Network Hardware and
Software
Computer network consists of two or more computers that are linked
in order to share resources, exchange data files or to allow electronic
communication. The computers on a network may be linked through
cables, telephone lines, radio waves, satellites or infrared light beams.
There are two aspects of computer networks – hardware and software.
• Hardware includes physical connection between two machines by
using adaptors, cables, routers, bridges etc.
• software includes a set of protocols. Protocols define a formal
language among various components. It makes hardware usable by
applications.
Network Hardware- Physical
Structures
Classifying Networks by Transmission Technology- Type of Connection
• A network is two or more devices connected through links. A link is a communications
pathway that transfers data from one device to another.
• There are two possible types of connections: point-to-point and multipoint.
Point-to-Point
• A point-to-point connection provides a dedicated link between two devices. The
entire capacity of the link is reserved for transmission between those two devices.
• Most point-to-point connections use an actual length of wire or cable to connect the
two ends, but other options, such as microwave or satellite links, are also possible
• When you change television channels by infrared remote control, you are
establishing a point-to-point connection between the remote control and the
television's control system.
Multipoint
• A multipoint (also called multi-drop) connection is one in which more
than two specific devices share a single link
• In a multipoint environment, the capacity of the channel is shared, either
spatially or temporally.
• If several devices can use the link simultaneously, it is a spatially shared
connection. If users must take turns, it is a timeshared connection.
• broadcast :: a single communications channel shared by all machines
(addresses) on the network.
• multicast :: communications to a specified group.
Types of Network based on size
• The types of network are classified based upon the size, the area it
covers and its physical architecture. The three primary network
categories are LAN, WAN and MAN. Each network differs in their
characteristics such as distance, transmission speed, cables and cost.
Basic types
LAN (Local Area Network) – Wired and Wireless LANs
• Group of interconnected computers within a small area. (room,
building, campus)
• Two or more pc's can from a LAN to share files, folders, printers,
applications and other devices.
• Coaxial or CAT 5 cables are normally used for connections.
• Due to short distances, errors and noise are minimum.
• Data transfer rate is 10 to 100 mbps.
• Example: A computer lab in a college.
Wired LANs
transceivers
Ethernet bus Ethernet hub
Copyright ©2000 The McGraw Hill Leon-Garcia & Widjaja: Communication Figure 1.17
Companies Networks
Tanenbaum slide
• WLAN (Wireless LAN)
• A LAN that uses high frequency radio waves for communication.
• Provides short range connectivity with high speed data transmission.
Wireless LANs
(a) Wireless networking with a base station. (b) Ad hoc
networking.
Tanenbaum slide
MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
• Design to extend over a large area.
• campus networks connecting LANs logically or physically.
• often have a backbone
• Connecting number of LAN's to form larger network, so that resources
can be shared.
• Networks can be up to 5 to 50 km.
• Owned by organization or individual.
• Data transfer rate is low compare to LAN.
• Example: Organization with different branches located in the city.
Metropolitan Area
Networks
A metropolitan area network based on cable TV.
Tanenbaum slide
WAN (Wide Area Network)
• country and worldwide network.
• Contains multiple LAN's and MAN's.
• Distinguished in terms of geographical range.
• Uses satellites and microwave relays.
• Data transfer rate depends upon the ISP provider and varies over the
location.
• Best example is the internet.
Wide Area Networks
(WANs)
A stream of packets from sender to receiver.
Tanenbaum slide
Other types
• PAN (Personal Area Network)
• Network organized by the individual user for its personal use with
technologies that communicate over short ranges.
• SAN (Storage Area Network)
• Connects servers to data storage devices via fiber-optic cables.
• E.g.: Used for daily backup of organization or a mirror copy
Network Software
• The first computer designed with the hardware as the major concern
and the software as an afterthought. This no longer works.
• Network software is now highly structured.
• Protocol Hierarchies
• Design Issues for the Layers
• Connection-Oriented and Connectionless Services
• Service Primitives
• The Relationship of Services to Protocols
Protocol Hierarchies
• To reduce the design complexity, most networks are organized as a
series of layers or levels. Each one built upon the one below it.
• The number of layers, name of each layer, contents of each layer and
the function of each layer differ from network to network.
• Layer n on one machine carries on a conversation with layer n on
another machine. The rules and conventions used in this conversation
are collectively known as the layer n protocol.
• Basically, a protocol is an agreement between the communicating
peers on how communication is to proceed.
The layering Principle
• Between each pair of adjacent layers there is an interface.
• A set of layers and protocols is called a network architecture.
• A list of protocols used by a certain system , one protocol per layer, is
called a protocol stack.
The layering Principle
Design Issues for the Layers
• Addressing – each layer needs a mechanism for identifying senders and
receivers.
• The rules of data transfer – simplex, half-duplex, full duplex
• Error Control – error-correction and error-detection
• Flow Control - The communication channels must preserve the order of
messages sent on them – disassembling, transmitting, and then
reassembling.
• Multiplexing – inconvenient or expensive to set up a connection for each pair
of communication process.
• Routing – multiple paths between source and destination, a route must be
chosen
Connection-Oriented vs.
Connectionless
Service Primitives
• A service is formally specified by a set of primitives (basic operations)
available to a user or other entity to access the service.
Example: five service primitives for implementing a simple connection-oriented
service.
Services to Protocols Relationship
• The relationship between a service and a protocol.
• A service is a set of primitives(operations)that a layer provides to the
layer above it
• A protocol is a set of rules governing the format and meaning of the
frames, packets, or messages that are exchanged by the peer entities
within the layer
The relationship of Service
The OSI Reference Model
The TCP/IP Reference Model
The TCP/IP Reference Model
Protocols and networks in the TCP/IP model initially.
The TCP/IP Reference Model
Overview of the Internet.
