computer network

A computer network is a collection of interconnected devices, such as computers, servers,

and routers, that are linked together to share resources and communicate with each other. It's like
a digital highway that enables us to transmit, receive and share data in the form of different file
formats - ultimately, ensuring that data flows seamlessly between devices.

Computer networking refers to interconnected computing devices that can exchange data
and share resources with each other. These networked devices use a system of rules, called
communications protocols, to transmit information over physical or wireless technologies.
Applications of Computer Networking:
Some of the applications of Computer Networking are discussed below:

Resource Sharing: Resource Sharing is one of the important applications of Computer Networking. You
can share a single software among Multiple users. We can also share Hardware Devices via this technique.

Communication: Communication Medium means various ways through which we can communicate like
Email Calls, broadcasts, etc.

Home Applications: Home Applications are an important application of Computer Networking. Examples
are User-to-User Communication, Entertainment, E-Commerce, etc.

Business Applications: Business Application is also an important application of Computer Networking.

Almost all companies are doing business online with the help of Computer Networking.

Social Media: Social Media is one of the recent and widely used applications of Computer Networking. It
helps people in getting news, feed, current trending topics of all types, etc.
Access to Remote Information: Computer Networking helps in accessing remote information
from the end-users. For Example. details required for train tickets, plane tickets, etc.

Cloud Computing: Computer Networking has facilitated the development of cloud computing,
which allows users to store and access data and applications from remote servers via the internet.

Virtualization: Networking technologies also enable virtualization, which allows multiple virtual
machines to run on a single physical machine, improving resource utilization and reducing costs.

Online Education: Computer Networking has revolutionized education by providing online

learning platforms, distance education, and virtual classrooms.

Remote Working: Networking technologies have enabled remote working, allowing employees
to work from home or other locations outside of the office. This has become especially important
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
E-commerce: Computer Networking has facilitated the growth of e-commerce by allowing
businesses to sell their products and services online and reach a global market.

Telemedicine: Networking technologies have also enabled telemedicine, allowing doctors and
healthcare providers to provide remote medical consultations and diagnosis to patients in remote
locations.

Real-time Collaboration: Networking technologies enable real-time collaboration, allowing

people to work together on projects and share information in real-time, no matter where they are
located.
The four major types with areas that they cover are given below:

Types of Networks Range of Network

 Spreads over a building or

 Local Area Network (LAN)
office area

 Large network of government,

 Metropolitan Area Network
individuals, and private
(MAN)
companies

 Has a range of 10 meters

 Personal Area Network (PAN)
(Individuals and devices)

 Wide Area Network (WAN)  Spreads overstate or countries

Applications of Computer Network:
Now that we’ve studied the key advantages and disadvantages of computer network, let’s take a
look at some of the most common applications of a computer network:

Buying and selling items

E-commerce
online

Video calls, e-mails and file

Communication
transfers
Gaming Quiz games

Information on the World

Education Wide Web (www) helps
students
Parameter LAN MAN WAN
Full Form LAN is an acronym for Local Area MAN is an acronym for WAN is an acronym for Wide
Network. Metropolitan Area Network. Area Network.
Definition and Meaning LAN is a network that usually MAN is a comparatively wider The WAN network spans to an
connects a small group of computers network that covers large even larger locality. It has the
in a given geographical area. regions- like towns, cities, etc. capacity to connect various
countries together. For example,
the Internet is a WAN.

Network Ownership The LAN is private. Hospitals, The MAN can be both private The WAN can also be both
homes, schools, offices, etc., may or public. Many organizations private or public.
own it. and telecom operators may own
them.

Maintenance and Designing Very easy to design and maintain. Comparatively difficult to Very difficult to design and
design and maintain. maintain.
Speed LAN offers a very high Internet MAN offers a moderate Internet WAN offers a low Internet
speed. speed. speed.
Delay in Propagation It faces a very short propagation It faces a moderate propagation It faces a high propagation
delay. delay. delay.
Faulty Tolerance The LAN exhibits a better fault The MAN exhibits a lesser fault The WAN also exhibits a lesser
tolerance than the rest of the tolerance. fault tolerance.
networks.
Congestion The congestion in the network is It exhibits a higher network It exhibits a higher
very low. congestion. congestion in the network.

