7.2.8

• Basic elements of networks

  • Hardware
  • Software
  • Protocols
  • Connection media
• All data networks are comprised of these elements, and cannot function without them
• Server


  A software or hardware which responds and accepts requests made over a network
• Servers


  • Provide access to network resources to all the users of the network
  • There are many different kinds of servers, and one server can provide several functions
• Internet Connection/Backbone


  A very high-speed transmission line, that allows us to provide network facilities to relatively small but high-speed internet service providers all around the world
• Internet Backbones


  • They are the largest data connections on the internet
  • They require high speed bandwidth connections and high performance servers/routers
  • Primarily owned by commercial, educational, government and military entities because they provide a consistent way for ISPs to keep and maintain online information in a secure manner
• Router


  A piece of network hardware that connects a local network to the internet
• Network Switch


  A network switch facilitates the sharing of resources by connecting together all the devices in a network
• Clients


  Computers that access and use the network and shared network resources
• Clients


  • They are basically customers of the network, as they request and receive services from the servers
  • It is typical for a client to be a personal computer that the users also use for their own non-network applications
• Transition media


  Facility used to interconnect computers in a network, such as twisted pair wire, coaxial cable, and optical fiber cable