Networking

Computer Network

n Interconnection of two or more computers and peripherals

n Allows user to share and transfer information

Types of Computer Networks

n Networks are classified depending on the geographical area covered by the network

Local Area Network (LAN) – I

n Covers a small area

n Connects computers and workstations covering a local area like, office or home

Local Area Network (LAN) - II

n Advantages of LAN:

q Improves productivity due to faster work

q Provides easy maintenance

q New systems can be installed and configured easily

n Disadvantages of LAN:

q Limited number of systems can only be connected

q Cannot cover large area

q Network performance degrades as number of users exceeds

Types of LAN

LANs are classified depending on the techniques used for data sharing

LAN Types

Ethernet

Token Ring

Token Bus

FDDI

Campus Area Network (CAN)

n Made up of multiple LANs within limited area

n Connects different LANs in a campus

Metropolitan Area Network

n Interconnects networks within a city

n Supports data and voice transmission

Wide Area Network

n Covers a wide geographical area which includes multiple computers or LANs e.g. Internet

Client/Server Configuration

n Consists of two elements, Client and Server

n Server:

q A centralized element which provides resources to client

q Manages data, printers or network traffic

n Client:

q Manages local resources used by users such as monitor, keyboard, CPU and peripherals

Open System Interconnection (OSI) Model - I

n Also known as ISO-OSI Reference Model

n Developed by International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

n Describes flow of information from one computer to another

n Consists of seven layers

Open System Interconnection (OSI) Model - II

Network Selection Criteria

n Helps to improve network functionality

Shashi Ray