Data Communication &

Networking

Week 1

Engr. Dr. Haroon Rasheed

Associate Professor Bahria University

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The Challenges of Data Networks

 represent all types of information as bits.

 move the bits
In large quantities,
everywhere,
cheaply,
Securely,
with quality of service,
….

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Today’s Networks are complex!

 hosts
 routers
 links of various media
 applications
 protocols
 hardware, software

Tomorrow’s will be even more!

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 Internet Physical Infrastructure
Residential access
◦ Cable
◦ Fiber
◦ DSL ISP Backbone ISP ISP
◦ Wireless

 The Internet is a network of

networks
 Each individually administrated
Campus access, network is called an Autonomous
e.g., System (AS)
 Ethernet
 Wireless
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Early Communication Systems
 point-to-point links
 directly connect together the users wishing to
communicate
 use dedicated communication circuit
 if distance between users increases beyond the
length of the cable, the connection is formed by a
number of sections connected end-to-end in series.

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 Data Networks

 set of interconnected nodes exchange information

 sharing of the transmission circuits= "switching".
 many links allow more than one path between
every 2 nodes.
 network must select an appropriate path for each
required connection.

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Computer Network
Multiple computers are connected together
to share information and other resources.

Examples of Computer Network Usage

◦ sending an email message to a remote computer using the
SMTP protocol
◦ browsing documents residing on a remote computer using
the HTTP protocol
◦ downloading or uploading files to a remote computer using
the FTP protocol

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Protocols
 A protocol is a set of rules and formats that govern
the communication between communicating peers.
 The key elements of a protocol are
 Syntax: data format and signal level.

 Semantics: control information for coordination

and error handling.

 Timing: speed matching and sequencing.

 Necessary for any function that requires cooperation

between peers.
 A protocol provides a service.
 Peer entities use a protocol to provide a service to a
higher-level peer entity.
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 Protocol Layers
 A network that provides many services needs many
protocols.
 Some services are independent, But others depend
on each other.
 A Protocol may use another protocol as a step in its
execution.
 This form of dependency is called layering.
 Hence, a protocols defines an
 Interface to higher layers
 Interface to peer
 Format and order of messages
 Actions taken on receipt of a message

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 Advantages of Layering

 Explicit structure allows identification &

relationship of complex system’s pieces
◦ layered reference model for discussion

 Modularization eases maintenance &

updating of system
◦ change of implementation of layer’s service
transparent to rest of system

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 Open protocols and systems
 A set of protocols is open if
◦ protocol details are publicly available
◦ changes are managed by an organization whose
membership and transactions are open to the public

 A system that implements open protocols is

called an open system

 International Organization for Standards (ISO)

prescribes a standard to connect open systems
◦ open system interconnect (OSI)

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 The seven Layers
There are only 5 !!

Application Application

Presentation Application Presentation

Session
Session

Transport Transport

Network Network Network

Data Link Data Link Data Link

Physical Physical Physical

End system Intermediate End system

system
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Contd.

 Physical: how to transmit bits

 Data link: how to transmit frames
 Network: how to route packets
 Transport: how to send packets end2end
with flow and congestion control
 Session: how to tie flows together
 Presentation: byte ordering, security
 Application: everything else

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 The seven Layers - protocol stack

data

Application AH data Application

Presentation PH data Presentation

Session SH data Session

Transport TH data Transport

Network Network NH data Network

Data Link Data Link DH+data+DT Data Link

Physical Physical bits Physical

Session and presentation layers are not so important, and are often ignored
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 Source Destination

Application Application
Identical message

Transport Transport
Identical message

Network Network
Identical message

Data-Link Data-Link

Network
 OSI Layers and Locations

Application

Presentation

Session

Transport

Network

Data Link

Physical

Host Switch Router Host

L -1; 9-11-02 © Srinivasan Seshan, 2002 17

Types of Computer Networks
According to the network access policy
Private
 Organizations having many computers usually
connect them in the form of private networks.
 Access to these network is restricted to authorized
computers only.
 This allows computers from within the organization
to exchange info, but keeps the info private and
protected from outsiders.
 All equipment on a private network is generally for the
exclusive use of that organization

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Contd.
Public
 All networks that are not private, are … public.
Example Internet.
 Communication equipment used in these networks is
generally being used by users belonging to several
(possibly thousands of) organizations as well as
those belonging to no organization.

Virtual Private Network

 From the user’s point-of-view, a VPN looks like a
secure, private network.
 VPNs use public telecom infrastructure, maintaining
privacy through security procedures.

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Contd.
 VPNs provide secure network connections for
distance computers without using dedicated,
private channels to supply the connection.
 Key benefit of VPNs over conventional PNs: Lower
cost.
According to the distance b/w nodes
LAN: (Local Area Network)
 A network of computers located in the same
building or a handful of nearby buildings. For
example Computer network of a University
campus.

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Contd.
WAN: (Wide Area Networks)
 A network in which computers are separated by
great distances, typically across cities or even
continents
 May consist of several interconnected LANs
 Example:
◦ The network connecting the ATM of a bank
located in various cities.
◦ A network connecting the local and oversea
offices of a SW house.
◦ Internet

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