Lecture – 5a

What is a computer network?

A computer network comprises two or more computers that are connected—either by cables
(wired) or WiFi (wireless)—with the purpose of transmitting, exchanging, or sharing data and
resources. You build a computer network using hardware (e.g., routers, switches, access points,
and cables) and software (e.g., operating systems or business applications).

Geographic location often defines a computer network. For example, a LAN (local area network)
connects computers in a defined physical space, like an office building, whereas a WAN (wide
area network) can connect computers across continents. The internet is the largest example of a
WAN, connecting billions of computers worldwide.

You can further define a computer network by the protocols it uses to communicate, the physical
arrangement of its components, how it controls traffic, and its purpose.

Computer networks enable communication for every business, entertainment, and research
purpose. The internet, online search, email, audio and video sharing, online commerce, live-
streaming, and social networks all exist because of computer networks.
Computer network types

As networking needs evolved, so did the computer network types that serve those needs.

Here are the most common and widely used computer network types:

 LAN (local area network): A LAN connects computers over a relatively short distance,
allowing them to share data, files, and resources. For example, a LAN may connect all
the computers in an office building, school, or hospital. Typically, LANs are privately
owned and managed.

 WLAN (wireless local area network): A WLAN is just like a LAN but connections
between devices on the network are made wirelessly.

 WAN (wide area network): As the name implies, a WAN connects computers over a
wide area, such as from region to region or even continent to continent. The internet is
the largest WAN, connecting billions of computers worldwide. You will typically see
collective or distributed ownership models for WAN management.

 MAN (metropolitan area network): MANs are typically larger than LANs but smaller
than WANs. Cities and government entities typically own and manage MANs.

 PAN (personal area network): A PAN serves one person. For example, if you have an
iPhone and a Mac, it’s very likely you’ve set up a PAN that shares and syncs content—
text messages, emails, photos, and more—across both devices.

 SAN (storage area network): A SAN is a specialized network that provides access to
block-level storage—shared network or cloud storage that, to the user, looks and works
like a storage drive that’s physically attached to a computer. (For more information on
how a SAN works with block storage,

 CAN (campus area network): A CAN is also known as a corporate area network. A
CAN is larger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN. CANs serve sites such as colleges,
 universities, and business campuses.

 VPN (virtual private network): A VPN is a secure, point-to-point connection between

two network end points (see ‘Nodes’ below). A VPN establishes an encrypted channel
that keeps a user’s identity and access credentials, as well as any data transferred,
inaccessible to hackers.
Important terms and concepts

The following are some common terms to know when discussing computer networking:

 IP address: An IP address is a unique number assigned to every device connected to a

network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. Each IP address identifies the
device’s host network and the location of the device on the host network. When one
device sends data to another, the data includes a ‘header’ that includes the IP address of
the sending device and the IP address of the destination device.

 Nodes: A node is a connection point inside a network that can receive, send, create, or
store data. Each node requires you to provide some form of identification to receive
access, like an IP address. A few examples of nodes include computers, printers,
modems, bridges, and switches. A node is essentially any network device that can
recognize, process, and transmit information to any other network node.

 Routers: A router is a physical or virtual device that sends information contained in data
packets between networks. Routers analyze data within the packets to determine the best
way for the information to reach its ultimate destination. Routers forward data packets
until they reach their destination node.

 Switches: A switch is a device that connects other devices and manages node-to-node
communication within a network, ensuring data packets reach their ultimate destination.
While a router sends information between networks, a switch sends information between
nodes in a single network. When discussing computer networks, ‘switching’ refers to
how data is transferred between devices in a network. The three main types of switching
are as follows:
o Circuit switching, which establishes a dedicated communication path between
nodes in a network. This dedicated path assures the full bandwidth is available
during the transmission, meaning no other traffic can travel along that path.

o Packet switching involves breaking down data into independent components

called packets which, because of their small size, make fewer demands on the
network. The packets travel through the network to their end destination.

o Message switching sends a message in its entirety from the source node, traveling
from switch to switch until it reaches its destination node.

 Ports: A port identifies a specific connection between network devices. Each port is
identified by a number. If you think of an IP address as comparable to the address of a
hotel, then ports are the suites or room numbers within that hotel. Computers use port
numbers to determine which application, service, or process should receive specific
messages.

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  Network cable types: The most common network cable types are Ethernet twisted pair,
coaxial, and fiber optic. The choice of cable type depends on the size of the network, the
arrangement of network elements, and the physical distance between devices.
Examples of computer networks

The wired or wireless connection of two or more computers for the purpose of sharing data and
resources form a computer network. Today, nearly every digital device belongs to a computer
network.

In an office setting, you and your colleagues may share access to a printer or to a group
messaging system. The computing network that allows this is likely a LAN or local area network
that permits your department to share resources.

A city government might manage a city-wide network of surveillance cameras that monitor
traffic flow and incidents. This network would be part of a MAN or metropolitan area network
that allows city emergency personnel to respond to traffic accidents, advise drivers of alternate
travel routes, and even send traffic tickets to drivers who run red lights.

The Weather Company worked to create a peer-to-peer mesh network that allows mobile devices
to communicate directly with other mobile devices without requiring WiFi or cellular
connectivity. The Mesh Network Alerts project allows the delivery of life-saving weather
information to billions of people, even without an internet connection.

Computer networks and the internet

The internet is actually a network of networks that connects billions of digital devices
worldwide. Standard protocols allow communication between these devices. Those protocols
include hypertext transfer protocol (the ‘http’ in front of all website addresses). Internet protocol
(or IP addresses) are the unique identifying numbers required of every device that accesses the
internet. IP addresses are comparable to your mailing address, providing unique location
information so that information can be delivered correctly.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Network Service Providers (NSPs) provide the
infrastructure that allows the transmission of packets of data or information over the internet.
Every bit of information sent over the internet doesn’t go to every device connected to the
internet. It’s the combination of protocols and infrastructure that tells information exactly where
to go.

