Computer Networks

Networks: Introduction 1
Course Objectives

Networks: Introduction 2
 Course Objectives
1. To develop an understanding of modern
network architectures from a design and
performance perspective.
2. To clarify network terminology.
3. To provide an opportunity to do network
programming using TCP/IP.
4. To expose students to emerging
technologies and their potential impact

Networks: Introduction 3
Introduction

Networks: Introduction 4
The Internet: a “nuts and bolts” view
Billions of connected mobile network
computing devices:
national or global ISP
 hosts = end systems
 running network apps at
Internet’s “edge”

Packet switches: forward

local or
packets (chunks of data) Internet
regional
ISP
 routers, switches
home network content
Communication links provider
network
 fiber, copper, radio, satellite datacenter
network

 transmission rate: bandwidth

Networks enterprise
 collection of devices, routers, links: network
managed by an organization
Introduction: 1-5
“Fun” Internet‐connected devices
Tweet‐a‐watt:
monitor energy use

bikes

Pacemaker & Monitor

Amazon Echo Web‐enabled toaster +

IP picture frame
weather forecaster
Internet
refrigerator
Slingbox: remote cars
control cable TV
Security Camera
AR devices
sensorized, scooters
bed
mattress Fitbit

Gaming devices
Others?
Internet phones diapers
Introduction: 1-6
The Internet: a “nuts and bolts” view
mobile network
4G
 Internet: “network of networks” national or global ISP

• Interconnected ISPs
 protocols are everywhere IP
Streaming
Skype video
• control sending, receiving of
messages local or
regional
• e.g., HTTP (Web), streaming video, ISP
Skype, TCP, IP, WiFi, 4/5G, Ethernet home network content
provider
HTTP network
 Internet standards datacenter
network
Ethernet
• RFC: Request for Comments
TCP
• IETF: Internet Engineering Task enterprise
Force network

WiFi
Introduction: 1-7
 Network Definitions and
Classification
• Preliminary definitions and network
terminology
• Sample application paradigms
• Classifying networks by transmission
technology
• Classifying networks by size (or scale)
• Classifying networks by topology

Networks: Introduction 8
 Preliminary Definitions

Computer network :: [Tanenbaum] a

collection of “autonomous” computers
interconnected by a single technology.
[LG&W] communications network ::a set of equipment
and facilities that provide a service.
In a distributed system the collection of
independent computers appears to its users
as a single coherent system.

Networks: Introduction 9
 Client-Server Applications

Figure 1.1 A network with two clients and one server.

Networks: Introduction 10
 Client-Server Model

Figure 1-2. The client-server model involves requests

and replies.

Networks: Introduction 11
 Peer-to-Peer Applications

Figure 1.3 In a peer-to-peer system there are no fixed

clients and servers.
Networks: Introduction 12
 Mobile Network Users

Figure 1.4. Combinations of wireless networks

and mobile computing.
Networks: Introduction 13
 W1
T X Z

W2
W Y
Host
Host L
AP W3
M
Host
A
2 3 W4
4
1
Host 5
B 16
nodes 14
Host
11 J
Host 12 17
C 15 6

10 13
7 Host
9 H
Host 8
D Host
G
Host
E
Host
F

Networks: Introduction 14
 K & R

Networks: Introduction 15
DATA COMMUNICATIONS
The term telecommunication means communication at a
distance. The word data refers to information presented
in whatever form is agreed upon by the parties creating
and using the data. Data communications are the
exchange of data between two devices via some form of
transmission medium such as a wire cable.