Communication LAN typically allows a single pair MAN allows multiple A huge group of computers
Allotment of devices to establish a computers to interact can easily interact with
communication. But it may also simultaneously with each each other using the WAN.
support more computers. other.

Uses Schools, homes, colleges, It basically covers a city, a It covers an entire country,
hospitals, offices, etc., can small town, or any given area a subcontinent, or an
privately use it. with a bigger radius than the equivalent area.
LAN.
Local Area Network (LAN) –

LAN or Local Area Network connects network devices in such a way that personal
computers and workstations can share data, tools, and programs. The group of computers and
devices are connected together by a switch, or stack of switches, using a private addressing scheme
as defined by the TCP/IP protocol. Private addresses are unique in relation to other computers on the
local network. Routers are found at the boundary of a LAN, connecting them to the larger WAN.

Data transmits at a very fast rate as the number of computers linked is limited. By definition,
the connections must be high-speed and relatively inexpensive hardware (Such as hubs, network
adapters, and Ethernet cables). LANs cover a smaller geographical area (Size is limited to a few
kilometres) and are privately owned. One can use it for an office building, home, hospital, school,
etc. LAN is easy to design and maintain. A Communication medium used for LAN has twisted-pair
cables and coaxial cables. It covers a short distance, and so the error and noise are minimized.
 Early LANs had data rates in the 4 to 16 Mbps range. Today, speeds are normally 100 or 1000 Mbps.
Propagation delay is very short in a LAN. The smallest LAN may only use two computers, while larger
LANs can accommodate thousands of computers. LAN has a range up to 2km.

Advantages:

• Provides fast data transfer rates and high-speed communication.

• Easy to set up and manage.

• Can be used to share peripheral devices such as printers and scanners.

• Provides increased security and fault tolerance compared to WANs.

Disadvantages:

• Limited geographical coverage.

• Limited scalability and may require significant infrastructure upgrades to accommodate growth.
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) –

MAN or Metropolitan area Network covers a larger area than that covered by a LAN and
a smaller area as compared to WAN. MAN has a range of 5-50km. It connects two or more
computers that are apart but reside in the same or different cities. It covers a large geographical
area and may serve as an ISP (Internet Service Provider). MAN is designed for customers who
need high-speed connectivity. Speeds of MAN range in terms of Mbps. It’s hard to design and
maintain a Metropolitan Area Network.

The fault tolerance of a MAN is less and also there is more congestion in the network. It is
costly and may or may not be owned by a single organization. The data transfer rate and the
propagation delay of MAN are moderate. Devices used for transmission of data through MAN are
Modem and Wire/Cable. Examples of a MAN are part of the telephone company network that can
provide a high-speed DSL line to the customer or the cable TV network in a city.
Advantages:
• Provides high-speed connectivity over a larger geographical area than LAN.

• Can be used as an ISP for multiple customers.

• Offers higher data transfer rates than WAN in some cases.

Disadvantages:
• Can be expensive to set up and maintain.

• May experience congestion and network performance issues with increased usage.

• May have limited fault tolerance and security compared to LANs.

Wide Area Network (WAN) –

WAN or Wide Area Network is a computer network that extends over a large geographical
area, although it might be confined within the bounds of a state or country. WAN has a range of
above 50 km. A WAN could be a connection of LAN connecting to other LANs via telephone
lines and radio waves and may be limited to an enterprise (a corporation or an organization) or
accessible to the public. The technology is high-speed and relatively expensive.

