DATA COMMUNICATION AND NETWORK

INTRODUCTION:

Today computer is available in many offices and homes and therefore there is a need to share
data and programs among various computers with the advancement of data communication
facilities. The communication between computers has increased and it thus it has extended
the power of computer beyond the computer room. Now a user sitting at one place can
communicate computers of any remote sites through communication channel. The aim of this
chapter is to introduce you the various aspects of computer network.

DATA COMMUNICATION:

We all are acquainted with some sorts of communication in our day to day life. For
communication of information and messages we use telephone and postal communication
systems. Similarly data and information from one computer system can be transmitted to
other systems across geographical areas. Thus data transmission is the movement of
information using some standard methods. These methods include electrical signals carried
along a conductor, optical signals along an optical fibers and electromagnetic areas. Suppose
a manager has to write several letters to various clients. First he has to use his PC and Word
Processing package to prepare his letter. If the PC is connected to the entire client's PCs
through networking, he can send the letters to all the clients within minutes. Thus irrespective
of geographical areas, if PCs are connected through communication channel, the data and
information, computer files and any other program can be transmitted to other computer
systems within seconds. The modern form of communication like e-mail and Internet is
possible only because of computer networking.

BASIC ELEMENTS OF A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

The following are the basic requirements for working of a communication system.

1. A sender (source) which creates the message to be transmitted.

2. A medium that carries the message.

3. A receiver (sink) which receives the message.

In data communication four basic terms are frequently used. They are:

1. Data: A collection of facts in raw forms that become information after processing.

2. Signals: Electric or electromagnetic encoding of data.

3. Signaling: Propagation of signals across a communication medium.

4. Transmission: Communication of data achieved by the processing of signals.

COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS:
You may be wondering how do the computers send and receive data across communication
links. The answer is data communication software. It is this software that enables us to
communicate with other systems. The data communication software instructs computer
systems and devices as to how exactly data is to be transferred from one place to another. The
procedure of data transformation in the form of software is commonly called protocol. The
data transmission software or protocols perform the following functions for the efficient and
error free transmission of data.

1. Data sequencing: A long message to be transmitted is broken into smaller packets of fixed
size for error free data transmission.

2. Data Routing: It is the process of finding the most efficient route between source and
destination before sending the data.

3. Flow control: All machines are not equally efficient in terms of speed. Hence the flow
control regulates the process of sending data between fast sender and slow receiver.

4. Error Control: Error detecting and recovering is the one of the main function of
communication software. It ensures that data are transmitted without any error.

DATA TRANSMISSION MODES:

There are three ways for transmitting data from one point to another

1. Simplex: In simplex mode the communication can take place in one direction. The
receiver receives the signal from the transmitting device. In this mode the flow of information
is Uni.-directional. Hence it is rarely used for data communication.

2. Half-duplex: In half-duplex mode the communication channel is used in both directions,

but only in one direction at a time. Thus a half-duplex line can alternately send and receive
data.

3. Full-duplex: In full duplex the communication channel is used in both directions at the
same time. Use of full-duplex line improves the efficiency as the line turn-around time
required in half-duplex arrangement is eliminated. Example of this mode of transmission is
the telephone line.

COMPUTER NETWORK:

A computer network is an interconnection of various computer systems located at different

places. In computer network two or more computers are linked together with a medium and
data communication devices for the purpose of communicating data and sharing resources.
The computer that provides resources to other computers on a network is known as server. In
the network the individual computers, which access shared network resources, are known as
workstations or nodes. A network can consist of two computer connected together on a desk
or it can consist of many Local Area Network (LANs) connected together to form a Wide
Area Network (WAN) across a continent. In simple terms it is an interconnected set of some
objects. For decades, we have been familiar with the Television, Railways, Banks and various
other types of networks. In recent years, the computer network, a new form of network is
becoming more and more visible in our day-to-day life. A computer network is an
interconnected set of autonomous computers. Autonomous means each of them can function
independent of others, i.e., each computer has individual processors. Simple we can say each
computer (terminal, node) should not be a dumb terminal. The key is that two or more
computers are connected together by a medium and are sharing resources. These resources
can be files, printers, hard disk drives, CPU or data. By using a computer network, people can
send and receive back information more quickly.

