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
