Data Communication and

computer network
 Introduction
• Now a days computers are found in ev-
ery walk of life: in the office, in the
school, in the home, and so on.
• So, rather than using a stand-alone computer it
is better to use networks to offers more advan-
tages.
• B/c of this computer network industry
grows in both size and complexity, paral-
lel to this proven ability is becoming
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 What is a computer network?

• To address this, the 1st step is to under-

stand the basic concepts computer net-
work.
• What is computer network.
• A computer network
– is a group of computers and associated periph-
eral devices which connected by communica-
tion channel /capable (to sharing files and other
resources among several users). 3
 Connecting of computers with each other and other peripheral
devices known as Network.
• The concept of connected computers sharing resources is called
networking. For more illustration look the following picture.

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Benefits of Network Computing
 Networks increase efficiency and reduce costs.
i.e. save m0ney.
 Computer networks achieve these goals in four
primary ways:-
• Sharing Information (or Data)
• Sharing Hardware(Peripheral Devices)
• Sharing Programs/Software
• Centralizing Administration And Support

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 More specifically, computers that are part of a net-
work can share:
• Documents (memos, spreadsheets)
• E-mail messages.
• Word-processing software.
• Illustrations, photographs, videos, and audio files.
• Live audio and video broadcasts.
• Printers.
• Fax machines.
• Modems.
• CD-ROM drives and other removable drives,
• Hard drives.

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 Sharing Programs/Software

• Application (software) sharing occurs when sev-

eral users at different locations run application
programs that are installed centrally in one loca-
tion.
• Ex: DB, application server.
 Sharing programs on a network :-

• Saves disk space

• Reduces maintenance
• Reduce licensing cost
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 Sharing Hardware

1 - Peripheral devices
• Computer networks enable us to share expensive
hardware resource among several computers.
Example:- Printer
2 - Central Disk storage
• Network system provide the possibility of using a
dedicated file server to store all data in one loca-
tion.
• Example: Data
Advantage: Thin backuping
client in case of system failure
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3 - Sharing Information/data
• Users in a certain network environment have the
ability to share data /information across the net-
work.
• Data sharing enables different users to work on a
certain file concurrently.
• Few examples of data sharing are:

- Database
- E-mail
- Intranet ( by making use of FTP)
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 Network Types
• Network can be grouped in three major cate-
gories depending on the geographical scope
they cover.
1- Local Area Network (LAN)
• LAN refers to networks that have small geo-
graphical coverage usually within a building or
a campus.
• LANs are found in most organizations, busi-
nesses, government offices, educational institu-
tions, and in home computing environment. 10
2- Wide Area Network (WAN)
• Wide area networks are networks that cover very
large geographical area such as a country or the
whole world.
• Examples:-

- telephone networks operated by most long dis-

tance telephone companies.
- Large companies having offices scattered around
the world use WAN to connect their computers.
• WAN usually use combination of several types of
communication media such as cables, satellites,
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3- Metropolitan Area Network (MAN):
•It is a network that transmits data and info.
over citywide distance.

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 Network components
 The Network Interface Card

• Network interface cards (NICs) provide the interface be-

tween cables, and computers.
• The cards are installed in an expansion slot in each com-
puter and server on the network.

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 The role of the NIC is :-
• It makes the physical connection to the cable.
• Generates the electrical signals that travel over the cable.
• Controls access to the cable by following specific rules.
 The translation of the computer's digital signals into elec-
trical signals that can travel on the network's cables is ac-
complished by transceiver (transmitter/receiver).
 NIC, Bus, and Cable Compatibility

• To ensure compatibility between the computer

and the network, the NIC must:
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 - Fit with the computer's internal structure

(data bus architecture).

- Have the right type of cable connector
for the
cabling.
 Data Bus Architecture

• In the personal computer environment, there

are four types of computer bus architectures:
• ISA, EISA, Micro Channel, and PCI
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 Connection Hardware

• Twisted-pair cabling uses RJ-45 telephone

connectors to connect to a computer.
• Coaxial cable uses BNC conector.
 Distribution racks and rack shelves

• Distribution racks and rack shelves can create

more room for cables where there isn't much
floor space.
• Using them is a good way to organize a net-
work that has a lot of connections.
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 Expandable patch panels:

• These come in various versions with a trans-

mission speeds of up to 100 Mbps.
 Jack couplers: These single or double RJ-45
jacks snap into patch panels and wall plates
and support data rates of up to 100 Mbps.
 Wall plates: These support two or more cou-
plers.

