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Computer Networks
18EC71
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Part 1 Overview
Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Network Models
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Chapter 1. Introduction
1. Data communications
2. Networks
3. The Internet
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Data Communications
• Data
▫ Information presented in whatever form is agreed upon by the parties
creating and using the data
• Data communication
▫ Exchange of data between two devices
▫ Via some form of transmission medium
• Fundamental characteristics of data communication
▫ Delivery
▫ Accuracy
▫ Timeliness
▫ Jitter : Variation in the packet arrival time
• Telecommunication: communication at a distance
(‘tele’ in Greek=‘far”)
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Five Components of Data Communication
• Message: Information(data) to be communicated
• Sender
• Receiver
• Transmission medium: Physical path by which a message travels
• Protocol: A set of rules that govern data communication
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Data Flow
• Simplex
▫ Unidirectional
▫ As on a one-way street
• Half-duplex
▫ Both transmit and receive possible, but not at the same time
▫ Like a one-lane road with two-directional traffic
▫ Walkie-talkie, CB radio
• Full-duplex
▫ Transmit and receive simultaneously
▫ Like a two-way street, telephone network
▫ Channel capacity must be divided between two directions
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Direction of Data Flow
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Network
• Network: A set of devices (nodes) connected by communication links
• Node: Computer, printer, or any device capable of sending and/or
receiving data
• To be considered effective and efficient, a network must meet a number of
criteria.
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Type of Connection
• Point-to-point
▫ Dedicated link between two devices
▫ The entire capacity of the channel is reserved
▫ Ex) Microwave link, TV remote control
• Multipoint
▫More than two devices share a single link
▫Capacity of the channel is either
Continuously shared: Devices can use the link
simultaneously
Timeshare: Users take turns
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Type of Connection
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Physical Topology
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Mesh Topology
• Dedicated point-to-point link to every other nodes
• A mesh network with n nodes has n(n-1)/2 links. A node has n-1 I/O
ports (links)
• Advantages: No traffic problems, robust, security, easy fault identification
& isolation
• Disadvantages: Difficult installation/reconfiguration, space, cost
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Star Topology
• Dedicated point-to-point link only to a central controller, called a hub
• Hub acts as an exchange: No direct traffic between devices
• Advantages: Less expensive, robust
• Disadvantages: dependency of the whole on one single point, the hub
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Bus Topology
• One long cable that links all nodes,
• Tap, Drop line, Cable end
• limit on the # of devices, distance between nodes
• Advantages: Easy installation, cheap
• Disadvantages: Difficult reconfiguration, no fault isolation, a fault or break
in the bus stops all transmission
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Ring Topology
• Dedicated point-to-point link only with the two nodes on each sides
• One direction, repeater
• Advantages: Easy reconfiguration, fault isolation
• Disadvantage: Unidirectional traffic, a break in the ring cab disable the
entire network
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Hybrid Topology
• Example: Main star topology with each branch connecting
several stations in a bus topology
• To share the advantages from various topologies
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Categories of Networks
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LAN: Local Area Network
• Usually privately owned
• A network for a single office, building, or campus a few Km
• Common LAN topologies: bus, ring, star
• An isolated LAN connecting 12 computers to a hub in a closet
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MAN: Metropolitan Area Network
• Designed to extend to an entire city
• Cable TV network, a company’s connected LANs
• Owned by a private or a public company
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WAN: Wide Area Network
• Long distance transmission, e.g., a country, a continent, the world
• Enterprise network: A WAN that is owned and used by one company
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Internetwork
• Internetwork (internet) : two or more networks are
connected by internetworking devices
• Internetworking devices: router, gateway, etc.
• The Internet: a specific worldwide network
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Internetwork Example
A heterogeneous network :
four WANs and two LANs
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Switching
• Switches are devices capable of creating temporary
connections between two or more devices linked to the
switch
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Taxonomy of Switched Networks
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Circuit-switched Network
• A circuit-switched network is made of a set of switches connected by
physical links, in which each link is divided into n channels
• In circuit switching, the resources need to be reserved during the setup
phase; the resources remain dedicated for the entire duration of data
transfer.
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Packet-switched Network
Four components: input port, output port, routing processor,
switching fabric.
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Packet-switched Network
Routing processor: network layer functions
Table lookup: searching the routing table by destination address
Switching Fabric
Crossbar switch
Banyan switch
Batcher-Banyan switch
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The Internet
• The Internet has revolutionized many aspects of our daily
lives. It has affected the way we do business as well as the
way we spend our leisure time. The Internet is a
communication system that has brought a wealth of
information to our fingertips and organized it for our use.
• 1967: ARPANET proposed by DoD’s ARPA(Advanced Research
Project Agency)
• 1969: ARPANET in a reality: UCLA, UCSB, SRI, U. of Utah
• 1973: Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn propose TCP, To split TCP into two
protocols TCP and IP
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Internet Today
• ISP (Internet service
providers)
• NISP (national ISP)
• NAP (network ac-
cess point)
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Accessing the Internet
Using Telephone Networks
Dial-up service
DSL Service
Using Cable Networks
Using Wireless Networks
Using Direct Connection to the Internet
