A computer network, often simply referred to as a

network, is a collection of computers and devices

connected by communications channels that facilitates
communications among users and allows users to share
resources with other users. Networks may be classified
according to a wide variety of characteristics. This article
provides a general overview of types and categories and
also presents the basic components of a network.
 Types Of Networking
 A local area network (LAN) is a network that connects computers
and devices in a limited geographical area such as home, school,
computer laboratory, office building, or closely positioned group
of buildings. Each computer or device on the network is a node.
Current wired LANs are most likely to be based on Ethernet
technology

L.A.N
 TYPES OF NETWORKING
 A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a large
computer network that usually spans a city or a large
campus. A MAN usually interconnects a number of local
area networks (LANs) using a high-capacity backbone
technology, such as fiber-optical links, and provides
up-link services to wide area networks and the
Internet.

M.A.N
 TYPES OF NETWORKING
 A wide area network (WAN) is a computer network that covers a
large geographic area such as a city, country, or spans even
intercontinental distances, using a communications channel that
combines many types of media such as telephone lines, cables, and
air waves. A WAN often uses transmission facilities provided by
common carriers, such as telephone companies.

W.A.N
IP Address

 An Internet Protocol address (IP address) is a numerical label

assigned to each device. Participating in a computer network that
uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves
two principal functions: host or network
interface identification and location addressing. Its role has been
characterized as follows: "A name indicates what we seek. An
address indicates where it is. A route indicates how to get there."
Computer Server

 A server computer is a computer, or series of computers, that

link other computers or electronic devices together. They often
provide essential services across a network, either to private
users inside a large organization or to public users via
the internet. For example, when you enter a query in a search
engine, the query is sent from your computer over the internet
to the servers that store all the relevant web pages. The
results are sent back by the server to your computer.

 Many servers have dedicated functionality such as web

servers, print servers, and database servers. Enterprise
servers are servers that are used in a business context.
 Computer HOST

 Main or controlling computer connected to other computers or terminals to

which it provides data or computing services via a network.

 It is similar to a server in a client-server architecture. In the modern peer to

peer networking (such as networking over the Internet) every computer is a
peer and also a host to every other computer connected to the network.
Computer Networking
Devices
Computer Networking Devices

Computer networking devices are units that mediate data in

a computer network. Computer networking devices are also called
network equipment, Intermediate Systems (IS) or Interworking Unit
(IWU). Units which are the last receiver or generate data are
called hosts or data terminal equipment.
Router

 A router is a device that forwards data

packets between telecommunications networks, creating an
overlay internetwork. A router is connected to two or more data lines from
different networks. When data comes in on one of the lines, the router
reads the address information in the packet to determine its ultimate
destination. Then, using information in its routing table or routing policy, it
directs the packet to the next network on its journey or drops the packet. A
data packet is typically forwarded from one router to another through
networks that constitute the internetwork until it gets to its destination
node.
HUB

 Hub basically acts as signal splitter, it accepts signal through its input port
and outputs it to the output ports. Some hubs help in regenerating the
weak signals prior to sending them to the intended output lines, whereas
some hubs help in synchronizing the data communication (in simple words,
the hub not only provide the mean of interface within the network, it also
provides some additional and useful features). Sometimes multiple hubs
are interconnected in the network. Generally hubs are used more
commonly where star topology is used.
Modem

 A modem is a device or program that enables a computer to

transmit data over, for example, telephone or cable lines.
Computer information is stored digitally, whereas information
transmitted over telephone lines is transmitted in the form of
analog waves.
 Setting up your
Wireless Network
 Wireless Network

You can use a wireless network to share Internet access,

files, printers, and more. Or you can use it to surf the
Web while you're sitting on your couch or in your yard.
Plus, it's easier to install than you think.