Communication is imperative for both professional and personal activities. This communication can be achieved using computer networks. Therefore, a strong understanding of computer networks is fundamental to proceed in today’s tech-oriented world. A computer network is an interconnection between computers that enables the sharing of data and resources among them.
Computing devices are connected through wired or wireless communication links. Networking has become a building block of effective communication in the IT sector. We’ll take you through the fundamentals of computer networking, its protocols, and its components so you can better use it to drive your personal and professional operations.
What is Computer Networking?
Computer networking is the process in which interconnected computing devices share resources and exchange data. These interconnected devices use “communication protocols” to share information, either by a wired network, such as fiber optic cables, or by the use of wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi.
Note that computer networks can create security vulnerabilities. Diverse and complex computer networks find it difficult to manage their traffic flow. Building a network won’t be enough; you must also know how to secure it. NordLayer provides a multi-layer encrypted tunnel through which you can securely share your resources and keep your online traffic in control.
The Computer Networking Process
Computers connected to the network are called nodes which are identified by their IP address. These nodes can comprise personal computers, servers, networking hardware, or general hosts. In networking, computers make sure of hardware and software to establish a network. Hardware includes all those devices that perform a function necessary for the network.
It includes hubs, modems, switches, firewalls, and wireless access points. The software comprises the programs that run on the nodes, such as an operating system that makes the network function.
Every part of the computer network is integral as it helps in the proper functioning of the network. If you fail to design the network accurately, you won’t be able to achieve desired outcomes. For instance, if you add too many computers to the network, your network might not handle such a load, and the users can’t communicate properly.
Networking aims to provide you with reliable communication and prevent unwanted access to your network. Computer networks achieve this by using different protocols, routing tables, and addresses. Network designers come across different choices while building a network, such as:
Network Protocols
A computer network can utilize two data transmission protocols; either Transmission Control Protocol (TCP/IP) or User Datagram Protocol (UDP). TCP/IP is the most widely used protocol as it ensures reliable data transmission and has an in-built data-recovery system. On the other hand, UDP is faster than TCP/IP in data transmission but is unreliable and supports minimal error checking. If you want to design or use protocol for broadcasting purposes, you are only left with the UDP option, as TDP/IP does not support broadcasting tasks.
Hubs & Switches
Another decision you come across is choosing hubs or switches as a connection point between devices in a network. They serve the same purpose but differ in how they respond after receiving a data packet. Hubs quickly send data packets to all connected computers without any discrimination.
On the other hand, switches carefully determine which devices are intended to receive the data, then only to the selected devices. If the data benefits all the devices in the system, then the hub is a great option. However, if the information is sensitive and cannot be delivered indiscriminately, you should consider switching.
Computer Network Types
As users have varying networking needs, there are various computer network types to accommodate their needs. Here are the most widely used types of computer networking;
Local Area Networks (LAN)
This computer networking type allows data exchange within a limited geographical area. Ethernet, FDDI, Token Ring, and Fiber Channels are the most commonly used LAN types. LAN distribution suits small offices, schools, hospitals, etc. LAN offers resource sharing, data security, and data centralization facility.
Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN)
WLAN is a local area network that is connected without any cable connection. WLAN consists of a small group of computers that are connected through radio waves. This makes it easier to operate as it does not involve physical wiring. However, wireless LAN is less secure than wired LAN.
Wide Area Networks (WAN)
As the name indicates, WAN has wide area access, such as states, cities, and even countries. The Internet is the largest WAN that transfers data to billions of computers via TCP/IP protocol. While LAN offers network access to small proximity with greater speed, WAN offers secure and dependable long-distance communication.
Metro political Area Network (MAN)
MAN is a bigger version of LAN as it has a large coverage area. It generally connects different LANs to provide a large topographic area. It can use ATM, FDDI, Ethernet, and token-ring. Citizens mostly use this type of network to connect to various organizations.
Personal Area Networks (PAN)
PAN is smaller than LAN. It allows the connection of two or more devices, such as mobile phones, laptops, cameras, printers, PDAs, fax machines, and scanners. PAN facilitates the users as you can connect PDA to your computer so that you do not carry the burden of both devices. Moreover, you can share your files among multiple computers without downloading the supporting software on each one.
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
VPN uses public wires to connect to a private network. VPN uses several systems to create a network using the internet for transmitting data. Moreover, these systems use encryption and other security strategies to allow only authorized access.
All employees have access to the printer or group messaging system in an office setting. The computing device that allows this sharing of resources is the LAN. A city government manages the surveillance cameras of the whole city using the MAN. Along the same line, telephonic lines are spread across the country via WAN. Therefore, computer networking plays a huge part in our daily lives.
Final Words:
A computer network is an interconnection among multiple computers to exchange data and resources using different protocols and router tables. With the evolution of technology, networking has also exhibited a slow transition from wired to wireless network connections. Moreover, there are many types of computer networks to accommodate your needs. Building a computer network and securing it via firewalls and encryptions will take you one step closer to becoming a network PRO!