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18
 Modem
• A modem is a device that makes it possible for

computers to communicate over a telephone line.

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Modem Converting Digital Signal into Analog and Analog back to Digital.

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 Network Operating Systems
 Operating System Definition
• In simple terms, an operating system is a manager
of all devices in a computer.
• It manages all the available resources on a com-
puter.
• A computer system can be divided roughly into four
parts:-
- The Hardware
- The Operating System
- Utilities and Tools
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• Hardware

- Central Processing Unit(s) (CPU)

- Memory
- Random Access Memory
- Bulk Memory
- Input/Output Devices
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• Application Programs & Utilities

- Compilers
- Text editor
- Graphics
- Database system
- Games
• Users

- People
- Other Applications
- Other Computers
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• Main GOALS of an OS:-
• To make the computer system convenient to use
– The OS is to hide the internal complexity of the hard-
ware
– The OS is to provide some tools (APIs) so that a user/
programmer can exploit the services of the hardware
• To use the computer hardware in an efficient manner
– The OS controls different resources of the hardware so
that users can utilize them to the maximum
– Resources can be utilized in a fair and efficient manner

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 Components of an Operating System
• Memory Manager
– Memory hierarchy
– Loading into memory
– Virtual memory  Paging/swapping
• Process Manager
– What is process
– Process scheduling
– IPC
• File Manager
– Storage
– Naming
– Protection

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 Network Operating Systems

• Designed to include networking protocol at the lower

level.
• Optimized for resource sharing.
• Multitasking, concurrency.
 Server operating system

• They run on servers, which are very large personal com-

puters, workstations, or even mainframes.
• They serve multiple users at once over a network and al-
low the users to share HW and SW resources.
 Eg. Server can provide print service, file service, or web
service.
 Typical server operating systems are UNIX, Window26
 Packet Switching versus Circuit
Switching
 What is switching?
• Simply put, it describes how data finds a path from its
source to its destination.
1 – Circuit Switching
• A ``dedicated'' circuit is set up for each connection.
• The communicating parties use this fixed circuit during
the conversation.
• Once the communication is finished, the circuit can be
released for other uses.

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 Advantages:
• Fixed bandwidth, guaranteed capacity (no congestion)
• Low Varian's in end-to-end delay (delay is almost con-
stant)
 Disadvantages:
• Connection set-up and termination introduces extra
overhead (thus initial delay)
• User pay for circuit, even when not sending data
• Other users can't use the circuit even if it is free of traffic
• statistics show that during a typical phone conversation:-
- 64-73% of the time one speaker talking
- 3-7% of the time both speakers talking,
- 20-33% of the time both speakers silent.
Example: Ordinary voice phone service is circuit-switched.
- transmitting real time data, such as audio and video
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2 - Packet Switching
• Packet switching refers to protocols in which messages
are broken up into small packets before they are sent.
• Each packet is transmitted individually across the net.
• Packets may even follow different routes to the destina-
tion.
• Thus, each packet has a header information about the
source, destination, packet numbering, etc.
• Packet Switching is more efficient and robust for data
that can withstand delays in transmission.
example:- e-mail messages and
Web pages.
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 NETWORK TOPOLOGY
 Introduction
• Generally, there are two types of topologies: Physical
and Logical.
• The physical topology of a network refers to the layout
of cables, computers and other peripherals.
• It describes the layout of the network.
• Logical topology is the method used to pass the infor-
mation between the computers.
• It describes how the data is sent across the network.

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• The most common types of standard physical topolo-
gies, which we are going to see, are:-
Bus, Star, Ring and Mesh.
1- Bus topology
• With the Bus topology, all workstations are connected
directly to the main backbone that carries the data.
• Traffic generated by any computer will travel across the
backbone and received by all workstations.
• This works well in a small network of 2-5 computers.
• As the no of computers increases, performance will be
degraded.(Available bandwidth decreases)

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• The following is a list of factors affect the performance of
a network:
- No of computers
- Types of cable used on the network
- Distances between computers on the network
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 Signal Bounce: packet travels from one end of the ca-
ble to the other.
 Terminator: To stop the signal from bouncing, a com-
ponent called a terminator is placed at each end of the
cable to absorb free signals.

Terminators absorb free signals

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 Network Expansion
• Cable in the bus topology can be extended by one of the
following methods:
1- Barrel connector can connect two pieces of cable to-
gether to make a longer piece of cable.
2- Repeater can be used to connect two cables.
 Advantages of Bus Topology
• Connecting a computer or peripheral to a linear bus is
easy.
• This topology requires least amount of cabling .
• It is easy to extend a bus since two cables can be joined
into longer cable with a connector.
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 Disadvantages of Bus Topology
• Entire network shuts down if there is a failure on the
backbone.
• Heavy traffic can slow down a bus because computers
on such networks do not coordinate with each other to
reserve time to transmit.

