Data Communication and Networks

Course: BBA

Subject: Introduction to Computer

Unit: 4

What is data Communication?

• Exchange of digital information between two digital devices is data communication.

• Data Communications is the transfer of data or information between a source and a receiver. The source transmits the data and the receiver receives it.

• The actual generation of the information is not part of Data Communications nor is the resulting action of the information at the receiver. Data Communication is interested in the transfer of data, the method of transfer and the preservation of the data during the transfer process.

Types Of Data Communication

• Simplex

• Half Duplex

• Full Duplex

• Serial

Simplex

• A simplex communication system sends a message in onlyone direction. The message source works as the transmitter.

• It sends the message over the data channel to the receiver.The receiver is the destination of the message.

• Examples of simplex data communication include radiostations and TV broadcasts. With the simplex channel, thereis no ability by the receiver to respond to the message.

• For example, a radio station plays a song on your car radio.The data transferred is the song. You do not have theopportunity to send a message back via your car radio to thestation.

half-duplex

• A data communication system provides messages in bothdirections but only allows transfer in one direction at atime.

• Once a party begins sending a transmission, the receivermust wait until the signal stops before responding.

• If the two data transfers attempt to send at the same time,they both fail.

• For instance, if you talk on a CB radio, you press a buttonand speak. If the receiver attempts to press the button andspeak at the same time, neither one of you hear eithermessage. The system is not capable of sending both wayssimultaneously.

full duplex

• A full duplex is a communication that works both ways at the same time.

• Essentially, full duplex data communication is a set of two simplex channels, one works as a forward channel and the other as a reserve channel. The two channels link together at some point.

• An example of a full duplex communication system is a landline telephone. When talking on a telephone, both parties have the ability to speak at the same time. The data, carried both ways through the telephone line, runs simultaneously.

Serial communication

• Serial communication takes a data communication,breaks it up into small pieces, and sends the messageone bit at a time through a channel.

• The receiver collects the small bits and reassemblesthem to compose the original message.

• Serial communication is the most common type ofcommunication between electronic devices. \

• One example of serial communication in action is thedata sent from a modem to the service provider.

Communication Media

• Magnetic Media

• Twisted Pair Cable

• Coaxial Cable

• Power Lines

• Fiber Optics

Magnetic Media

• One of the most convenient way to transfer data from one computer to another,

• For an example, say a Bank has Gigs of bytes of their customers’ data which stores a backup copy of it at some geographically far place for security and uncertain reasons like war or tsunami. If the Bank needs to store its copy of data which is Hundreds of GBs, transfer through Internet is not feasible way. Even WAN links may not support such high speed or if they do cost will be too high to afford.

• In these kinds of cases, data backup is stored onto magnetic tapes or magnetic discs and then shifted physically at remote places.

Twisted pair cable• A twisted pair cable is made of two plastic insulated copper wires twisted together to form a single

media. Out of these two wires only one carries actual signal and another is used for ground reference. The twists between wires is helpful in reducing noise (electro-magnetic interference) and crosstalk.

• It has two type

• Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable

• Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable

• STP cables comes with twisted wire pair covered in metal foil. This makes it more indifferent to noise and crosstalk.

• UTP has seven categories, each suitable for specific use. In computer networks, Cat-5, Cat-5e and Cat-6 cables are mostly used. UTP cables are connected by RJ45 connectors.

Coaxial Cable

• Coaxial cables has two wires of copper. The core wire lies in center and is made ofsolid conductor. Core is enclosed in an insulating sheath. Over the sheath thesecond wire is wrapped around and that too in turn encased by insulator sheath.This all is covered by plastic cover.

• Because of its structure coaxial cables are capable of carrying high frequencysignals than that of twisted pair cables. The wrapped structure provides it a goodshield against noise and cross talk. Coaxial cables provide high bandwidth rates ofup to 450 mbps.

• There are three categories of Coax cables namely, RG-59 (Cable TV), RG-58 (ThinEthernet) and RG-11 (Thick Ethernet. RG stands for Radio Government.

