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Learning objectives After learning this chapter the students will be able to: • • • • • • • • Define what a Computer Network is List the benefits of networking List different wired and wireless media for communication Identify different network devices Identify the type of network on the basis of area covered Describe various terms associated with computer networks. List various security threats to computer networks List the preventive and corrective measures against these threats
Have you ever worked on Internet? Have you ever used an ATM? Have you ever given the print command on a computer to get the printout on a printer attached to some other computer? Have you ever transferred songs from your computer to a cell phone or vice-versa? If the answer to any of these questions is YES, then you have experienced and utilized the services of a computer network. In this chapter you will study about various types of computer networks, their benefits, and what is required to create computer networks. Puzzle 1 Can you place 10 coins in such a way that they lie in 5 straight lines and on each line there are exactly 4 coins? Such situations are faced by the designers of computer networks. They have to think of various ways of interconnecting the computers so that the specific goals of network setup are achieved.
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COMPUTER NETWORKING
Networking - a brief overview A computer network is a collection of interconnected computers and other devices which are able to communicate with each other. In this context, the term interconnected means that there exists a path through which data can be transmitted from one computer/device to another. A computer network is a collection of interconnected computers and other devices which are able to communicate with each other and share hardware and software resources. Why do we have computer networks? Are there any advantages of networked computers over stand alone computers?