Introduction to DATA

COMMUNICATION
FIRST MODULE OF COMPUTER NETWORK
DATA COMMUNICATION

 The share information and resources among different computers has

led to linked computer system called networks, in which computers are
connected so that data can be transferred from machine to machine,
 Data Communication refers to the exchange of digital data between
two or more networked or connected devices.
 These devices must be capable of sending and receiving data over
communication medium
Characteristics of Data
Communication

 1. Delivery : Data must successfully reach its intended destination

without loss or corruption.
 2. Accuracy: The transmitted data should be received exactly as sent,
without any errors.
 3. Timeliness: Data should be delivered within an acceptable
timeframe, without undue delay.
 4. Jitter: Variations in the arrival time of data packets should be
minimized to ensure smooth transmission and reception.
Components of Data Communication

 Sender: The device or system that initiates the transmission of data.

 Receiver: The device or system that receives the transmitted data.
 Transmission Medium: The physical or wireless channel through which
data is transmitted from the sender to the receiver. This can include cables
(such as twisted-pair, coaxial, or fiber optic cables) or wireless technologies
(such as radio waves, infrared, or microwave).
 Protocol: Rules and conventions that govern how data is formatted,
transmitted, received, and interpreted between sender and receiver devices.
 Message: The information being transmitted from the sender to the
receiver. This can include text, images, audio, video, or any other form of
data.
Transmission mode

 Simplex Mode:
 Data flows in only one direction, from sender to receiver.
 Receiver cannot send data back to the sender.
 Examples include television broadcasts and keyboard-to-computer communication.
 Half-Duplex Mode:
 Data can be transmitted in both directions, but not simultaneously.
 Devices take turns sending and receiving data.
 Examples include walkie-talkies and some Ethernet networks.
 Full-Duplex Mode:
 Data can be transmitted simultaneously in both directions.
 Sender and receiver can send and receive data concurrently.
 Examples include modern Ethernet networks and telephone conversations.
NETWORK TOPOLOGY

