Network
Network is a process of sharing data and shared resources between two or more connected Computers. The shared resources can include Printer, Fax Modem, Hard Disk, CD/DVD ROM, Database and the data files. A Network can be divided into a small or LAN (Local Area Network, a Networking between Computers in a building of a office (LAN), medium sized Network (MAN), a Network between two offices in a city and Wide Network (WAN) a Computer between the Networks, one is locally and the other can be thousands of miles away in any other country of the world.
WAN connectivity is done by a Network device known as “Router”. The internet is the world’s largest WAN Network, where millions of Computers from all over the globe and connected with each other.
The Network connectivity can be wired or wireless and TCP/IP Protocol can work both types of Network. A Network can be categorized in different ways, depends on the geographical area.
There are two main types of the Network Client-Server & Peer to Peer. In the Client Server Networking, a Computer plays a major role known as Server, where the files, data in the form of Web Pages, docs or spread sheet files, video, database & resources are placed. All the other Computers in the Client/Server Network are called Clients and they get the data from the Server Computer. In the Peer-to-Peer Network all the Computers play the same role and no Computers act as a Centralized Server. In the major businesses around the world Client-Server Network model is in major use.
A Network Topology defines the structure, design or layout of a Network. There are different topologies like Bus, Ring, Star, Mesh, Hybrid & so on. The star Topology is most commonly used Network Topology.
In the Network, a common communication language is used by the Computers and the Network devices and this language is known as Protocols. The most commonly used and popular Protocols on the internet and in the home and other Network is called TCP/IP. TCP/IP is not a single Protocol but it is a suite of several Protocols. There are different kinds of protocols used in Networks such as POP3 protocols, FTP Protocols & so on.
