Fundamentals of Computer Network

• A Network : Network is a communication

system which supports many users.
• A Network is any interconnection of two or
more stations that wish to communicate.
• The interconnection of one to many stations
is called as networking.
• Each station communication network is called
Node
 Need of computer Network
• For sharing resources such as printers among
all the users.
• For sharing of software's and databases.
• To facilitate communication from one
computer to other.
• To exchange of data and among the users via
the network.
 Need of computer Network
• For sharing of information over the
geographically wide areas.
• For connecting the computer between various
buildings of
an organization.
• For education purpose
 Application of Computer network
• Industry (design purpose, creating virtual sample , product
, interior design ,video conferencing , stock market )
• Education( online class , examination , e-books )
• Government (data processing , maintaining a database)
• Banking(online banking)
• Business (online shopping , online marketing)
• Entertainment
• Training
• Arts
• Science and engineering(R& D)
 Benefits of Computer network
• A network is supposed to provide its uses
some unique capabilities , better than what
the individual machines and their s/w can
provide.
• The benefits provided by n/w to the users can
be divided into two categories as follows :
• 1. Sharing
• 2.Connectivity
 Benefits of Computer network
• Sharing information: Networking allows the
users to access the data stored on others
computers.
• Sharing resources : Networks allows the users
to share various types of resources
A. Shared hardware resources
B. Shared software resources
 Benefits of Computer network
• Increased Speed : network provide a very fast
means for sharing and transfer of files.
• Reduced cost
• Improved security : protect the programs and
files from illegal copying.
• Centralized software management
• Electronic mail
• Flexible access.
 Categories of Networks

• Local Area Networks (LANs)

– Short distances
– Designed to provide local interconnectivity
• Wide Area Networks (WANs)
– Long distances
– Provide connectivity over large areas
• Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) : A MAN is basically
bigger version of LAN . It is designed to extend over a larger area such
as an entire city
– Provide connectivity over areas such as a city, a campus
LAN connecting 12 computers to a hub
 Definition
• The Local Area Network(LAN) is a network
which is designed to operate over a small
physical area such as an office , factory or
group of buildings.
• The exchange of information and sharing of
resources becomes easy because of LAN.
 Advantages of LAN
• High reliability
• Failure of computers does not affect the entire
LAN.
• It is possible to add a new computer easily
• The transmission of data is at very high rate.
• Sharing of peripheral devices such as printer is
possible.
WANs: a switched WAN and a point-to-point WAN
 Peer to peer Network
• In Peer to peer Network , every computer can
function as both a client and server . This
eliminates the need of expensive server.
• Peer to peer Network does not have a central
control system. There is no server in peer
networks.
• Use less expensive computer hardware.
• Easy to administer
• No NOS required
 Client –Server Network
• In Client –Server Network relationship , certain
computer acts as server and others acts as clients.
• Definition : A Client is a computer running a
program that requests services from a server. The
individual workstations in a network are clients.
• A Server is simply a computer that makes the
network resources available and provides service to
other computers when they request for it.
Advantages Client –Server Network
• The network is secure
• Better performance
• Centralized backup
• Higher reliability
 Applications
• Email clients
• Web browser
• FTP(File transfer) clients.
 Types of servers
• File server : This server provide services like storing ,
retrieving and moving the data.
• Print server : Controls and manage printing on the
network.
• Application server : Expensive s/w s shared by users in
n/w with the help of Application server
• Message server : It coordinate the interaction between
users , documents and applications.
• Database server : It allows the users to access the
centralized strong database.