Computer Networks
M. Bilal Khan
Lecturer CS & IT
Superior University, Lahore
[email protected]
Objectives
Course Module Discussion
Data Communication
Network vs Internet
internet, Intranet, Extranet
Data Communication
• Effectiveness of Data Communication System
• Components
• Data Representation
• Data Flow
DATA COMMUNICATION
The term telecommunication means
communication at a distance. The word data refers
to information presented in whatever form is
agreed upon by the parties creating and using the
data. Data communications are the exchange of
data between two devices via some form of
transmission medium such as a wire cable.
Effectiveness of Data Comm. System
Effectiveness depends upon four fundamental characteristics
1. Delivery : The system must deliver data to correct destination. Data received by
the intended user only
2. Accuracy: The system must deliver data accurately (no change).
Data changed & uncorrected is unusable
3. Timeliness: The system must deliver data in timely manner
Data arrived late are useless
In the same order (video and audio) & without delay (Real time transmission)
4. Jitter: Variation in the packet arrival time (uneven quality in the video is the
result)
Components
A data communication system is made up of five components
Components
1. Message: the information (data) to be communicated
Consist of text, numbers, pictures, audio, or video
2. Sender: the device that sends the data message
Computer, workstation, telephone handset, video camera, …
3. Receiver: the device that receives the message
Computer, workstation, telephone handset, television, ….
Components
4. Medium: The physical path by which a message travels
from sender to receiver
twisted pair, coaxial cable, fiber-optic, radio waves
Components
5. Protocol: a set of rules that govern data communications
An agreement between the communicating devices
Devices may be connected but not communicating (no
protocol)
Arabic speaker with Japanese speaker
Data Representation
Text
Numbers
Images
Audio
Video
Data Flow
Communication between two devices can be:
Simplex
Half-Duplex
Full-Duplex
Data Flow
Simplex (one way street)
The communication is unidirectional
Only one device on a link can transmit; the other can
only receive
Use the entire capacity of the channel to send data
Example: Keyboards, Monitors
Data
Data Flow
Half-Duplex (one-lane with two-directional traffic)
Each station can both transmit and receive, but not at the
same time
When one device is sending, the other can only receive, and
vice versa
The entire capacity of a channel is taken over by the
transmitting device
Example: Walkie-talkies
Data
Data
Data Flow
Full-Duplex (Duplex) (two-way street)
Both stations can transmit and receive at same time
Signals going in either direction sharing the capacity of the link
Sharing can occur in two ways:
Link has two physically separate transmission paths
One for sending and the other for receiving
The capacity of the channel is divided between signals travelling in both
directions
Example: Telephone network
Data
Data
Exercise
What mode of data flow the following exhibits shows?
Data
Data
Answer: Full-Duplex
Network
• Network Performance
• Characteristics of a Network
• Physical Structures
What is a Network?
Α NETWORK is simply defined as something that connects
things together for a specific purpose.
The term network is used in a variety of contexts, including
telephone, television, computer, or even people networks.
A COMPUTER NETWORK connects two or more devices
together to share information and services, including
Websites
Email and messaging
Characteristics of a Network
Performance
Transit time: Amount of time required for
a message to travel from one device to
another
Response time: Elapsed time between an
inquiry and a response
Characteristics of a Network
Performance
Performance is evaluated by two contradictory
networking metrics:
Throughput (high): a measure of how fast
we can actually send data through a network
Delay (low)
Terminology
The throughput or bandwidth of a channel is the
number of bits it can transfer per second
The latency or delay of a channel is the time that
elapses between sending information and the earliest
possible reception of it
Characteristics of a Network
Speed
Cost
Security
Availability
Scalability
Reliability
Characteristics of a Network
Speed
Speed is a measure of how fast data is
transmitted over the network.
A more precise term would be data
rate.
Characteristics of a Network
Cost
Cost indicates the general cost of
components, installation, and
maintenance of the network.
Characteristics of a Network
Security
Security indicates how secure the network
is, including the data that is transmitted
over the network.
The subject of security is important and
constantly evolving.
Characteristics of a Network
Availability
Availability is a measure of the probability
that the network will be available for use
when required
([Number of minutes in a year – downtime] / [Number of minutes in a year]) * 100 = Percentage
availability
For example, if a network is unavailable for 15 minutes a year because of network outages, its
percentage availability will be 99.9971
Characteristics of a Network
Scalability
Scalability indicates how well the network can
accommodate more users and data transmission
requirements.
