Computer Networks: Intro and Physical Layer

• Computer Networks involve interconnected computers and devices communicating to share resources, data, and information.
• These networks enable file and printer sharing, internet access, email and messaging, and remote access.

Network Types

• Computer networks are classified by size, geographical scope, and technologies used.
• Common network types: LAN (local area networks), WAN (wide area networks), MAN (metropolitan area networks), wireless networks, and the internet.

Unit 1: Introduction and Physical Layer

• Introduction to Computer Networks, Data Communication Systems, and components are explored.
• Data flow and network goals are defined.
• Network types: LAN, MAN, WAN, wireless and wired, broadcast, and point-to-point, are studied.
• Network topologies, protocols, interfaces, and services are covered.
• ISO-OSI reference model and TCP/IP architecture is examined
• Analog & Digital Signals, Bandwidth is studied.
• Transmission Impairments: Attenuation, Distortion, and Noise examined.
• Multiplexing techniques: Frequency Division, Time Division, and Wavelength Division is covered.
• Transmission Media: Twisted pair, Coaxial cable, Fiber optics, Wireless transmission (radio, microwave, infrared) is introduced.
• Switching methods: Circuit Switching, Message Switching, Packet Switching, narrowband ISDN, broadband ISDN, and ATM are compared.

Unit 2: Datalink Layer

• Error Control is investigated, including error types, framing (character and bit stuffing), error detection & correction methods.
• Flow control protocols: Stop & wait ARQ, Go-Back-N ARQ, sliding window protocols, Selective repeat ARQ, and HDLC, are reviewed.

Unit 2: Medium Access Sub Layer

• Point-to-point protocol, FDDI, token bus, and token ring are covered.
• Reservation, polling, and Multiple Access Protocols: Pure ALOHA, Slotted ALOHA, CSMA, CSMA/CD, FDMA, TDMA, and CDMA, LLC are studied.
• Ethernet: Traditional and fast Ethernet is compared.
• Network devices: repeaters, hubs, switches, Bridges, Router, and Gateway is examined.

Unit 3: Network Layer

• Addressing: Internet address and subnetting.
• Routing techniques: static vs. dynamic routing, routing table management, DHCP.
• IEEE standards 802.x is introduced.
• Routing algorithms: shortest path algorithm, flooding, distance vector routing, and link-state routing is compared.
• Protocols: ARP, RARP, IP, ICMP, IGMP, and IPV6 is examined.
• Unicast and multicast routing protocols.

Unit 4: Transport and Application Layers

• Transport layer focuses on process-to-process delivery using UDP and TCP.
• RPC (Remote Procedure Call) is studied.
• Congestion control: Leaky bucket algorithm, Token bucket algorithm, and choke packets, are covered.
• Quality of Service (QoS) techniques are examined.
• Application layer protocols: DNS, SMTP, SNMP, FTP, HTTP & WWW is discussed.
• Security measures: Firewalls, Bluetooth, Email, S/MIME, IMAP, Cryptography, user authentication, security protocols, public-key encryption, and digital signatures, are covered.