INTRODUCTION

Computer Networks

Dr. Rajeev Singh

Department of Computer Engineering
CONTENTS
 Usefulness and Applications
 Nuts and Bolts
 Example Networks
 Elements that make up a network
 Network Architecture Characteristics
 Network Software
 Reference Models
 Must Know
 Summary
Networks Impact Daily Life
 Communication over a network changes the way we
work
Networks Impact Daily Life
 communication over a network supports the way we
work
More ..
 Easiness
 No distance
 Mobility
 Efficient
More….
Resource Sharing
Hardware (computing resources, disks, printers)
Software (application software)
Information Sharing
Easy accessibility from anywhere (files, databases)
Search Capability (WWW)
Communication
Email
Message broadcast
Remote computing
Distributed processing (GRID Computing)
Uses of Computer Networks
• Business Applications
• Home Applications
• Mobile Users
• Social Issues
Business Applications of Networks
 A network with two clients and one server.
Business Applications of Networks

 The client-server model involves requests

and replies.
Home Network Applications
 In peer-to-peer system there are no fixed clients
and servers.
Home Network Applications

• Access to remote information

• Person-to-person communication
• Interactive entertainment
• Electronic commerce
Mobile Network Users

 Combinations of wireless networks and

mobile computing.
Networks: “nuts and bolts”
Networks: “nuts and bolts”
PC  millions of connected Mobile network
server computing devices: Global ISP
wireless hosts = end systems
laptop
cellular
 running network
handheld apps Home network
 communication links Regional ISP
 fiber, copper, radio,
access satellite
points
 transmission rate = Institutional network
wired
links bandwidth

 routers: forward packets

router (chunks of data)

Introduction 1-14
A closer look at network structure:

 network edge:
applications and
hosts
 access networks,
physical media:
wired, wireless
communication links
 network core:
 interconnected routers
 network of networks

Introduction 1-15
The network edge:
 end systems (hosts):
 run application programs
 e.g. Web, email
 at “edge of network” peer-peer
 client/server model
 client host requests, receives
service from always-on server
client/server
 e.g. Web browser/server;
email client/server
 peer-peer model:
 minimal (or no) use of
dedicated servers
 e.g. Skype
Introduction 1-16
Example Networks
• The Internet
• Local Area Networks
• Metropolitan Area Networks
• Wide Area Networks
• Wireless Networks
• Wireless LANs – 802.11
• Cellular networks
• Ad-Hoc Networks
• Sensor Networks
• Body Area Networks
“Cool” internet appliances

Web-enabled toaster +
weather forecaster

IP picture frame
http://www.ceiva.com/

World’s smallest web server

http://www-ccs.cs.umass.edu/~shri/iPic.html Internet phones

Introduction 1-19
Architecture of the Internet
 Internet:
Mobile network
 protocols control sending,
receiving of msgs Global ISP
 e.g., TCP, IP, HTTP, Skype,
Ethernet
Home network
 Internet: “network of
networks” Regional ISP
 loosely hierarchical
 public Internet versus private Institutional network
intranet
 Internet standards
 RFC: Request for comments
 IETF: Internet Engineering
Task Force

1-21
Internet: a service view

 communication infrastructure
enables distributed
applications:
 Web, VoIP, email, games,

e-commerce, file sharing

 communication services
provided to apps:
 reliable data delivery from

source to destination
 “best effort” (unreliable)

data delivery

1-22
Local Area Networks
Metropolitan Area Networks
 A metropolitan area network based on cable TV.
Wide Area Networks
Wide Area Networks
 A stream of packets from sender to receiver.
Wireless Networks

(a) Bluetooth configuration

(b) Wireless LAN
Wireless Networks

(a) Individual mobile computers

(b) A flying LAN
Wireless LANs

(a) Wireless networking with a base station.

(b) Ad hoc networking.
Wireless LANs
 The range of a single radio may not cover the
entire system.
Wireless LANs

 A multicell 802.11 network.

