Computer Networking Fundamentals
by Sue Jan
A computer network is a
collection of two or more computers with communication between them through a
medium. The communication medium can be through radio waves, wires, infrared,
optical fibers etc.
Computer network is an integral part of our daily lives, with the most important
reason being that of communication. The use of computer networking is to share
resources like fax machines, printers, modems, files etc., and its other uses
are database server, computer server, email, chat, internet etc. The computer to
which the resources are attached is called the server and the other computers
that access the resource are called clients. In peer-to-peer computer networks
there are no servers.
The sharing of fax machines, printers, and modems amongst many computers and
users reduce the operational cost. A database on a computer network is a very
important application as it stores and runs many important data and jobs. Emails
and chats can be used for instantaneous communication and sending of files on a
computer network.
The computer networks are classified, depending upon the size, as Local Area
Networks (LAN), Wide Area Networks (WAN), Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN) and
Personal Area Networks (PAN). The topology (topology is the way the computer
networks and network resources are connected) of the networking can be
classified as Bus Network, Ring Network and Star Network.
The networking hardware basically consists of wiring, network cards and a hub.
Computer network cards are required so that one computer can understand what the
other computer is "talking". Network cards have a unique MAC address to identify
computers on a computer network. Hubs connect all the computers in the network.
Hubs can also be used to connect to other hubs to increase the size of the
computer network. Two computers can be connected using Ethernet cards or phone
lines or power lines for communication, with hardware kits available at roughly
a cost of $100.
As the number of computers in an office or a home increases, so do the number of
cables, so wireless networking is a viable solution. In wireless networking
radio transreceivers or infrared signals are used to communicate between
computers and devices. Examples of wireless networking include Wi-fi and
Bluetooth technology, though there may be security issues involved in wireless
networking. However there definitely is a stronger preference towards wireless
networking nowadays among consumers.
Computer networks have added a new dimension to the 21st century. Today the
cyber world is much faster and wider than the real world. This has all been made
possible due to computer networks. Computer networks have revolutionized
business, communication, travel, research, defense, society and almost all human
endeavors. The evolution of computer networks has helped the technological
revolution take a big leap forward.
About the Author:
For more on
Computer Networking visit
Networking Solutions. Susan also enjoys writing at
business-and-finance-hub.info .
Source of article:
www.goarticles.com
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