Computer Studies Network

• The main components of a computer network include the physical devices (computers), communication links (cables or wireless connections), and networking protocols (rules governing how data is transmitted).
• Networking allows users to share resources such as printers, files, and software applications.
• A network is a group of computers that are connected to one another.
• Networking hardware includes routers, switches, hubs, modems, firewalls, and access points.
• Routers are used to connect networks together and forward packets between different networks.
• Switches allow multiple computers on a single LAN to communicate with one another by creating separate collision domains.
• A local area network (LAN) connects computers within a single building or campus.
• Metropolitan Area Network (MAN): Similar to WAN but covers smaller geographical areas like cities or towns.
• Wide Area Network (WAN): A type of network that spans over large geographic areas, connecting multiple LANs together using high-speed transmission lines like fiber optic cables.
• There are two types of computer networks - local area networks (LAN) and wide area networks (WAN).
• Local Area Network (LAN): A LAN connects computers within a small geographic location, such as an office building or school campus.
• Bus Topology - All cables connect to a central cable called a backbone, which can cause congestion if too many devices try to transmit at once.
• Computer networks allow multiple users to access shared resources like printers, files, and software applications.
• Metropolitan Area Network (MAN): A MAN is a computer network designed to cover an entire city or metropolitan area.
• Wide Area Network (WAN): A WAN is a computer network that covers a large geographic area, connecting devices across cities, countries, or even continents.
• The Internet is the largest WAN, consisting of thousands of interconnected computer networks worldwide.
• Firewalls protect a private network from unauthorized access by blocking incoming traffic based on predefined rules.
• Personal Area Network (PAN): A small-scale wireless network connecting personal devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other peripherals.
• The Internet is the largest example of a WAN, allowing communication across the globe through various protocols including TCP/IP.
• Star Topology - Each device is connected directly to the hub/switch, making it easy to add new devices but vulnerable to failure if the hub/switch fails.
• Intranet: An intranet is a private network that uses internet technology to share resources among employees within an organization.
• Ring Topology - Devices are connected in a ring shape with data transmitted around the loop, providing good performance but being difficult to expand without disrupting other connections.
• Mesh Topology - Every device has its own connection to every other device, ensuring reliability but requiring more cabling and equipment.