Computer networking is 1 of the fastest-growing fields today. If you are a beginner and plan to enter this domain, then it tin offer you extensive career opportunities. A strong understanding of networking concepts can help showcase your cognition and make you a strong candidate for networking roles. In this weblog on networking basics , we will cover the latest concepts and technologies to give yous a solid foundation in networking.

Tabular array of Contents

  • What is a Computer Network?
  • Types of Calculator Networks
  • What is Network Topology?
  • What is a Network Device?
  • Networking Basics: Important Terms and Concepts
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions

Permit's go started with understanding networking basics.

What is a Computer Network?

A computer network refers to a set of devices (or hosts) that are interconnected to exchange information (data) and resources.

In simple terms, a calculator network is a collection of multiple computer systems linked together. A network connexion tin exist wired (using cable) or wireless. We can establish a reckoner network using hardware (cables, routers, switches, admission points, etc.) and software (operating systems or business applications).

The term networking refers to connecting computers so that they can share files, applications, printers, and other reckoner-related resources.

Learn more about estimator networking, read our post – What is Networking?

Types of Computer Networks

Calculator networks are divided into different categories:

i. Based on the communication medium

  • Wired Network: Information technology uses cables to connect devices, such as laptops or desktop PCs, to the Cyberspace or another network. The unlike types of cables used in computer networks include coaxial, fiber optic, Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP), Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) cable, etc.
  • Wireless Network: Estimator networks that are not connected by any kind of cables are called wireless networks. These networks found use Radio Frequency (RF) connections between nodes in the network. Examples include laptops with WLAN cards and TV remotes.
    • There are three types of deployment to create a wireless network, namely centralized deployment, converged deployment, and cloud-based deployment.

2. Based on Geographical Area

  • Local Surface area Network (LAN): It is a set of computers connected in a small geographical or concrete area such as a building, office, or college. LANs are usually privately owned and managed.
  • Metropolitan Area Network (Homo): It is a larger version of LAN that spans over a bigger geographical area such every bit a boondocks or a city. Information technology can be used for connecting diverse offices of the same organization that are spread over a city.
  • Wide Area Network (WAN): WAN is the largest network that spans countries, continents, or the globe. For example, the Internet is the largest WAN that connects billions of computers worldwide.
  • Virtual Individual Network (VPN): It is a secure, point-to-point connexion between two network endpoints. It extends a private network beyond a public network, assuasive users to exchange information across shared or public networks equally if their systems were directly connected to the private network.
    • A VPN creates an encrypted channel that keeps identity, credentials, and information exchanged inaccessible to hackers.

3. Based on the Type of Architecture

  • Peer-to-Peer network: In this network, all the computers are connected with similar capabilities and configurations. It is typically used for small environments that have up to 10 computers.

This network does non have a dedicated central server. Special privileges are provided to each computer for sharing the resources. However, this tin can result in problems if the computer with the resource is down.

  • Client/Server Network: In this network, each figurer or process is either a client or a server. End users (clients) can access the resources from a central computer known every bit the server. All the clients in this network communicate with each other through a server. The server manages all the resources such equally files, directories, printers, network traffic, etc.
  • Hybrid Networks: This network is a combination of client-server and peer-to-peer compages. For example, Torrent.

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What is Network Topology?

Network topology refers to the arrangement of the links and nodes of a network. A node is a device that can send, receive, store, or forward data while a link connects nodes. A link tin can be cabled or wireless.

Computer Network Topology

Some of the mutual network topologies include:

  • Passenger vehicle Topology: Each device is straight connected to the principal cable. Data transmits from one end to another in a single direction.
  • Ring Topology: Nodes are continued in a loop (band construction). Every device has exactly two neighbors. it forms a ring connecting devices with its exactly 2 neighboring devices.
  • Star Topology: Every device is connected to a unmarried, key hub through a cablevision. The hub is the central node. All other nodes are connected to the central node.
  • Mesh Topology: In a mesh network, every device is connected to another device through a particular aqueduct.
  • Tree Topology: It is a variation of star topology. It has a parent-kid hierarchical menstruation of data in which star networks are interconnected through bus networks.
  • Fully-connected Topology: There is a directly path between any 2 nodes.

Also Read: What is the Difference Between LAN and WAN?

What is a Network Device?

Various devices (mediums) help in the communication betwixt unlike hardware used in the computer network. These mediums are called network devices or networking hardware. Some ordinarily used network devices include:

Router

A router is a switching device for networks that sends the information contained in data packets between networks. It analyzes information within the packets to identify the best way for the information to achieve the destination.

Switches

A switch connects devices within a network. It also forrard information packets between those devices. A switch sends data to the single device it is intended for (it could be another switch, a router, or a user'southward figurer) and not to networks of multiple devices.

The term switching refers to how information is transferred betwixt devices in a network. There are 3 types of switching:

  • Circuit switching
  • Package switching
  • Message switching

Hub

It is a physical layer networking device that connects multiple devices in a network. It is typically used to connect computers in a LAN. A hub has multiple ports in it.

Bridge

A bridge helps connect multiple hosts or network segments. Information technology stores and forwards frames between the different segments that the bridge connects. A bridge works only at the concrete and information link layers of the OSI model.

Modem (modulator-demodulator)

A modem transmits digital signals over analog telephone lines. It converts digital signals into analog signals of different frequencies and transmits them to a modem at the receiving location. The modem at the receiving end performs the reverse part and sends a digital output to the device connected to the modem.

Must Read: Most Asked Networking Interview Questions and Answers

Networking Basics: Important Terms and Concepts

Here are some other important common terms and concepts in computer networking:

IP (Internet Protocol) Address

Information technology is a unique number assigned to each device connected to a network. This unique address identifies a device on the internet or a local network. Every IP address holds information related to the device's host network and the location of the device on the host network. Information technology is a unique identifier that enables devices to send or receive information packets across the internet.

Nodes

A node refers to any physical device or a connection betoken inside a network that can transport, receive, create, or store data. It is a network device that can recognize, process, and transmit information to any other network node. For instance -computers, printers, modems, and switches.

OSI

OSI or Open up Systems Interconnection is a model that specifies the different layers that computer systems utilise to communicate over a network. This reference model describes standards for communications protocols and the functionalities of each layer.

Protocol

It is a set of rules that ascertain how data is transmitted between different devices in the same network. Protocols enable connected devices to communicate with each other, irrespective of any departure in their pattern or internal processes. Some mutual examples of protocols are IP, TCP, UDP, and FTP.

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Conclusion

In this networking nuts guide, we learned what is networking and important terms, technologies, and concepts used in networking. Nosotros promise you constitute this commodity on networking basics informative. To know more about starting a career in networking, read our blog – How to Learn Networking from Scratch.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the advantages of a wireless network?

Ans. The advantages of wireless networks are:

  • They are easier to set up
  • Exercise non require cables
  • Benign for both home and public networks
  • Wider reach than wired networks

Q2. What are the disadvantages of a wireless network?

Ans. The disadvantages of wireless networks are:

  • They are slower than wired networks
  • Less secure
  • Limited bandwidth
  • High installation price

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