What is Computer Networking?

Computer networking is the practice of interfacing two or more computer peripherals to share data. Computer networks are built with a combination of hardware & software.

Computer Network Classification and Area Networks

Computer networks can be classified in many different types. An approach defines the type of network according to the geographic area it covers. Local area networks (LAN), for example, generally cover a single home, school or small office building, while wide area networks (WAN) reach cities, states or even the entire world. Internet is the public WAN in the world.

Network Design

Computer networks also differ in their design approach. The two basic forms of network design are called client-server and point-to-point. Client-server networks have centralized server computers that store email, web pages, files and applications that are accessed by client computers and other client devices. In a point-to-point network, on the contrary, all devices tend to support the same functions. Client-server networks are common in business and point-to-point networks are common in homes.

A network topology defines the design or structure of the network from the point of view of the data flow. In bus networks, for example, all computers share and communicate through a common conduit, while in a star network, data flows through a centralized device. Common types of network topologies include bus, star, ring, & mesh.

Network Protocols

The communication languages used by computer peripherals are called network protocols. Another way to classify computer networks is to use all the protocols they support. Networks usually implement multiple protocols and each network supports specific applications. Popular protocols include TCP / IP, which is commonly found on the Internet and home networks.

Computer Network Hardware and Software

Special purpose communication devices, including network routers, access points, and network cables, physically bond a network. Network operating systems and other software applications generate network traffic and allow users to do useful things.

Home Computer Networking

While other types of networks are built and maintained by engineers, home networks belong to owners who often have little or no technical knowledge. Various manufacturers produce broadband router hardware designed to simplify the home network configuration. A home router allows devices in different rooms to efficiently share a broadband Internet connection, helps family members share files & printers on the network, and improves overall network security.

The capacity of home networks has increased with each generation of new technology. Years ago, people usually set up a home network to connect a few computers, share documents, and perhaps a printer. It is now common for households to network game consoles, digital video recorders and smartphones to stream video and audio. Home automation systems have also been around for many years, but their popularity has increased recently with the practical systems that control lighting, digital thermostats and appliances.

Business Computer Networks

Small and home office environments (SOHO) use technology similar to home networks. Organizations often have additional communications, data storage, and security requirements that require network expansion in different ways, especially as businesses grow.

While a home network generally functions as a LAN, a business network tends to contain multiple LANs. Companies with buildings in multiple locations use wide area networks to connect these branches. Although it is also available and used by some homes, voice over IP communication, network storage and backup technologies are prevalent in companies. Larger companies also maintain internal websites, called intranets, to help with employee business communication.

Networking and the Internet

The popularity of computer networks increased dramatically with the creation of the World Wide Web (WWW) in the 1990s. Public websites, peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing systems, and many other services run on Internet servers around the world. world.

Wired vs Wireless Computer Networking

Many of the same protocols, such as TCP / IP, work on wired and wireless networks. Ethernet cable networks have predominated in businesses, schools and homes for several decades. Wi-Fi has emerged as the preferred option for building new computer networks, in part to support smartphones and other wireless devices that triggered the emergence of mobile networks.

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