Vocational Training Course-2008

6
HOW TO BUILD A COMPUTER
NETWORK

A Simple Network

A simple computer network may be developed from two or more computers. Each computer
will require a NIC card and a special cable known as a cross over cable. If the computers are
more than two then a specialized networking device known as hub or switch will be required
and all the computers in a network will be connected with the hub or switch. A simple
network is useful for home networking. Additionally, a network between the two computers
can be established by using a standard connection such as Rs-232 serial port on both
computers connecting with each other by a special cross lined null modem cable.

Practical Networks

Practical networks generally consist of more than two computers and require specialized
devices along with the NIC cards and these devices can be hubs, modems, switches, routers
and others.

Common Types of Networks:

Following is the list of the common computer networking types.

LAN (Local Area Network):

A network that is limited to a relatively small geographical area such as a room, building,
school network, ship, aircraft or a small office. LANs are also known as single location
networks. The large LANs may be divided into the smaller logical segments known as
workgroups.

CAN (Campus Area Network):

A network that connects two or more small LANs and is limited to a specific geographical
area, such as a school, college, university campus or a military base, is known as a CAN. A
CAN is generally confined to an area that is smaller than a Metropolitan area network.

MAN (Metropolitan Area Network):

AIR GWALIOR C.P.Harikumar-2008

Vocational Training Course-2008

A network that connects two or more LANs or CANs within a geographical area in a town,
city or a metropolitan area is known as a MAN. A number or communication devices are
required to create a MAN such as routers, switches, hubs and modems etc.

WAN (Wide Area Networks):

A WAN is a data communication network type that covers a very large geographical area.
WAN networks can be privately owned such as a multi national company network or
publically own such as internet. WAN technology generally functions at the lower three
layers of the OSI model. Internet is the best example of WAN. There are two main types of
WAN centralized and distributed WAN. The centralized WAN consists of a central computer
that is connected to the dumb terminal or other types of the communication devices, such as a
bank and post office networks. The distributed WAN consists of two or more computers that
are physically placed at different locations and may also include connections to dumb
terminal and other connecting devices.

Internetwork:

Two or more networks or connecting together using communication devices such as router.
Any interconnection between private, commercial, public or government network may also
be defined as internetwork. A specific internetwork consists of international interconnection
of government, public and private networks.

Intranet:

An internetwork or a network that is limited to a single organization and uses TCP/IP

protocol suite, HTTP, FTP and other protocols. Intranet can be categorized into LAN, MAN,
CAN and WAN. Intranet is a company’s private network that is only accessible to the
authorized users.

Extranet:

Extranet is a combination of intranet and some other trusted networks. For example a
company’s customer may be provided access to the intranet, creating an intranet and while at
the same time the customer may not be considered trusted with regards to the security of the
company. An extranet can also be categorized into CAN, MAN and WAN and by definition
extranet cannot be considered to consist of only a single LAN. An extranet must have at least
one connection the extra network. Intranet and extranet may also have the connections to the
internet. But only the authorized users can enter into the extranet internet plays a role only of
a portal.

VLAN

A virtual LAN commonly known as VLAN is a method of creating independent logical

networks within a physically network. Many Vlans can consist in a physical network. Vans
help in reducing the broadcast domain and aids in network administration by separating the
logical segments of a LAN. VLANS behaves as if connected to the same wire even though
they may actually be physically connected to the different segments of a LAN. VLANs can
be configured with software rather than hardware. One main advantage of the VLAN is that

AIR GWALIOR C.P.Harikumar-2008

Vocational Training Course-2008

when computers are physically moved from one location to another, they can stay on the
same VLAN without the reconfiguration of the hardware and software.

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AIR GWALIOR C.P.Harikumar-2008