If a network is designed and optimized for just the
current requirements, it can be very expensive and
difficult to meet new needs when the network grows.
Characteristics of a Network
Reliability
Reliability indicates the dependability of the
components (routers, switches, PCs, and so on)
that make up the network. Reliability is often
measured as a probability of failure, or mean
time between failures (MTBF).
Physical Structures:
Type of connection
Network: Two or more devices connected through links
Link: Communication pathway that transfers data from one device two
another
Two devices must be connected in some way to the same link at the same
time. Two possible types:
Point-to-Point
Multipoint
Type of connection
Point-to-Point
Dedicated link between two devices
Entire capacity of the link is reserved for transmission between those two
devices
Use an actual length of wire or cable
Type of connection
Point-to-Point
Other options, such as microwave or satellite is possible
Example: Television remote control
Type of connection
Multipoint (multidrop)
More than two devices share a single link
Capacity is shared
Channel is shared either spatially or temporally
Spatially shared: if devices use link at same time
Timeshare: if users must take turns
Physical Topology
The way a network is laid out physically
Two or more links form a topology
The topology of a network is the geometric
representation of the relationship of all the links and
linking devices (nodes) to one another.
Four topologies : Mesh, Star, Bus, and Ring
Physical Topology
Physical Topology
Mesh
Every link is dedicated point-to-point link
The term dedicated means that the link carries traffic only between the two
devices it connects
Physical Topology
Mesh
To link n devices fully connected mesh has:
n ( n - 1) / 2 physical channels (Full-Duplex)
Every Device on the network must have
n - 1 ports
Physical Topology
Mesh
Example:
8 devices in mesh has links: n(n-1) / 2
number of links = 8 (8-1)/2 = 28
number of ports per device = n – 1 = 8 –1 = 7
Physical Topology
Mesh
Advantages
Each connection carry its own data load (no traffic problems)
A mesh topology is robust
Privacy or security
Fault identification and fault isolation
Physical Topology
Mesh:
Disadvantages
Big amount of cabling
Big number of I/O ports
Installation and reconnection are difficult
Sheer bulk of the wiring can be greater than the available space
Hardware connect to each I/O could be expensive
Mesh topology is implemented in a limited fashion;
e.g., as backbone of hybrid network
Physical Topology
Star:
Dedicated point-to-point to a central controller (Hub)
No direct traffic between devices
The control acts as an exchange
Physical Topology
Star
Advantages
Less expensive than mesh
(1 Link + 1 port per device)
Easy to install and reconfigure
Less cabling
Additions, moves, and deletions required one connection
Robustness : one fail does not affect others
Easy fault identification and fault isolation
Physical Topology
Star
Disadvantages
Dependency of the whole topology on one single point (hub)
More cabling than other topologies ( ring or bus)
Used in LAN
Physical Topology
Bus
It is multipoint
One long cable acts as a backbone
Used in the design of early LANS, and Ethernet LANs
Physical Topology
Bus
Nodes connect to cable by drop lines and taps
Signal travels along the backbone and some of its energy is transformed to
heat
Limit of number of taps and the distance between taps
Physical Topology
Bus
Advantages
Ease of installation
Less cables than mesh, star topologies
Disadvantages
Difficult reconnection and fault isolation ( limit of taps)
Adding new device requires modification of backbone
Fault or break stops all transmission
The damaged area reflects signals back in the direction of the origin, creating noise in both
directions
Physical Topology
Ring
Each device has dedicated point-to-point connection with only the
two devices on either side of it
A signal is passed along the ring in one direction from device to
device until it reaches its destination
Each devices incorporates a Repeater
Physical Topology
Ring
Advantages
Ease of install and reconfigure
Connect to immediate neighbors
Move two connections for any moving (Add/Delete)
Easy of fault isolation
Disadvantage
Unidirectional
One broken device can disable the entire network. This weakness can be
solved by using a dual ring or a switch capable of closing off the break
Physical Topology
Hybrid Topology
Example: having a main star topology with each branch connecting several stations in
a bus topology
Network vs Internet
A network is a collection of connected computing devices.
An internet is a network of interconnected networks (inter-network).
Self Study
Internet History
internet, Intranet, Extranet
