Computers have secret handshakes
Lying in tandem with each other, you will find computer networks everywhere, doing surreptitious business, high on whatever social drug it is that they indulge in — or sober. Most likely sober, in fact. Perhaps computers are more straightforward than we are. You will not find them clinging to the corners of tight gallery spaces, over-drinking the version of alcohol they detest, wearing their most alternative clothes while awaiting preposterous conversation.
“What do you do?”
“I do nothing. I do everything. Amazing things in fact, but it’s all in my head I swear”
“Where is your head?”
“Uh.. here and there”
Tight conversations that allow either space or time for boring aphorisms. They’re hardly ever stuck in a quandary about who to network with or why or what of.. rejection? Public rejection — the worst kind. *shudders*
Theirs is of this sort:
Computer one: *makes request*
Computer two: what do you want?
Computer one: to connect with you
Computer two: let’s.
Hence, computer networks and networking. A secret handshake — not to them but to us — because we do not understand (to understand is to do) their way.
A definition: A bunch of computers connected to each other, is a computer network. Per this definition, the word ‘computers’ is non-discriminatory. Per this definition, every gadget, device, is a computer: the printer, the phone, the tablet, the PC,
By networking, computers just want to spread love (read: data and information) with each other. They’re not trying to climb up a hypothetical social ladder or “meet more people.” They really just want to transmit data and information that would make our lives better (it’s always about us, isn’t it?) Yeah, so computers are networking to share our documents, and our game of throne videos, and our new apple music, and our netflix things, and to share screenshots of what “the guy we’re talking to” said about some other girl on twitter to our best friends
me: wow, all this for us?
my computer: yes all this for you, you selfish bastard
me: *gasp*
The two major things that make up a computer network are the computers, and the mode of data transmission. There are different ways that data and information can be transmitted from computer to computer in a computer network. These computer connections can be done via cabling. Or through radio waves. Here are various means through which computers can be connected:
- copper wires
- infrared rays
- fibre optics
- microwaves
- Ethernet cables
The biggest computer network of all is THE INTERNET. The internet is the thing that allows all the computers in the world communicate with each other. The world wide web is the system of web pages that makes it possible for computers to transmit data to each other. Subtle difference here: The internet is the thing in itself. The world wide web is the means through which the Internet exists. Just thought I should let y’all know that piece of enlightenment.
The Internet is the network of all networks.
Stay woke.
There are different ways that we can categorize computer networks. But in this post, I’m going to categorize based on reach or size. Under this category, there are three major classifications. These include:
- LAN — Local Area Network
- MAN — Metropolis Area Network
- WAN — Wide Area Network
LAN — Local Area Network is mostly used when all computers are in the same building. It is the smallest type of computer network. It could span a single room, building or group of buildings. With LAN, all the computers and devices in our home can be connected with the same server. They can be connected by cables or via wireless connections.
MAN — The Metropolitan Area Network is bigger than the LAN, and they often span large cities. All the computers in the buildings of a city could be connected by a Metropolitan Area Network. This network uses high-speed fibre optics and wi-fi.
WAN — Wide Area Network is combination of multiple Local Area Networks or Metropolitan Area Networks. Any network that spans less than 30 miles is a MAN and any network that spans more than 30 miles is a WAN. The biggest WAN is the internet.
Supplement this post with “Good News for Young Strivers: Networking Is Overrated” by Adam Grant. Just out here looking out for my fellow introverts. Thank me later! https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/24/opinion/sunday/networking-connections-business.html
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