ICT in Business

.
Network
Basics
Learning Objectives
In this chapter you will learn
about:
▪ Basic Concept of Network
▪ The Advantages of Using Network
▪ Types of Network
▪ How Networks are Structured
▪ Different Types of Network Topologies
▪ Different types of Network Linking
Devices
▪ Different types of Network Protocols
Network
A network is
⚫a set of technological devices-
including hardware, software, and
media that can be used to connect
computers together, in order to
communicate, exchange information,
and share resources in real time.

⚫[Link]
v=95_36NgiaMY
 The Advantages of Using a
Network
•Resource Sharing – Devices can share files, printers, and
internet connections, reducing costs.
•Improved Communication – Enables instant messaging,
emails, and video conferencing.
•Centralized Data Management – Data can be stored in
centralized servers, making backup and security easier.
•Remote Access – Users can access network resources from
anywhere using VPNs or cloud services.
•Scalability – Networks can expand by adding more devices
without major changes.
•Enhanced Security – With proper configurations, networks
provide secure data storage and transmission
 Disadvantages of Network
•Security Risks – Vulnerable to hacking, malware, and
unauthorized access if not properly secured.
•High Initial Cost – Setting up infrastructure (routers, servers,
and cables) can be expensive.
•Maintenance Complexity – Requires skilled professionals to
manage and troubleshoot issues.
•Network Failures – If a central server or router goes down, it
can disrupt the entire system.
•Data Privacy Issues – Unauthorized access or data leaks
can occur without strong security protocols.
•Bandwidth Limitations – High traffic can slow down the
network, affecting performance.
Types of Network
The common types of computer
networks are;
⚫ Personal Area Network (PAN)
⚫ Home Area Network (HAN)
⚫ Local Area Network (LAN)
⚫ Campus Area Network (CAN)
⚫ Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
⚫ Wide Area Network (WAN)
⚫ Virtual Private Network (VPN)
⚫ Intranet & Extranet
Personal Area Network
(PAN)
⚫PAN Connects personal devices like
smartphones and smartwatches.
⚫It generally consists of a computer,
mobile, etc. PAN can be used for
establishing communication among
these personal devices through
Bluetooth.
⚫PAN has connectivity range up to 10
meters.
Home Area Network (HAN)
⚫A HAN is like a PAN, but even
bigger.
⚫A HAN is a very small network
that usually covers a single
home.
Local Area Network (LAN)
⚫A LAN can consist of just two or three
PCs connected together to share
resources, or it can include hundreds
of computers of different kinds.
⚫Any network that exists within a single
building, or even a group of adjacent
buildings, is considered a LAN.
Campus Area Network (CAN)
⚫A Campus Area Network is made
up of an interconnection of LANs
within a specific geographical
area.
⚫For example, Daffodil Smart City
can be linked with a variety of
campus buildings to connect all
the academic departments.
 Metropolitan Area Network
(MAN)
⚫A metropolitan area network (MAN) is
similar to a local area network (LAN) but
spans an entire city, or some other
municipal or organizational territory.
⚫MANs are formed by connecting multiple
LANs. Thus, MANs are larger than LANs.
⚫MANs are typically extremely efficient and
can provide fast communication via high-
speed carriers, such as fiber optic cables.
⚫Television cable is an example of a MAN.
Metropolitan Area Network
(MAN)
Wide Area Network (WAN)
⚫A Wide Area Network is a network
that extends over a large
geographical area such as states or
countries.
⚫A Wide Area Network is not limited to
a single location, but it spans over a
large geographical area through a
telephone line, fiber optic cable or
satellite links.
⚫The internet is one of the biggest
WAN in the world.
Virtual Private Network
(VPN)
⚫A virtual private network (VPN) gives
you online privacy and anonymity by
creating a private network from a
public internet connection.
⚫VPNs mask your internet protocol (IP)
address so your online actions are
virtually untraceable.
Intranet & Extranet
⚫ An intranet functions as a company’s
private communication network. It’s a
private website for employees with
company news, information, documents,
and business process tools that are critical
for completing work.
⚫ Whereas an extranet is a private network
too. It allows business partners, suppliers,
and other authorized parties to
communicate. The extranet is accessible
to designated people from outside the
company.
Intranet & Extranet
How Network is Structured
Based on network design, a
computer network can be divided
into the following two types:

