INTRODUCTION TO DATA COMMUNICATIONS

DEFINITION OF TERMS F Data Communication is the act of relaying a message or information in binary form between two points (the transmitter and the receiver). Computer Network is an interconnected collection of autonomous computers. Autonomous means that there should no clear master/slave relationship between the computers.

NETWORK GOALS F Resource Sharing. One goal of establishing computer networks is to facilitate sharing of programs, equipment, and data without any regard to the physical location of resource and the user. High Reliability. Computer networks provide high reliability by having alternative sources of supply. For example, all files could be replicated on two or three machines, so if one of them is unavailable (due to hardware failure), the other copies could be used.

Introduction to Data Communications

Cost Savings. Small personal computers connected in a network have a much better price/performance ratio than large ones such as mainframes. Communication Medium. A computer network can provide a powerful communication medium among widely separated employees. Networks can enhance human-to-human communication.

USES OF DATA COMMUNICATION AND NETWORKS F F F F F F F F

Access to Remote Information Electronic Mail Electronic Banking Electronic Newspaper and Libraries Electronic Bulletin Boards Value-Added Services On-line Department Stores/Groceries Interactive Entertainment

Introduction to Data Communications

NETWORK CLASSIFICATION F Networks are often classified by the distance of the communicating processors from each other.

Interprocessor Distance 0.1 m 1m 10 m 100 m 1 km 10 km

Processors located in the same Circuit Board System Room Building Campus City

Example Data Flow Machine Multicomputer Local Area Network Local Area Network Local Area Network Metropolitan Area Network Wide Area Network Wide Area Network The Internet

100 km Country 1,000 km Continent 10,000 km Planet

Data flow machines are highly parallel computers with many functional units all working on the same program. Multicomputers are systems that communicate by sending messages over very short, very fast buses. A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is basically a bigger version of a LAN and normally uses similar technology.

Introduction to Data Communications

CONNECTIVITY ALTERNATIVES F

Stand Alone

Sharing of diskettes

Modem and the public telephone system

Temporary physical connection

Local area network (but the network software is enabled only when needed)

Applications and Data Personal Computer

Introduction to Data Communications

Shared Logic

Sharing the capability of a single processor with more than one user time sharing

In multiprocessor systems, shared logic means sharing the main processors or support processors with more than one user.

user enters commands here applications execute here

Dumb Terminal

Shared Applications Storage and Shared Data

Host Computer (shared processor) Dumb Terminal

applications share data here

Introduction to Data Communications

Shared Resources

Multi-user sharing of devices and/or peripherals

applications execute here

Personal Computer Local Area Network Network File Server

Shared Applications Storage and Shared Data

applications share data here Personal Computer applications execute here

Issues: 1. 2. Equitable sharing of devices Integrity of data

Introduction to Data Communications

Shared Logic and Resources

applications execute here

user enters commands here

Personal Computer

Local Area Network

Shared Applications Storage and Shared Data Network File Server applications share data here Host Computer (shared processor)

Shared Applications Storage and Shared Data

applications share data here

applications execute here

Introduction to Data Communications