Networking and Data Communication –

Level 5
Harmonized Notes Based on Level 5 Curriculum

Introduction
This document presents harmonized notes for the Networking and Data Communication
course, tailored to the Level 5 learning level. The content has been refined from Level 6
material to emphasize foundational understanding, simplified explanations, and relevant
practical examples.

DIPLOMA IN INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY- MODULE III

COURSE OUTLINE

NETWORKING AND DATA COMMUNICATION

NOTES
TOPIC 1.0 INRODUCTION TO COMPUTER NETWORK

MEANING OF COMPUTER NETWORK

A computer network is a group of computer systems and other computing hardware

devices that are linked together through communication channels to facilitate
communication and resource-sharing among a wide range of users.

COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER NETWORK

Computer networks share common devices, functions, and features including servers,
clients, transmission media, shared data, shared printers and other hardware and software
resources, network interface card(NIC), local operating system(LOS), and the network
operating system (NOS).

Servers - Servers are computers that hold shared files, programs, and the network operating
system. Servers provide access to network resources to all the users of the network. There
are many different kinds of servers, and one server can provide several functions. For
example, there are file servers, print servers, mail servers, communication servers, database
servers, fax servers and web servers, to name a few.

Clients - Clients are computers that access and use the network and shared network
resources. Client computers are basically the customers(users) of the network, as they
request and receive services from the servers.

Transmission Media - Transmission media are the facilities used to interconnect computers
in a network, such as twisted-pair wire, coaxial cable, and optical fiber cable. Transmission
media are sometimes called channels, links or lines.

Shared data - Shared data are data that file servers provide to clients such as data files,
printer access programs and e-mail.

Shared printers and other peripherals - Shared printers and peripherals are hardware
resources provided to the users of the network by servers. Resources provided include data
files, printers, software, or any other items used by clients on the network.

Network Interface Card - Each computer in a network has a special expansion card called a
network interface card (NIC). The NIC prepares(formats) and sends data, receives data, and
controls data flow between the computer and the network. On the transmit side, the NIC
passes frames of data on to the physical layer, which transmits the data to the physical link.
On the receiver's side, the NIC processes bits received from the physical layer and processes
the message based on its contents.

NIC
NIC stands for network interface card.

NIC is a hardware component used to connect a computer with another computer onto a
network

It can support a transfer rate of 10,100 to 1000 Mb/s.

The MAC address or physical address is encoded on the network card chip which is
assigned by the IEEE to identify a network card uniquely. The MAC address is stored in the
PROM (Programmable read-only memory).

There are two types of NIC:

Wired NIC

Wireless NIC

Wired NIC: The Wired NIC is present inside the motherboard. Cables and connectors are
used with wired NIC to transfer data.
Wireless NIC: The wireless NIC contains the antenna to obtain the connection over the
wireless network. For example, laptop computer contains the wireless NIC.

Local Operating System - A local operating system allows personal computers to access files,
print to a local printer, and have and use one or more disk and CD drives that are located on
the computer. Examples are MS-DOS, Unix, Linux, Windows 2000, Windows 98, Windows
XP etc.

Network Operating System - The network operating system is a program that runs on
computers and servers, and allows the computers to communicate over the network.

Hub - Hub is a device that splits a network connection into multiple computers. It is like a
distribution center. When a computer requests information from a network or a specific
computer, it sends the request to the hub through a cable. The hub will receive the request
and transmit it to the entire network. Each computer in the network should then figure out
whether the broadcast data is for them or not.

Switch - Switch is a telecommunication device grouped as one of computer network

components. Switch is like a Hub but built in with advanced features. It uses physical device
addresses in each incoming messages so that it can deliver the message to the right
destination or port.Like a hub, switch doesn't broadcast the received message to entire
network, rather before sending it checks to which system or port should the message be
sent. In other words, switch connects the source and destination directly which increases
the speed of the network. Both switch and hub have common features: Multiple RJ-45 ports,
power supply and connection lights.

Router: When we talk about computer network components, the other device that used to
connect a LAN with an internet connection is called Router. When you have two distinct
networks (LANs) or want to share a single internet connection to multiple computers, we
use a Router. In most cases, recent routers also include a switch which in other words can
be used as a switch. You don’t need to buy both switch and router, particularly if you are
installing small business and home networks. There are two types of Router: wired and
wireless. The choice depends on your physical office/home setting, speed and cost.

Router
A router is a hardware device which is used to connect a LAN with an internet connection. It
is used to receive, analyze and forward the incoming packets to another network.

A router works in a Layer 3 (Network layer) of the OSI Reference model.

A router forwards the packet based on the information available in the routing table.

It determines the best path from the available paths for the transmission of the packet.
Advantages Of Router:
Security: The information which is transmitted to the network will traverse the entire cable,
but the only specified device which has been addressed can read the data.

