Computer Networks
&
Data Communication
1
Why Study Communications?
Communication technology has invaded virtually
every aspect of daily life, from professional and
educational uses to purely recreational ones.
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Applications
• Transferring data between computers. LAN / WAN
communications.
• Telephones /Fax / Cellular phones.
• Televisions.
• Voice and video communications.
• Teleconferencing.
• Information Services.
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Computer Communication Schematic
Computer A User-to-user Computer B
communication
Application Application
process process
Computer-to-computer
Communication communication Communication
subsystem subsystem
Computer-to-network communication
Data communication network
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Uses of Computer Networks
(for Companies)
•Resource sharing
•High reliability
•Saving money
•Scalability
•Communication medium
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Resource Sharing
Goal is to make all
programs
equipments &
data
available to anyone on the network
without regard to the physical location
of the resource and the user.
6
High Reliability
•Multiple copies of files
•Multiple CPUs
For military, banking, air traffic control,
nuclear power plant, and many other
applications, the ability to continue
operating in the face of hardware
problem is of utmost importance.
7
Saving Money
•Small computers have a much
better price/performance ratio than
large ones.
•Mainframes are faster than PCs but
they cost a thousand times more.
Mainframes Client – Server Systems
8
Scalability
Centralized Mainframes Client – Server Systems
should be replaced by • new clients and
a large one. • new servers
• expensive can be added as needed.
• disruption to the users
9
Uses of Computer Networks
(for People)
•Access to remote information
•Person-to-person communication
•Interactive entertainment
10
Transmission Technology
•Broadcast networks
•Point-to-point networks
11
Network Topology
Manner in which network devices are
connected physically.
Devices:
Mainframes, Workstations, File servers,
Printers, Scanners
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Network Topologies
•Bus topology
•Star topology
•Ring topology
•Hybrid topology
•Tree topology
•Complete topology
•Irregular topologies
13
Bus Topology
Mainframe File server
Workstation File server Workstation
14
Bus Topology (cont.)
• A single communication line
• Each device has an interface that listens to the bus and
examines its data traffic
• Carrier Sense, Multiple Access with Collision Detection
(CSMA/CD)
Ethernet (IEEE 802.3)
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Bus Topology (Cont.)
A B
Segment
Cable A
Cable C
E D C
16
Bus Topology (Cont.)
Send Concurrently
A B
No traffic
X
E D C
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Bus Topology (Cont.)
CSMA/CD
A B
E D C
18
Star Topology
Cables
Computer
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Star Topology (Cont.)
One station (often a mainframe or file
server) is a logical communication
center
Other stations communicate through it
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Star Topology (Cont.)
A B
D Z C
21
Ring Topology
Computer
Cables
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Ring Topology (Cont.)
•Stations are arranged in a ring
•Each station connected directly only
to its two neighbors
•Messages pass through all of the
stations in between
(clockwise or counterclockwise)
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Ring Topology (cont.)
A B
E C
D
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Hybrid Topology
Computer Computer
Computer bridge Computer
Computer bridge Computer
Computer
25
Tree Topology
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Complete Topology
Cables
Computer
27
Irregular Topology
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Local Area Networks ( LANs)
They are widely used to connect
personal computers & workstations in
company offices & factories to
share resources & exchange information.
29
Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs)
• Bigger version of LANs
• Normally uses similar technology
• Distributed Queue Dual Bus
30
Wide Area Networks (WANs)
Spans a large geographical area
(a country or continent)
Contains a collection of hosts
Hosts are connected by a subnet
(communication subnet)
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