UNIT II

B. Sc. (Hons.) – II Semester

Course Title: Fundamental of IT (CABSVO2005)
Under VOC Category of FYUP
Dr. Shabbir H. DAY-6 Date: 22.02.2024

Basic of Computer Network

A network set up by connecting two or more computers and other supporting
hardware devices through communication channels is called a computer network. It
enables computers to communicate with each other and to share commands, data,
etc., including the hardware and software resources.

Each computing device in a network is called a node or station. The nodes can be
routers, personal computers, and servers. Data transformation is done via the network
using rules known as protocols. The protocols are the set of rules which every node of
the network should follow for transferring information over the wired or wireless
network.

Uses of Computer Network:

o It allows us to share resources such as printers, scanners, etc.

o We can share expensive software and database among network users.
o It facilitates communications from one computer to another computer.
o It allows the exchange of data and information among users through a network.

Types of Computer Networks:

a. Personal Area Network (PAN)

b. Local Area Network (LAN)
c. Campus Area Network (CAN)
d. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
e. Wide Area Network (WAN)

a. Personal Area Network (PAN)

 It is the smallest network of computers.

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  Bluetooth or other infrared-enabled devices could be used to connect
devices.
 It has a 10-metre range of connectivity.
 It can cover up to 30 feet in diameter.
 PAN network enables a single person's personal devices to connect with
each other.

Personal Area Network is divided into two categories.

b. Local Area Network (LAN):

As the name suggests, the local area network is a computer network that operates in
a small area, i.e., it connects computers in a small geographical area like within an
office, company, school, or any other organization. So, it exists within a specific area,
e.g. home network, office network, school network, etc.

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A local area network may be a wired or wireless network or a combination of both. The
devices in a LAN are generally connected using an Ethernet cable, which offers an
interface to connect multiple devices like router, switches, and computers. For
example, using a single router, few Ethernet cables, and computers, we can create a
LAN at our home, office, etc. In this network, one computer may act as a server and
other computers, which are part of the network, may serve as clients.

Features of LAN
o The network size is small, which consists of only a few kilometres.
o The data transmission rate is high, ranging from 100 Mbps to 1000 Mbps.
o LAN is included in bus, ring, mesh, and star topologies.
o Some network devices connected to the LAN will be limited.
o If more devices are added than prescribed network may fail.

Benefits of LAN:
o It offers a higher operating speed than WAN and MAN.
o It is less expensive and easy to install and maintain.
o It perfectly fulfils the requirement of a specific organization, such as an office, school,
etc.
o It can be wired or wireless or a combination of both.
o It is more secure than other networks as it is a small set up that can be easily taken
care of.

Primary Functions of LAN:

o Sharing of files: It allows us to share or transfer files from one computer to another
computer within the LAN. For example, in a bank, it can be used to send a file with the
details of transactions of a customer from the server to clients.

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 o Sharing of printers: It also allows shared access to a printer, file servers, etc. For
example, ten computers that are connected through LAN can use a single printer, file
server, fax machine, etc.
o Sharing of Computational capabilities: It allows the clients to access to the
computational power of a server, e.g., an application server as some applications which
run on clients in a LAN may require higher computational capabilities.
o Mail and message related services: It allows sending and receiving mails between
computers of a LAN. We are required to have a mail server for this.
o Database services: It also allows storing and retrieving data with the help of a
database server.

c. Campus Area Network (CAN)

Campus Area Network (CAN) is a group of interconnected Local Area
Networks (LAN) within a limited geographical area like school campus,
university campus, military bases, or organizational campuses and corporate
buildings etc. A Campus Area Network is larger than Local Area Network but
smaller than Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) and Wide Area Network
(WAN). This Campus Area Network also called as Corporate Area Network.
Sometimes this network is also referred as Residential Network or ResNet as it
is only used by residents of specific campus only. Campus Area Network is
network of interconnected Local Area Networks where these LANs are
connected via Switches and routers and create a single network like CAN.
Campus Area Network covers areas of around 1 to 5 km range and it can be
both wired and wireless connectivity.

d. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

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MAN is a high-speed network that spreads over a large geographical area such as a
metro city or town. It is set up by connecting the local area networks using routers and
local telephone exchange lines. It can be operated by a private company, or it may be
a service provided by a company such as a local telephone company.

MAN is ideal for the people of a relatively large area who want to share data or
information. It provides fast communication via high-speed carriers or transmission
media such as copper, fiber optics, and microwaves. The commonly used protocols for
MAN are X.25, Frame Relay, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), xDSL (Digital
Subscriber Line), ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), ADSL (Asymmetrical
Digital Subscriber Line), and more.

The area covered by MAN is larger than the LAN but smaller than a WAN. Its network
ranges from 5 to 50 km. Furthermore, it also provides uplinks for connecting LANs to
WANs and the internet. An organization can use a MAN to connect all of its LANs
located at its different offices across the city.

