Week 4

Basic Networking Concepts

Computer network is simply a group of interconnected computers. For example, the internet, ATM, school network, e-banking, home network, etc. The major component of a computer network is communication media, interconnecting devices, computers, networking software and application. Every computer network functions when having these three concept; topology (the physical layout of the network), protocol (the rules in data communication) and architecture (how the hardware and software are integrated to form a networking). Bandwidth, type of signal and order of bits are the data transmission characteristics. Bandwidth is the rate at which the data can be transmitted measured in Bits/sec. Types of signal are the analog signal and digital signal. While, order of bits are the serial transmission and parallel transmission.

Networking Communication Mediums

Computers share access to common network medium that carries signals from one computer to another. It may be physical or wireless. The example for physical media are twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable and ISDN line. While the example for wireless media are microwave system, satellite system, cellular technology and infrared technology.

Types of Network

There are three types of network ; LAN, MAN, and WAN. LAN stand for Local Area Network. It is a network of computer that are in the same physical location, or that spans a small area such as a building or an office. Two types of LAN are Intranet and Extranet. MAN stand for Metropolitan Area Network. It is a network of computer that usually spans a city or a large campus. A MAN usually interconnects a number of LANs. WAN stand for Wide Area Network. It is a network that spans a wide geographical area. The example of WAN are Ethernet and Aparnet.