Topics discussed in this section:

 Components of a data communications system
 Data Flow

1.16
Figure 1.5 Components of a data communication system
Figure 1.6 Data flow (simplex, half-duplex, and full-duplex)
NETWORKS

A network is a set of devices (often referred to as nodes)

connected by communication links. A node can be a
computer, printer, or any other device capable of sending
and/or receiving data generated by other nodes on the
network. A link can be a cable, air, optical fiber, or any
medium which can transport a signal carrying
information.
Topics discussed in this section:
 Network Criteria
 Physical Structures
 Categories of Networks

1.19
Network Criteria

 Performance
 Depends on Network Elements
 Measured in terms of Delay and Throughput
 Reliability
 Failure rate of network components
 Measured in terms of availability/robustness
 Security
 Data protection against corruption/loss of data due to:
 Errors
 Malicious users

1.20
 Physical Structures

 Type of Connection
 Point to Point - single transmitter and receiver
 Multipoint - multiple recipients of single transmission
 Physical Topology
 Connection of devices
 Type of transmission - unicast, mulitcast, broadcast

1.21
 Classifying Networks by
Transmission Technology
broadcast :: a single communications channel shared by all
machines (addresses) on the network. Broadcast can be
both a logical or a physical concept (e.g. Media Access
Control (MAC) sublayer ) .

multicast :: communications to a specified group. This

requires a group address (e.g. – multimedia multicast).

unicast :: a communication involving a single sender and a

single receiver.

point-to-point :: connections made via links between pairs

of nodes.

Networks: Introduction 22
Network Classification by Size

Figure 1-7. Classification of interconnected processors by scale.

Networks: Introduction 23
 Categories of Networks

 Local Area Networks (LANs)

 Short distances
 Designed to provide local interconnectivity
 Wide Area Networks (WANs)
 Long distances
 Provide connectivity over large areas
 Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs)
 Provide connectivity over areas such as a city, a campus
Network Classification by Size
• LANs {Local Area Networks}
– Wired LANs: typically physically broadcast at
the MAC layer (e.g., Ethernet, Token Ring)
– Wireless LANs (WLANs)
– Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs)
• MANs {Metropolitan Area Networks}
– campus networks connecting LANs logically or
physically.
– often have a backbone (e.g., FDDI [Fibre distributed
data nterface] and ATM [Asynchronous Transfer Mode])

Networks: Introduction 25
 Wired LANs
transceivers
     

Ethernet bus Ethernet hub

Copyright ©2000 The McGraw Hill Leon-Garcia & Widjaja: Communication Figure 1.17
Companies Networks

Networks: Introduction 26
 Wireless LANs (WLANs)

Figure 1.8. (a) Wireless networking with a base station.

(b) Ad hoc networking.

Networks: Introduction 27
Metropolitan Area Networks

Figure 1.9. A metropolitan area network based on cable TV.

Networks: Introduction 28
 MAN
1*
a b
2 Metropolitan network A
4 consists of access
3
A subnetworks a, b, c, d.
c d

Hierarchical Network Topology

National network
A
consists of regional
 subnetworks .

 Metropolitan network
 A is part of regional
Copyright ©2000 The McGraw Hill subnetwork .
Companies

Leon-Garcia & Widjaja: Communication Figure 1.8

Networks
Networks: Introduction 29
Network Classification by Size
• WANs {Wide Area Networks}
– also referred to as “point-to-point” networks.
– ARPANET  Internet
– usually hierarchical with a backbone.
– Enterprise Networks, Autonomous Systems
– VPNs (Virtual Private Networks).

Networks: Introduction 30
Wide Area Networks (WANs)

Figure 1.10.A stream of packets from sender to receiver.

Networks: Introduction 31
 net 3
G
net 1
G
G
G = gateway G
net 5

net 2 G net 4 G

Copyright ©2000 The McGraw Hill internet - a network of networks

Companies
Figure 1.11
Leon-Garcia & Widjaja: Communication
Networks
Networks: Introduction 32
 Network Classification by Topology
Bus

flow of data

Bidirectional flow
assumes baseband cable Repeater

Networks: Introduction 33
Network Classification by Topology

Ring
Repeater

Repeater

Note - a ring implies unidirectional flow

Networks: Introduction 34
Network Classification by Topology
Tree

Headend

Networks: Introduction 35
Network Classification by Topology

Star
hub, switch
or repeater

Networks: Introduction 36
Network Classification by Topology

Star
W1

W2

AP
W3

W4

Wireless Infrastructure

Networks: Introduction 37