Fiber Optics• Fiber Optic works on the properties of

light. When light ray hits at criticalangle it tends to refracts at 90 degree.This property has been used in fiberoptic.

• The core of fiber optic cable is made ofhigh quality glass or plastic. From oneend of it light is emitted, it travelsthrough it and at the other end lightdetector detects light stream andconverts it to electric data form.

• Fiber Optic provides the highest modeof speed.

• It comes in two modes,– single mode fiber and

– second is multimode fiber..

Network Topology

Definition of

Network Topology

Types of

Network Topology

Differentiation Between the

Types of Network Topology

CONTENT

What is a Topology ?

The physical topology of a network

refers to the configuration of cables,

computers and other peripherals.

DEFINITION

Bus network.

Ring network.

Star network.

TYPES OF NETWORK TOPOLOGY

All computers and devices

connected to central cable or bus.

Consists of a main run of cable

with a terminator at each end.

Popular on LANs because they

are inexpensive and easy to

install.

BUS TOPOLOGY

Cable forms closed ring or loop,

with all computers and devices

arranged along ring.

Data travels from device to

device around entire ring, in

one direction.

Primarily is used for LANs,

but also is used in WANs.

RING TOPOLOGY

RING TOPOLOGY

All devices connect to a

central device, called

hub.

All data transferred

from one computer to

another passes through

hub.

STAR TOPOLOGY

STAR TOPOLOGY

ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

1) Easy to connect computer or

peripheral to a linear bus.

1) Entire network shuts down if

there is a break in the main

cable.

2) Requires less cable length

than a star topology.

2) Terminators are required at

both ends of the backbone

cable.

3) Difficult to identify the

problem if the entire network

shuts down.

BUS

DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN THE THREE

TYPES OF NETWORK TOPOLOGY

ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

1) Data is quickly transferred. 1) Data packets must pass

through every computer

between the sender and

recipient therefore, this makes

it slower.

2) The transmission of data is

relatively simple as packets

travel in one direction only.

2) If any of the nodes fail then the

ring is broken and data cannot be

transmitted successfully.

3) It is difficult to troubleshoot

the ring.

RING

DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN THE THREE

TYPES OF NETWORK TOPOLOGY

ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

1) Easy to install and wire. 1) Requires more cable length

than a linear topology.

2) Security can be implemented

in the hub/switch.

2) If the hub or concentrator

fails, nodes attached are

disabled.

3) Easy to detect faults and to

remove parts.

3) More expensive than linear

bus topologies because of the

cost of the concentrators.

STAR

DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN THE THREE

TYPES OF NETWORK TOPOLOGY

DEFINITION

•All computers

and devices

connected to

central cable

BUS TOPOLOGY

ADVANTAGE

•Easy to connect a

computer or

peripheral to a linear

bus.

•Requires less cable

length than

a star topology.

DISADVANTAGE

•Entire network shuts

down if

there is a break in the

main cable.

•Terminators are

required at both

ends of the backbone

cable.

•Difficult to identify the

problem

if the entire network

shuts down.

SUMMARY

RING TOPOLOGY

DEFINITION

•Cable forms closed

ring or loop, with

all computers and

devices arranged

along ring.

ADVANTAGE

•Data is quickly

transferred without a

‘bottle neck’.

•The transmission of

data is relatively

simple as packets travel

in one direction only.

DISADVANTAGE

•Data packets must pass

through every computer

between the sender and

recipient therefore, this

makes it slower.

•If any of the nodes fail then

the ring is broken and data

cannot be transmitted

successfully.

•It is difficult to

troubleshoot

the ring.

SUMMARY

DEFINITION

•All devices

connect to a

central device,

called hub.

ADVANTAGE

•Easy to install and wire.

•Security can be

implemented

in the hub/switch.

DISADVANTAGE

•Requires more cable

length

than a linear topology.

If the hub or

concentrator fails,

nodes attached are

disabled.

More expensive than

linear bus topologies

because of the cost of the

concentrators.

STAR TOPOLOGY

•Easy to detect faults and

to

remove parts

SUMMARY