Computer Networks

Introduction A computer can consist of two computer connected together on a desk or it can consist of many Local Area Networks (LANs) connected together to form a Wide Area Network (WANs) across a continent. An arrangement of two or more inter connected computer is called a computer network.

Definition

When two or more autonomous computers are connected logically with the help of data communication devices and transmission media,then it is state of computer network. The basic purpose of making such a network is communication and resource sharing.

Advantages of computer Networks

Resource Sharing To Reduce Cost or Saving Money Improving the Performance Provide Communication Medium

Resource Sharing

Major goal of computer network is Resource Sharing To make all programs,pheripherals and data available to anyone computer on the network to all other computer in the network without regard to the physical locations of them.

To Reduce Cost or Saving Money

Resource sharing automatically reduces cost and hence money can be saved. The price of small computer is very less as compared to main frames. One goal of network to do same job in minimum cost in terms of money which is possible on large computers only which are very expensive.

Improving the Performance

Next goal of cmputer network is to improve accessibility as well as performance of a system. The performance can be improved by adding one or more processors to it as the work load on it grows.

Provide Communication Medium

Anther goal of computer network is to provide a powerful communication medium among widely separated people. It is easy for two or more people living for apart to work on same project by portioning it using a network. It makes speedy co-operation and enhances human-to-human communication.

Network models

Local area network (LAN)

A local area network (LAN) is a network that connects computers and devices in a limited geographical area such as home, school, computer laboratory, office building, or closely positioned group of buildings.

Wide area network (WAN)

A wide area network (WAN) is a computer network that covers a large geographic area such as a city, country, or spans even intercontinental distances, using a communications channel that combines many types of media such as telephone lines, cables, and air waves.

Metropolitan area network

A Metropolitan area network is a large computer network that usually spans a city or a large campus.

Network Components
Networking Media
Interconnecting Devices Computers

Networking Software
Applications

Networking Media

Networking media can be defined simply as the means by which signals (data) are sent from one computer to another (either by cable or wireless means).

Interconnecting Devices

HUB, Switches, Routers, Wireless Access Points, Modems etc.

Computers: Clients and Servers

In a client/server network arrangement, network services are located in a dedicated computer whose only function is to respond to the requests of clients.

The server contains the file, print, application, security, and other services in a central computer that is continuously available to respond to client requests.

Computers: Clients and Servers

Networking Protocol: TCP/IP

Applications
E-mail Searchable Data (Web Sites) E-Commerce News Groups Internet Telephony (VoIP) Video Conferencing Chat Groups Instant Messengers Internet Radio

Local Area Network

LANs are networks that connect computers and resources together in a buildings that are close together.

It is made for an organization and most of the times it is within

a single building.

The data rate in LAN is Mbps i.e. Mega bits per second.

Characteristics

Covers an area of less than 4 or 5 km Provides high speed data communication Physical interconnecting media is privately owned Low error rates or bugs

Uses simple data communication protocols

Components of LAN

Computers Graphic stations

User terminal stations or workstations

Cables Peripherals like plotter,printer,scanner etc. Network Interface Card

Examples of LAN protocols

Ethernet frame types

Media Access Control Layer Token Ring Logical Link Control Layer TCP/IP Asynchronous Transfer Mode

WIDE AREA NETWORK

Introduction

A computer network that spans a relatively large geographical area. Typically, a WAN consists of two or more local-area network(LAN) Computers connected to a wide-area network are often connected through public networks, such as the telephone system. They can also be connected through leased lines or satellites. The largest WAN in existence is the Internet.

Definition:

A WAN spans a large geographic area, such as a state, province or country. WANs often connect multiple smaller networks, such as local area networks (LANs) or metro area networks (MANs). The world's most popular WAN is the Internet. Some segments of the Internet, like VPN-based extranets, are also WANs in themselves. Finally, many WANs are corporate or research networks that utilize leased lines.

Conti

The wide area network, often referred to as a WAN, is a communications network that makes use of existing technology to connect local computer networks into a larger working network that may cover both national and international locations. This is in contrast to both the local area network and the metropolitan area network, which provides communication within a restricted geographic area.

WAN links are usually:

Dial up connection Dedicated connection - It is a permanent full time connection. When a dedicated connection is used, the cable is leased rather than a part of the cable bandwidth and the user has exclusive use. Switched network - Several users share the same line or the bandwidth of the line.

Advantages of a WAN

According to WAN Network we can communicate with different networks whose "net id" is unique., WAN provide the facility to communicate in long distance for the purposes of sharing information, i.e internet is good example of WAN.

Disadvantages of a WAN

The main disadvantage is that too much internet connection at on time will cause the wires to explede. these explosions may kill people. It costs a fortune.

METROPOLITAN AREA NETWORK METROPOLITAN (MAN)

AREA NETWORK
(MAN)

DEFINITION
It is a network that interconnects users with computer resources in a geographic area or region larger than that covered by even a large local area network (LAN) but smaller than the area covered by a wide area network (WAN)

Important features which discriminate MANs from LANs or WANs

The network size falls intermediate between LANs & WANs A MAN typically covers an area of between 5 to 50 km range Many MANs cover an area of the size of a city, although in some cases MANs may be as small as a group of buildings

A MAN (like a WAN) is not generally owned by a single organisation The MAN, its communications links and equipment are generally owned by either a consortium of users or by a network service provider who sells the service to the users

A MAN often acts as a high speed network to allow sharing of regional resourses It is also frequently used to provide a shared connection to others networks using a link to a WAN

Implementation of MAN provides transfer rates from 34Mbps to 150Mbps, which is not very slow as compared to LAN

The protocols that are used for MANs are quite different from those used for LANs
MAN uses dual queue dual bus protocol (DQDB)

MAN use broad band cables as transmission media.

In some cases they also use fiber optical cable as their transmission media

MAN adopted technologies from both LAN & WAN to serve its purpose

Some technologies used for MAN are ATM, FDDI, DQDB & SMDS

The key MAN protocols & technologies

ATM : Asynchronous Transfer Mode DQDB: Distributed Queue Dual Bus

FDDI : Fiber Distributed Data Interface

SMDS : Switched Multimegabit Data Service

ADVANTAGES
Sharing of resources such as printers; hence cost effective Can send local emails