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Understanding Computer Networking

In this time and age most transactions and activities deal with computers. The computer networks have affected the way that people work, communicate and play dramatically over the years. Almost everybody now relies on the computer networks, even if others are not aware of it. The lifestyle changes have significant reliance on the technology. One of the most helpful sub-disciplines of computer science, telecommunications, and computer engineering and/or information technology is the computer networking. This discipline deals with the communication between devices or computer systems. Usually, specifications of computer networking are defined in a document known as RFC.

This practice of linking together computing devices has been proven to be efficient in sharing data among communities and workgroups. Thus, a network is made up of computer software and hardware. Simply put a computer network is a set of devices or computers connected to one another where exchange of data is possible.

Computer networks depend mostly on the theories and practical applications of these engineering and scientific disciplines. The Extranet, Internet and Intranet are the three different types of computer networks.

Here are some examples of network category based on the geographic area that a network could cover.

LAN – This is the local area network. This computer network is usually used in small networks in small areas. This kind of network provides service to fewer numbers of people. An example of this would have to be a network in a building.

MAN – This is the metropolitan area network. This computer network is used in medium-sized areas. Networks within a state or city usually apply the MAN.

WAN – This is the wide area network. This computer network is applied to larger geographic areas. This network kind is usually used by companies to interconnect their offices worldwide.

A wireless version of WANs and LANs are also used. These are known as WLANs and WWANs.

The devices or computers in a network can be away from each other by a few meters or even in greater distances depending on the kind of network. The Internet, in fact, is the biggest public WAN of the world.

These computer networks, on the other hand, have also different topologies. The topology of a certain computer network defines the way devices or computers are connected, logically and physically. From the standpoint of the data flow, structure or layout is represented. Thus, the network topology can be classified as physical and logical topologies. Some of the topologies that are commonly used are: Star, Bus, Linear, Tree, Mesh and Ring. These topologies are considered as the basic topologies. In the star topology, there is a centralized device where the entire data flows. While in the bus topology, a common medium is shared for communication of the connected devices or computers.

In a given computer network, a communication language is necessary for the devices to understand the data sent to one another. This communication language used is known as protocol. Thus another way to classify the computer network is by their supported protocols. Furthermore, computer networks usually implement more than one protocol to be able to support applications. The most widely used protocol is the TCP/IP. The Internet and home networks commonly implement this protocol.

This most common protocol used, the TCP/IP, can work in both wireless networks and wired networks. For the past decades, the use of Ethernet cables for networking has dominated the networking scenes in schools, homes and businesses. However, recently, wireless networking substitutes have come out as the leading technology for creating the latest computer networks.

The world has come this far with the significant help of computer networks along with the communication protocols that they utilize. The modern way of implementing computer networking. Moreover, has benefited the people by making things more convenient and efficient. If this technology would vanish from us, televisions, the electricity, the internet, landline and cellular phones and even the military forces would fail entirely. Disadvantages of course lurk around but the help and the convenience it provides is significant. The way it has integrated into the different areas of the people’s lives still has yet to be enhanced with the changing technology.

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