Network
- A network is a group of two or more devices that can communicate OR a network is comprised of a number of different computer systems connected by physical and/or wireless connections.
- The scale can range from a single PC sharing out basic peripherals to massive data centers located around the World, to the Internet itself. Regardless of scope, all networks allow computers and/or individuals to share information and resources.
- A
collection of computers, servers, mainframes, network devices,
peripherals, or other devices connected to one another allowing for data
to be shared and used. A great example of a network is the Internet,
connecting millions of people all over the world together.
- Below
is an example image of what a home network or small office network may
look like. As you can see in the image, this network is setup to enable
all computers and other network devices with network abilities, such as
the Tivo unit, to communicate with each other, as well as share the
single Internet connection.
- A
computer network is a set of connected computers. Computers on a
network are called nodes. The connection between computers can be done
via cabling, most commonly the Ethernet cable, or wirelessly through
radio waves. Connected computers can share resources like access to the
Internet, printers, file servers, and others. A network is a
multipurpose connection, which allows a single computer to do more.
-
Computer
networks can be broken down historically into topologies. A topology is
a technique of connecting computers. The most common topology today is a
collapsed ring. This is due to the success of a network protocol called
the Ethernet.
- This protocol, or a network language, supports the Internet, Local Area Networks, and Wide Area Networks.
Start Topology
- A
start topology is a design of a network where a central node extends a
cable to each computer on the network. On a start network, computers are
connected independently to the center of the network. If a cable is
broken, the other computers can operate without problems. A start
topology requires a lot of cabling.
Bus Topology
- A
bus topology is another type of design, where a single cable connects
all computers. The information intended for the last node on the network
must run through each connected computer. If a cable is broken, all
computers connected down the line cannot reach the network. The benefit
of a bus topology is a minimal use of cabling.
Ring Topology
