Unit 1.

Fundamentals of Computer Network

"A Computer Network is defined as a set of two or more computers that are
linked together?either via wired cables or wireless networks i.e., WiFi? with
the purpose of communicating, exchanging, sharing or distributing data,
files and resources."
1.1 Need Of Computer Network
• To share computer files. Networks enable users to share files with others.
• To share computer equipment. ...
• To enable unlike computer equipment to communicate. ...
• To improve communication speed and accuracy. ...
• To reduce the cost of data transfer. ...
• Verify Data Transfer. ...
• High Reliability.
Uses of computer network
Computer Network provides several uses, both to organizations
and individual users.
• Resource Sharing. ...
• Simultaneous Access. ...
• High Reliability due to Alternative Sources of Records. ...
• Cost Reduction. ...
• Provide Communication Medium. ...
• Access to Remote Information. ...
• Person-to-Person Communication.
Applications of computer network
Computer networks support an enormous number of applications and
services such as
• access to the World Wide Web
• Marketing and sales:
• Manufacturing:
• Financial Services:
• Teleconferencing:
• Cable Television:
• Information Services:
• Electronic Messaging:
• Electronic Data Interchange (EDI):
• eCommerce:
• Resource Sharing:
Advantages of CN
1.Central Storage of Data –
2.Anyone can connect to a computer network –
3.Faster Problem-solving –
4.Reliability -
5.It is highly flexible –
6.Security through Authorization –
7.It boosts storage capacity –
Disadvantages of CN
1.It lacks robustness –
2.It lacks independence –
3.Virus and Malware –
4.Cost of the network –
Benefits of computer network
• File
sharing - you can easily share data between different users, or
access it remotely if you keep it on other connected devices.

•Resource sharing - using network-connected peripheral devices like

printers, scanners and copiers, or sharing software between multiple users,
saves money.
 • cetrelized managment of resources
Centralized network management refers to managing a network built around a single
server. This central server handles major processing, while workstations with lower
compute capabilities can run applications, data storage, and utility requests through
that server.

• Backing up of data
Network backup is the process of copying all the critical data from all
devices, endpoints, and nodes and transmitting it to a backup server. This
ensures that the data is secure within a secure storage space.
 Classification of computer network

1.Geographical classification
1. LAN (Local Area Network)
A local area network is a network, which is designed to operate over a very
small geographical or physical area such as an office, building, a group of
buildings, etc.
Following are the functionalities of a Local Area Network:
1.File Serving: In LAN, a large storage disk acts as a central storage
repository.
2.Print Serving: Printers can be shared very easily in a LAN by various
computers.
3.Academic Support: A LAN can be used in the classroom, labs, etc. for
educational purposes.
4.Manufacturing Support: LAN can support the manufacturing and
industrial environment.
5.High Reliability: Individual workstations might survive the network in
case of failures.
advantages of a LAN:
1.File transfer and file access
2.Resource or peripherals sharing
3.Personal computing
4.Document distribution
5.Easy to design and troubleshoot
6.Minimum propagation delay
7.High data rate transfer
8.Low error rate
9.Easily scalable(devices can be added or removed very easily)
disadvantages of a LAN:
1.Equipment and support may be costly
2.Some hardware devices may not inter-operate properly
2.MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
A Metropolitan Area Network is a bigger version of LAN that uses similar
technology as LAN. It spans over a larger geographical area such as a town
or an entire city.

It can be connected using an optical fiber cable as a

communication medium. Two or more LAN's can also be
connected using routers to create a MAN. When this type of
network is created for a specific campus, then it is termed as
CAN(Campus Area Network).
The MAN spans over a geographical area of about 50km. The
best example of MAN is the cable television network that spans
over the whole city.
advantages of using MAN:
1.Large geographical area cover as compared to LAN
2.High-speed data connectivity
3.The Propagation delay of MAN is moderate

disadvantages of MAN:
1.It is hard to design and maintain a MAN
2.MAN is less fault-tolerant
3.It is costlier to implement
4.Congestions are more in a MAN
WAN(Wide Area Network)
A Wide Area Network is the largest spread network. It spans over
very large-distances such as a country, continent or even the
whole globe. Two widely separated computers can be connected
very easily using WAN. For Example, the Internet.
disadvantages of WAN:
1.The propagation delay is more in a WAN
2.The data rate is low
3.The error rate is high
4.It is very complex to design a WAN
2.classification based on transmission technology

1. Broadcast Networks :
Broadcast networks are also known as terrestrial networks. It is
basically a group of radio stations, television stations, or any other
electronic media outlets that simply generate agreement to air, or
broadcast, content generally from a centralized source.
Broadcasting is simply a method of transferring messages to all
the recipients simultaneously.
Advantages of Broadcast Networks –
•In this network, packets are generally transmitted and received
by all of computers.
•It allows multicasting in the network.
•It has no limit. Even events can also run as long as required.
•It ensures better utilization of all resources available.

