INTRODUCTION TO DATA COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
Computer Networks: A system of interconnected computers and computerized peripherals
such as printers is called computer network. This interconnection among computers facilitates
information sharing among them. Computers may connect to each other by either wired or wireless
media.
Classification of Computer Networks: Computer networks are classified based on various
factors. They include:
1. Geographical span
2. Inter-connectivity
3. Administration
4. Architecture
1. Geographical Span: Geographically a network can be seen in one of the
following categories:
i. It may be spanned across your table, among Bluetooth enabled
devices, Ranging not more than few meters.
ii. It may be spanned across a whole building, including intermediate
devices to connect all floors.
iii. It may be spanned across a whole city.
iv. It may be spanned across multiple cities or States.
v. It may be one network covering whole world
2. Inter-Connectivity: Components of a network can be connected to each
other differently in some fashion. By connectedness we mean either
logically, physically, or both ways.
i. Every single device can be connected to every other device on
network, making the network mesh.
ii. All devices can be connected to a single medium but geographically
disconnected, created bus-like structure.
iii. Each device is connected to its left and right peers only, creating linear
structure.
iv. All devices connected together with a single device, creating star-like
structure.
v. All devices connected arbitrarily using all previous ways to connect
each other, resulting in a hybrid structure.
3. Administration: From an administrator’s point of view, a network can be
i. Private Network: Which belongs a single autonomous system and cannot be
accessed outside its physical or logical domain.
ii. Public: Which is accessed by all.
4. Network Architecture: Computer networks can be discriminated into
various types such as Client-Server, peer-to-peer or hybrid, depending
upon its architecture.
i. There can be one or more systems acting as Server. Other being Client,
requests the Server to serve requests. Server takes and processes
request on behalf of Clients.
ii. Two systems can be connected Point-to-Point, or in back-to-back
fashion. They both reside at the same level and called peers.
iii. There can be hybrid network which involves network architecture of
both the above types.
Network Applications: Computer systems and peripherals are connected to
form a network. They provide numerous advantages:
1. Resource sharing such as printers and storage devices
2. Exchange of information by means of e-Mails and FTP
3. Information sharing by using Web or Internet
4. Interaction with other users using dynamic web pages
5. IP phones
6. Video conferences
7. Parallel computing
8. Instant messaging
Types of Computer Networking: Networks are distinguished based on their
geographical span. A network can be as small as distance between mobile phones
and its Bluetooth headphone and as large as the internet itself, covering the whole
geographical world.
1. Personal Area Network: A Personal Area Network (PAN) is smallest
network which is very personal to a user. This may include Bluetooth
enabled devices or infra-red enabled devices. PAN has connectivity
range up to 10 meters. PAN may include wireless computer keyboard
and mouse, Bluetooth enabled headphones, wireless printers, and TV
remotes.
2. Local Area Network: A computer network spanned inside a building and
operated under single administrative system is generally termed as
Local Area Network (LAN). Usually, LAN covers an organization offices,
schools, colleges or universities. Number of systems connected in LAN
may vary from as least as two to as much as 16 million. LAN uses either
Ethernet or Token-ring technology. LAN can be wired, wireless, or in
both forms at once.
3. Metropolitan Area Network: The Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
generally expands throughout a city such as cable TV network. It can be
in the form of Ethernet, Token-ring, ATM, or Fiber Distributed Data
Interface (FDDI). MAN has high-capacity and high-speed.
4. Wide Area Network: Wide Area Network (WAN) covers a wide area
which may span across states and even a whole country.
Telecommunication networks are Wide Area Network. These networks
provide connectivity to MANs and LANs. They are equipped with very
high speed, WANs use very expensive network equipment.
5. Internetwork: A network of networks is called an internetwork. It is the
largest network in existence on this planet. The internet hugely connects
all WANs and it can have connection to LANs and Home networks.
Internet uses TCP/IP protocol suite and uses IP as its addressing
protocol. Internet is serving many proposes and is involved in many
aspects of life. Some of them are:
i. Web sites
ii. E-mail
iii. Instant Messaging
iv. Blogging
v. Social Media
vi. Marketing
vii. Networking
viii. Resource Sharing
ix. Audio and Video Streaming
