Network Fundamentals

- Er. Bharat T. Chhetri

What is Network??
Fig : Depiction of computer network
 Switch

PC 2

Printer PC 1

Fig: A Simple LAN Network

 Definition
Computer Network: Computer Network is a group of interconnected devices
that can share resources and exchange data using communication protocols.

Communication Protocol/Network Protocol: It is a set of rules that dictates how

data is exchanged between devices. It ensures that devices can understand each
other and communicate effectively . Example: TCP (Transmission Control
Protocol), UDP(User Data Protocol), HTTP(Hypertext Transfer Protocol), FTP(File
Transfer Protocol), SMS (Simple Message Service), etc.

Host :A host in networking is a device or computer that can connect to a

network and communicate with other devices on that network. Hosts can be
clients or servers, and can include computers, smartphones, tablets, and
printers.
Node: A node in networking is a device or point of connection that allows for
data communication, creation, storage, and transmission within a network.
Eg: computers, printers, servers, switches, routers, and mobile devices.

End Devices: End devices are network devices that act as the interface between
users and a communication network. They can be the source or destination of
data transmitted over the network.
Eg : Computers , Network printers , VoIP phones, Security cameras, Mobile
handheld devices, Sensors , Desktops and laptop PCs , Document scanners , Bar
code scanners
LAN WAN

It stands for Local Area Network. It stands for Wide Area Network.

It covers small geographical area. It covers large geographical area.

Its ownership is private. Its ownership can be private or public.

The speed of LAN is high. The speed of WAN is slower than LAN.

Its design is simple. Its design is complex.

What is Network Communication?
Network Communication is a process that allows computers to exchange data
and information. This exchange happens over a shared medium, either wired
(like Ethernet) or wireless (like Wi-Fi or 5G).

What Is Ethernet?
Ethernet is a networking technology that includes the protocol, port, cable, and
computer chip needed to plug a desktop or laptop into a local area network
(LAN) for speedy data transmission via coaxial or fiber optic cables.

What is the Internet?

Internet is a global network that connects billions of computers across the world
with each other using standard protocols.
 Ethernet Internet

Internet is a system of interconnected

Ethernet is a system where the computers are
computer networks which use the TCP/IP
connected within a primary physical space.
protocol to link devices worldwide.

An example of Ethernet is LAN (Local Area An example of the Internet is WAN (Wide Area
Network). Network).

Ethernet is more secure because outside Internet is less secure as anyone can access the
devices have no access to the network. network and gain information.

Uses broadcast network to implement Internet uses point to point network to

communications. implement communications.
Transmission Modes:
Transmission modes also known as communication modes, are
methods of transferring data between devices on network.

They are classified into three types: Simplex Mode, Half-Duplex Mode,
and Full-Duplex Mode
Simplex Mode:
• In Simplex mode, the communication is unidirectional, as on a one-way street.
Only one of the two devices on a link can transmit, the other can only receive.
The simplex mode can use the entire capacity of the channel to send data in
one direction.
• Example: mode of transmission in radio and television
Half-Duplex Mode:
• In half-duplex mode, each station can both transmit and receive, but not
at the same time. When one device is sending, the other can only
receive, and vice versa.

Example: Walkie-talkie in which message is sent one at a time and

messages are sent in both directions.
Full-Duplex Mode:
• In full-duplex mode, both stations can transmit and receive
simultaneously. In full duplex mode, signals going in one direction
share the capacity of the link with signals going in another direction
• Example: Telephone Network in which there is communication
between two persons by a telephone line, through which both can
talk and listen at the same time.
Network Device: A network device is a piece of hardware or software or
combination of both that helps in communication between a computer and
an internet network.
In layman’s terms, we can describe network devices in computer networks
as the devices that connect fax machines, computers, printers, and other
electronic devices to the network.

Function of Network Devices:

Network devices manage traffic flow and direct data packets, provide
security, and enable connectivity between network segments or the Internet.

Each device serves a specific purpose that allows for a seamless flow of
information and connectivity across an organization’s IT ecosystem.
Some common Network Devices:
• Hubs
• Modems
• Routers
• Switches
• Firewalls
• Access points
Hub:
A hub is one of the simplest networking devices that connects several computers or other
network devices when referring to networking (network devices hub).
In layman’s terms, a hub is a hardware device that allows multiple devices or connections to
connect to a computer.

A USB hub, for example, allows multiple USB devices to connect with one computer, even if that
computer only has one USB connection. Depending on the hub, the number of ports on a USB
hub can range from 4 to over 100, and it operates at the Physical layer (Layer 1) of the Open
Systems Interconnection (OSI) model.