Disadvantages of Broadcast Networks –

•It cannot accommodate huge number of devices.
•It doesn’t allow personalization of message.
2. Point-to-Point Networks :
Point-to-Point Networks or Point-to-Point Connection is type of
private data connection that is connecting securely two or
more locations for private data services. It might also be
configured to usually carry voice, internet, and data services
together all over same point-to-point network.
Advantages of Point-to-Point Networks –
•It increases productivity.
•It generally uses leased lines so that speeds are guaranteed.
•It provides better security so that data can be transferred
securely with confidence.

Disadvantages of Point-to-Point Networks –

•With this network, we can only connect two sites.
•It is very expensive for distant locations.
1.3 Basics of Network Computing models:
Peer-to-Peer Network :
In the P2P (Peer-to-Peer) network, “peers” generally represent computer
system. These peers are connected to each other with help of Internet.
•Advantages :
•Dedicated server or centralized is not very essential, so P2P network is
less costly and is very cheaper. It is affordable.
•P2P is very simple and not complex. This is because all computers that
are connected in network communication in an efficient and well-mannered
with each other.
•It is very easy and simple to set up and manage as installation and setup
is less painless and computer manages itself. This is because of built-in
support in modern operating systems.
•Security is one of major issues in this type of network. This is because
message that is sent flows freely among connected computers.
•If computer working with some of resources is down and sharing of
resources might become major problem.
•Performance, security, and access can also become major problem and
headache with an increase in number of computers on this network.
Client/Server Network :
CSN (Client/Server Network) is type of computer network in which one of
centralized and powerful computers (commonly called as server) is hub to
which many of personal computers that are less powerful or workstations
(commonly known as clients) are connected.
Advantages :
1.A special Network Operating System (NOS) is provided by server to
provide resources to many users that request them.
2.It is also very easy and simple to set up and manage data updates.
This is because data is generally stored in centralized manner on
server.
3.The server usually controls resources and data security.
4.This network also boosts speed of sharing resources.
5.If anyhow server goes down or crashes, entire will be affected by this.
6.It is very expensive as compared to P2P. This is due to need for server
with greater memory as well as need for many networking devices
such as hubs, routers, switches, etc.
7.Cost of NOS being provided is very high.
Key Differences Between Client-Server and Peer-to-Peer Network
•The main distinction between client-server and peer-to-peer networks is that
client-server networks have a dedicated server and specialised clients,
whereas peer-to-peer networks allow any node to operate as both a client and
a server.
•The importance of connectivity between peers is greater in the peer-to-peer
architecture than in the client-server approach.
•In the client-server network, each peer has its own data, in contrast to the
client-server network, where data is stored on a single server.
•In the client-server network, the server gives the client services. Peer-to-peer,
on the other hand, allows each peer to both requests and deliver services.
•The client-server network is more stable and scalable than a peer-to-peer,
•The client-server network is more costly than peer-to-peer network.
•Peer-to-peer systems have distributed servers, which reduces the likelihood
that a server would become bottlenecked. Client-server systems, on the other
hand, have a single server that serves all the clients, increasing the likelihood
Distributed System
Distributed System is a collection of autonomous computer
systems that are physically separated but are connected by a
centralized computer network that is equipped with distributed
system software.
Ex.-Any Social Media can have its Centralized Computer Network
as its Headquarters and computer systems that can be accessed
by any user and using their services will be the Autonomous
Systems in the Distributed System Architecture.
 network operating system (NOS)

A network operating system (NOS) is a computer operating

system (OS) that is designed primarily to support workstations,
personal computers and, in some instances, older terminals that
are connected on a local area network (LAN).
a network operating system(NOS) is software that connects
multiple devices and computers on the network and allows them
to share resources on the network.
Following are the main functions of NOS :

•Creating and managing user accounts on the network.

•Controlling access to resources on the network.
•Provide communication services between the devices on the
network.
•Monitor and troubleshoot the network.
•Configuring and Managing the resources on the network.
Types of Network operating systems :
•Peer to Peer –
•Client/server –
Features of network operating systems :
•Printers and application sharing on the network.
•File systems and database sharing.
•Provide good security by using functionality like user
authentication and access control.
•Create backups of data.
•Inter-networking.
Advantages of Network operating systems :
•Highly stable due to central server.
•Provide good security.
•Upgradation of new technology and hardware can be
easily implemented in the network.
•Provide remote access to servers from different
locations.
Disadvantages of Network operating systems :
•Depend on the central location to perform the operations.
•High cost to buying server.
•Regular updating and maintenance are required.