NETWORKS, INTERNET and E COMMERCE Computer network In information technology, a computer network, also called a data network, is a series of points, or nodes, interconnected by communication paths for the purpose of transmitting, receiving and exchanging data, voice and video traffic. Computer network • Network devices including switches and routers use a variety of protocols and algorithms to exchange information and to transport data to its intended endpoint. Every endpoint (sometimes called a host in a network has a unique identifier, often an IP address or a Media Acess control address, that is used to indicate the source or destination of the transmission. Endpoints can include servers, personal computers, phones and many types of network hardware. Computer network Wired and wireless technologies Networks may use a mix of wired and wireless technologies. Network devices communicate through a wired or wireless transmission medium. In wired networks, this may consist of optical fiber or coaxial cable or copper wires in the form of a twisted pair. Wireless network pathways include computer networks that use wireless data connections for connecting endpoints. These endpoints include broadcast radio, cellular radio, microwave and satellite. Computer network Networks can be private or public. Private networks require the user to obtain permission to gain access. Typically, this is granted either manually by a network administrator or obtained directly by the user via a password or with other credentials. Public networks like the Internet do not restrict access. • Networks may also be categorized by the scope of their domains. TYPES OF COMPUTER NETWORK 1. Wide area network interconnect multiple LANs, and 2. Metropolitan area network interconnect computer resources in a geographic area. 3. Storage area network interconnect storage devices and resources. Networks may also be divided into subnetworks, also called subnets. I / TYPES OF COMPUTER NETWORK • Network protocols and standards specify exactly how data should be transmitted and received. 1. Mod ern, packet switch netwo rks use protocols to establish a standard means of communication. 2 . T h e E th e r n e t s ta n d a r d e s t a b l i s h e s a common language for wired networks to communicate. / I TYPES OF COMPUTER NETWORK • A network's capacity -- that is, how much traffic it can transmit at any one time -- is measured in terms of bandwidth. Bandwidth is quantified by the theoretical maximum number of bits per second that can pass through a network device. Throughput is a measure of the actual speed of a successful transmission after accounting for factors like latency, processing power and protocol overhead. I / Network Characteristics The following characteristics are also used to categorize different types of networks: 1. TOPOLOGY - T h e g e o m e t r i c a r r a n g e m e n t o f a c o m p u t e r s y s t e m . C o m m o n topologies include a bus, star, and ring. 2. PROTOCOL -defines a common set of rules and signals that computers on the network use to communicate. One of the most popular protocols for LANs is called Ethernet 3. ARCHITECTURES -refer to either hardware or software or to a combination of both. 4. COMPONENTS Computers on a network are sometimes called nodes. Computers and devices that allocate resource., for a network are called servers. Types of Network Topology 1. BUS Topology is a network type in which every computer and network device is connected to single cable. When it has exactly two endpoints, then it is called Linear Bus topology. 2. RING Topology forms a ring as each computer is connected to another computer, with the last one connected to the first. Exactly two neighbors for each device. 3. STAR Topology is where all the computers are connected to a single hub through a cable. This hub is the central node and all others nodes are connected to the central node. 4. TREE Topology (Hierarchy Topology) has a root node and all other nodes are connected to it forming a hierarchy. It should at least have three levels to the hierarchy. / / 5. MESH Topology i s a p oint -to -point connection to other nodes or devices. All the network nodes are connected to each other. Mesh has n(n-1)/2 physical channels to link n devices. Types of Network Topology There are two techniques to transmit data over the Mesh topology, they are 1. Routing - the nodes have a routing logic, as per the network requirements. Like routing logic to direct the data to reach the destination using the shortest distance. 2. Flooding - the same data is transmitted to all the network nodes, hence no routing logic is required. / / gi V] 1 __ 1 Dititwo , _______________ o i Backbone M4 el M i l Bus MIMI 1111111. Point-to-Point Network protocol defines rules and conventions for communication between network devices. Network protocols include mechanisms for devices to identify and make connections with each other, as well as formatting rules that specify how data is packaged into messages sent and received. Some protocols also support message acknowledgment and data compression designed for reliable and/or high-performance network communication. 1. The Internet Protocol family contains a set of related (and among the most widely used network protocols. 2. Wireless network protocols designed for use on wireless networks must support roaming mobile devices and deal with issues such as variable data rates and network security. / / The term protocol refers to a well known set of rules and formats to be used in order to perform a task. For example, a task of communicating between processes. Network protocol Parts of a protocol: A specification of a sequence of messages that must be exchanged. A specification of the format of the data in the messages. Existence of well-known (standard) protocols enables the separate components of the distributed systems to be developed independently in different languages and on different platforms. Ports are destination points within a host computer. Processes are attached to the ports, enabling them to communicate. Transport layer addresses are composed of network address of the host computer and a port number. In the Internet every host is assigned a unique IP number which is used in routing. In an Ethernet each host is responsible for recognizing that the messages meant for it. No single networking technology can satisfy all requirements. Universal interconnection is desired. Protocols allow communication between nodes without understanding underlying mechanisms. Internetworking is the process by which a group of disparate, heterogeneous networks can be linked to form a single logical network. I• T h e I n t e r n e t i s j u s t s u c h a c o l l e c t io n . % ■ Routing is the mechanism used to transfer data between networks to reach the correct ea. destination. • A net wo r k ope rat i ng syst em (NOS ) is a com p ute r operating syst am system that is designed primarily to support workstation, loconal computer, a n d , i n s o m e i n s t a n c e s , o l d e r terminal t h a t a r e c o n n e c t e d o n a l o c a l a r e a network (LAN). Artisoft's LANtastic, Banyan VINES, Novell's NetWarf, 1 and Microsoft's LAN Manager are examples of network operating systems. In addition, some multi -purpose operating systems, such as Windows NT and Digital's OpenVMS come with capabilities that enable them to be described as a network operating system. WHAT IS ECOMMERCE Commonly known as Electronic Marketing. "It consist of buying and selling goods and services over an electronic systems Such as the Internet and other computer networks." "E-commerce is the purchasing, selling and exchanging goods and services over computer networks (Internet) through which transaction or terms of sale are performed Electronically. ;mt.. ■ E-COMMERCE TECHNOLOGIES E_ Internet, intranets, and extranets - network infrastructure or foundation of e-commerce. Customers - secure information, marketing, transaction, processing, and payment services. Trading and business partners - exchange information and accomplish secure transactions; including electronic data interchange (EDI), supply chain, financial systems and databases. Company employees - resources to communicate and collaborate in E-Commerce work activities. Information system professionals and end users manage the content and operations of the websites and other E-Commerce resources E-commerce businesses may also employ some or all of the followings: Online shopping web sites for retail sales direct to consumers Providing or participating in online market places, which process third-party business-to-consumer or consumer-to-consumer sales Business-to-business buying and selling; Gathering and using demographic data through web contacts and social media Business-to-business (B2B) electronic data interchange Marketing to prospective and established customers by e-mail or fax (for example, with newsletters) Engaging in retail for launching new products and services Online financial exchanges for currency exchanges or trading purposes.