NETWORK:

A network is data communication systems that links terminals, microcomputers, minis or

mainframes so that these can operate independently but also share data and other resources.
In other words, a network is a way or means of transmitting or exchanging information from
one or more source. Simply, network means connecting two or more computers together for
sharing information and resources.

TYPES OF NETWORKS: The entire computer network can be classified into following
categories

 Local Area Network. (LAN)

 Metropolitan Area Network. (MAN)

 Wide Area Network. (WAN)

LOCAL AREA NETWORK

Networks used to interconnect computers in a single room, rooms within a building or

buildings on one site are called Local Area Network (LAN). LAN transmits data with a speed
of several megabits per second (106 bits per second). The transmission medium is normally
coaxial cables. LAN links computers, i.e., software and hardware, in the same area for the
purpose of sharing information. Usually LAN links computers within a limited geographical
area because they must be connected by a cable, which is quite expensive. People working in
LAN get more capabilities in data processing, work processing and other information
exchange compared to stand-alone computers. Because of this information exchange most of
the business and government organizations are using LAN.

MAJOR CHARACTERISTICS OF LAN

 every computer has the potential to communicate with any other computers of the network

 high degree of interconnection between computers

 easy physical connection of computers in a network

 inexpensive medium of data transmission

 high data transmission rate

ADVANTAGES

 The reliability of network is high because the failure of one computer in the network does
not affect the functioning for other computers.

 Addition of new computer to network is easy.

 High rate of data transmission is possible.

 Peripheral devices like magnetic disk and printer can be shared by other computers.

DISADVANTAGES:

If the communication line fails, the entire network system breaks down.

USE OF LAN: Followings are the major areas where LAN is normally used

 File transfers and Access

 Word and text processing

 Electronic message handling

 Remote database access

 Personal computing

 Digital voice transmission and storage

METROPLOITAN AREA NETWORK

Interconnecting LAN’s in different cities, using various public or private facilities such as
telephone system, Leased lines or satellite links forms a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN).
The communication facilities are not owned by the organizations and are leased from the
communication companies.

WIDE AREA NETWORK –

The term Wide Area Network (WAN) is used to describe a computer network spanning a
regional, national or global area. For example, for a large company the headquarters might be
at Delhi and regional branches at Bombay, Madras, Bangalore and Calcutta. Here regional
centers are connected to headquarters through WAN. The distance between computers
connected to WAN is larger. Therefore the transmission mediums used are normally
telephone lines, microwaves and satellite links.

CHARACTERISTICS OF WAN:

Followings are the major characteristics of WAN.

1. Communication Facility: For a big company spanning over different parts of the country
the employees can save long distance phone calls and it overcomes the time lag in overseas
communications. Computer conferencing is another use of WAN where users communicate
with each other through their computer system.

2. Remote Data Entry: Remote data entry is possible in WAN. It means sitting at any
location you can enter data, update data and query other information of any computer
attached to the WAN but located in other cities. For example, suppose you are sitting at
Madras and want to see some data of a computer located at Delhi, you can do it through
WAN.

3. Centralized Information: In modern computerized environment you will find that big
organizations go for centralized data storage. This means if the organization is spread over
many cities, they keep their important business data in a single place. As the data are
generated at different sites, WAN permits collection of this data from different sites and save
at a single site.

Examples of WAN:

1. Ethernet: Ethernet developed by Xerox Corporation is a famous example of WAN. This

network uses coaxial cables for data transmission. Special integrated circuit chips called
controllers are used to connect equipment to the cable.

2. Arpanet: The Arpanet is another example of WAN. It was developed at Advanced

Research Projects Agency of U. S. Department. This Network connects more than 40
universities and institutions throughout USA and Europe and operate nationwide or even
worldwide.

 In LAN, the computer terminals and peripheral devices are connected with wires and
coaxial cables. In WAN there is no physical connection. Communication is done through
telephone lines and satellite links.

 Cost of data transmission in LAN is less because the transmission medium is owned by a
single organization. In case of WAN the cost of data transmission is very high because the
transmission mediums used are hired either telephone lines or satellite links.