Advantages:
• Easy to install
• Inexpensive
• It does not affect the performance of the network seriously
Disadvantages:
• Can not filter information
Fig: Hub
• It can not reduce the network traffic
• Broadcast of the data happens to all the port
Modem: A modem is a piece of hardware that enables a computer to transmit and receive data
over telephone lines. In a nutshell, a modem is a piece of hardware that connects a computer or
router to a broadband network.

When a signal is sent, the device converts digital data to an analog audio signal and sends it
over a phone line. Similarly, when an analog signal is received, it is converted back to a digital
signal by the modem. Onboard modems, internal modems, external modems, and removable
modems are all examples of modems. A modem operates at the OSI model’s physical layer
(Layer 1) or Data link layer (Layer 2), depending on the type.

Advantages:
• Easily allows connecting LAN to internet
• Converts digital signal into an analog signal
• When compared to the hub, the speed is slow
Disadvantages:
• It only serves as a bridge between the LAN and the internet.
• It cannot maintain its network traffic.
• The modem is unaware of its destination path.
Digital and Analog Signal
Fig: Modem
Switch:
A network switch is defined as a hardware component responsible for relaying data
from a computer network to the destination endpoint through MAC address
identification.
A network switch is much more advanced than a hub, but it isn’t as advanced as a
router and operates at the Data Link layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model.

Advantages:
• Increases the available bandwidth of the network.
• It helps in reducing the workload on individual host PCs
• Increases the performance of the network

Disadvantages:
• They are more costly than network bridges.
• Broadcast traffic can be problematic.
• Network connectivity problems are challenging to track down via the network
switch.
Fig: Cisco Switch
What is a Router?
The router is a physical or virtual internetworking device that is designed to
receive and forward data packets to best path decided using routing protocols

A router examines a destination IP address of a given data packet, and it uses

the headers and forwarding tables to decide the best way to transfer the
packets.
A router works on the third layer(Network Layer) of the OSI model.

There are some popular companies that develop routers; such

are Cisco, 3Com, HP, Juniper, D-Link, Nortel, etc.

It is also known as an intelligent device as it can calculate the best route to pass
the network packets from source to the destination automatically.
Fig: Cisco Router Fig: Home Router
Modem vs Router:
While both a modem and a router help your devices connect to the internet,
they have separate (and complementary) functions.
A modem is a box that connects your home network to your internet service
provider, or ISP.
A router is a box that lets all of your wired and wireless devices use that internet
connection at once and allows them to talk to one another directly.
Often, your internet service provider will give you a device typically referred to
as a gateway, a single box that serves as both modem and router, but these are
still different technologies. You need the features of both a modem and a router,
integrated or not, in order to have an internet connection for all of the devices in
your home.
What is Firewall?
• A firewall is a network security device, either hardware or software-based, which
monitors all incoming and outgoing traffic and based on a defined set of security
rules.

• A firewall is a type of network security device that filters incoming and outgoing
network traffic with security policies that have previously been set up inside an
organization. A firewall is essentially the wall that separates a private internal
network from the open Internet at its very basic level.
• Access Point :Wireless access point (wireless AP) is a network device that
transmits and receives data over a wireless local area network (WLAN), serving as
the interconnection point between the WLAN and a fixed wire network.

Fig: Access Point (AP)

Methods for Transmitting Data:
Unicast, multicast, and broadcast are methods for transmitting data over a
network, and they differ in the number of recipients and the efficiency of the
transmission:
• Unicast
A one-to-one communication method that sends data from one source to a
single destination. It's used for direct, private communication.
• Multicast
A one-to-many communication method that sends data from one source to
multiple recipients within a network. It's used for group-based communication.
• Broadcast
A one-to-all communication method that sends data from one source to all
devices in a network. It's used for network-wide announcements and discovery
Addresses in Network:
Network address is a unique identifier for a device on a network.
IP addresses and MAC addresses are both unique strings of numbers that identify
devices on a network, but they have different roles and characteristics.

• IP address:
An internet protocol (IP) address identifies a device globally on a network.
Two versions of IP Address:
1. IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4)
2. IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6)

• MAC address(Physical Address):

A media access control (MAC) address identifies a device's physical address on a
local network. MAC addresses are permanent and never changes.
 Comparison between IP Address and MAC Address:

IP Address MAC address

Purpose Identifies a device globally. Identifies a device’s physical

address locally.

Change Can change depending on Never changes because its

network design linked to device’s hardware.

Provided by ISP(Internet Service Provider) NIC( Network Interface Card)

manufacturer

Length 64 bits (IPv4) 48 bits

128 bits (IPv6)
Thank You.