Unit 1.

Fundamentals of Computer Network

"A Computer Network is defined as a set of two or more computers
that are linked together?either via wired cables or wireless
networks i.e., WiFi? with the purpose of communicating,
exchanging, sharing or distributing data, files and resources."
1.1 Need Of Computer Network
• To share computer files. Networks enable users to share files with others.
• To share computer equipment. ...
• To enable unlike computer equipment to communicate. ...
• To improve communication speed and accuracy. ...
• To reduce the cost of data transfer. ...
• Verify Data Transfer. ...
• High Reliability.
Uses of computer network
Computer Network provides several uses, both to
organizations and individual users.
• Resource Sharing. ...
• Simultaneous Access. ...
• High Reliability due to Alternative Sources of Records. ...
• Cost Reduction. ...
• Provide Communication Medium. ...
• Access to Remote Information. ...
• Person-to-Person Communication.
Applications of computer network
Computer networks support an enormous number of applications and
services such as
• access to the World Wide Web
• Marketing and sales:
• Manufacturing:
• Financial Services:
• Teleconferencing:
• Cable Television:
• Information Services:
• Electronic Messaging:
• Electronic Data Interchange (EDI):
• eCommerce:
• Resource Sharing:
Advantages of CN
1.Central Storage of Data –
2.Anyone can connect to a computer network
–
3.Faster Problem-solving –
4.Reliability -
5.It is highly flexible –
6.Security through Authorization –
7.It boosts storage
Disadvantages of CNcapacity –
1.It lacks robustness –
2.It lacks independence –
3.Virus and Malware –
4.Cost of the network –
Benefits of computer network
• File
sharing - you can easily share data between different users, or
access it remotely if you keep it on other connected devices.

•Resource sharing - using network-connected peripheral devices like

printers, scanners and copiers, or sharing software between multiple users,
saves money.
 • cetrelized managment of resources
Centralized network management refers to managing a network built around a single
server. This central server handles major processing, while workstations with lower
compute capabilities can run applications, data storage, and utility requests through
that server.

• Backing up of data
Network backup is the process of copying all the critical data from all
devices, endpoints, and nodes and transmitting it to a backup server. This
ensures that the data is secure within a secure storage space.
 Classification of computer network

1.Geographical classification
1. LAN (Local Area Network)
A local area network is a network, which is designed to operate
over a very small geographical or physical area such as an office,
building, a group of buildings, etc.
Following are the functionalities of a Local Area Network:
1.File Serving: In LAN, a large storage disk acts as a central
storage repository.
2.Print Serving: Printers can be shared very easily in a LAN by
various computers.
3.Academic Support: A LAN can be used in the classroom, labs,
etc. for educational purposes.
4.Manufacturing Support: LAN can support the manufacturing
and industrial environment.
5.High Reliability: Individual workstations might survive the
network in case of failures.
advantages of a LAN:
1.File transfer and file access
2.Resource or peripherals sharing
3.Personal computing
4.Document distribution
5.Easy to design and troubleshoot
6.Minimum propagation delay
7.High data rate transfer
8.Low error rate
9.Easily scalable(devices can be added or removed very
easily)
disadvantages of a LAN:
1.Equipment and support may be costly
2.Some hardware devices may not inter-operate
2.MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
A Metropolitan Area Network is a bigger version of LAN that uses
similar technology as LAN. It spans over a larger geographical area
such as a town or an entire city.

It can be connected using an optical fiber cable as a

communication medium. Two or more LAN's can also be
connected using routers to create a MAN. When this type
of network is created for a specific campus, then it is
termed as CAN(Campus Area Network).
The MAN spans over a geographical area of about 50km.
The best example of MAN is the cable television network
that spans over the whole city.
advantages of using MAN:
1.Large geographical area cover as compared
to LAN
2.High-speed data connectivity
3.The Propagation delay of MAN is moderate

disadvantages of MAN:
4.It is hard to design and maintain a MAN
5.MAN is less fault-tolerant
6.It is costlier to implement
7.Congestions are more in a MAN
WAN(Wide Area Network)
A Wide Area Network is the largest spread network. It
spans over very large-distances such as a country,
continent or even the whole globe. Two widely separated
computers can be connected very easily using WAN. For
Example, the Internet.
disadvantages of WAN:
1.The propagation delay is more in a WAN
2.The data rate is low
3.The error rate is high
4.It is very complex to design a WAN
2.classification based on transmission technology

1. Broadcast Networks :
Broadcast networks are also known as terrestrial
networks. It is basically a group of radio stations,
television stations, or any other electronic media outlets
that simply generate agreement to air, or broadcast,
content generally from a centralized source. Broadcasting
is simply a method of transferring messages to all the
recipients simultaneously.
Advantages of Broadcast Networks –
•In this network, packets are generally transmitted and
received by all of computers.
•It allows multicasting in the network.
•It has no limit. Even events can also run as long as
required.
•It ensures better utilization of all resources available.