 The speed of data transmission is much higher in LAN than in WAN. The transmission
speed in LAN varies from 0.1 to 100 megabits per second. In case of WAN the speed ranges
from 1800 to 9600 bits per second (bps).

 Few data transmission errors occur in LAN compared to WAN. It is because in LAN the
distance covered is negligible.

Network Application –

A network can convert a group of isolated users into a coordinated multi-user system.
Anyone one who is having access to any network can easily and legally access or share any
resources like data, peripherals or software's with other user. Networks thus, can help any
organization run more effectively, efficiently and economically. The applications of networks
are:-

. Distributed Computer system – The most important advantage of network is that all
computers are not necessarily placed at one particular location but can be located at different
sites.

2. Remote Data Entry – Data entry can be done from any one of the computers connected to
the network.

3. Remote Data Inquiry – From any one of the computers, the date can be accessed and
viewed.

4. Remote Job Entry – The programs can be written or run from any computer connected to
the network.

5. Database Sharing – Many users can access simultaneously a file without corrupting the
data.

6. Network Resources Sharing – Network resources like printers, plotters, storage spaces etc.
can be shared by the computers hooked to the network.

7. Electronic- Mail (E-Mail) – E-Mail system basically used for sending message
electronically to individuals or group of individuals in an inter and intra office environment.
Other application based on it, include multimedia mail, database access, document sharing,
fax routing etc.

8. Subscriber Services – Many Subscribers can access a particular type of database provided
by some agency on the payment of some fees.

9. Banking Services – Different branches of any bank located at different places, connected to
each other through network provide instant transaction from any one of these branches.
10.Telecommunicating – In the latest trend of running business, workers at home are linked
to their company’s computer and they are performing their jobs from their homes only.

11.Advertising – Advertising of your products and services can be done through one of the
popular network available.

COMPONENTS OF A NETWORK:

A network is made up of hardware as well as software components specialized in nature to

perform several functions of network.

HARDWARE - The basic hardware components of network are-

 Server
 Workstations
 NICs
  Cabling
 Shared resources and peripherals

SERVER: - A server runs the network operating system and offers network services to users
at their individual workstations. It offers services such as, file storage, security, resource
management, user management etc. The most common type of server is the File Server. The
file server does not need any special hardware. It is just a computer with one or more hard
disks. Since the server's hard disk is shared, it is typically of a much larger capacity. Users
access files stored on the file server as if they were using their own hard disks. This allows
for sharing of programs as well as data. If sharing is not desired, private disk areas can be set
up for individual users. File server perform another important function on the network.
Printers connected to the server can be accessed directly by all the users of the network.
When the program running on a client CPU generates a print command, the file to be printed
is transparently diverted to the server and sent to the shared printer. If the printer is busy with
some other printing job, each user's file is converted to a separate file and put in a print
queue. File server can be non-dedicated and dedicated.

 Non-Dedicated server: - A non-dedicated server is a server that plays a dual role, server as
well as workstation. A user can sit on a non-dedicated server and work as if he/she is working
on workstations. When workstation request for services a non-dedicated server services their
requests, performing the duties of a server. A non-dedicated server when used in a client-
server environment needs a very high capacity hard disk, and an extremely high performance
CPU. This is essential because when a user (usually the administrator) works on the non-
dedicated server he uses its resources such as CPU, hard disk etc. At the same time, the server
has to tackle the client requests, which largely increases the load on the server. Microsoft's
Windows for workgroup, Windows 95, Windows NT, and all forms of UNIX operating
system feature non-dedicated server.

 Dedicated Server: - A dedicated server is the one, all the power of which is dedicated for
servicing workstations requests. Users (including administrator) can not work on a dedicated
server as they do in case of non-dedicated server. Only network administrator uses the
console of a dedicated server to carry out network administration. Novell's NetWare
operating system features dedicated server.

TYPES OF SERVERS:- In large networks, there can be more than one servers configured
to provide specific servers. Servers are called by their functions, E.g. E-mail server, database
server, fax server etc.

