Tejal Borase

Experiment 1

AIM: To study the different networking devices and transmission

media.
Theory:

Network:
Network consists of two or more computers that are linnked with each other in
order to share resources, exchange files, or allow electronic communications between
different computers.
The computers on a network may be connected through cables, telephone lines, radio
waves, satellites, or infrared light beams.

Types of Network:
• LAN(Local Area Network)
• WAN(Wide Area Network)
• MAN(Metropolitan Area Netwo)

Computer Network:
Computer network is a group of computer systems or other compuer hardware
devices that are connected together through communication channels(i.e cables,
telephone lines etc.) to provide communication and resourse sharing among a wide
range of users.

Computer Networking Devices:

Computer Networking Devices, are physical devices which are required for
communication and interaction between devices on a computer network. Specifically,
they mediate data in a computer network.

Types of Networking Devices:

1. HUB: Hub is a centerlized device that connects multiple devices in a

single LAN network. Hub broadcast data to all the connected devices in
its network. When Hub recieves a signal from any of the connected
device, except that port, it forwards that signal to all the connected
devices from the remaining ports. Hub has one or more uplink ports that
are used to connect it with another Hub.

1.1 Device
 1.2 Hub Topology

Types of Hub:
Active Hub: It also works same as the passive Hub works. But
before forwarding the data signals, it amplifies them. The active
Hub is also known as the repeater.

Passive Hub: It forwards data signals in the same format in which

it receives them. It does not change the data signal in any manner.

Advantages:
• It can extend total distance of the network.
• It does not affect performance of the network seriously.
• It is cheaper.
• It can connect different media types.

Disadvantages:
• It does not have mechanisms such as collision detection and
retransmission of packets.
• It does not operate in full duplex mode.
• It can not connect different network architectures such as token
ring and ethernet etc.
• It can not filter information i.e. it passes packets to all the
connected segments.

2. Repeater: It is an electronic media that is used to receive signals and

then retransmit it. They are used to extend transmissions so that
the signal can cover longer distance.
 2.1 Device 2.2 Working of Repeater

Advantages:
• Repeaters can help to extend a network total distance.
• It does not cause any harm to the network.
• Certain repeaters can connect networks using different physical
media.
• It is cost-effective

Disadvantages:
• Repeaters are unable to reduce network traffic.
• Limitation in the number of repeaters.
• It cannot connect different network architectures.
• It does not segment the network.

3. Bridge: It is used to divide a large network into smaller segments. A

bridge operates at data link layer. It has a single input and single output
port, thus making it a 2 port device.
Types of Bridges:

 Transparent Bridges :- These are the bridge in which the stations

are completely unaware of the
bridge’s existence i.e. whether or not a bridge is added or deleted
from the network , reconfiguration of
the stations is unnecessary. These bridges makes use of two pro-
cesses i.e. bridge forwarding and bridge learning.

 Source Routing Bridges :- In these bridges, routing operation is

performed by source station and the frame specifies which route to
follow. The hot can discover frame by sending a specical frame
called discovery frame, which spreads through the entire network
using all possible paths to destination.
 3.1 Device 3.2 Bridge Topology

Advantages:
 Bridges can extend a network by acting as a repeater.
 Bridges can reduce network traffic on a segment by subdividing net-
work communications.
 Bridges increase the available bandwidth to individual nodes be-
cause fewer nodes share a collision domain.
 Bridges reduce collisions.

Disadvantages:
 It is slower compare to repeaters due to filtering.
 It does not filter broadcasts.
 It is more expensive compare to repeaters.

4. GATEWAY:
A gateway is a passage to connect two networks together that may
work upon different networking models. They works as the mes-
senger that take data from one system, interpret it, and transfer it
to another system. Gateways are also called protocol converters
and can operate at any network layer. Gateways are generally
more complex than switch or router.
 4.1 Device 4.2 Gateway topology

Advantages:
 Used to expand the network.
 Gateway is a server so it provides some security.
 We can connect two different types of networks.
 Effectively handles the traffic problems.
 And also establishes connections between internal network and external
network.

