Computer
Networks
Computer Network 2
A Computer Network is an interconnected
collection of autonomous computers that are
capable of exchanging information
It allows communication and collaboration
between users
The most elementary computer network consists
of two computers communicating over a cable
We need computer networks for;
sharing of resources
sharing of data
sharing of ideas
Computer Network 3
Uses of computer networks;
Email
World Wide Web
Video conferencing
File Transfer
Remote control of robots and machines
Webcasting
Distributed programs and applications
Banking
Telephone
Computer Network 4
Computer networks are broadly classified into two
types;
Local Area Network (LAN)
A local area network (LAN) is a collection of devices
connected together in one physical location, such as
a building, office, or home.
computers are close to each other
normally contained in one office or building
MAN (Metropolitan Area Networks)
This type of network covers an area of a city. It is
usually used to connect to or more LANs in a city or
town.
Wide Area Networks (WAN)
Several LANs connected with each other
spans over a large geographic area
typically use public or leased lines
PANs (Personal Area Networks)
Computer Network 6
Computer networks are designed in
two ways;
Client/Server network
nodes and server(s) share data
roles
server(s) control what the node
accesses
nodes (also called clients) can
be any network device
Peer to peer networks
all nodes have equal access
rights and control their resources
nodes access resources on other
nodes
normally used for small networks
Computer Network 7
Computer networks are structured in four ways;
Bus, Star, Ring, and Mesh
These are also called Network Topologies (the
way computers are linked together in a network)
Computer Network
8
Bus Topology
also called linear bus
one wire connects all nodes
terminator ends the wires
Advantages
easy to setup and extend
small amount of wire
Disadvantages
Slow
easy to crash
Computer Network
9
Star Topology
all nodes connect to a centralize
device called hub/switch
data is first sent to hub/switch which
sends packet to destination
most common topology
Advantages
easy to setup, very flexible, and
reliable
one cable can not crash the network
centralize management
Disadvantages
one hub crashing downs entire
network
uses lots of cable
Computer Network 10
Ring Topology
each node is connected to the next, with the last one
connecting to the first one
a token/basket is used to transmit data
nodes must wait for token to send/transmit data
Advantages
time to send data is known
every computer is given equal access
no data collisions
Disadvantages
slow and difficult to troubleshoot
requires lots of cable
Computer Network
Tree Topology
Combine the characteristics
of bus and star topologies . a
"tree topology" is one in
which all nodes are either
directly or indirectly
connected to the main
bus cable.
Advantages
1. Easier detection of error.
2. Failure of a solo node will
not disturb the other nodes.
3.We can expand tree
topology easily.
Disadvantages
If the main cable of the
topology collapses, the whole
network will also collapse.
Computer Network 12
Mesh Topology
all computers connected together
each node is connected to every other
node
Advantage
data will always be delivered
High security
Disadvantages
requires more cable than any other
topology
hard to setup and extend
Computer Network 13
The physical path through which computers send
and receive signals is called Transmission Media or
network media
It carries the signal from one computer to another
It is of two types, Wired and Wireless
Three types of cables (or wires)
Twisted-pair cable
Coaxial cable
Fibre-optic cable
Computer Network 14
Twisted-pair cable
also called Cat5 cable
four pairs of copper cable
twisted around each other
may be shielded from
interference
speeds range from 1 Mbps to
1,000 Mbps
most common type of cable
used in LANs
Computer Network 15
Coaxial cable
similar to cable TV wire
one wire runs through cable
shielded from interference
speeds up to 10 Mbps
Computer Network 16
Fibre-optic cable
data is transmitted with light
pulses
glass strand instead of cable
very secure but hard to install
speeds up to 100 Gbps.
Understanding Internet
Speed and Mbps
Broadband speeds are
measured in 'megabits per
second', often shortened to
Mb Mbits p/s or Mbps. Bits
are tiny units of data, with a
megabit representing a
million of them. The higher
the number of Mbps
(megabits per second) you
have, the speedier your
online activity should be.
Computer Network 18
Wireless
data transmitted through the
air
LANs use radio waves
WANs use microwave signals
easy to setup
difficult to secure
Computer Network 19
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi (or Wireless Fidelity) is the wireless local area
network technology
it uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed
Internet and network connections
Computer Network 20
Bluetooth
a wireless personal area networking technology
standard for exchanging data over short
distances
it provides 720 kbps data rate up to 10m
distance
Thank You