Understanding Network Protocols
Topic 2: Understanding Network Protocols
I. What is a network?
A computer network, or simply a network, is a collection of computers and other hardware interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information.
LAN - Connects devices within a single office or home or among buildings in an office park. The key aspect here is that LAN is owned entirely by a single organization. - In simplest conception, it consists of a few desktop computers and a printer.
WAN - Consists of a conglomerate of LANs over widely separated locations. The key aspect here is that a WAN can be either publicly or privately owned.
What is an Internet? - Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite (often called TCP/IP, although not all applications use TCP) to serve billions of users worldwide. - It is a network of networks that consists of millions of private, public, academic, business, and government networks, of local to global scope, that are linked by a broad array of electronic, wireless and optical networking technologies.
Peer-to-peer networking - In peer-to-peer networking each computer has an equal status, each can use resources such as printers and scanners from other workstations and can commuicate with the other workstations without going through a server.
Advantages - Easy to set up and maintain - Inexpensive - Will continue to operate if one of the workstations or resources malfunctions Disadvantages - Because the files are stored locally on each workstation they can only be accessed by others when that workstation is turned on. - No central control over security or backups. Every resource and workstation may have a different password. - Only works well with a small number of computers
I. What is a network?
A computer network, or simply a network, is a collection of computers and other hardware interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information.
LAN - Connects devices within a single office or home or among buildings in an office park. The key aspect here is that LAN is owned entirely by a single organization. - In simplest conception, it consists of a few desktop computers and a printer.
WAN - Consists of a conglomerate of LANs over widely separated locations. The key aspect here is that a WAN can be either publicly or privately owned.
What is an Internet? - Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite (often called TCP/IP, although not all applications use TCP) to serve billions of users worldwide. - It is a network of networks that consists of millions of private, public, academic, business, and government networks, of local to global scope, that are linked by a broad array of electronic, wireless and optical networking technologies.
Peer-to-peer networking - In peer-to-peer networking each computer has an equal status, each can use resources such as printers and scanners from other workstations and can commuicate with the other workstations without going through a server.
Advantages - Easy to set up and maintain - Inexpensive - Will continue to operate if one of the workstations or resources malfunctions Disadvantages - Because the files are stored locally on each workstation they can only be accessed by others when that workstation is turned on. - No central control over security or backups. Every resource and workstation may have a different password. - Only works well with a small number of computers