Computer Networks

&
Data Communication
Dr. Dhammika Weerasinghe

Why Study Communications?

Communication technology has
invaded virtually every aspect of
daily life, from professional and
educational uses to purely
recreational ones.

Applications
Transferring data between computers. LAN /
WAN communications.
Telephones /Fax / Cellular phones.
Televisions.
Voice and video communications.
Teleconferencing.
Information Services.

Computer Communication Schematic

Computer A

User-to-user
communication

Application
process

Application
process

Communication

Computer B

Computer-to-computer
communication

subsystem

Communication
subsystem

Computer-to-network communication
Data communication network
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Uses of Computer Networks

(for Companies)

Resource sharing
High reliability
Saving money
Scalability
Communication medium
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Resource Sharing

Goal is to make all

programs
equipments &
data
available to anyone on the network
without regard to the physical location
of the resource and the user.
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High Reliability

Multiple copies of files

Multiple CPUs
For military, banking, air traffic control,
nuclear power plant, and many other
applications, the ability to continue
operating in the face of hardware
problem is of utmost importance.

Saving Money

Small computers have a much

better price/performance ratio than
large ones.
Mainframes are faster than PCs but
they cost a thousand times more.
Mainframes

Client Server Systems

Scalability
Centralized Mainframes

Client Server Systems

should be replaced by
a large one.

new clients and

new servers

expensive
disruption to the users

can be added as needed.

Uses of Computer Networks

(for People)

Access to remote information

Person-to-person communication
Interactive entertainment

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Transmission Technology

Broadcast networks
Point-to-point networks

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Network Topology

Manner(way) in which network devices

are connected physically.
Devices:
Mainframes, Workstations, File
servers,
Printers, Scanners
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Network Topologies

Bus topology
Star topology
Ring topology
Hybrid topology
Tree topology
Complete topology
Irregular topologies
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Bus Topology
Mainframe

Workstation

File server

File server

Workstation

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Bus Topology (cont.)

A single communication line
Each device has an interface that listens to the
bus and examines its data traffic
Carrier Sense, Multiple Access with Collision
Detection (CSMA/CD)

Ethernet (IEEE 802.3)

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Bus Topology (Cont.)

B
Segment

Cable A

Cable C

C
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Bus Topology (Cont.)

Send Concurrently

B
No traffic

C
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Bus Topology (Cont.)

CSMA/CD

X
E

C
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Star Topology

Cables

Computer
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Star Topology (Cont.)

One station (often a mainframe or file

server) is a logical communication
center
Other stations communicate through it

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Star Topology (Cont.)

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Ring Topology
Computer

Cables

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Ring Topology (Cont.)

Stations are arranged in a ring

Each station connected directly only
to its two neighbors
Messages pass through all of the
stations in between
(clockwise or counterclockwise)

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Ring Topology (cont.)

E
D

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Hybrid Topology
Computer

Computer

Computer

bridge

Computer

bridge

Computer

Computer

Computer
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Tree Topology

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Complete Topology

Cables

Computer
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Irregular Topology

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Local Area Networks ( LANs)

They are widely used to connect

personal computers & workstations in
company offices & factories to
share resources & exchange information.
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Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs)

Bigger version of LANs
Normally uses similar technology
Distributed Queue Dual Bus

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Wide Area Networks (WANs)

Spans a large geographical area
(a country or continent)
Contains a collection of hosts
Hosts are connected by a subnet
(communication subnet)

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