Question

Please explain the components of network communication at least in a paragraph or two.

Answer 1

Network communication, defines a set of protocols that allow application programs to talk with each other without regard to the hardware and operating systems where they are run.

Computer Network Components
Computer network components are the major parts which are needed to install software.

Some important network components are router, NIC, switch, cable, hub, router, and modem.

Depending on the type of network that we need to install, some network components can also be removed.

For example, the wireless network does not require a cable.

Following are the major components required to install a network:

Hub :

A Hub is a hardware device that divides the network connection among multiple devices. When computer requests for some information from a network, it first sends the request to the Hub through cable. Hub will broadcast this request to the entire network. All the devices will check whether the request belongs to them or not. If not, the request will be dropped.

Switch :

• A switch is a hardware device that connects multiple devices on a computer network.
• A Switch contains more advanced features than Hub.
• The Switch contains the updated table that decides where the data is transmitted or not.
• Switch delivers the message to the correct destination based on the physical address present in the incoming message.

A Switch does not broadcast the message to the entire network like the Hub.

NIC :
NIC stands for network interface card.
NIC is a hardware component used to connect a computer with another computer onto a network
It can support a transfer rate of 10,100 to 1000 Mb/s.

• Wired NIC
• Wireless NIC

Wired NIC:

The Wired NIC is present inside the motherboard. Cables and connectors are used with wired NIC to transfer data.

Wireless NIC:

The wireless NIC contains the antenna to obtain the connection over the wireless network. For example, laptop computer contains the wireless NIC.

Data Communication System Components :

There are mainly five components of a data communication system:

1. Message
2. Sender
3. Receiver
4. Transmission Medium
5. Set of rules (Protocol)

Message :
This is most useful asset of a data communication system. The message simply refers to data or piece of information which is to be communicated.

A message can be in any form, it may be in form of a text file, an audio file, a video file, etc.

Sender :
To transfer message from source to destination, someone must be there who will play role of a source. Sender plays part of a source in data communication system.

The device could be in form of a computer, mobile, telephone, laptop, video camera, or a workstation, etc.

Receiver :
It is destination where finally message sent by source has arrived. It is a device that receives message.

Same as sender, receiver can also be in form of a computer, telephone mobile, workstation, etc.

Transmission Medium :
In entire process of data communication, there must be something which could act as a bridge between sender and receiver, Transmission medium plays that part.

Transmission medium could be guided or unguided, for example, twisted pair cable, fiber optic cable, radio waves, microwaves, etc.

Set of rules (Protocol) :

The protocol is a set of rules that govern data communication. If two different devices are connected but there is no protocol among them, there would not be any kind of communication between those two devices. Thus the protocol is necessary for data communication to take place.