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WEEK-12 CONCEPTS OF NETWORKING. DEFINTION & APPLICATIONS. DEFINTION: A computer network is defined as the interconnection of two or more computers. It is done to enable the computers to communicate and share available resources. APPLICATIONS: Sharing of resources such as printers
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DEFINTION & APPLICATIONS • DEFINTION: A computer network is defined as the interconnection of two or more computers. It is done to enable the computers to communicate and share available resources. • APPLICATIONS: • Sharing of resources such as printers • Sharing of expensive software's and database • Communication from one computer to another computer • Exchange of data and information among users via network • Sharing of information over geographically wide areas.
COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER NETWORK • Two or more computers • Cables as links between the computers • A network interfacing card(NIC) on each computer • Switches • Software called operating system(OS)
SHARING RESOURCES • Types of resources are: • Hardware: A network allows users to share many hardware devices such as printers , modems, fax machines, CD ROM, players, etc. • Software: sharing software resources reduces the cost of software installation, saves space on hard disk.
OTHER BENEFITS OF COMPUTER NETWORK • Increased speed • Reduced cost • Improved security • Centralized software managements • Electronic mail • Flexible access
DISDAVATAGES OF NETWORKS • High cost of installation • Requires time for administration • Failure of server • Cable faults
LOCAL AREA NETWORK(LAN) • LAN is a network which is designed to operate over a small physical area such as an office, factory. • LAN’s are easy to design and troubleshoot • Exchange of information and sharing of resources becomes easy because of LAN. • In LAN all machines are connected to a single cable. • Different types of topologies such as star, tree, bus, ring, etc Can be used • It is usually a privately owned network.
WIDE AREA NETWORK(WAN) • When the computers to be connected to each other are at widely separated locations, A wide area network(WAN) is installed. • The communication between different users of WAN is established using leased telephone lines, satellite links. • It is cheaper and more efficient to use the phone network for the link. • Most WAN networks are used to transfer large blocks of data between its users.
METROPOLITAN AREA NETWORK(MAN) • It is in between LAN & WAN technology that covers the entire city. • It uses similar technology as LAN. • It can be a single network such as cable TV network, or a measure of connecting a number of LAN’s o a large network so that resources can be shared LAN to LAN as well as device to device.
Hubs • Hubs are one of the most basic pieces of networking equipment available. • Physically a hub is a box with a number of RJ45 ports that allows you to connect several networking devices together using twisted pair (CAT 5) network cables.
Hubs • Hubs have no intelligence, meaning they cannot be programmed or have a memory of devices that are plugged into its ports. • They are quite suitable for small networks but tend to perform poorly on large networks.
Switches • Switches look nearly identical to hubs, but a switch generally contains more ‘intelligence’ than a hub. • Unlike hubs, network switches are capable of inspecting the data packets as they are received, determining the source and destination device of that packet, and forwarding that packet appropriately.
Switches • By delivering messages only to the connected device that it was intended for, network switches conserve network bandwidth and offer generally better performance than hubs. • Most switches are active: that is, they electrically amplify the signal as it moves from one device to another.
Routers • Routers translate information from one network to another; it is similar to a bridge with extra intelligence. • Routers select the best path to route a message, based on the destination address and origin. • The router can direct traffic to prevent head-on collisions, and is smart enough to know when to direct traffic along back roads and shortcuts.