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How a
Network Works
A
network is a group of computers, printers, and other devices that are connected
together with cables. Information travels over the cables, allowing network
users to exchange documents & data with each other, print to the same
printers, and generally share any hardware or software that is connected to the
network. Each computer, printer, or other peripheral device that is connected to
the network is called a node.
Networks can have tens, thousands, or even millions of nodes.
Like
most things, networks are assembled according to certain rules. Cabling, for
example, has to be a certain length, since each cabling strand can only support a
certain amount of network traffic, etc. The rules that govern how a network is
set up is called its topology.
The most popular topology in use today is called
Ethernet,
which consists of computers and peripherals cabled together in specific ways.
Ethernet is relatively inexpensive, easy to set up and use, and very fast.
Ethernet
networks are categorized by how fast they can move information. Speed is
expressed in megabits per second
(or Mbps), where one "bit" is equal to 1/8th of a character,
letter, or number. Ethernet operates at 100Mbps, making it ideal for desktop video, multimedia, and other
speed-hungry applications.
Network
Adapters
A
network computer is connected to the network cabling with a
network
interface card, (also called a "NIC",
or network adapter). Notebooks use special
network adapters to connect to the network via a card-sized
PCMCIA
expansion slot.
Switches
The last
piece of the networking puzzle is called a
Switch.
Older networks used something called a hub.
A switch is a box that is used to gather groups of PCs together at a central
location with network cabling. If you are connecting more than two computers
together, you will need a Switch to act as sort of a junction box. Larger networks
may use several switches connecting several groups of computers together which
allows you to build networks of tens, hundreds, or thousands of nodes.
Networking terms
- Topology : The
geometric arrangement of a computer system. Common topologies include a bus,
star, and
ring.
- Protocol : The
protocol defines a common set of rules and signals that computers on the
network use to communicate. One of the most popular protocols for LANs is
called Ethernet.
Another popular LAN protocol for
PCs is the IBM
token-ring
network .
- Architecture :
Networks can be broadly classified as using either a
peer-to-peer or
client/server architecture.
- Nodes : Computers on a network are sometimes called
nodes. Computers
and devices that
allocate resources
for a network are called
servers.
- Also see links at the top of this page
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