Computer Networking A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of computers and devices connected by communications channels that facilitates communications among users and allows users to share resources with other users. Networks may be classified according to a wide variety of characteristics. This article provides a general overview of types and categories and also presents the basic components of a network.

Types Of Networking L.A.N A local area network (LAN) is a network that connects computers and devices in a limited geographical area such as home, school, computer laboratory, office building, or closely positioned group of buildings. Each computer or device on the network is a node. Current wired LANs are most likely to be based on Ethernet technology L.A.N

Types Of Networking M.A.N A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a large computer network that usually spans a city or a large campus. A MAN usually interconnects a number of local area networks (LANs) using a high-capacity backbone technology, such as fiber-optical links, and provides up-link services to wide area networks and the Internet. M.A.N

Types Of Networking W.A.N A wide area network (WAN) is a computer network that covers a large geographic area such as a city, country, or spans even intercontinental distances, using a communications channel that combines many types of media such as telephone lines, cables, and air waves. A WAN often uses transmission facilities provided by common carriers, such as telephone companies. W.A.N

IP Address An Internet Protocol address (IP address) is a numerical label assigned to each device. Participating in a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two principal functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing. Its role has been characterized as follows: "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A route indicates how to get there."

Computer Server A server computer is a computer, or series of computers, that link other computers or electronic devices together. They often provide essential services across a network, either to private users inside a large organization or to public users via the internet. For example, when you enter a query in a search engine, the query is sent from your computer over the internet to the servers that store all the relevant web pages. The results are sent back by the server to your computer. Many servers have dedicated functionality such as web servers, print servers, and database servers. Enterprise servers are servers that are used in a business context.

Computer HOST Main or controlling computer connected to other computers or terminals to which it provides data or computing services via a network. It is similar to a server in a client-server architecture. In the modern peer to peer networking (such as networking over the Internet) every computer is a peer and also a host to every other computer connected to the network.

Computer Networking Devices

Computer Networking Devices Computer networking devices are units that mediate data in a computer network. Computer networking devices are also called network equipment, Intermediate Systems (IS) or Interworking Unit (IWU). Units which are the last receiver or generate data are called hosts or data terminal equipment.

Router A router is a device that forwards data packets between telecommunications networks, creating an overlay internetwork. A router is connected to two or more data lines from different networks. When data comes in on one of the lines, the router reads the address information in the packet to determine its ultimate destination. Then, using information in its routing table or routing policy, it directs the packet to the next network on its journey or drops the packet. A data packet is typically forwarded from one router to another through networks that constitute the internetwork until it gets to its destination node.

HUB Hub basically acts as signal splitter, it accepts signal through its input port and outputs it to the output ports. Some hubs help in regenerating the weak signals prior to sending them to the intended output lines, whereas some hubs help in synchronizing the data communication (in simple words, the hub not only provide the mean of interface within the network, it also provides some additional and useful features). Sometimes multiple hubs are interconnected in the network. Generally hubs are used more commonly where star topology is used.

Modem A modem is a device or program that enables a computer to transmit data over, for example, telephone or cable lines. Computer information is stored digitally, whereas information transmitted over telephone lines is transmitted in the form of analog waves.

Setting up your Wireless Network

Wireless Network You can use a wireless network to share Internet access, files, printers, and more. Or you can use it to surf the Web while you're sitting on your couch or in your yard. Plus, it's easier to install than you think.