COMPUTER

NETWORKING
BY
NIHAL MOHAMMADI
 INTRODUCTION
 Computer networking is the job of connecting two or
more computers so that they can communicate with
each other and in turn permit the user of these
machines to communicate, share resources and widen
their reach beyond the immediately accessed machine.
 A microcomputer attached to a super computer, a set
of microcomputers connected as a network or a set of
microcomputers and a mainframe computer connected
over a network are all computer networks.
 In a sense, computer networks represent a peer-to-
peer communication though they may have varying
power.
Why network computers?
 The major aim of networking computers is to
enable resource sharing.
 From MIS point of view, the most important
resource sharing is data sharing.
Program sharing is the next important issue.
Printer sharing, which includes expensive and
delicate equipment such as high speed and high
quality printer, may be another important
resource to be shared over the network.
Contd…

 Networks permit collaborative working and

cooperative working between the units.
 Computer networks allow people networking
which is very important for the health of the
organisation.
 Computer networks also permit application
integration.
How do you network computers?
1. Local Area Network (LAN)- Computers
that are spread over a small geographical
area are said to be connected over a LAN.
Typical characteristics of LAN are:
 Wired physical connection between the
individual machines.
 High speed connections of 10Mbps-
15Mbps with very fast response times.
2. Wide Area Network (WAN)-Computers that
are distributed over a much larger area are said
to be connected over WAN.
Typically , the computers spread over a town
or a city, state or a country, qualify as a WAN.
Because of its spread, WAN’s are unlikely to
have dedicated physical connection.
The connections are established as and when
needed, and disconnected soon after use. In a
way, the users share the physical network on a
need-based sharing.
 Topology of Computer Networks

The network can be characterised through a

set of attributes. Topology refers to the way
the computers are physically connected. The
connections can be in the form of ring, star,
bus or a mix of these.
 Topology of computer networks
PC1 PC2

HUB

PC3 PC4

Star Network

PC1 PC3

PC2 PC4

Bus Network
Contd..
 Star network: Is easy to operate and manages with
simple cabling plans; yet it suffers from the fact that
the center of the star can get overloaded and lead to a
critical situation.
 Ring network: can improve the performance without
loading a central node and is better from cabling
point of view.
 Bus topology: is a common topology, especially
among Ethernet LANs that permit easy growth and
graceful degradation of the network.
 Media-coaxial cable, twisted pair, fiber optic cable
and even wireless transmission.
Protocols
 Protocols: refers to the set of procedures that must be
followed so that the two communicating agents can
perform their exchange in an orderly manner.
 Serial communication protocol is common in the
communication between terminals and computers.
 EIA RS232C standard is one of the most common
serial communication protocols, also the common
protocol between computers and printers.
 Centronics parallel interface is the standard for
parallel communication.
Network architecture

 ISO/OSI model (Open System

Interconnection)
 Lower layer –physical characteristics
 Top layer-logical characteristics
 Layer 1: physical connection issues
 Layer 2: Concerned with the way information
in the form of bits and bytes are packaged for
the transmission over the media.
 Application Layer 7

Presentation Layer 6

Session Layer 5

Transport Layer 4 LOGICAL

Network Layer 3
PHYSICAL
Data Link Layer 2

Physical Layer 1

Seven Layered OSI Architecture

Contd..

 Layer 3: deals with the nature of the

networking.
 Layer 4: is concerned with connectivity across
the network including the addressing issues,
packet assembling and disassembling.
 Layer 5: focuses on the quality and other
management issues.
 Layer 6 and 7: the way the packet interface
with an application presentation and end use.
Network Evolution
 1960-Defence Advanced Research Project
Agency (DARPA)
 In 70’s – ARPANET-simple systems of
connecting computers in remote location
 Packet Switching, TCP/IP
 Telnet, FTP, Mail, LAN
 In 80’s –networking of network i.e. ,
internetworking and IP addressing scheme
Packet Switching

The information is broken into packets with

sufficient headers to identify the destination so
that any number of intelligent agents-
computer, network hubs, network interface
units etc. can forward them ultimately to
destination.
Network Components
Interface card (NIC), Access Unit Interface
(AUI), cable that connects card to the interface
and special connector that sits on the cable that
receives and transmits- transceiver.
PC with
Network OS

NIC

AUI Cable
Network Cable

Transceiver
 Conclusion
The area of computer communications and
networking is witnessing unprecedented
technology developments which are of such
paramount importance that any manager
today must keep pace with the developments
and exploit the potential for profit.
Thank You