What is a Network?

 What is a Network? 

Ø  A network consists of 2 or more computers connected together, and they can communicate and share resources (e.g. information)

Ø  net·work: [net-wurk] – noun, a system containing any combination of computers, computer terminals, printers, audio or visual display devices, or telephones interconnected by telecommunication equipment or cables: used to transmit or receive information.

Ø  A collection of computing devices connected in order to communicate and share resources

Ø  Connections between computing devices can be physical using wires or cables or wireless using radio waves or infrared signals

Node (host)

Ø  Any device on a network

 (bandwidth)

Ø  The Data transfer rate and speed with which data is moved from one place to another on a network

Why Networking?    

Ø  Sharing information — i.e. data communication

Ø  Sharing hardware or software

Ø  Centralize administration and support

How many kinds of Networks?

Depending on one’s perspective, we can classify networks in different ways

1.      Based on transmission media: Wired (UTP, coaxial cables, fiber-optic cables) and Wireless

2.      Based on network size: LAN and WAN (and MAN)

3.      Based on management method: Peer-to-peer and Client/Server

4.      Based on topology (connectivity): Bus, Star, Ring …