How do they work?

Computer networks connect nodes like computers, routers, and switches using cables, fiber
optics, or wireless signals. These connections allow devices in a network to communicate and
share information and resources.

Networks follow protocols, which define how communications are sent and received. These
protocols allow devices to communicate. Each device on a network uses an Internet Protocol or
IP address, a string of numbers that uniquely identifies a device and allows other devices to
recognize it.

Routers are virtual or physical devices that facilitate communications between different
networks. Routers analyze information to determine the best way for data to reach its ultimate
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destination. Switches connect devices and manage node-to-node communication inside a
network, ensuring that bundles of information traveling across the network reach their ultimate
destination.

Architecture
Computer network architecture defines the physical and logical framework of a computer
network. It outlines how computers are organized in the network and what tasks are assigned to
those computers. Network architecture components include hardware, software, transmission
media (wired or wireless), network topology, and communications protocols.

Main types of network architecture

There are two types of network architecture: peer-to-peer (P2P) and client/server. In P2P
architecture, two or more computers are connected as “peers,” meaning they have equal power
and privileges on the network. A P2P network does not require a central server for coordination.
Instead, each computer on the network acts as both a client (a computer that needs to access a
service) and a server (a computer that serves the needs of the client accessing a service). Each
peer makes some of its resources available to the network, sharing storage, memory, bandwidth,
and processing power.

In a client/server network, a central server or group of servers manage resources and deliver
services to client devices in the network. The clients in the network communicate with other
clients through the server. Unlike the P2P model, clients in a client/server architecture don’t
share their resources. This architecture type is sometimes called a tiered model because it's
designed with multiple levels or tiers.

Network topology

Network topology refers to how the nodes and links in a network are arranged. A network node
is a device that can send, receive, store, or forward data. A network link connects nodes and may
be either cabled or wireless links.

Understanding topology types provides the basis for building a successful network. There are a
number of topologies but the most common are bus, ring, star, and mesh:

 A bus network topology is when every network node is directly connected to a main
cable.

 In a ring topology, nodes are connected in a loop, so each device has exactly two
neighbors. Adjacent pairs are connected directly; non-adjacent pairs are connected
indirectly through multiple nodes.

 In a star network topology, all nodes are connected to a single, central hub and each node
is indirectly connected through that hub.

 A mesh topology is defined by overlapping connections between nodes. You can create a
full mesh topology, where every node in the network is connected to every other node.
You can also create partial mesh topology in which only some nodes are connected to
each other and some are connected to the nodes with which they exchange the most data.
Full mesh topology can be expensive and time-consuming to execute, which is why it's

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 often reserved for networks that require high redundancy. Partial mesh provides less
redundancy but is more cost effective and simpler to execute.
Security

Computer network security protects the integrity of information contained by a network and
controls who access that information. Network security policies balance the need to provide
service to users with the need to control access to information.

There are many entry points to a network. These entry points include the hardware and software
that comprise the network itself as well as the devices used to access the network, like
computers, smartphones, and tablets. Because of these entry points, network security requires
using several defense methods. Defenses may include firewalls—devices that monitor network
traffic and prevent access to parts of the network based on security rules.

Processes for authenticating users with user IDs and passwords provide another layer of security.
Security includes isolating network data so that proprietary or personal information is harder to
access than less critical information. Other network security measures include ensuring hardware
and software updates and patches are performed regularly, educating network users about their
role in security processes, and staying aware of external threats executed by hackers and other
malicious actors. Network threats constantly evolve, which makes network security a never-
ending process.

The use of public cloud also requires updates to security procedures to ensure continued safety
and access. A secure cloud demands a secure underlying network.

Read about the top five considerations (PDF, 298 KB) for securing the public cloud.
Mesh networks

As noted above, a mesh network is a topology type in which the nodes of a computer network
connect to as many other nodes as possible. In this topology, nodes cooperate to efficiently route
data to its destination. This topology provides greater fault tolerance because if one node fails,
there are many other nodes that can transmit data. Mesh networks self-configure and self-
organize, searching for the fastest, most reliable path on which to send information.

Type of mesh networks

There are two types of mesh networks—full mesh and partial mesh:

 In a full mesh topology, every network node connects to every other network node,
providing the highest level of fault tolerance. However, it costs more to execute. In a
partial mesh topology, only some nodes connect, typically those that exchange data most
frequently.

 A wireless mesh network may consist of tens to hundreds of nodes. This type of network
connects to users over access points spread across a large area.
Load balancers and networks

Load balancers efficiently distribute tasks, workloads, and network traffic across available
servers. Think of load balancers like air traffic control at an airport. The load balancer observes
all traffic coming into a network and directs it toward the router or server best equipped to

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manage it. The objectives of load balancing are to avoid resource overload, optimize available
resources, improve response times, and maximize throughput.

For a complete overview of load balancers, see Load Balancing: A Complete Guide.
Content delivery networks

A content delivery network (CDN) is a distributed server network that delivers temporarily
stored, or cached, copies of website content to users based on the user’s geographic location. A
CDN stores this content in distributed locations and serves it to users as a way to reduce the
distance between your website visitors and your website server. Having cached content closer to
your end users allows you to serve content faster and helps websites better reach a global
audience. CDNs protect against traffic surges, reduce latency, decrease bandwidth consumption,
accelerate load times, and lessen the impact of hacks and attacks by introducing a layer between
the end user and your website infrastructure.

Live-streaming media, on-demand media, gaming companies, application creators, e-commerce

sites—as digital consumption increases, more content owners turn to CDNs to better serve
content consumers.