There are two types of WAN: Switched WAN and Point-to-Point WAN. WAN is difficult
to design and maintain. Similar to a MAN, the fault tolerance of a WAN is less and there is more
congestion in the network. A Communication medium used for WAN is PSTN or Satellite Link.
Due to long-distance transmission, the noise and error tend to be more in WAN.
Advantages:
•Covers large geographical areas and can connect remote locations.
•Provides connectivity to the internet.
•Offers remote access to resources and applications.
•Can be used to support multiple users and applications simultaneously.
Disadvantages:
•Can be expensive to set up and maintain.
•Offers slower data transfer rates than LAN or MAN.
•May experience higher latency and longer propagation delays due to longer distances and
multiple network hops.
•May have lower fault tolerance and security compared to LANs.
 INTERNET
Internet is a global network that connects billions of computers across the world with each other
and to the World Wide Web. It uses standard internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to connect billions
of computer users worldwide. It is set up by using cables such as optical fibers and other wireless
and networking technologies. At present, internet is the fastest mean of sending or exchanging
information and data between computers across the world.
Why is the Internet Called a Network?

Internet is called a network as it creates a network by connecting computers and servers

across the world using routers, switches and telephone lines, and other communication devices
and channels. So, it can be considered a global network of physical cables such as copper
telephone wires, fiber optic cables, tv cables, etc. Furthermore, even wireless connections like 3G,
4G, or Wi-Fi make use of these cables to access the Internet.

Internet is different from the World Wide Web as the World Wide Web is a network of
computers and servers created by connecting them through the internet. So, the internet is the
backbone of the web as it provides the technical infrastructure to establish the WWW and acts as
a medium to transmit information from one computer to another computer. It uses web browsers
to display the information on the client, which it fetches from web servers
 When you turn on your computer and type a domain name in the browser search bar, your browser
sends a request to the DNS server to get the corresponding IP address. After getting the IP address, the
browser forwards the request to the respective server.
Once the server gets the request to provide information about a particular website, the data starts
flowing. The data is transferred through the optical fiber cables in digital format or in the form of light
pulses. As the servers are placed at distant places, the data may have to travel thousands of miles
through optical fiber cable to reach your computer.
The optical fiber is connected to a router, which converts the light signals into electrical signals.
These electrical signals are transmitted to your laptop using an Ethernet cable. Thus, you receive the
desired information through the internet, which is actually a cable that connects you with the server.

Furthermore, if you are using wireless internet using wifi or mobile data, the signals from the optical
cable are first sent to a cell tower and from where it reaches to your cell phone in the form of
electromagnetic waves.
The internet is managed by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) located
Here are some examples of specific uses for the Internet:
 Using social media and content sharing.
 Instant messaging, video conferencing, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), Internet telephony, and
email are all examples of electronic communication. These all are used through the Internet.
 Access to online degree programs, courses, and workshops for education and self-
improvement.
 Searching for jobs: To advertise available positions, submit job applications, and hire
candidates identified on social networking sites like LinkedIn, both employers and
applicants use the Internet.
Other examples include:
• Online dating
• Online gaming
• Research
• Reading electronic newspapers and magazines
• Online shopping, or e-commerce.
• Online discussion groups and forums

Three main categories of Internet Connection Protocols are discussed below:

