A.Y.

1441-1442
Faculty of Sciences/Northern Borders University
2020-2021

Chapter I

Introduction to Computer Networks

Salem.Belhaj@nbu.edu.sa
Computer Science Department

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 Key concepts
• Telecommunication is communication at a distance by
technological means, particularly through electrical signals or
electromagnetic waves

• A basic telecommunication system consists of three primary

units that are always present in some form:

– A transmitter, takes information and converts it to a signal.

– A transmission medium, also called the "physical channel" that

carries the signal.

– A receiver, takes the signal from the channel and converts it

• Examples: Radio, Telephone, TV, etc.

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 Classification of networks based on the distance
• Networks can be divided into several categories, according to
the distances covered

– Multiple processor system

– PAN (Personal Area Network)

• Example: Bluetooth

– LAN (Local Area Network)

• Example: Ethernet, WiFi

– MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

• Example: WiMax

– WAN (Wide Area Network)

• Example: Internet

• Reminder:
– 1MB =1 000 000 bytes =106 bytes

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 Why a Network?

• Ressources sharing (data, printer,… )

• Increase processing capacity

• Reduce the cost of communication

• Faster data access

• Broadcast

• Unicast

 More effective communication and organization

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Network Devices

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Network Connections

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 PAN (Personal Area Network)

• Let devices communicate over the range of a person

• Example: A wireless network (Bluetooth) that connects a computer

with its peripherals

Bluetooth PAN configuration

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 LAN (Local Area Network)
• A LAN is a privately owned network that operates within and nearby a
building like a home, office factory or University.
– Restricted in size
– High throughput
• Wired LANs run at speeds of 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps
– Recent LAN reach higher flow rates up to 10Gbit/s  HSLAN (High Speed
LAN )
• Low delay: nanoseconds< delay < microseconds
• Very few errors
• When LANs are used by companies, they are called enterprise
networks.

Wireless LAN IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) Wired LAN: Switched Ethernet

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 MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
• A MAN may covers a city
• The cost of a MAN is greater than that of a LAN
• The error rate is relatively low
• Low delay
• Simple routing

• Examples:
– Cable television networks available in many cities
– IEEE 802.16 known as WiMax

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 WAN (Wide Area Network)
• Generally extended > 100 Km

• Allows the interconnection of LANs and MANs across a country, a

continent or the planet

• The infrastructure is in general public

• Modems are one of the basic elements of WANs

• Example: Internet

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 Topologies
• Network topology is the arrangement of the various
elements (links, nodes, etc.) of a computer network

• The topological structure of a network may be depicted

physically or logically

– Physical topology is the placement of the network components,

including device location and cable installation

– Logical topology illustrates how data flows within a network,

regardless of its physical design

• During this course we will be limited to the basic

topologies:
– point-to-point,
– bus,
– star,
– ring or circular.
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 Point-to-point
• The simplest topology with a permanent link between
two endpoints

• There are two types of point-to-point topology

– Permanent (dedicated): a point-to-point communications channel

permanently associated with the two endpoints

• Example: Two computer connected by a cable

– Switched: Using circuit-switching or packet-switching

technologies, a point-to-point circuit can be set up dynamically
and dropped when no longer needed

• Example: conventional telephony

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 Bus Topology
• Each node (machine) is connected to a single cable

• Each computer or server is connected to the single bus

cable

• A signal from the source travels in both directions to all

machines connected on the bus cable until it finds the
intended recipient

Bus

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Bus Topology

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 Star Topology
• Each host is connected to a central hub or switch with a point-to-
point connection
• All of the traffic that transverses the network passes through the
central hub
• The hub acts as a signal booster or repeater which in turn allows
the signal to travel greater distances.
• Widely implemented
• Hub is the single point of failure

PABX Matra
MC6500

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Star Topology

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 Ring Topology
• Each host is connected to the network in a closed loop or ring
• Each host has a unique address that is used for identification
• The signal passes through each machine or computer
connected to the ring in one direction
• Ring topologies typically utilize a token passing scheme, used
to control access to the network
• By utilizing this scheme, only one machine can transmit on
the network at a time

Ring

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Ring Topology

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 The OSI reference model
• This model is developed by the International Standards
Organization (ISO)
• The OSI model has seven layers

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