Computer Networks

Ahsan Imtiaz
Lecturer
Objectives
 Types of Networks
 3-Layers Network Design Model
 Collision Domain vs Broadcast Domain
 Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision
Detection (CSMA/CD)
 The Layered Approach
Types of Networks
• Networking Components
• Categories of Networks
 Network
When we connect two or more devices in order to access their shared
resources.
Networking Components
Classification of Computer
Networks

 Computer networks are classified based

on various factors. They includes:
 Geographical span
 Inter-connectivity
 Administration
 Architecture
Network Types

 Personal Area Network

 Local Area Network
 Metropolitan Area Network
 Wide Area Network
 Personal Area
Network
 personal to a user
 connectivity range up to 10
meters
 E.g. wireless computer
keyboard and mouse, Bluetooth
enabled headphones, wireless
printers and TV remotes
 Local Area Network

 spanned inside a building

 an organization’ offices,
schools, colleges or universities
 mostly operates on private IP
addresses
 Ethernet is most widely
employed LAN technology and
uses Star topology
Local Area
Network
When we communicate by
using our owned resources,
that communication is called
LAN.
 Metropolitan Area
Network
 generally expands
throughout a city
 works in between Local
Area Network and Wide
Area Network
Metropolitan
Area
Network
A Network Located within the
boundary of a metropolitan
city is called MAN usually
connected through MAN
service provider.
 Wide Area Network

 Covers a wide area which

may span across provinces
and even a whole country
 connectivity to MANs and
LANs
Wide Area
Network
When we communicate by
using the services offered by
some service provider, that
communication is called WAN.
 Comparison
LAN MAN WAN
 Confined to small areas  Confined to a larger area  A WAN can range from
i.e., it connects several than a LAN and can range 100km to 1000km and the
devices over a distance of from 10km to a few speed between cities can
5 to 10 km. 100km in length. vary form1.5 Mbps to 2.4
 High speed.  Slower than a LAN but Gbps.
 Most inexpensive faster than a WAN.  WAN supports large
equipment.  Operates at a speed of number of computers and
 Low error rates. 1.5 to 150 Mbps. multiple host machines.
 Data and hardware  Expensive equipment.  Various segments of
sharing between users  Moderate error rates. network are
owned by the user. interconnected using
 Operates at speeds sophisticated support
ranging from 10Mbps to devices like routers and
100Mbps. Now days 1000 gateways.
Mbps are available.  Usually the speed is much
3-Layers Network
Design Model
• Concept of hierarchy
• The Core Layer
• The Distribution Layer
• The Access Layer
Concept of hierarchy
3 Layers Network Design Model
The Core Layer
 The core layer is responsible for transporting large
amounts of traffic both reliably and quickly.
 The only purpose of the network’s core layer is to switch
traffic as fast as possible.
 Things we don’t want to do:
 Never do anything to slow down traffic
 Don’t support workgroup access here
 Avoid expanding the core
 Things that we want to achieve:
 Design the core for high reliability
 Design with speed in mind
 Select routing protocols with lower convergence
times
The Distribution Layer

 The distribution layer is sometimes referred to as the workgroup

layer and is the communication point between the access layer
and the core.
 Functions of the distribution layer are:
 Routing
 Implementing tools (such as access lists), packet filtering, and
queuing
 Implementing security and network policies, including address
translation and firewalls
 Redistributing between routing protocols, including static routing
 Routing between VLANs and other workgroup support functions
 Defining broadcast and multicast domains
The Access Layer

 The access layer controls user and workgroup access to internetwork

resources.
 The access layer is sometimes referred to as the desktop layer.
 The following are some of the functions to be included at the access
layer:
 Continued (from distribution layer) use of access control and policies
 Creation of separate collision domains (micro segmentation/switches)
 Workgroup connectivity into the distribution layer
 Device connectivity
 Resiliency and security services
 Advanced technology capabilities (voice/video, etc.)
Collision Domain vs
Broadcast Domain
Ethernet Networks

 Ethernet is a contention-based media access method that allows

all hosts on a network to share the same link’s bandwidth.
 Ethernet is a family of technologies that provides data-link and
physical specifications for controlling access to a shared network
medium.
 Ethernet has several benefits:
 Simple to install and manage
 Inexpensive
 Flexible and scalable
 Easy to interoperate between vendors
Ethernet Cabling Types

 Ethernet can be deployed

over three types of cabling:
 Coaxial cabling
 Twisted-pair cabling
 Fiber optic cabling
Ethernet Cabling Types: Co-axial

1. Thinnet
2. Thicknet
Thicknet has a wider diameter and more
shielding, which supports greater
distances. However, it is less flexible than
the smaller thinnet, and thus more
difficult to work with. A vampire tap is
used to physically connect devices to
thicknet, while a BNC connector is used
 Ethernet Cabling Types: Twisted-
pair
1. UTP (unshielded)
2. STP (shielded)
There are several categories of twisted-pair cable:
 Category 3 or Cat3: three twists per inch.
 Cat5: five twists per inch.
 Cat5e: five twists per inch; pairs are also twisted around
each other.
 Cat6: six twists per inch, with improved insulation.

An RJ45 connector is used to connect a device to a twisted-

pair cable.
Figure Twisted-pair cable
Figure UTP and STP cables
Figure UTP connector
Ethernet Cabling Types: fiber
optics
 Single mode fiber
 Multi mode fiber
Figure 6 Ethernet evolution through four generations
Ethernet Evolution

The physical standards for Ethernet are often labeled by

their transmission rate, signaling type, and media type.
For example, 100baseT represents the following:
 The first part (100) represents the transmission rate,
in Mbps.
 The second part (base) indicates that it is a baseband
transmission.
 The last part (T) represents the physical media type
(twisted-pair).
Ethernet – 10Mbps
Ethernet –100Mbps

In 1995, the IEEE formalized 802.3u, a 100 Mbps revision of Ethernet that
became known as Fast Ethernet.
Ethernet – Gigabit Ethernet
Ethernet – 10 Gigabit Ethernet
HUB
SWITCH
ROUTER
Remember That!

 Routers separate broadcast and collision

domains.
 Switches separate collision domains.
 Hubs belong to only one collision domain.
 Switches and hubs both only belong to one
broadcast domain.
Carrier Sense Multiple
Access with Collision
Detection (CSMA/CD)
CSMA/CD

 Ethernet networking uses a protocol called

Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision
Detection (CSMA/CD), which helps devices
share the bandwidth evenly while preventing
two devices from transmitting simultaneously
on the same network medium.
CSMA/CD

 When a collision occurs on an Ethernet LAN,

the following happens:
 A jam signal (32-bits) informs all devices that a
collision occurred.
 The collision invokes a random backoff algorithm.
 Each device on the Ethernet segment stops
transmitting for a short time until its backoff timer
expires.
 All hosts have equal priority to transmit after the
timers have expired.
The Layered Approach
 Layered Tasks
An example from the everyday life

Hierarchy?
Services
Why layered communication?

 To reduce complexity of communication

task by splitting it into several layered
small tasks
 Each layer has its own task
 Each layer has its own protocol