Elements that make up a network
– Devices
• These are used to
communicate with
one another
– Medium
• This is how the
devices are
connected together
– Messages
• Information that
travels over the
medium
– Rules
• Governs how
messages flow
across network
Router, Switch, Hub, Modem, …
Medium

 Wire  Wireless
Physical Media Twisted Pair (TP)
 two insulated copper

wires
 Bit: propagates between  Category 3: traditional
transmitter/rcvr pairs phone wires, 10 Mbps
 physical link: what lies Ethernet
between transmitter &  Category 5:
receiver 100Mbps Ethernet
 guided media:
 signals propagate in solid
media: copper, fiber, coax
 unguided media:
 signals propagate freely, e.g., Coaxial cable:
radio
Fiber optic cable:

1-36
Physical media: radio

 signal carried in
electromagnetic Radio link types:
spectrum  terrestrial microwave

 no physical “wire”  up to 45 Mbps

 LAN (e.g., Wifi)
 bidirectional  11Mbps, 54 Mbps
 propagation environment  wide-area (e.g., cellular)
effects:  3G cellular: ~ 1 Mbps
 reflection  satellite
 obstruction by objects  Kbps to 45Mbps
 interference

1-37
Network Architecture Characteristics
 four characteristics that are addressed by
network architecture design
– Fault tolerance
– Scalability
– Quality of service
– Security
 packet switching helps improve the resiliency
and fault tolerance of the Internet architecture
 characteristics of the Internet that help it scale to meet
user demand
– Hierarchical

– Common standards

– Common protocols
 factors that necessitate Quality of Service and
the mechanisms necessary to ensure it
 select the appropriate QoS strategy for a given
type of traffic
Network Architecture Characteristics
 networks must be secure
 Describe basic measures to secure data
networks
– Ensure confidentiality through use of
• User authentication
• Data encryption
– Maintain communication integrity through use of
• Digital signatures
– Ensure availability through use of
• Firewalls
• Redundant network
 point of failure
Current Focus
– Converged network
• A type of network that can carry voice, video & data
over the same network
Network Software
 Basic characteristics of communication
– Rules or agreements are 1st established
– Important information may need to be repeated
– Various modes of communication may impact
the effectiveness of getting the message across.
What’s a protocol?
a human protocol and a computer network protocol:

Hi
TCP connection
Hi request
TCP connection
Got the response
time? Get http://www.awl.com/kurose-ross
2:00
<file>
time

Introduction 1-48
Protocol Hierarchies
 The philosopher-translator-secretary
architecture.
Why layering?

Dealing with complex systems:

 explicit structure allows identification, relationship of

complex system’s pieces

 layered reference model for discussion

 modularization eases maintenance, updating of

system
 change of implementation of layer’s service

transparent to rest of system

 e.g., change in gate procedure doesn’t affect rest

of system
Protocol Hierarchies
 Example information flow supporting virtual
communication in layer 5.
 Reference Models

The OSI
reference
model.
Reference Models
 The TCP/IP reference model.
Design Issues for the Layers

• Addressing
• Error Control
• Flow Control
• Multiplexing
• Routing
Network Standardization
ITU • Main sectors
• Radiocommunications
• Telecommunications Standardization
• Development
• Classes of Members
• National governments
• Sector members
• Associate members
• Regulatory agencies
IEEE 802 Standards
Must Know
IP Addressing Structure
IPv4 Addresses
Classify and Define IPv4 Addresses
 historic method for assigning addresses and
the issues associated with the method
Assigning Addresses
 end user devices can obtain addresses either statically
through an administrator or dynamically through DHCP
Determine the network portion of the host address and
the role of the subnet mask
 Describe how the subnet mask is used to create and
specify the network and host portions of an IP address
Testing the Network Layer
 use the ping command to determine if the IP protocol
is operational on a local host
Testing the Network Layer
 Use ping to verify that a local host can communicate
with a gateway across a local area network
Testing the Network Layer
 Use ping to verify that a local host can communicate
via a gateway to a device in remote network
Testing the Network Layer
 Use tracert/traceroute to observe the path between
two devices as they communicate and trace the steps
of tracert/traceroute's operation
Summary
Questions
Thanks