Reliability: If the server has stopped functioning, the network goes down, but no other
networks are affected that are served by the router.

Performance: Router enhances the overall performance of the network. Suppose there are
24 workstations in a network generates a same amount of traffic. This increases the traffic
load on the network. Router splits the single network into two networks of 12 workstations
each, reduces the traffic load by half.

TYPES OF COMPUTER NETWORK

Types of Communication Networks

Local Area Network (LAN)

It is also called LAN and designed for small physical areas such as an office, group of
buildings or a factory. LANs are used widely as it is easy to design and to troubleshoot.
Personal computers and workstations are connected to each other through LANs. We can
use different types of topologies through LAN, these are Star, Ring, Bus, Tree etc.

LAN can be a simple network like connecting two computers, to share files and network
among each other while it can also be as complex as interconnecting an entire building.

LAN networks are also widely used to share resources like printers, shared hard-drive etc.

Applications of LAN

One of the computer in a network can become a server serving all the remaining computers
called clients. Software can be stored on the server and it can be used by the remaining
clients.

Connecting Locally all the workstations in a building to let them communicate with each
other locally without any internet access.

Sharing common resources like printers etc are some common applications of LAN.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

It is basically a bigger version of LAN. It is also called MAN and uses the similar technology
as LAN. It is designed to extend over the entire city. It can be means to connecting a number
of LANs into a larger network or it can be a single cable. It is mainly hold and operated by
single private company or a public company.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

It is also called WAN. WAN can be private or it can be public leased network. It is used for
the network that covers large distance such as cover states of a country. It is not easy to
design and maintain. Communication medium used by WAN are PSTN or Satellite links.
WAN operates on low data rates.

Wireless Network

It is the fastest growing segment of computer. They are becoming very important in our
daily life because wind connections are not possible in cars or aeroplane. We can access
Internet at any place avoiding wire related troubles.. These can be used also when the
telephone systems gets destroyed due to some calamity/disaster. WANs are really
important now-a-days.

Types of Wireless Networks

WLANS: Wireless Local Area Networks

WLANS allow users in a local area, such as a university campus or library, to form a network
or gain access to the internet. A temporary network can be formed by a small number of
users without the need of an access point; given that they do not need access to network
resources.

WPANS: Wireless Personal Area Networks

The two current technologies for wireless personal area networks are Infra Red (IR) and
Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15). These will allow the connectivity of personal devices within an
area of about 30 feet. However, IR requires a direct line of site and the range is less.
WMANS: Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks
This technology allows the connection of multiple networks in a metropolitan area such as
different buildings in a city, which can be an alternative or backup to laying copper or fiber
cabling.

WWANS: Wireless Wide Area Networks

These types of networks can be maintained over large areas, such as cities or countries, via
multiple satellite systems or antenna sites looked after by an ISP. These types of systems
are referred to as 2G (2nd Generation) systems.

Comparison of Wireless Network Types

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Inter Network
When we connect two or more networks then they are called internetwork or internet. We
can join two or more individual networks to form an internetwork through devices like
routers gateways or bridges.

Assignment

Explain
client/server network
A computer network in which one centralized, powerful computer (called theserver) is a hu
b to which many less powerful personal computers orworkstations (called clients) are conn
ected. The clients run programs andaccess data that are stored on the server.

Advantages and disadvantages of client server network

peer-to-peer network

A network of personal computers, each of which acts as both client and sever, so that each
can exchange files and email directly with every other computer on the network. Each
computer can access any of the others, although access can be restricted to those files that a
computer's user chooses to make available. Peer-to-peer networks are less expensive than
client/server networks but less efficient when large amounts of data need to be exchanged.

ROLE OF COMPUTER NETWORKS

Computer networks allow the user to access remote programs and remote databases either
of the same organization or from other enterprises or public sources. Computer networks
provide communication possibilities faster than other facilities. Because of these optimal
information and communication possibilities, computer networks may increase the
organizational learning rate, which many authors declare as the only fundamental
advantage in competition.

Besides this major reason why any organization should not fail to have a computer network,
there are other reasons as well:

cost reduction by sharing hard- and software resources

high reliability by having multiple sources of supply

cost reduction by downsizing to microcomputer-based networks instead of using

mainframes

greater flexibility because of possibility to connect devices from various vendors

Computer networks help users on the network to share the resources and in
communication. Can you imagine a world now without emails, online newspapers, blogs,
chat and the other services offered by the internet?
The following are the important uses and benefits of a computer network.

File sharing: Networking of computers helps the network users to share data files.

Hardware sharing: Users can share devices such as printers, scanners, CD-ROM drives, hard
drives etc. Without computer networks, device sharing is not possible.

Application sharing: Applications can be shared over the network, and this allows to
implement client/server applications