NETWORK

A network consists of two or more computers that are linked in order to Networking Devices
share resources (such as printers and CD-ROMs), exchange files, or allow
Consist of, but are not limited to non-local printers, workstations,
electronic communications. The computers on a network may be linked
servers, webcams, data loggers, instruments, dial-in devices, and, in
through cables, telephone lines, radio waves, satellites, or infrared light
general anything that requires an Ethernet connection. These devices
beams. There are three basic types of networks which includes the
are supported on a best-effort basis limited by the staffing and
following:
equipment level available

 Local Area Network (LAN) Hub is a small, simple, inexpensive device that joins multiple computers
 Wide Area Network (WAN) together. Many network hubs available today
Local Area Network support the Ethernet standard. Other types
including USB hubs also exist, but Ethernet is the
A Local Area Network (LAN) is a network that is confined to a relatively
type traditionally used in home networking.
small area. It is generally limited to a geographic area such as a writing
lab, school, or building. Rarely are LAN computers more than a mile
apart. In a typical LAN configuration, one computer is designated as the Ethernet switch is a device that gathers the signals from devices that are
file server. It stores all of the software that controls the network, as well connected to it, and then regenerates a
as the software that can be shared by the computers attached to the new copy of each signal.
network. Computers connected to the file server are called
workstations. The workstations can be less powerful than the file server,
and they may have additional software on their hard drives. On most
LANs, cables are used to connect the network interface cards in each Bridge is a
computer. device filters data traffic at a network
boundary. Bridges reduce the amount of
Wide Area Network
traffic on a LAN by dividing it into two
Wide Area Networks (WANs) connect larger geographic areas, such as segments.
Florida, the United States, or the world. Dedicated transoceanic cabling
or satellite uplinks may be used to connect this type of network.
Routers are small physical devices that join multiple networks together. programs, or a combination of the two. Network firewalls guard an
internal computer network (home, school, business intranet) against
malicious access from the outside. Network firewalls may also be
Network gateway is an internetworking system capable of joining configured to limit access to the outside from internal users.
together two networks that use different base
protocols. A network gateway can be implemented
completely in software, completely in hardware, or
as a combination of both.

Modem is a contraction of the terms modulator and

demodulator. Modems perform a simple
function: They translate digital signals from a
computer into analog signals that can travel
across conventional phone lines. The modem
modulates the signal at the sending end and
demodulates at the receiving end.
Network interface is a device that connects a client computer, server,
printer or other component to your network. Most often, a network
interface consists of a small electronic circuit
board that is inserted into a slot inside a computer
or printer. Alternatively, some computers,
printers, or other services include network
interfaces as part of their main circuit boards
(motherboards).
Network firewall protects a computer
network from unauthorized access. Network
firewalls may be hardware devices, software