Networking Fundamentals: Part 1
What Is A Computer Network?
A computer network is made up of two or more computers that are linked together via connectors (wired) or wireless connections for the goal of sending information, communicating, or ability to share resources and information. A computer network is built with hardware (such as gateways, switches, access points, and cables) and software (e.g., operating systems or business applications).
A computer network is typically described by its geographical region. A LAN (local area network), for example, connects computers within the same particular physical space, such as an office building, while a WAN (wide area network) connects computers across continents. The internet is the most visible example of a WAN, designed to connect huge amounts of devices around the world.
A computer network can also be defined by the processes it uses to exchange information, the physical structure of its modules, how it manages data packets and its intent.
Computer networks allow communication for all commercial, recreational, and study activities. Computer networks are responsible for the world wide web, search tools, electronic mail, multimedia sharing, digital services, live-streaming, and online communities.
Computer Network Types
As networking requirements changed, so did the types of computer networks that met those requirements. The following are some of the most popular and commonly used computer network types:
- LAN (local area network): A LAN is a network that links computers over a short distance, sharing common data, files, and resources. A LAN, for example, may link all of the computers in an office complex, college, or health center. LANs are generally privately owned and operated.
- A WLAN (wireless local area network): It is similar to a LAN, but links among network devices are made wirelessly and seamlessly.
- WAN (wide area network): As the name suggests, a WAN connects computers across a large geographic area, such as from area to area or even landmass to landmass. The internet is the world’s biggest WAN, connecting huge numbers of computers all over the world. For WAN management, you will generally see collaborative or divided-up ownership concepts.
- MAN (metropolitan area network): MANs are typically less powerful than WANs.MANs are typically owned and managed by metropolitan areas or government entities.
- A PAN (personal area network): It only exists to serve one person. For example, if you have an iPhone and an OS X, you’ve almost certainly set up a PAN that shares and synchronizes content — text messages, emails, images, and so on — across both gadgets.
- SAN or Storage Area Network: A SAN, or Storage Area Network, is a high-speed network that holds and gives access to block storage. It is a dedicated shared network used for cloud storage systems that look and function like a hard drive. A SAN is composed of various switching devices, servers, and disk arrays. One of the advantages of SAN is that it is fault-tolerant, which means that information can still be obtained even if a switch or server fails.
- VPN or Virtual Private Network: It is a safe application that secures point-to-point Web access and conceals the user’s address and remote location. It creates an encrypted connection to protect users’ privacy online, making their personality and data unreachable to cybercriminals.
You can see and understand the various types of computer networks, as well as the motives for their use in various aspects compared to bigger ones.
How Do Computers Connect Over The Internet
Computers connect and communicate with one another via the Internet, mainly through the use of TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). Consider TCP/IP to be a set of rules, a step-by-step guide that each computer uses to learn to communicate with another computer. This guideline specifies what each computer needs to do to transmit and receive information: when to send information and how to transfer that data. It also explains how to start receiving data in real-time. If the guidelines are not followed, the computer will be unable to connect to other computers or transmit information between them.
A computer must have a NIC (network interface card) installed to connect to the Internet and other computers on a network. A wired network integrated into the NIC on one end and then into a broadband connection, DSL modem, router, or switch on the other can allow a computer to connect to the Internet and other computers.
Computer Network Components
Here are important computer network components:
- Switches: Switches function as controllers, connecting computers, scanners, and other hardware components to a network on university premises or in a facility. It enables your network’s systems to interact with one another and also with other networks. It allows users to share resources and cut costs in any establishment.
- Servers: Servers are computational models that store shared programs, files, and the programming environment. Servers provide all network users with access to network services.
- Routers: Routers allow you to connect to various networks at the same time. It allows you to save money by having common internet access across multiple devices. This networking component serves as a scheduler, allowing you to evaluate transmitted data across a network. It chooses the best pathway for data to take and transmits it on its way.
- Clients: Clients are computer devices that enable connection to and use of networks, and also start sharing network resources. They are also networked consumers because they can transmit and receive user requests from the server.
- Access Points: Access points enable devices to be connected to a wireless connection without the use of cables. A wireless network allows users to add new devices and provides mobile phone users with adaptable assistance.
- Network Interface Card: A Network Interface card transmits, and receives data while controlling data flow between the device and the network.
- Protocol: A protocol is a set of rules that allow two agencies to communicate over a network. IP, TCP, UDP, FTP, and other standard protocols can be used for this reason.
- Hub: A hub is a device that divides a net connection among several computers. It serves as a distribution hub, so whenever a computer demands information from another computer or the subnet, the request is routed through a cable to the hub. The hub will accept the request and forward it to the rest of the network.
- IP Address: Each device on the Internet has a unique identifier known as an IP (Internet Protocol) address. The IP address is 32 bits long. IPv6 addresses are 128 bits long.
- MAC Address: The MAC (Media Access Control) Address, also known as a physical address, is a unique identification for every host and is linked to the NIC (Network Interface Card). The standard length of a MAC address is 12 digits/6 bytes/48 bits.
- Port: A port is a rational channel that enables network users to transmit data to and from an app. Multiple applications can be run on each host. The port number on which each of these applications is running is used to identify it.
Uses Of Computer Networks
Below are some applications/uses of computer networks:
- Aids in the sharing of resources such as printers.
- Allows network participants to share specialized software and databases.
- Allows for quick and efficient information exchange from one workstation to another.
- Allows for the exchange of data and information over a network.
Summary:
- A computer network is a collection of two or more computer systems that are linked together.
- Computer networks allow you to connect multiple computers to transmit and receive information.
- Switches function as controllers, linking computers, printers, and other hardware components.
- Routers allow you to connect to different networks at the same time. It allows you to share a single network service while also cutting costs.
- Servers are computers that house shared applications, files, and the operating system.
- Clients are computer devices that connect to, use, and share network resources.
- A hub is a device that divides a network connection among several computers.
- Access points enable devices to connect to a wireless network without the use of cables.
- The Network Interface Card (NIC) transmits data while also monitoring data flow between the device and the network.
- A protocol is a set of rules that allows two organizations to communicate over a network.
- The IP address, DNS server, hostname, and host are all important computer network identifiers.
- ARP is an abbreviation for Address Resolution Protocol.
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