Examples of MAN:
o Cable TV Network
o Telephone service provides that provide high-speed DSL lines
o IEEE 802.16 or WiMAX
o Connected fire stations in a city
o Connected branches of a school in a city

Features of MAN

o The size of the MAN is in the range of 5km to 50km.

o The MAN ranges from the campus to the entire city.
o The MAN is maintained and managed by either the user group or the Network provider.
o Users can achieve the sharing of regional resources by using MAN.
o The data transmission rates can be medium to high

Advantages of MAN:
o Less Expensive: It is less expensive to set up a MAN and to connect it to a WAN.
o High Speed: The speed of data transfer is more than WAN.
o Local Emails: It can send local emails fast.
o Access to the Internet: It allows us to share the internet connection, and thus multiple
users can have access to high-speed internet.

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 o Easy to set up: We can easily set up a MAN by connecting multiple LANs.
o High Security: It is more secure than WAN.

e. Wide Area Network (WAN)

WAN extends over a large geographical area. It is not confined within an office, school,
city, or town and is mainly set up by telephone lines, fiber optic, or satellite links. It is
mostly used by big organizations like banks and multinational companies to
communicate with their branches and customers across the world. Although it is
structurally similar to MAN, it is different from MAN in terms of its range, e.g., MAN
covers up to 50 Kms, whereas WAM covers distances larger than 50 Km, e.g., 1000km
or more.

A WAN works by using TCP/IP protocol in combination with networking devices such
as switches, routers, firewalls, and modems. It does not connect individual computers;
rather, they are designed to link small networks like LANs and MANs to create a large
network. The internet is considered the largest WAN in the world as it connects various
LANs and MANs through ISPs.

The computers are connected to the wide area network through public networks, such
as telephone systems, leased lines or satellites. The users of a WAN do not own the
network as it is a large setup connecting the remote computer systems. However, they
are required to subscribe to a service provided by a telecommunication provider to
use this network.

Features of WAN

o Has a much larger capacity.

o We can share the regional resources by using WAN.
o They have more bit-rate errors.
o The transmission delay is, and hence they need more communication speed.

Advantages of a WAN:
o Large Network Range: It spans a large geographical area of 2000 km or more, e.g.,
from one country to another countries.
o Centralized data: It allows the different office branches to use a head office server for
retrieving and sharing data. Thus, we don’t need to buy email servers, files server and
back up servers, etc.
o Get updated files and data: It provides an ideal platform for companies who need a
live server for their employees to exchange updated files within seconds.

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 o High bandwidth: It offers high bandwidth than a normal broadband connection. Thus,
it can increase the productivity of our company by offering uninterrupted data transfer
and communication.
o Workload Distribution: It help to distribute our workload to other locations. We can
hire employees in different countries and assign them to work from office.

Examples of WAN:
– Internet

– US defense department
– Stock exchanges network

– Railway reservation system

– Big Banks' cash dispensers' network

– Satellite systems

What is Wi-Fi ?
Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) is a wireless technology that is primarily used to connect
devices to the internet. To use WiFi, we usually have to enter a WiFi password on the
device so it can connect to a local area network (LAN) via a router.

Basically, WiFi allows us to surf the web without connecting the device to a phone line
or a cable outlet. To do this, we must need a WiFi router to take an internet signal from
modem and transform it into a radio signal. Then, the WiFi-enabled devices receive
that radio signal and transform it back into an internet signal. This allows us to access
the internet on the device wirelessly.

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Broadband
Broadband is another term for high-speed internet access. In the United States, broadband is
defined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as a connection with at least 25
Mbps download speed and 3 Mbps upload speed.

Any type of connection that can meet the FCC guidelines of 25 Mbps download speed
and 3 Mbps upload speed can be classified as broadband. This
includes DSL, cable, fiber, fixed-wireless, 4G, 5G, and satellite connections. The only
type of internet connection that can’t reach broadband speeds is dial-up. But other
types of connection can fall short of this benchmark too. For example, some DSL and
satellite plans don’t meet the 25 Mbps download speed necessary to be considered
broadband by the FCC.

What is Bluetooth ?
Bluetooth is used to transfer data between electronic devices over short distances. For
example, we can use Bluetooth to connect computer to a wireless keyboard or pair a
phone with a Bluetooth speaker. Like WiFi, Bluetooth also uses radio signals to send
data between devices. In fact, Bluetooth uses some of the same frequencies as WiFi,
which can cause interference with WiFi devices. However, unlike WiFi, Bluetooth does
not require to use a password to connect to a device.

Typically, we need to pair a Bluetooth devices by pressing and holding a button on

one device. Then by selecting that device from another device.

