Data Communication

(CS-506)
 Topics

 What is Network
 Types of Network
 Local Area Network (LAN)
 Network

 A network consists of two or more computers that are

linked together in order to share resources exchange files,
data and applications.

 The computers on a network may be linked through

cables, telephone lines, radio waves, or infrared light
beams.
 Local Area Network (LAN)

 A LAN is a network that is used for communicating

among computer devices, usually within an office
buildings or homes.

 LAN’s enable the sharing of resources such as files or

hardware devices that may be needed by multiple users.
 Local Area Network (LAN)

 Is limited in size, typically spanning a few hundred meters,

and no more than a mile.

 Is fast, with speeds from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps.

 Requires little wiring, typically a single cable connecting to

each device.
 Local Area Network (LAN)

 LAN’s can be either wired or wireless. Twisted pair,

coaxial or fiber optic cable can be used in wired LAN’s.

 Every LAN uses a protocol – a set of rules that governs

how packets are configured and transmitted.
 Local Area Network (LAN)

 Has lower cost compared to MAN’s or WAN’s

 Nodes in a LAN are linked together with a certain

topology.

 These topologies include: Bus, Ring, Star.

Local Area Network (LAN)
Local Area Network (LAN)
 Types of LAN

 Two most common types of LAN are:

1. Cable based LAN
2. Private Branch Exchange (PBX)
 Cable based LAN

 In the cable based LAN all the node are connected by

cable media and signals transmitted through the cables.

 Any type of cable are used in LAN such as coaxial,

twisted-pair and fiber optical cable.
 Private Branch Exchange

 In the private branch exchange many branches of a

companies connected by telephone lines.
 LAN Transmission Methods

 Commonly three LAN data transmissions methods are:

o Unicast
o Multicast
o Broadcast
 LAN Transmission Methods

 Unicast transmission a single packet is sent from the source to a

destination on a network.

 Multicast transmission consists of a single data packet that is copied

and sent to the specific subset of nodes on the network.

 Broadcast transmission consists of a single data packets that is copied

and sent to all nodes on the network.
 Types of LAN Models

 Peer to Peer:
 In a peer to peer network, the "peers" are computer systems
which are connected to each other via the Internet.
 Files can be shared directly between systems on the network
without the need of a central server.
Peer to Peer
   
 Types of LAN Models

 Client-Server based:
 A computer network in which one centralized, powerful computer
(called the server) is a hub to which many less powerful personal
computers or workstations (called clients) are connected.

 The clients run programs and access data that are stored on the server.
   
Client Server Based
 Advantages of LAN

 Resource Sharing: Computer hardware resources like printers, modems and hard
disks can be shared with the help of local area networks. This will reduce cost of
hardware purchases.

 Software Application Sharing: It is cheaper to use same software over network

instead of purchasing separate licensed software for each client in a network.

 Easy and Cheap Communication: Data and messages can easily be transferred
over networked computers. It saves a lot of time and money.
 Advantages of LAN

 Centralized Data: The data of all network users can be saved on hard disk of the server
computer.

 Data Security: Since, data is stored on server computer centrally, it will be easy to
manage data at only one place and the data will be more secure too, because of more
security for the server computer.

 Internet Sharing: Local Area Network provides the facility to share a single internet
connection among all the LAN users.
 Disadvantages of LAN

 Expensive To Install: Although the LAN will save cost over time due to shared computer resources
but the initial setup costs of installing Local Area Networks is high. This is because any
organization that will setup a network, will have to purchase necessary hardware equipment for
networking.

 Privacy Violations: The LAN administrator has the rights to check personal data files of each and
every LAN user. Moreover he can check the internet history and computer use history of the LAN
users.
 Disadvantages of LAN

 Data Security Threat: Unauthorized users can access important data of an

organization if centralized data repository is not secured properly by the LAN
administrator. LAN Administrator is responsible for the security of the whole data
resources in an organization.

 Covers Limited Area: Local Area Network covers a small area like one office,
one building or a group of nearby buildings.