 File server: - This server provides file storage and retrieval services including security
features that control file access rights. In small networks the file server is configured
to acts as a database server, backup & archive server, communication server etc.
 E-mail server or E-mail gateway: -
E-mail server provides local or enterprise-wide electronic mail services. The E-mail
server is also configured to translate between different E-mail systems.
  Database server: - A database server is the server configured to handle user database
requests and responses
 . Fax server: - This server manages incoming and outgoing faxes for network users.
The users forward their faxes to the fax server, which then forwards them to other
network users on the globe over communication links.
 Print server: - This server provides user access to printer attached to the network and
manages print jobs through a print queue system.
 Backup and archive server: - This server is dedicated to backing up and archiving files
on the network.

WORKSTATIONS:

When a computer is connected to a network, it becomes a node on the network and is called a
workstation or client. A workstation has its own local operating system depending on the
machine type. Workstations can be DOS-based PCs, apple MACs running System, UNIX-
based PCs, System running OS/2, or diskless workstations. Thus, a network connected
computer behaves in its normal mode except that it can retrieve files from more places.
Traditionally, a workstation's job has been to execute program files retrieved from the
network, and the server's job to deliver those files to the workstation. Thus, most of the
processing is performed at the client workstation and the server delivers the files to be
processed. However, with the advent of network based client-server computing, the role of
the server has changed drastically. In this distributed processing environment, the processing
burden is shared by both components of the network. For example, in client server databases,
the workstation provides the user interface while the database server or database engine
performs the task of searching, indexing and modifying the database. When a computer is
connected to a network, it becomes a node on the network and is called a workstation or
client. These nodes may be of 3 types:

Dumb- These nodes can only receive and send data.

Smart - These nodes can receive, send data and edit data as well.

Intelligent - These nodes can receive, send data and edit data and can run programs
independently.

NETWORK INTERFACE CARDS (NIC):- Each computer attached to a network requires

a network interface card that supports a specific networking scheme such as Ethernet, Arc
Net, or Token Ring. The network cable is attached to the network interface card. It contains
the rules and logic to access the LAN. Supporting a data transfer rate of 35 – 45 Mbps are
also available, but that is very expensive.

CABLING:

TRANSMISSION CHANNEL: -

Generally following four types of channels are used for data communication in a LAN –
1. Wire Pairs

2. Coaxial Cables

3. Microwave

4. Twisted Pair Cable

5. Fiber-Optic Cable

6. Communication Satellite

Wire Pairs: Wire pairs are commonly used in local telephone communication and for short
distance digital data communication. They are usually made up of copper and the pair of
wires is twisted together. Data transmission speed is normally 9600 bits per second in a
distance of 100 meter.

Coaxial Cables: Coaxial cable is groups of specially wrapped and insulted wires that are able
to transfer data at higher rate. They consist of a central copper wire surrounded by an
insulation over which copper mesh is placed. They are used for long distance telephone lines
and local area network for their noise immunity and faster data transfer.

Microwave: Microwave system uses very high frequency radio signals to transmit data
through space. The transmitter and receiver of a microwave system should be in line-of-sight
because the radio signal cannot bend. With microwave very long distance transmission is not
possible. In order to overcome the problem of line of sight and power amplification of weak
signal, repeaters are used at intervals of 25 to 30 kilometers between the transmitting and
receiving end.

Twisted Pair Cable: As the name suggests, it is a coiled wire consisting of two insulate
copper wires, twisted on each other. This type of wire is easiest one to lay and used for short
and medium range network. Advantage of this cable is that of its noise interface and low
transmission rate.

Fiber-Optic Cable: This cable uses light impulses that travel through clear, flexible tubing
half the size of human hair. These cables are reliable for high data transfer rate over a longer
distance.