Because Bluetooth doesn’t require a password to connect between devices, it means

that the connection is usually not as secure as WiFi. Bluetooth is also slower than WiFi,
and it has a shorter range (usually up to 30 feet).

Bluetooth vs. WiFi

Bluetooth and WiFi are both wireless technologies for connecting devices, but they are
quite different. While WiFi is mainly used to connect the smart devices to the internet,
Bluetooth is only used to connect the devices to each other.

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Comparison of Bluetooth vs. WiFi on some effective parameters is as follows:

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Concept of Internet?
The internet is a global network of interconnected computers, servers, phones, and
smart appliances that communicate with each other using the transmission control
protocol (TCP) standard to enable a fast exchange of information and files, along with
other types of services.

Key features of the internet

The internet is a vast, interconnected network of computers and other network-
enabled devices, which is:

– Globally available: The internet is an international service with universal access.

People living in isolated areas of an archipelago or even in the depths of Africa

can now access the internet.

– Easy to use: The software used to connect to the internet (web browser) is user-

friendly and easy to understand. It’s also relatively easy to create.

– Compatible with other types of media: The internet provides a high level of

engagement with photos and videos, among other media.

– Affordable: Internet service development, as well as maintenance costs, are

modest.
– Flexible: Internet-based communication is highly adaptable. It supports text,

audio, and video communication. These services are available at both individual
and organizational levels.

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Applications of Internet
Applications of Internet have revolutionized the way we live, work, learn, and
communicate. What started as a military communication network has grown into a
global system that connects billions of users and devices around the world. The
applications of the internet are vast, changing how we do everything from shopping
and banking to entertainment and business. Following are the applications of the
internet and how they impact our daily lives. Following are the top 10 applications of
Internet are:

1. Communication

2. Web Browsing
3. Online Shopping

4. Real-Time Update
5. Social Media

6. Job Search
7. Education

8. Travel
9. Stock Market Update

10. Video Conferencing

1. Communication
Communication refers to exchanging ideas and thoughts between or among people
to create understanding. The communication process involves the elements of source,
encoding, channel, receiver, decoding, and feedback. In organizations, both formal and
informal communications simultaneously take place. Formal communications refer to
official communications in orders, notes, circulars, agenda, minutes, etc. Apart from
formal communications, informal grapevine communications also exist. Informal
communications are usually in the form of rumors, whispers, etc. They are unofficial,
unrecorded, and spread very fast.

2. Web Browsing
Web Browsing is one of the applications of the internet. A web browser is a program
that helps the user to interact with all the data in the WWW (World Wide Web). There
are many web browsers present in today's world. Some of them are as follows:
o Google Chrome

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 o Firefox
o Safari
o Internet Explorer
o Opera
o Microsoft Edge
o Netscape

3. Online Shopping
The era of the internet took shopping into a new market concept, where many virtual
shops are available 24x7. The shops provide all the necessary details of a product on
their website, so the user can choose as per their needs.

4. Real-Time Update
The internet makes things easier. One can quickly get an update on the things
happening in real-time in any part of the world. For example, sports, politics, business,
finance, etc. The internet is very useful in many decisions based on real-time updates.

5. Social Media
Social media is a place where the user can communicate with anyone, like friends,
family, classmates, etc. User can promote their businesses on social media as well. We
can also post our thoughts, pictures and videos with our friends on social media.

6. Job Search
The internet has brought a revolution in the field of Jobs. The candidate can search for
their dream job, apply and get it very easily. Even companies nowadays post their need
on the internet and hire candidates as per their skills based on the job role.
There are many platforms which are primarily doing this. Some of them are listed
below.
o LinkedIn
o Monster.com
o Naukari.com
o Indeed
o Glassdoor
o Upwork

7. Education
The Internet has a vital role in the education field. It became an effective tool in both
teaching and learning. Teachers can upload their notes or learning videos on the

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websites with the help of the internet. It made the learning process more diverse and
joyful.

8. Travel
Users can easily search for their favourite tourist places worldwide and plan their trips.
One can book holiday trips, cabs, hotels, flight tickets, clubs, etc., with the help of the
Internet. Some websites that provide these facilities are as follows:

o goibibo.com
o makemytrip.com
o olacabs.com

9. Stock Market Update

A stock market update refers to the latest information and news related to the financial
markets, particularly the stock market. The stock market is where individuals buy and
sell publicly traded company shares. Stock market updates include vital data and
statistics, like the current prices of major stocks, individual stock prices, trading
volumes, market capitalization, and price movements.

10. Video Conferencing

Video conferencing means using computers to provide a video link between two or
more people. It allows users in different locations to hold face-to-face meetings. We
can also see them instead of just talking to someone on the telephone. Video
conferencing is a widely accepted mode of communication among businesses, houses,
and other organizations.

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