Disadvantages:
 Not an intelligent device. So noise prevention is not done.
 Never filter out the data
 Some what costly
 Protocol conversion is done so transmission rate is slower.
 Some what hard to handle.

5. Switch: A switch, is a high-speed device that receives incoming data

packets and redirects them to their destination on a local area net-
work .Switch works on the data link layer. Switch can perform error
checking before forwarding data.
 5.1 Device 5.2 Switch Topology

Advantages:
 They increase the available bandwidth of the network.
 They help in reducing workload on individual host PCs.
 They increase the performance of the network.
 Switches can be connected directly to workstations.

Disadvantages:
 They are more expensive compare to network bridges.
 Network connectivity issues are difficult to be traced through the
network switch.
 Broadcast traffic may be troublesome.

6. Router: A router is a device like a switch that routes data packets based
on their IP addresses. Router is mainly a Network Layer device. Routers
normally connect LANs and WANs together and have a dynamically up-
dating routing table based on which they make decisions on routing the
data packets.
.

6.1 Router Topology

Advantages:
 It provides connection between different network architec-
tures such as ethernet & token ring etc.
 It can choose best path across the internetwork using dy-
namic routing algorithms.
 It can reduce network traffic by creating collision domains
and also by creating broadcast domains.
 It provides sophisticated routing, flow control and traffic
isolation.

Disadvantages:
 They operate based on routable network protocols.
 They are expensive compare to other network devices.
 Dynamic router communications can cause additional net-
work overhead. This results into less bandwidth for user
data.
 They are slower as they need to analyze data from layer-1
through layer.
 They require considerable amount of initial configurations.
Transmission Media:
In data communication terminology, a transmission medium is a physical
path between the transmitter and the receiver.It is a channel thorough which
data is send from one place to another.

Transmission Media is classified into two types:

1. Guided Media.
2. Unguided Media.

1. Guided Media:It is called as wired media. Signals being transmitted

are directed and confined in a narrow pathway by using physical
links.
Features:
 High Speed
 Secure
 Used for shorter distance.

Types:
I. Twisted Pair Cable: It consists of 2 separately insulated
conductor wires wound about each other. Several such pairs
are bundled together in a protective sheath. They are the
most widely used Transmission Media.
Advantages:
 Easy to install
 Least Expensive
 High Speed Capacity
Diadvantages:
 Short distance transmission due to attenuation
 Susceptible to external interference

II. Coaxial Cable: It has an outer plastic covering containing 2

parallel conductors each having a separate insulated protec-
tion cover.Coaxial cable transmits information in two
modes: Baseband mode and Broadband mode.Cable TVs
and analog television networks widely use Coaxial cables.
Advantages:
 High bandwidth
 Inexpensive
 Easy to install and expand
 Better noise immunity.
Disadvantages:
 Single cable failure can disrupt the entire network
 III. Optical Fiber Cable: It uses the concept of reflection of
light through a core made up of glass or plastic. The core is
surrounded by a less dense glass or plastic covering called
the cladding. It is used for transmission of large volumes of
data.
Advantages:
 Light weight
 Less signal attenuation
 Increase capacity and bandwidth

Disadvantages:
 High cost
 Fragile
 Difficult to install and configure

2. Unguided Media:
It is also called as Wireless transmission media. No physical me-
dium is required for the transmission of electromagnetic signals.
Features:
 Signal is broadcasted through air
 Less Secure
 Used for larger distances

Types of Unguided Media:

I. Radiowaves: These are easy to generate and can penetrate
through buildings. The sending and receiving antennas need
not be aligned. Frequency Range:3KHz – 1GHz, radios and
cordless phones use Radiowaves for transmission.

II. Microwaves:In this it requires that the sending and receiv-

ing antennas need to be properly aligned with each other.
The distance covered by the signal is directly proportional
to the height of the antenna. Frequency Range:1GHz –
300GHz. These are majorly used for mobile phone commu-
nication and television distribution.

III. Infrared: Infrared waves are used for very short distance
communication. They cannot penetrate through obstacles.
This prevents interference between systems. Frequency
Range:300GHz – 400THz. It is used in TV remotes, wire-
less mouse, keyboard, printer, etc.