Essay 5

Networking 

Computer networks are used to connect multiple computers to an internet connection, or to printers, scanners, etc in the same area that the network covers. There are many types of networks that are classified using several different characteristics of each network. This report will discuss some of the characteristics that are used to classify the network, such as the connection method of the computer network, types of networks as determined by their size, scope, and purpose, as well as some of the basic hardware that is used to create a computer network.There are two basic connection methods: wired connection and wireless connection. Each type of wired connection is classified by which type of wiring it uses to create the network.

Networking devices that filter that traffic are called connectivity devices and there are several different types: 

             Bridge 

A bridge is a computer networking device that builds the connection with the other bridge networks which use the same protocol.

             HUB

Hub is one of the basic icons of networking devices which works at physical layer and hence connect networking devices physically together. Hubs are fundamentally used in networks that use twisted pair cabling to connect devices. 

                 Switch

Switches are the linkage points of an Ethernet network. Just as in hub, devices in switches are connected to them through twisted pair cabling. Hub works by sending the data to all the ports on the device whereas a switch transfers it only to that port which is connected to the destination device.

                Routers are an essential part of the any layer TCP/IP that would be the IP address.

     Types of Networks

There are very many types of computer networks that are classified by the purpose they serve for example, if it is for personal or academic use the size/span of the network, or even the types of devices it connects. In this report we will be discussing the following:

·      Personal Area Network (PAN). A PAN is a computer network used to connect devices that are close to someone's person.

Local Area Connection (LAN). A LAN may be either wired or wireless and is a computer network that covers a fairly small area, such as a home, office.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN). MANs connect two or more local area networks or campus area networks by connecting routers, switches and hubs, within the area of a single town or city.

Campus Area Network (CAN). A CAN is a connection of LANs within a limited area such as a public school or college campus. 

Wide Area Network (WAN). A WAN is a network that covers a broad area any network that crosses, metropolitan, regional or national boundaries is considered a WAN.

There are many different types of computer networks in the world today. The options range from wired to wireless, to a network that only extends to a 20-30 foot radius to a network that could span across an entire nation.