⚫Server-Based Network
⚫Peer-to-Peer Network
 Server-Based Network
⚫ A server-based network can also be termed as a client-
server network.
⚫ A client can be a device or a computer. It helps the end
users to access the web. Some examples of clients are
desktop, laptops, smartphones, web browsers, etc.
⚫ A server is a device or a computer that responds to the
clients with the services. It provides files, databases, web
pages, shared resources according to its type.
⚫ In this network, a client requests services from the
server. The server listens to the client requests and
responds to them by providing the required service.
Server-Based Network
 Server-Based Network
Advantages Disadvantages
⚫ It facilitates a ⚫ Dependency is more
Centralized storage on a centralized
system.
server.
⚫ Data can be easily
⚫ If the server's data is
backed (data
backup) in such corrupted, all nodes
networks. will be affected.
⚫ Data sharing speed ⚫ The cost of the
is high. server and network
⚫ Servers can serve software is very high.
multiple clients at a
time
Peer-to-Peer Network
⚫The Peer-to-Peer network is also called
P2P or computer-to-computer network.
⚫In a peer to peer network, there is no
specific client or a server.
⚫A device can send and receive data
directly with each other.
⚫Each node can either be a client or a
server. It can request or provide
services accordingly. A node is also
called a peer.
Peer-to-Peer Network
 Peer-to-Peer Network
Advantages Disadvantag
Easy to implement and
⚫
manage. es
⚫ Nodes or workstations are ⚫ Storage is
independent of one decentralized, and also
another. Also, no access not so efficiently
permissions are needed. managed.
⚫ The network is reliable in ⚫ No data backup
nature. If a peer fails, it will options are available in
not affect the working of peer-to-peer networks.
others.
⚫ These kinds of
⚫ The cost of implementation
of such networks is very networks are not so
less. secure.
 Network Topology
⚫ Topology defines the structure of the network
of how all the components are interconnected
to each other.
⚫ Network designers consider several factors
when deciding which topology or combination
of topologies to use:
⮚ The type of computers and cabling (if any)
in place
⮚ The distance between computers
⮚ The speed at which data must travel around
the network
⮚ The cost of setting up the network
Types of Network Topology

