What is Network?

In this article, I’m going to make a short explain about networking, types of network, topologies, network devices - OSI TCP/IP and subnetting.

Network

Computer network stands for communication of two or more devices each other.

Types of Network

Local Area Network : connects computers over a small area and allows to share file, data and resources.

Wide Area Network: compare to LAN, WAN is connecting computer in big area.

Wireless Local Area Network: is similar to LAN but in this connection computers communicate each other over the wireless network.

Network Topologies

Bus Topology : is one of the network topologies where all network devices connected by one RJ-45 or coaxial cable.

Ring Topology : in this topology data transports via side by side connected computers (That’s why, called as Ring). To reach one point to another, data visits all the devices until process done.

Hybrid Topology : is defined as mixed different network topologies.

Star Topology : The most used topology. Devices comminicate each other over a central hub.

Tree Topology : This topolgy is built by star topologies connected each other via bus topology. There is an parent-child hierarchy.

Network Devices

Switch : is a network device which connects computers and recieves and forwards data between these computers. (Once a device connect to the switch, which is note the device MAC address. The device want to send packet over the switch, so switch identifies the device its mac address.)

Router : makes similar jobs compare to Switch but Router uses computers’ IP address instead of their mac address.

Hub: connects only PCs over the network.