Communication Satellite: The problem of line-sight and repeaters are overcome by using
satellites which are the most widely used data transmission media in modern days. A
communication satellite is a microwave relay station placed in outer space. INSAT-1B is
such a satellite that can be accessible from anywhere in India. In satellite communication,
microwave signal is transmitted from a transmitter on earth to the satellite at space. The
satellite amplifies the weak signal and transmits it back to the receiver. The main advantage
of satellite communication is that it is a single microwave relay station visible from any point
of a very large area. In microwave the data transmission rate is 16 gigabits per second. They
are mostly used to link big metropolitan cities.
INTERNET

The Internet is a network of networks. Millions of computers all over the world are connected
through the Internet. Computer users on the Internet can contact one another anywhere in the
world. If your computer is connected to the Internet, you can connect to millions of
computers. You can gather information and distribute your data. It is very much similar to the
telephone connection where you can talk with any person anywhere in the world. In Internet a
huge resource of information is accessible to people across the world. Information in every
field starting from education, science, health, medicine, history, and geography to business,
news, etc. can be retrieved through Internet. You can also download programs and software
packages from anywhere in the world. Due to the tremendous information resources the
Internet can provide, it is now indispensable to every organization.

ORIGIN OF INTERNET:

In 1969 Department of Defense (DOD) of USA started a network called ARPANET

(Advanced Research Projects Administration Network) with one computer at California and
three at Utah. Later on other universities and R & D institutions were allowed to connect to
the Network. APARNET quickly grew to encompass the entire American continent and
became a huge success. Every university in the country wanted to become a part of
ARPANET. So the network was broken into two smaller parts MILNET for managing
military sites and ARPANET (smaller) for managing non-military sites. Around 1980,
NSFNET (National Science Foundation Network) was created. With the advancement of
modern communication facilities, other computers were also allowed to be linked up with any
computer of NSFNET. By 1990 many computers were looking up to NSFNET giving birth to
Internet.

Internet functions:

Internet is not a governmental organization. The ultimate authority of the Internet is the
Internet Society. This is a voluntary membership organization whose purpose is to promote
global information exchange. Internet has more than one million computers attached to it.

E-mail: E-mail stands for electronic mail. This is one of the most widely used features of
Internet. Mails are regularly used today where with the help of postage stamp we can transfer
mails anywhere in the world. With electronic mail the service is similar. But here data are
transmitted through Internet and therefore within minutes the message reaches the destination
may it be anywhere in the world. Therefore the mailing system is excessively fast and is
being used widely for mail transfer.

Internet tools:

 Protocol - A set of rules and conventions for sending information over a network.
These rules govern the content, format, timing, sequencing, and error control of
messages exchanged among network devices.
  Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) - A set of networking
protocols widely used on the Internet that provides communications across
interconnected networks of computers with diverse hardware architectures and
various operating systems. TCP/IP includes standards for how computers
communicate and conventions for connecting networks and routing traffic.

• Internet Protocol (IP) - A routable protocol in the TCP/IP protocol suite that is responsible
for IP addressing, routing, and the fragmentation and reassembly of IP packets.

• Internet service provider (ISP) - A company that provides individuals or companies

access to the Internet and the World Wide Web. An ISP provides a telephone number, a user
name, a password, and other connection information so users can connect their computers to
the ISP's computers. An ISP typically charges a monthly or hourly connection fee.

• Web server - A computer that is maintained by a system administrator or Internet service

provider (ISP) and that responds to requests from a user's browser.

• Extensible Markup Language (XML) - A meta-markup language that provides a format

for describing structured data. This facilitates more precise declarations of content and more
meaningful search results across multiple platforms. In addition, XML will enable a new
generation of Web-based data viewing and manipulation applications.

• File Transfer Protocol (FTP) - A member of the TCP/IP suite of protocols, used to copy
files between two computers on the Internet. Both computers must support their respective
FTP roles: one must be an FTP client and the other an FTP server.

• Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) - The protocol used to transfer information on the
World Wide Web. An HTTP address (one kind of Uniform Resource Locator [URL]) takes
the form: http://www.microsoft.com.

• Telnet - A terminal-emulation protocol that is widely used on the Internet to log on to

network computers. Telnet also refers to the application that uses the Telnet protocol for
users who log on from remote locations.

• Workgroup - A simple grouping of computers intended only to help users find such things
as printers and shared folders within that group. Workgroups in Windows do not offer the
centralized user accounts and authentication offered by domains.

• Authentication - The process for verifying that an entity or object is who or what it claims
to be. Examples include confirming the source and integrity of information, such as verifying
a digital signature or verifying the identity of a user or computer.