The various network

topologies are:
⚫Bus Topology
⚫Star Topology
⚫Tree Topology
⚫Ring Topology
⚫Mesh Topology
⚫Hybrid Topology
 Bus Topology
⚫ The bus topology is
designed in such a way
that all the network device
are connected through a
single cable known as a
backbone cable.
⚫ Each node is either
connected to the
backbone cable by drop
cable or directly connected
to the backbone cable.
⚫ It is a multi-point
connection.
⚫ If the backbone fails the
topology crashes.
Bus TopologyDisadvantages
Bus topology is
⚫ not
great for large
Advantages networks.
⚫ It is easy to connect ⚫ Additional devices slow
or remove devices in network down.
this network without ⚫ Need of terminators are
required at both ends of
affecting any other
main cable.
device. ⚫ If a main cable is
⚫ Very cost-effective damaged, whole
as compared to network fails.
other network ⚫ This network topology is
topology . very slow as compared
to other topologies.
⚫ Easy to expand by
joining the two
cables together.
 Star Topology
⚫ A star may be a topology in
which all nodes are
individually connected to a
central connection point, sort
of a hub or a switch.
⚫ A star takes more cable than
e.g. a bus, but the benefit is
that if a cable fails, just one
node is going to be brought
down.
⚫ If one device wants to send
data to another device, it’s
to first send the info to hub
then the hub transmits that
data to the designated
device.
 Star Topology
Advantages Disadvantages
⚫ If one cable or device ⚫ Requires more cable than
fails then all the others a linear bus.
will still work ⚫ More expensive than
⚫ It is high-performing as linear bus topology due to
no data collisions can the value of the
occur connecting devices
⚫ Easy fault detection (network switches)
because the link are ⚫ If hub goes down
often easily identified. everything goes down,
⚫ No disruptions to the none of the devices can
work without hub.
network when
connecting or removing ⚫ Extra hardware is required
devices. (hubs or switches) which
adds to cost.
Tree Topology
⚫ In computer networks,
a tree topology is also
known as a star bus
topology.
⚫ It
incorporates/combines
elements of both a bus
topology. and a star
topology.
⚫ The pattern of
connection resembles
a tree in which all
branches are
connected to one root.
 Tree Topology
Advantages Disadvantages
⚫ The other nodes in a ⚫ Due to the presence of
network are not affected, if large number of nodes,
one of their nodes get the network
damaged or not working. performance of tree
topology becomes a bit
⚫ Nodes can be added by
slowly.
simply adding a hub
⚫ Requires large number
⚫ Tree topology provides
of cables compared to
easy maintenance and star and ring topology.
easy fault identification
can be done. ⚫ The backbone appears
as the failure point of
the entire segment of
the network.
Ring Topology
⚫ The data flows in one
direction, i.e., it is
unidirectional.
⚫ The data flows in a
single loop
continuously known
as an endless loop.
⚫ It has no terminated
ends, i.e., each node
is connected to other
node and having no
termination point.
 Ring Topology
Advantages Disadvantages
⚫ In this topology, data ⚫ It is Expensive.
flows in one direction ⚫ Difficult to
which reduces the chance
troubleshoot/solve the
of packet collisions/crash.
ring.
⚫ In this topology additional
workstations can be
⚫ In order for all the
added; without impacting computer to
performance of the communicate with
network. each other, all
⚫ Speed to transfer the data computer must be
is very high in this type of turned on.
topology. ⚫ Total dependence in
⚫ Easy to manage. on one cable.
 Mesh Topology
⚫There are multiple
paths from one
computer to
another computer.
⚫It does not contain
the switch, hub or
any central
computer
⚫The Internet is an
example of the
mesh topology.
 Mesh Topology
Advantages Disadvantages
⚫ Failure during a single ⚫ It’s costly as compared
device won’t break the to the opposite network
network. topologies
⚫ This topology provides ⚫ Installation is extremely
multiple paths to succeed difficult in the mesh.
in the destination and tons ⚫ Power requirement is
of redundancy. higher as all the nodes
⚫ Data transmission is more will need to remain
active all the time and
consistent because failure
share the load.
doesn’t disrupt its
processes. ⚫ Complex process.
⚫ Adding new devices won’t
⚫ Maintenance needs are
disrupt data transmissions. challenging with a mesh.
 Hybrid Topology
⚫ The combination of various
different topologies is
known as Hybrid topology.
⚫ When two or more different
topologies are combined
together is termed as
Hybrid topology.
⚫ For example, if there exist
a ring topology in one
branch of ABC bank and
bus topology in another
branch of ABC bank,
connecting these two
topologies will result in
Hybrid topology.
 Hybrid Topology
Advantages Disadvantages
⚫ This type of topology ⚫ It is a type of
combines the benefits expensive network.
of different types of
topologies in one
⚫ Design of a hybrid
topology. network is very
⚫ Can be modified as per complex.
requirement. ⚫ Requires a lot of
⚫ Error detecting and cables in
trouble shooting is easy. installation process.
⚫ It is used for create ⚫ Installation is a
large network. difficult process.
Network Linking Devices
⚫Repeater
A repeater is a network device that
regenerates/restores a signal with
more power and to an extended
geographical or topological
network boundary than the original
signal could.
Example: Cable Television.
 Network Linking Devices
⚫Hub
A hub is a type of networking device that connects devices
on a computer network together. The hub is used as a
central connective device in the star topology. Computers
are connected to each other through hubs. After receiving
the signal delivered to the hub, it broadcasts it to all
computers linked to it.
Network Linking Devices
⚫ Switch
A network switch is a type of networking
device that connects devices on a computer
network together. The work of the switch
and hub is almost the same.
However, after receiving the signal sent to
the hub, it sends the signal to all the
computers at the same time. That is, it
broadcasts the signal, but after receiving the
signal sent to the switch, it only sends it to
the target computer. This is why switches
are called "intelligent devices."
Network Linking Devices

⚫Router
The router can be compared to a
postman. The router delivers data
packets from the source computer to the
destination computer. The router uses
the shortest distance route to deliver the
data packets to the destination. Routers
are more expensive than other
networking devices like hubs, bridges
and switches.
 Network Linking Devices

⚫Bridge
A bridge is a network device that connects multiple LANs
(local area networks) together to form a larger LAN. The
process of aggregating networks is called network
bridging. The main function of this is to examine the
incoming traffic and examine whether to filter it or forward
it.
End of Chapter
.