Computer Network(CSC 503)
Shilpa Ingoley
Lecture 3 and 4
Introduction to Networking
• Introduction to computer network, network application, network software and hardware components
(Interconnection networking devices), Network topology, protocol hierarchies, design issues for the layers,
connection oriented and connectionless services
Interconnecting Components
1. Network Interface Card
The network interface card (or NIC for short) is the network adapter that all
devices must have in order to be part of a network. On desktop computers,
network interface cards allow Ethernet cables to be plugged in, as this is the
main method of establishing network connections on desktop computers.
• It is also called Ethernet card/network
card/NAC/NIU/Terminal access point
• It has MAC address-Hardware
identification number(6 bytes)
Interconnection networking devices
• Network Hub
• Network Switch
• Modem
• Network Router
• Bridge
• Repeater
• Gateway
• Brouter
• Firewalls
OSI Model
• ISO is the organization. OSI is the model
2-5
Repeaters
A repeater operates at the physical layer. Its job is to regenerate the signal over the same network
before the signal becomes too weak or corrupted so as to extend the length to which the signal can
be transmitted over the same network. An important point to be noted about repeaters is that they
do not amplify the signal.
Hub
• A hub is basically a multiport repeater. A signal received at any port on the hub is
retransmitted on all other ports. Network segments that employ hubs are often described
as having a star topology, in which the hub forms the wiring centre of the star.
Hubs cannot filter data, so data packets are sent to all connected devices. Also, they do
not have intelligence to find out best path for data packets which leads to inefficiencies
and wastage.
Contd…
If a message comes in destined for computer “A”, that message is sent out to all the other ports,
regardless of which computer “A” is.
Incoming data passing through a hub.
Contd…
• When computer “A” responds, its response also goes out to every other port on the hub.
• Every computer connected to the hub “sees” everything every other computer on the hub does. It’s up to the
computers themselves to decide if a message is for them and whether or not it should be paid attention to.
Contd..
Network hubs are classified as :
(i) Active hub
(ii) Passive hub.
(iii) Intelligent hub
Contd…
Bridge
Bridges can be used to connect two or more LAN segments of the same type. Secondly, most
bridges have only 2 or 4 ports.A bridge operates at data link layer. A bridge is a repeater, with
add on functionality of filtering content by reading the addresses of source and destination. It
is also used for interconnecting two LANs working on the same protocol.
Two basic types of bridges
• Transparent Bridge
• Source routing Bridge
Contd…
Contd…
Just by accepting that first message, however, the bridge has learned something: it
knows on which connection the sender of the message is located. Thus, when
machine “A” responds to the message, the bridge only needs to send that message
out to the one connection.
Bridges learn the location of the devices they are connected to almost
instantaneously. The result is, most network traffic only goes where it
needs to, rather than to every port. On busy networks, this can make the
network significantly faster.
Switch
Switch is data link layer device. A switch when compared to bridge has multiple ports.
Switches can perform error checking before forwarding data, which are very
efficient by not forwarding packets that have errors or forwarding good packets
selectively to correct devices only. Firstly, a bridge can connect fewer LAN, while a
switch can connect more networks compared to the bridge.
The switches are made based on two
different strategies:
• Stored and forward
• Cut - through
Routers
• A router is a device like a switch that routes data packets based on their IP addresses. Router is
mainly a Network Layer device.
• Routers have the ability to make intelligent decisions as to the best path for delivery of data on the
network.
• Routers normally connect LANs and WANs together and have a dynamically updating routing
table based on which they make decisions on routing the data packets.
Types of routers
• Static
• Dynamic
Contd..
• Routers are sometimes confused with network hubs,
modems, or network switches. However, routers can combine
the functions of these components, and connect with these
devices, to improve Internet access or help create
business networks.
• The router then creates and communicates with your home Wi-
Fi network using built-in antennas. As a result, all of the
devices on your home network have internet access.
Brouter
The Brouter is also called a bridging router
Function :
The main function of this is to combine the features of both router and bridge
and router.
It performs either at the network layer or the data link layer.
When it works as a router, it is used for routing packets across networks
whereas it works as a bridge; it is used for filtering LANs traffic.
Gateways
• Gateways is a network device that connects two networks using
different protocols together.
• It acts as a “gate” between two networks. It may be router, firewall,
server or other device that enables traffic to flow in and ot on the
network
Modem
• Modem is short for "Modulator-Demodulator." It is a hardware component
that allows a computer or another device, such as a router or switch, to
connect to the Internet. It converts or "modulates" an analog signal from a
telephone or cable wire to digital data (1s and 0s) that a computer can
recognize.
Internal Modem Vs External Modem
Types of modem
• Asynchronous
• Synchronous
Firewall
• A firewall is a security device — computer hardware or
software — that can help protect your network by filtering traffic
and blocking outsiders from gaining unauthorized access to the
private data on your computer.
• Firewalls can provide different levels of protection.
