INTRODUCTION TO
COMPUTER NETWORKING
• A computer network is an interconnection among two or more computers
or computing devices. Such interconnection allows computers to share
data and resources with each other.
• The network size may vary from small to large depending on the number of
computers it connects. A computer network can include different types of
hosts (also called nodes) like server, desktop, laptop, cellular phones.
• Networking devices are used to connect multiple computers in different
settings. For communication, data in a network is divided into smaller
chunks called packets. These packets are then carried over a network.
INTRODUCTION TO
COMPUTER NETWORKING
• In a communication network, each device that is a part of a network and
that can receive, create, store or send data to different network routes is
called a node. In the context of data communication, a node can be a
device such as a modem, hub, bridge, switch, router, digital telephone
handset, a printer, a computer or a server.
EVOLUTION OF
COMPUTER NETWORKING
• In the 1960s a research project was commissioned by Advanced Research Projects
Agency Network (ARPANET) in the U.S. Department of Defence to connect the
academic and research institutions located at different places for scientific
collaborations.
• The first message was communicated between the University of California, Los
Angeles (UCLA) and Stanford Research Institute (SRI).
• Slowly but gradually, more and more organisations joined the ARPANET, and many
independent smaller networks were formed.
4
1 PAN
(PERSONAL AREA NETWORK)
• It is a network formed by connecting a few
personal deviceslie within an approximate
range of 10 metres.
• A personal area network may be wired or
wireless
2 LAN
(LOCAL AREA NETWORK)
• It is a network that connects computers,
mobile phones,tablet, mouse, printer, etc.,
placed at a limited distance.
• The connectivity is done by means of wires,
Ethernet cables, fibre optics, or Wi-Fi.
3 MAN
(METROPOLITAN AREA NETWORK)
• Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is an
extended form of LAN which covers a larger
geographical area like a city or a town.
• Data transfer rate in MAN also ranges in Mbps
• Sometimes, many LANs are connected
• together to form MAN,
4 WAN
(WIDE AREA NETWORK)
• A WAN could be formed by connecting a LAN to
other LANs via wired/wireless media.
• The Internet is the largest WAN that connects
billions of computers, smartphones and
millions of LANs from different continents.