Definition and Components of Computer Networks
– A computer network is a set of computers sharing resources located on or provided by network nodes.
– Computers use common communication protocols over digital interconnections to communicate with each other.
– Interconnections can be wired, optical, or wireless radio-frequency methods.
– Nodes of a computer network can include personal computers, servers, networking hardware, or other specialized hosts.
– Nodes are identified by network addresses and may have hostnames.
Classification of Computer Networks
– Computer networks can be classified based on the transmission medium used.
– They can be classified based on bandwidth and communication protocols.
– Networks can be classified based on size, topology, and traffic control mechanisms.
– Classification can also be based on organizational intent.
– Different criteria are used to classify computer networks.
History of Computer Networking
– Computer networking is influenced by technology developments and historical milestones.
– The first commercial modem, Bell 101, was released in 1958.
– Time-sharing of user programs was initiated in the late 1950s.
– Packet switching concept was developed in the 1960s.
– ARPANET, the precursor to the Internet, connected its first four nodes in 1969.
Applications and Services of Computer Networks
– Computer networks support access to the World Wide Web.
– They enable digital video and audio transmission.
– Networks facilitate shared use of application and storage servers, printers, and fax machines.
– Email and instant messaging applications are commonly used on computer networks.
– Various applications and services are supported by computer networks.
Network Packet and Packet-Switched Networks
– Most modern computer networks use packet-mode transmission.
– A network packet is a formatted unit of data carried by a packet-switched network.
– Packets consist of control information and user data (payload).
– Control information provides data the network needs to transmit the packet.
– Packet-switched networks are widely used in computer networks. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_network
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A computer network is a set of computers sharing resources located on or provided by network nodes. Computers use common communication protocols over digital interconnections to communicate with each other. These interconnections are made up of telecommunication network technologies based on physically wired, optical, and wireless radio-frequency methods that may be arranged in a variety of network topologies.
The nodes of a computer network can include personal computers, servers, networking hardware, or other specialized or general-purpose hosts. They are identified by network addresses and may have hostnames. Hostnames serve as memorable labels for the nodes and are rarely changed after initial assignment. Network addresses serve for locating and identifying the nodes by communication protocols such as the Internet Protocol.
Computer networks may be classified by many criteria, including the transmission medium used to carry signals, bandwidth, communications protocols to organize network traffic, the network size, the topology, traffic control mechanisms, and organizational intent.[citation needed]
Computer networks support many applications and services, such as access to the World Wide Web, digital video and audio, shared use of application and storage servers, printers and fax machines, and use of email and instant messaging applications.