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 2- Star Topology
• It is one of the most common network topologies found in most
offices and home networks.

•Cable segments from each computer are connected to a central-

ized component called a hub.
•Signals are transmitted from the sending computer through the
hub to all computers on the network. 37
 Advantages of Star Topology
• Star topology is easy to install and wire.
• The network is not disrupted even if a node fails or is
removed from the network.
• Fault detection and removal of faulty parts is easier in
star topology.
 Disadvantages of Star Topology
• It requires a longer length of cable.
• If the hub fails, nodes attached to it are disabled.
• The cost of the hub makes the network expensive as
compared to bus and ring topology.

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 3- Ring Topology
• Computers are connected on a single circle of cable.
• The signals travel around the loop in one direction and
pass through each computer.
• Each computer acts as a repeater.

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 Token Passing
• One method of transmitting data around a ring is called
token passing.
• A token is a special series of bits that travels around a
token-ring network.
 Advantage of Ring Topology
• Ring topology is easy to install and reconfigure.
• Every computer is given equal access to the ring. Hence,
no single computer can monopolize the network.
 Disadvantages of Ring Topology
• Failure in any cable or node breaks the loop and can
take down the entire network.
• Maximum ring length and number of nodes are limited.
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 4- Mesh Topology
• In a mesh topology, each computer is connected to ev-
ery other computer by separate cabling.
• A fully connected mesh network has n(n-1)/2 physical
links to link n devices.

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 Advantages of Mesh Topology
• The use of large number of links eliminates network
congestion.
• If one link becomes unusable, it does not disable the
entire system.

 Disadvantages of Mesh Topology

• The amount of required cabling is very large.
• As every node is connected to the other, installation
and reconfiguration is very difficult.
• The amount of hardware required in this type of topol-
ogy can make it expensive to implement.

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 5- Hybrid Topology
• With the hybrid topology, two or more standard
topologies are combined to form a complete network.
• Star - bus

Star-bus network 43
• Star-Ring

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 6- Other Types of Practically Used Hybrid
Topologies
• Hybrid-Tree Physical Topology

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• Clustered Star Topology

•Hierarchical Star Topology

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 Fundamentals of Data Communication

What is communication?
Communication
•Is the process of exchanging/ transferring messages
from one point to another.
•Have three basic e/ts.
Sender/ source
Medium / channel
Receiver / destination

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 Fundamentals of Data Communication

In communication system

source & destination of information are the two key e/ts.
There are many types of communication. For example:
Face to face communication / talking to others
Remote communication / exchanging of voice signals b/n
two persons using a telephone.
 Communication b/n a workstation & a server over public
telephone network using tele- conferencing system.
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 Fundamentals of Data Communication

Communication channel
•Is a physical path for a signal transmission.
•Ex. Telephone cables – w/c provide a physical path for
analog audio signals
. Television channels – w/c broadcast audio – visual data.
Generally powers of communication among computer –
revolutionized the today’s information age.
It is the reason for the birth of computer network.

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 Fundamentals of Data Communication

Data communications

•is the process of exchanging of data (i.e. text, picture,

sound, etc) b/n two/more computers.
•is the process of transmitting & receiving of data.
•Or the process of transporting data from one point to
another.
Its adv. Is exchanging / transferring of data / information
b/n two parties.
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 Fundamentals of Data Communication

•Two types.
Local communications – is one of the types of
data communication w/c transfer the data over a
short distance.
Telecommunications – also other types of data
communication w/c transfer the data over long/
far distance.

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 Fundamentals of Data Communication

Data communication system

•is the electronic system that transfer data from
one point to another.
•Consists five key e/ts w/c proposed by Shannon
• i.e.
Source Transmitter Transmission medium Receiver Destination

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 Fundamentals of Data Communication
Source
•Is a device w/c generate the data to be
transmitted.
•Ex. Personal computer.
Transmitter
•Also called encoder
•Is a device that changes a generated data in a form
to be transmitted.

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 Fundamentals of Data Communication

Generated data by source system isn’t transmitted

directly.
•i.e. transmitter - transforms & encodes this data to electro -
magnetic signal that transmitted across the transmission
system.
•Ex. Modem – w/c receive digital signal from pc and
transform to analog signal that handled by telephone n/w. or
the vice verse.

