Introduction:
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a group of computers and devices
interconnected by communications channels that facilitate communications among users and
allows users to share resources and information. In the 1960s, the Advanced Research Projects
Agency (ARPA) started funding the design of the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network
(ARPANET) for the United States Department of Defense. It was the rst computer network in the
world.
Purpose :
Computer networks can be used for several purposes:
Facilitating communications. Using a network, people can communicate e ciently and easily via
email, instant messaging, chat rooms, telephone, video telephone calls, and video conferencing.
Sharing hardware. In a networked environment, each computer on a network may access and
use hardware resources on the network, such as printing a document on a shared network printer.
Sharing les, data, and information. In a network environment, authorized user may access data
and information stored on other computers on the network. The capability of providing access to
data and information on shared storage devices is an important feature of many networks.
Sharing software. Users connected to a network may run application programs on remote
computers.
Basic hardware components
All networks are made up of basic hardware building blocks to interconnect network nodes, such
as Network Interface Cards (NICs), Bridges, Hubs, Switches, and Routers.
Network interface cards:
A network card, network adapter, or NIC (network interface card) is a piece of computer hardware
designed to allow computers to communicate over a computer network. It provides physical
access to a networking medium and often provides a low-level addressing system through the
use of MAC addresses.
Repeaters:
A repeater is an electronic device that receives a signal, cleans it of unnecessary noise,
regenerates it, and retransmits it at a higher power level, or to the other side of an obstruction, so
fi
fi
ffi
that the signal can cover longer distances without degradation. In most twisted pair Ethernet
con gurations, repeaters are required for cable that runs longer than 100 meters. Repeaters work
on the Physical Layer of the OSI model.
Hubs:
A network hub contains multiple ports. When a packet arrives at one port, it is copied unmodi ed
to all ports of the hub for transmission. The destination address in the frame is not changed to a
broadcast address. It works on the Physical Layer of the OSI model.
Bridges:
A network bridge connects multiple network segments at the data link layer (layer 2) of the OSI
model. Bridges broadcast to all ports except the port on which the broadcast was received.
However, bridges do not promiscuously copy tra c to all ports, as hubs do, but learn which MAC
addresses are reachable through speci c ports. Once the bridge associates a port and an
address, it will send tra c for that address to that port only.
Bridges learn the association of ports and addresses by examining the source address of frames
that it sees on various ports. Once a frame arrives through a port, its source address is stored and
the bridge assumes that MAC address is associated
Bridges come in three basic types:
• Local bridges: Directly connect local area networks (LANs)
• Remote bridges: Can be used to create a wide area network (WAN) link between LANs. Remote
bridges, where the connecting link is slower than the end networks, largely have been replaced
with routers.
• Wireless bridges: Can be used to join LANs or connect remote stations to LANs.
Switches:
A network switch is a device that forwards and lters chunk of data communication(OSI layer 2
datagrams) between ports (connected cables) based on the MAC addresses in the packets.
Routers:
A router is an internetworking device that forwards packets between networks by processing
information found in the datagram or packet (Internet protocol information from Layer 3 of the OSI
Model).
TYPES OF NETWORKS:
Local area network
A local area network (LAN) is a network that connects computers and devices in a limited
geographical area such as home, school, computer laboratory, o ce building, or closely
positioned group of buildings.
The de ning characteristics of LANs, in contrast to WANs (Wide Area Networks), include their
higher data transfer rates, smaller geographic range, and no need for leased telecommunication
lines. Current Ethernet or other IEEE 802.3 LAN technologies operate at speeds up to 10 Gbit/s.
Intranets and extranets:
Intranets and extranets are parts or extensions of a computer network, usually a local area
network.
An intranet is a set of networks, using the Internet Protocol and IP-based tools such as web
browsers and le transfer applications that are under the control of a single administrative entity.
That administrative entity closes the intranet to all but speci c, authorized users. Most commonly,
an intranet is the internal network of an organization. A large intranet will typically have at least
one web server to provide users with organizational information.
An extranet is a network that is limited in scope to a single organization or entity and also has
limited connections to the networks of one or more other usually, but not necessarily, trusted
organizations or entities—a company's customers may be given access to some part of its
intranet—while at the same time the customers may not be considered trusted from a security
standpoint. Technically, an extranet may also be categorized as a CAN, MAN, WAN, or other type
fi
fi
fi
ffi
fi
fi
ffi
fi
ffi
fi
of network, although an extranet cannot consist of a single LAN; it must have at least one
connection with an external network.
Wide area network:
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. A WAN often
uses transmission facilities provided by common carriers, such as telephone companies. WAN
technologies generally function at the lower three layers of the OSI reference model: the physical
layer, the data link layer, and the network layer.
Several options are available for WAN connectivity. They are as
Metropolitan area network:
A Metropolitan area network is a large computer network that usually spans a city or a large
campus.
The IEEE 802-2001 standard describes a MAN as being:
“ A MAN is optimized for a larger geographical area than
a LAN, ranging from several blocks of buildings to entire cities. MANs can also depend on
communications channels
of moderate-to-high data rates. A MAN might be owned and operated by a single organization,
but it usually will be used
by many individuals and organizations. MANs might also be owned and operated as public
utilities. They will often provide means for internetworking of local networks.