Disadvantages of Broadcast Networks –

•It cannot accommodate huge number of devices.
•It doesn’t allow personalization of message.
2. Point-to-Point Networks :
Point-to-Point Networks or Point-to-Point Connection is
type of private data connection that is connecting
securely two or more locations for private data
services. It might also be configured to usually carry
voice, internet, and data services together all over
same point-to-point network.
Advantages of Point-to-Point Networks –
•It increases productivity.
•It generally uses leased lines so that speeds are
guaranteed.
•It provides better security so that data can be
transferred securely with confidence.

Disadvantages of Point-to-Point Networks –

•With this network, we can only connect two sites.
•It is very expensive for distant locations.
1.3 Basics of Network Computing models:
Peer-to-Peer Network :
In the P2P (Peer-to-Peer) network, “peers” generally represent
computer system. These peers are connected to each other with
help of Internet.
•Advantages :
•Dedicated server or centralized is not very essential, so P2P
network is less costly and is very cheaper. It is affordable.
•P2P is very simple and not complex. This is because all
computers that are connected in network communication in an
efficient and well-mannered with each other.
•It is very easy and simple to set up and manage as installation
and setup is less painless and computer manages itself. This is
because of built-in support in modern operating systems.
•Security is one of major issues in this type of network. This is
because message that is sent flows freely among connected
computers.
•If computer working with some of resources is down and sharing
of resources might become major problem.
•Performance, security, and access can also become major
Client/Server Network :
CSN (Client/Server Network) is type of computer network in which
one of centralized and powerful computers (commonly called as
server) is hub to which many of personal computers that are less
powerful or workstations (commonly known as clients) are
connected.
Advantages :
1.A special Network Operating System (NOS) is provided by
server to provide resources to many users that request them.
2.It is also very easy and simple to set up and manage data
updates. This is because data is generally stored in centralized
manner on server.
3.The server usually controls resources and data security.
4.This network also boosts speed of sharing resources.
5.If anyhow server goes down or crashes, entire will be affected
by this.
6.It is very expensive as compared to P2P. This is due to need
for server with greater memory as well as need for many
networking devices such as hubs, routers, switches, etc.
7.Cost of NOS being provided is very high.
Key Differences Between Client-Server and Peer-to-Peer Network
•The main distinction between client-server and peer-to-peer
networks is that client-server networks have a dedicated server and
specialised clients, whereas peer-to-peer networks allow any node to
operate as both a client and a server.
•The importance of connectivity between peers is greater in the peer-
to-peer architecture than in the client-server approach.
•In the client-server network, each peer has its own data, in contrast
to the client-server network, where data is stored on a single server.
•In the client-server network, the server gives the client services.
Peer-to-peer, on the other hand, allows each peer to both requests
and deliver services.
•The client-server network is more stable and scalable than a peer-to-
peer,
•The client-server network is more costly than peer-to-peer network.
•Peer-to-peer systems have distributed servers, which reduces the
Distributed System
Distributed System is a collection of autonomous
computer systems that are physically separated but are
connected by a centralized computer network that is
equipped with distributed system software.
Ex.-Any Social Media can have its Centralized Computer
Network as its Headquarters and computer systems that
can be accessed by any user and using their services will
be the Autonomous Systems in the Distributed System
Architecture.
 network operating system (NOS)

A network operating system (NOS) is a computer operating

system (OS) that is designed primarily to support workstations,
personal computers and, in some instances, older terminals that
are connected on a local area network (LAN).
a network operating system(NOS) is software that
connects multiple devices and computers on the network
and allows them to share resources on the network.
 Following are the main functions of NOS :

•Creating and managing user accounts on the network.

•Controlling access to resources on the network.
•Provide communication services between the devices
on the network.
•Monitor and troubleshoot the network.
•Configuring and Managing the resources on the
network.
Types of Network operating systems :
•Peer to Peer –
•Client/server –
Features of network operating systems :
•Printers and application sharing on the network.
•File systems and database sharing.
•Provide good security by using functionality like user
authentication and access control.
•Create backups of data.
•Inter-networking.
Advantages of Network operating systems :
•Highly stable due to central server.
•Provide good security.
•Upgradation of new technology and hardware can
be easily implemented in the network.
•Provide remote access to servers from different
locations.
Disadvantages of Network operating
systems :
•Depend on the central location to perform the
operations.
•High cost to buying server.