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 Fundamentals of Data Communication
Transmission medium

•Is a signal transmission line / a complex n/w which

commencing source / destination.
ex. open wire line
. Twisted – pair cable
. Coaxial cable
. Fiber – optical cable
. Satellites
. Radio
•Sometimes called transmission system / transmission 55
 Fundamentals of Data Communication

Receiver

•Is a device that accept signal from transmission system &

convert to the form that handled by destination device.
•Ex. Modem – w/c accept analog signals that coming from
n/w / transmission channel & convert to digital signals / bits.
Destination

•Is an individual / machine to w/c information is targeted.

•Is a device that takes the incoming data from receiver.

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 Fundamentals of Data Communication
In telephone system
•The message/ voice are converted to analog
signals & transmitted by telephone system.
•Then the analog signals flows in transmission
medium & reach the receiver of the end user.
•Finally the receiver converts analog signals back
into voice signal w/c understood by end users.

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 Fundamentals of Data Communication
Generally data communication:

•Is the process of sharing ideas, information & message with others in a
particular time & place.
•It includes:
Writing & talking
Non – verbal communication i.e. facial expression, body- language/
gestures.
Visual communication i.e. images like photography, video/ file.
Electronic communication i.e. telephone calls, email, cable television,
satellite broadcasts.

•So, computer network- is the interconnection of d/t computers over

distant areas using wires, cables, satellites, & other communication devices .

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 Fundamentals of Data Communication
Communication Signals
•What is a signal?
•Signal – is a message /information that to be moved /
propagate through communication channel.
i.e. data is propagated from one point to other by
means of electrical signals.
•There are two types of Communication Signals. Such
as:
1. Analog Signal and
2. Digital Signal 59
 Fundamentals of Data Communication

Analog signal
• is a continuous time signal.
•Example. sound signal
•sometimes called sinusoidal waves
•bandwidth is measured by hertz.

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 Fundamentals of Data Communication

Note: Parameters – of sinusoidal waves – amplitude &

wavelength/ frequency in w/c analog signals are
characterized. For more illustration looks the following fig.

period second
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 Fundamentals of Data Communication

Frequency is the number of oscillates/ cycle repeats times of

electromagnetic wave per second. Shorter wave length -
produce higher frequencies b/c the waves are closer together.
Hertz is a unit measure of frequency, which means cycles/second.
•Ex.
•1KHz = 1000 Cycles/Second
•1 MHz = 1000,000 Cycles/Second
•1GHz = 1000,000,000 Cycles/Second
•1 THz = 1000,000,000,000 Cycles/Second

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 Fundamentals of Data Communication

B. Digital signal
•is a signal discrete signal.
•is a modeled w/c using binary number system (i.e.
0’s & 1’s).
•or represent absence & presence of voltage

Bit 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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 Fundamentals of Data Communication

Note: bandwidth of digital signals - is measured in bits per second (BPS).

Ex.

1 KBPS =1000 BPS

1 MBPS=1000,000 BPS

1 GBPS=1000,000,000 BPS

1TBPS=1000,000,000,000 BPS

Data/ Signal Transmission

•Band – is the max amount of data that transmit per second

•Bandwidth – is the max transmission capacity of communication channel

–is measured by bit per second (BPS)

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 Fundamentals of Data Communication

Bandwidth Capacity

•Bandwidth is the transmission capacity of a

communications channel.
•In n/w world – bandwidth is measured by MBPS.
•A medium with a high capacity has a high bandwidth.
•A medium with a low capacity has a low bandwidth.
•There are two types signal transmission:

A) Baseband transmission
B) Broadband transmission 65
 Fundamentals of Data Communication

Base Band Transmission

•Commonly used transmission technique in the LAN
environment
•It allocates the entire bandwidth to a single channel. i.e
transmit only one signals across a n/w.
•It is best suited for LAN.
•Only supports digital signaling by very high speeds.

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 Fundamentals of Data Communication

•Broadband Transmission

•Divides the available bandwidth into multiple channels.

I.e. many channels available for transmission. So, more

than one device can transmit at a time.

•Simultaneous transmissions can occur without

collisions.

• Transfer large quantities of information at a time.

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Fundamentals of Data Communication

• It support both digital transmission & analog traffic

•I.e. it has a capability of handling traditional voice and
video signals simultaneously with data.
•Is designed for transmitting signaling over long
distances.
•A network w/c it using can cover a much larger
geographic area than the one w/c using baseband LAN.

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Thank you!
Instructor Tadele D
69
Ambo University