Networking Basic Concepts

Computer Networks A communication system for connecting computers / hosts. Why?

Better connectivity Better communication Better sharing of resources Bring people together

Types of computer networks

Local Area Network
Geographical Span
Connects hosts within a relatively small geographical area.
Same room Same building Same campus

Wide Area Network

Geographical Span
Hosts may be widely dispersed
Across the campuses Across cities countries / countries / continents

Speed
Faster
Typical Speed is 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps

Speed
Slower
Typical Speed is 64 Kbps to 8 Mbps

Cost
Cheaper

Cost
Enterprise

Ownership Issue Physical transmission media

Ownership Issue Physical transmission media

Types of computer networks

Communication

Circuit Switching
A dedicated path is required between two stations
A path follows a fixed sequence of intermediate links A logical channel gets defined on each physical link
Dedicated to the connection

B A C

F H

Circuit Switching (contd.)

In Circuit Switching three steps are required for communication:Connection establishment
Required before data transmission

Data transfer
Can proceed at maximum speed

Connection termination
Required after data transmission is over For deallocation of network resources

Circuit Switching (contd.)

Drawbacks:Channel capacity gets dedicated during the entire duration of communication
Acceptable for voice communication Very inefficient for bursty traffic

There is an initial delay

For connection establishment

Packet switching
Modern form of long distance data communication
Network resources are not dedicated A link can be shared

The basic technology has evolved over time

The basic concept remained the same Widely used for long distance data communication

Packet switching (contd.)

Data are transmitted in short packets (Kbytes)
A longer message is broken up into smaller chunks The chunks are called as packets Every packet contains a header
Relevant information for routing, etc

Packet switching (contd.)

Message

Packets

Packet switching (contd.)

Packet switching is based on stored-and-forward concept
Each intermediate network node receives whole packet Decides to route Forwards the packet along selected

Packet switching (contd.)

Advantages
Link can be shared so link utilization better Suitable for computer generated traffic
Typically bursty in nature

Buffering and data rate conversion can be performed easily Some packets given priority over others if desired

Packet switching (contd.)

How are the packets transmitted?
Two alternative approaches 1. Virtual circuits 2. Datagrams The abstract network model is same
B A C E G D F H

Virtual circuit approach

Similar to the concept of circuit switching
A route is established before packet transmission starts All packets follow same path The links comprising the path are not dedicated
Different from circuit switching in this respect

Analogy
Telephone system

Virtual circuit approach (contd.)

How it works?
Route is established a priori Packet forwarded from one node to the next using stored-and-forward scheme Only virtual circuit number need to be carried out by the packet
Each intermediate node maintains a table created during route establishment Used for packet forwarding

No dynamic routing decision was taken by intermediate nodes

Datagram approach
Basic concept
No route is established before hand Each packet is transmitted as an independent entry Does not maintain any history

Analogy
Postal system

Datagram approach (contd.)

Every intermediate node has to take routing decision automatically
Makes the use of routing table Every packet must contain source and destination address

Problems:Packets may be deliver out of order If the node crashes momentarily, all of its queued packets are lost Duplicate packets may also be generated

Datagram approach (contd.)

Advantages:Faster then virtual circuit approach for smaller number of packets
No route establishment and termination

More flexible Packets between two host may follow different path
Can handle the congestion link

Comparative study
Three types of delays must be considered: 1) Propagation delay
Time taken by the data signal to propagate from one node to the next

2) Transmission delay
Time taken to send out packet by a transmitter

3) Processing delay
Time taken by node to process the packet

Circuit switching
After initial circuit establishment data bits are sent continuously without any delay

Virtual circuit Packet switching

Call request packet sent from source to destination Call accept packet returns back Packets sent sequentially in pipelined fashion
Store and forward approach

Datagram Packet switching

No initial delay The packets are sent out independently
Many follow different paths Follow store-and-forward approach

Layered network architecture

Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model Seven layer model Communication functions are partitioned into hierarchical set of layers
Systematic approach to design Changes in one layer should not require changes in other layer

The 7 layer OSI Model

Application Presentation Session Transport Network Data Link physical

Host to host

Point to point

Layer function
Physical layer
Transmit row bit stream over physical medium

Data link layer

Reliable transfer of link over point to point link

Network layer
Establishing, Maintaining and terminating connections Routes the packet through point to point link

Layer function (contd.)

Transport layer
End to end reliable data transfer With error recovery flow control

Session layer
Manages the session

Presentation layer
Provides data independence

Application layer
Interface point for user application

How data flows in 7 layer model?

Application presentation Session Transport Network Data Link physical Application presentation Session Transport Network Data Link physical

Internetworking Devices
Hub
Extends the span of single LAN

Bridge / layer-2 switch

Connects two or more LAN together Works at data link layer level

Router / Layer-3 switch

Connects any combination of LAN and WAN Works at network layer

Campus network schematic

Department Network Department Network

Backbone Network
Department Network Department Network

Backbone n/w: Fast Ethernet, FDDI, ATM, Gigabyte Ethernet DN: Switched Ethernet, Bus based Ethernet

Connecting computer to departmental network

Requires NIC Connection through switch or hub Typical scenario is shown
Backbone network

Ethernet switch

HUB C C

HUB C

Connecting to outside world

Satellite Antenna Radio link

Institute network

Router

leased line

Modem

Telephone line