 Topology in the context of computer networks refers to the physical or

logical arrangement of devices and connections within a network.
 It defines how devices are interconnected and how data flows between
them.
 Network topology plays a crucial role in determining the efficiency,
reliability, and scalability of a network.
 Network topology refers to the arrangement of elements within a
computer network.
 It defines how devices such as computers, servers, switches, routers, and
other networking devices are connected and communicate with each
other
 Bus Topology:
 All devices are connected to a single communication line (bus).
 Data is transmitted along the bus and received by all devices.
 Each device has a unique address, and only the intended recipient processes
the data.
 Advantages of Bus Topology
1. Low-cost Cable: In bus topology, nodes are directly connected to the cable without passing through a hub.
Therefore, the initial cost of installation is low.
2. Moderate Data Speeds: Coaxial or twisted pair cables are mainly used in bus-based networks that support up
to 10 Mbps.
3. Familiar Technology: Bus topology is a familiar technology as the installation and troubleshooting techniques
are well known, and hardware components are easily available.
4. Limited Failure: A failure in one node will not have any effect on other nodes.
 Disadvantages of Bus Topology
1. Extensive Cabling: A bus topology is quite simpler, but still it requires a lot of cabling.
2. Difficult Troubleshooting: It requires specialized test equipment to determine the cable faults. If any fault
occurs in the cable, then it would disrupt the communication for all the nodes.
3. Signal Interference: If two nodes send the messages simultaneously, then the signals of both the nodes collide
with each other.
4. Reconfiguration Difficult: Adding new devices to the network would slow down the network
5. Attenuation: Attenuation is a loss of signal leads to communication issues. Repeaters are used to regenerate
the signal.
Star Topology:
• All devices are connected to a central hub or switch.
• Data flows through the hub/switch, which manages communication between
devices.
• Failure of one device does not affect others, but failure of the hub/switch
disrupts communication.
  Advantages of Star Topology
1. Efficient Troubleshooting: Troubleshooting is quite efficient in a star topology as compare to bus topology.
2. Network Control: Complex network control features can be easily implemented in the star topology. Any
changes made in the star topology are automatically accommodated.
3. Limited Failure: As each station is connected to the central hub with its own cable, therefore failure in one
cable will not affect the entire network.
4. Familiar Technology: Star topology is a familiar technology as its tools are cost-effective.
5. Easily Expandable: It is easily expandable as new stations can be added to the open ports on the hub.
6. Cost Effective: Star topology networks are cost-effective as it uses inexpensive coaxial cable.
 Disadvantages of Star Topology
1. Central Point of Failure: If the central hub or switch goes down, then all the connected nodes will not be
able to communicate with each other.
2. Cable: Sometimes cable routing becomes difficult when a significant amount of routing is required.
Ring Topology:
 Devices are connected in a closed loop, forming a ring.
 Data circulates around the ring in one direction.
 Each device receives data and forwards it to the next device until it
reaches the intended recipient.
 Advantages of Ring Topology
1. Network Management: Faulty devices can be removed from the network without bringing the network down.
2. Product Availability: Many hardware and software tools for network operation and monitoring are available.
3. Cost: Twisted pair cabling is inexpensive and easily available. Therefore, the installation cost is very low.
4. Reliable: It is a more reliable network because the communication system is not dependent on the single host
computer.
 Disadvantages of Ring Topology
1. Difficult Troubleshooting Requires Specialized test Equipment to Determine the Cable Faults. If any fault occurs
in the cable, then it would disrupt the communication for all the nodes.
2. Failure: The breakdown in one station leads to the failure of the overall network.
3. Reconfiguration Difficult: Adding new devices to the network would slow down the network.
4. Delay: Communication delay is directly proportional to the number of nodes. Adding new devices increases the
communication delay.
Mesh Topology:
• Each device is connected to every other device in the network.
• Provides redundancy and fault tolerance as multiple paths exist between any
pair of devices.
• High degree of reliability but requires more cabling and configuration.
 Advantages of Mesh Topology
1. Reliable: The mesh topology networks are very reliable as if any link breakdown will not affect
the communication between connected computers.
2. Fast Communication: Communication is very fast between the nodes and easier Reconfiguration
can be done by adding new devices would not disrupt the communication between other
devices.
 Disadvantages of Mesh Topology
1. Cost: A mesh topology contains a large number of connected devices such as a router and more
transmission media than other topologies.
2. Management: Mesh topology networks are very large and very difficult to maintain and manage.
If the network is not monitored carefully, then the communication link failure goes undetected.
3. Efficiency: In this topology, redundant connections are high that reduces the efficiency of the
network.
 Tree topology
 It is a type of network topology where devices are arranged in a hierarchical structure resembling
a tree.
 In this topology, devices are connected in a manner that resembles the branches of a tree, with a
central root node at the top and branches extending downward to connect to other nodes.
 Each node in the hierarchy can have multiple branches or connections, creating a hierarchical
structure.
 Advantages of Tree Topology
1. Support for Broadband Transmission: Tree topology is mainly broadband used to provide transmission, i.e., signals are sent
over long distances without being attenuated.
2. Easily Expandable: We can add the new device to the existing network. Therefore, we can say that tree topology is easily
expandable.
3. Easily Manageable: In tree topology, the whole network is divided into segments known as star networks which can be
easily managed and maintained.
4. Error Detection: Error detection and error correction are very easy in a tree topology.
5. Limited Failure: The breakdown in one station does not affect the entire network.
6. Point-to-point Wiring: It has point-to-point wiring for individual segments
 Disadvantages of Tree Topology
1. Difficult Troubleshooting: If any fault occurs in the node, then it becomes difficult troubleshoot the problem.
2. High Cost: Devices required for broadband transmission are very costly
3. Failure: A tree topology mainly relies on main bus cable and failure in main bus cable will damage the overall network.
4. Reconfiguration Difficult: If new devices are added, then it becomes difficult to reconfigure.
 Hybrid Topology:
 Combination of two or more basic topologies (e.g., star-bus, star-ring).
 Offers flexibility to meet specific network requirements.
 Commonly used in large-scale networks to balance performance, reliability, and cost.
 Advantages of Hybrid Topology
1. Flexible: Hybrid Topology is the most flexible network topology as it can be changed and assembled using
different structures of topology.
2. 2. Used for a Vast Network: Hybrid topology was introduced to overcome the shortcoming of other topologies
Le. they were not able to fulfill the need for a vast network connection. If one node fails then the whole
topology is affected. Thus hybrid topology provides network connection over a large area.
3. Reliable to Use: Hybrid topology is a reliable and trustworthy network connection structure as even when one
node fails to work it doesn't shut down the whole system.
 Disadvantages of Hybrid Topology
1. Design is Very Complex: Making a hybrid network takes lots of effort from the network technicians of
topologies as the design of networks is very complex.
2. Costly: Hybrid topology requires a huge amount of resources and capital to build up a network
3. Difficult to Install: Installation of such a vast and complex network is a very difficult task The cable network as
well as nodes, must be set systematically
Thank you