Computer Networking Introduction

Computer networking consists of a group of devices that are connected through a Transmission Medium for the purpose of sharing resources. 

  • Group of Devices may include Mobiles, Laptops, PCs Printers, etc.
  • Transmission Medium may include any physical cable or wireless medium for data transmission.
  • Resources may include printers, hard disks, scanners, etc.

The computers in the network may be in the same or different places. Data communication involves electronically transferring data from one device to another. 

Important: If someone asks me what computer networking is, my simple answer is the 7 layers of the OSI model, and their functionality is almost the complete computer networking. We will cover the OSI model completely after some basic lectures in the series. 

Basic Pillars Of Data Communication

There are five main components of a data communication system in Networking. Descriptive diagram of computer networking 

1. Sender

A sender (also known as the Transmitter or Source) is a  device that sends the message. The sending device may be a computer, Fax machine, or mobile phone.

2. Receiver

The receiver (also known as sink) is a device that receives the message. The receiving device may be a computer, Fax machine, mobile phone, or printer. The receiver is 

3. Message

The message is data or some information that is to be communicated. A message can be a text, audio, video, or mixture of all of these elements.

4. Transmission Medium

It carries the message from sender to receiver. The transmission medium may be a physical cable or wireless.

5. Communication Device

Both sending and receiving devices must contains a communication device i.e. network interface card (NIC) or modem.

“It is used to transmit a message between the sender and receiver through transmission medium.”

6. Protocols

When a sender sends a message to the receiver, the receiver must be able to understand that message; for this purpose, protocols are used by both ends (sender and receiver).

“Protocols are standard which tells how, when and what is communicated.” Some common protocols are Ethernet, Token Ring, TCP/IP etc.

Properties of Good Communication

Following three major components which are considered for good communication

  • Delivery: Data must be delivered to the correct destination.
  • Accuracy: Data must be delivered accurately because Loss of data is not tolerated.
  • Timeliness: Data must be delivered within time because data becomes useless if it is not delivered in time.

Basic Components of Computer Networking

There are many components of computer networking. Look at the following

  • Hub: It used at the Physical Layer (Layer 1) and forwards data to all connected devices without filtering. It causes network congestion due to unnecessary data broadcasts.
  • Modem: It operates at the Physical Layer (Layer 1) and converts digital signals to analog and vice versa. It is essential for internet access over telephone lines or cable connections.
  • Cables and Connectors: It belong to the Physical Layer (Layer 1) and serve as the medium for data transmission. They include Ethernet, fiber optic, and coaxial cables for network connectivity.
  • Switch: It operates at the Data Link Layer (Layer 2) and forwards data based on MAC addresses. It improves network efficiency by sending data only to the intended recipient.
  • Router: It works at the Network Layer (Layer 3) and routes data between different networks using IP addresses. It enables internet connectivity and provides additional functions like NAT and security.
  • Gateway: It functions from the Network Layer (Layer 3) to the Application Layer (Layer 7) and connects different network protocols. It enables communication between networks with different architectures.

Communication Technologies

There are different communication technologies; major uses of communication technologies are

  • Voice Mail: A system that records and stores voice messages when the recipient is unavailable.
  • Email: A digital communication method that allows users to send and receive text, attachments, and multimedia over the internet.
  • Chat Rooms: Online virtual spaces where multiple users can communicate via text in real-time on shared topics.
  • Newsgroups: Online discussion forums where users post and share messages about specific topics using Usenet servers.
  • Video Conferencing: A communication technology that facilitates live audio and video interactions between remote participants.
  • Global Positioning System (GPS): A satellite-based navigation system that provides location and time information anywhere on Earth.