• TCP/IP Network Model: The most popular protocols for linking networks are Transmission
Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP). Any communication is split up into a number of
packets that are sent from source to destination.
• File Transfer Protocol: With the help of FTP (File Transfer Protocol), a user can transfer
documents, text files, multimedia files, program files, etc., from one device to another.
• Hypertext Transfer Protocol: It is used to move a hypertext between two or more computers
Advantages of the Internet:
Instant Messaging: You can send messages or communicate to anyone using internet, such as
email, voice chat, video conferencing, etc.
Get directions: Using GPS technology, you can get directions to almost every place in a city,
country, etc. You can find restaurants, malls, or any other service near your location.
Online Shopping: It allows you to shop online such as you can be clothes, shoes, book movie
tickets, railway tickets, flight tickets, and more.
Pay Bills: You can pay your bills online, such as electricity bills, gas bills, college fees, etc.
Online Banking: It allows you to use internet banking in which you can check your balance,
receive or transfer money, get a statement, request cheque-book, etc.
Online Selling: You can sell your products or services online. It helps you reach more customers
Work from Home: In case you need to work from home, you can do it using a system with
internet access. Today, many companies allow their employees to work from home.
Entertainment: You can listen to online music, watch videos or movies, play online games.
Cloud computing: It enables you to connect your computers and internet-enabled devices to
cloud services such as cloud storage, cloud computing, etc.
Career building: You can search for jobs online on different job portals and send you CV
through email if required.
Disadvantages of the Internet:
Time wastage: Although, Internet has a lot of advantages, it also contains some limitations. Time
wasting is one of among them. It can decrease your productivity if you are spending too much time
on the Internet using social media apps while doing nothing. Rather than squandering time, one
should use that time to do something useful and even more productive.
Bad impacts on health: You can get health related issues if you spend too much time online; your
body needs outside activities, exercise, and many other things. If you look at the screen for a long
time, it causes negative effects on the eyes.
Cyber Crimes: These days, crimes including cyberbullying, spam, viruses, hacking, and data theft
are increasing day by day. Cybercriminals can quickly break into your system, which store all of
your private information.
Effects on children: The constant watching of videos and playing games on the Internet by young
children is bad for their social and overall personality development.
Bullying and spreading negativity: Social media applications have provided a free tool to all those
people who regularly attempt to spread negativity with really repulsive and humiliating comments
and try to bully each other, which is wrong and does bad impact on society.
The various methods for connecting to the Internet are briefly discussed below:
Dial-Up: Users must connect their phone line to a computer system in such connections in order to access
the Internet connection. The user is unable to make or receive calls using the tier home phone service while
connected.
Broadband: Today's most popular high-speed internet connection, broadband is offered either by cable or
phone companies.
Wireless Connection: This category includes Mobile and Wi-Fi services providers. No matter where you
are, you can connect to the Internet anywhere because connectivity is made possible by radio waves. Several
instances of wireless connections are provided below:

Wi-fi: Without the use of cables, wi-fi or wireless fidelity, enables high-speed internet connectivity.
Mobile Phones: In modern times, all smartphones include an Internet connectivity option that can be
availed using Internet packs and coupons. These don't require a wire or external connection as well.
Satellite: Satellites are utilized for wireless Internet connectivity in areas Where broadband connections is
not available.
Integrated Services Digital Network: With the help of using telephone lines, ISDN enables users to send
 WIFI: Wireless Fidelity
WIFI also Spelled as Wi-Fi is a local area wireless technology. It allows an electronic
device to transfer data or connect to the internet using ISM radio bands. It is an underlying
technology of wireless local area network (WLAN). Wi-Fi allows computers and other devices to
communicate over a wireless network.
Wi-Fi network components are based on the one of the 802.11 standards developed by the
IEEE and adopted by Wi-Fi alliance. It provides a standard way to connect with wireless network.
Wi-Fi is the trademark of the Wi-Fi alliance and used as a brand name for products using the
IEEE 802.11 standards.
Wi-Fi can be used on several types of devices like personal computers, video game
console, smart phones, digital camera, tablet computers etc. You can use Wi-Fi to create a hotspot
within the range of 20 meters (66 feet). It is less secure than wired connection because the
Technical Specification:

Wi-Fi is based on IEEE 802.11 specifications. This is a list of Wi-Fi standards in

chronological order.

• 802.11a

• 802.11b

• 802.11g

• 802.11n

• 802.11ac

A wireless accessing point 802.11b or 802.11g provides range of 120 ft indoor and 300
feet outdoor access of internet through computers, laptops, smart phones etc.
 WiFi stands for Wireless Fidelity. WiFiIt is based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards
and is primarily a local area networking (LAN) technology designed to provide in-building
broadband coverage.
Current WiFi systems support a peak physical-layer data rate of 54 Mbps and typically
provide indoor coverage over a distance of 100 feet.
WiFi has become the de facto standard for last mile broadband connectivity in homes,
offices, and public hotspot locations. Systems can typically provide a coverage range of only
about 1,000 feet from the access point.
WIFI
Sensor Networks
Vehicular Networks
5G Communication
Role of HTML
XML
CSS
Social Media
Cyber Security