simple and reliable. -Problems are difficult to isolate.
- Easy to extend. -Cable break can affect many users.
Terminated end -limits on cable length & computers
Collision is occurred
Ring -System provides equal access for all -Failure of one computer can impact the rest.
computers. -Problems are hard to isolate.
-Performance is even despite many users. -the more terminals, the network becomes
-computers act as repeaters slower.
No terminated end -Security may be less(as data has to travel
No collision is occurred through other computers)
-Network reconfiguration disrupts operation.
Star -Modifying and adding new computers is -If the centralized point fails, the entire
easy. network are fails.
-Centralized monitoring and management. -uses more cable
-Failure of one computer does not affect the
rest.
Mesh -System provides increased redundancy and - expensive to install because it uses a lot of
reliability as well as ease of troubleshooting. cabling
-Failure of one computer or one cable does
not affect the rest of the network.

Common Network Devices

Modem- Modulator/Demodulator
o It lets computers exchange information though telephone lines.
o When transmitting information, the modulator changes the computers digital signal to analog
signal.

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o When receiving information, the demodulator translates the analog signal back to a digital
signal.
o Modulator – Digital to Analog
o Demodulator – Analog to Digital

The Network Interface Card (NIC)

The Network Interface Card (NIC) is the expansion card you install in
your computer to connect (interface) your computer to the network. This
device provides the physical, electrical, and electronic connections to the
network media. NICs either are an expansion card (the most popular
implementation) or built in to the motherboard of the computer.
o An expansion card physically connects a computer to the network.
o Each computer in the network must have a network card.
o It takes the data from the computer’s internal bus and converts it into standard packets of
information that it then sends along the cable.
o It takes the data from the computer and adds header.
o When receiving data, it looks at each packet and checks the destination address in the header.
o If it recognizes its own address, it checks that it has no errors and signals the CPU that there is
data to be processed.

Each type of NIC is specific to a topology and a connection type. To determine a NIC's type,
review the documentation and examine the NIC. Even though two NICs look alike, one may be a
Token Ring NIC and the other an Ethernet NIC.

The Repeater

A repeater amplifies (or repeats) network signals to extend the maximum reach
of a network. Repeaters receive network signals on one port, amplify them, and
repeat them out on the other port. Repeaters can interconnect different media types but cannot
convert protocols.

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The Hub
A hub is the central device in a star topology. Most hubs are simple
multiport repeaters. That is, they receive a signal on one port and repeat it to
all other ports.
Bridges convert network transmission data formats as well as perform basic data transmission
management. Bridges, as the name implies, provide connections between LANs. Not only do
bridges connect LANs, but they also perform a check on the data to determine whether it should
cross the bridge or not. This makes each part of the network more efficient.
Switches add more intelligence to data transfer management. Not only can they determine
whether data should remain on a LAN or not, but they can transfer the data only to the connection
that needs that data. Another difference between a bridge and switch is that a switch does not
convert data transmission formats.
Routers have all the capabilities listed above. Routers can regenerate signals, concentrate multiple
connections, convert data transmission formats, and manage data transfers. They can also connect
to a WAN, which allows them to connect LANs that are separated by great distances. None of the
other devices can provide this type of connection

Network Connectors

The type of connector you use depends on the type of network and the type of cable (copper or
fiber-optic).
D-type Connectors
The first type of networking connector was the D-type connector. A D-type
connector is characterized by its shape. The Attachment Unit Interface (AUI)
connector is a D-type connector used to connect your computer to ThickNet coaxial cable.
BNC Connectors
Most commonly used with ThinNet coaxial cable, BNC connectors are tube-shaped. A twist-lock
mechanism prevents the cable from disconnecting. You must push the cable's connector
onto the connector on the NIC and then twist the connector on the cable to lock it in
place. BNC connectors are most commonly found in 10Base2 Ethernet networks, as well
as in ARCNet.

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RJ Connectors
RJ-45 connectors are most commonly found on both 10BaseT and Token Ring
networks, but they can be found on any network that uses four-pair, UTP cable.
An RJ-11 connector is smaller than an RJ-45 connector, and RJ-11 uses four (or
six) wires; the RJ-45 has eight wires housed in its case.

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