After bringing home a new desktop or laptop, you might connect it to the internet after a few minutes. Connecting your internet device to the router is the best way to do this. Data typically comes from the internet and is delivered to the computer via the router, or any other internet device. As with your computer, other devices can be connected to the internet, including your smartphone, printer, etc. As soon as you connect your devices to the internet, the networking process begins. Understanding computer networking will be easier after reading this information piece.
What are Networks?
A network is a connection between two systems that uses a cable or a wireless connection. The simplest type of network connection is the one involving two devices connected by a cable. This simple network connection is known as a peer-to-peer network, and in this network, both devices have equal rights. Each of the devices has access to the data, and they can share resources or memory space with each other. But cable connection networks are not that popular nowadays.
People use more wireless internet connections, which are more complex than peer-to-peer networks. Wireless connections don’t only connect to two systems at a time, but multiple ones as well. These types of networks are known as client-server networks, where the central computer is considered the server, and the other participants are considered to be clients. In simple words, a network is the connection of two or more devices that are connected to each other for the purpose of trading information and resources. When it comes to networking, though, you can refer to it as a connection between multiple networks from multiple places.
What is Networking?
Networking, or computer networking, is the method of transferring data from one node or computer to another over a data system. Networking is the combination of design, construction, and application of the network; control, supervision, and function of the network and software infrastructure. With networking, you can connect multiple devices and endpoints with each other through a LAN, or local area network, to a WAN, or wide area network.
Every internet service provider offers LAN and WAN connections, and these are important for businesses and individuals as well for sharing resources worldwide and communicating in different modes. Networking is not only limited to browsing the web but also creating telephone calls, video calls, text messages, IoT (internet of things), etc.
Depending on the complexity of the network, you will require a specific level of skills to create a connection between the networks. For example, huge organisations can have thousands of system requirements for security, such as end-to-end encryption, network administration, etc. Now, you will have to get experience with high-level security to serve those organisations properly. Keep in mind that networking has a couple of types as well.
How many types of Networks are there?
We know of two kinds of networking: wired networking and wireless networking.
In wired networking, there is a physical connection between the systems or nodes. Most businesses and home users use copper-based wires or cables, which are durable and affordable. Moreover, people also use optical fibre for transferring data from one place to another, covering a large distance and also achieving faster speeds. But optical fibre has some cons, which are its costly nature and vulnerable components.
Wireless networking, on the other hand, makes use of radio waves that allow them to transfer data from one node to another. Of course, these nodes have to stay attached to the same network beyond the usage of cables. Nowadays, wireless networks are used more commonly, but they have some substitutes, including microwave, satellite, Bluetooth, cellular, etc.
However, wired networking is more reliable and offers better speed as well as security features when you compare them to wireless networks. On the other hand, wireless networks are more flexible, mobile, and scalable. Both wired and wireless networking are about the physical layers of the networks, and what type of networking you are dealing with is determined by its design and approach. There is SDN, or software-defined networking, and there are overlay networks. You can categorise the networks by their scales and environments, like LAN, WAN, data centre networks, campus, storage area networks, etc. When it comes to networking, there are a few components that you should keep in mind.
What are the components of networking?
In computer networking, switches, routers, wireless access points, and the firmware that utilizes the equipment are required. The software includes applications you can use to monitor, secure, and manage your network.
There are also some protocols that the networks are dependent on that allow you to achieve secure functions or interact with different data types. In this case, they don’t worry much about the fundamental hardware. For example, voice over IP, or VoIP, is a tool that transports the traffic of telephone signals to an endpoint that is compatible with the protocol. HTTP is a protocol that web browsers use to deliver the information on a webpage to users. There is an internet protocol suite, which we know as TCP/IP, which is a part of network protocols that play the part of transferring data over IP-based networks.
What are the advantages of Computer Networking?
Networking refers to connecting multiple devices with each other to share files, apps, resources, printers, etc., between them. The advantages of networking computers are these:
- When you are connected to a server, you can save files or data on that server, which we also know as the cloud. Saving information to a server is more secure than saving it on physical storage because you can back up the file server within a single process.
- While networking, you can share the printer that is connected to the network with another user. Networking computers are less pricey than corded computers that need to be attached to each other.
- You can share a group of applications that are running on the same network with other users. This method helps the users send text messages, share files, and collaborate with each other directly.
- When the computers are connected to each other over a secure network, you can easily secure and simplify their resources.
While applying networking to your business operations, you must consider the options you have.
How many types of Enterprise Networks are there?
Your choice of network type depends on the size and needs of your organization. Enterprise networks can be divided into four categories.
LAN
LAN means local area network, which is an internet network solely limited to a particular territory. With a LAN connection, you can connect devices that are inside the territory, like your workplace. LAN networks are mostly used by small-sized companies as well as as test networks for small-scale frameworks.
WAN
WAN means wide-area networks that can cover a series of buildings, cities, or countries. With LAN networks, you can transfer data to the devices residing in close proximity, and they also come at a high speed. WAN networks are perfect for long-distance data communications because they make the data transformation secure and stable. We have mentioned SD-WAN before; that refers to software-defined WAN, which is a virtual WAN layout that software programmes can control. SD WANs are flexible, dependable, and can control connectivity services without compromising their quality and security.
Service Provider Networks
With service provider networks, customers are able to operate network capacity and functions more efficiently than the provider. Typically, these types of service providers are data carriers, telecommunications companies, wireless communication service providers, cable operators, internet service providers, and other providers that offer high-speed internet access.
Cloud Networks
Cloud networks are like WAN networks, except their internet services are delivered through the cloud. The cloud services can be public or private, and some of the organizer’s data sources are stored in the cloud. When the data is stored in the cloud, be it private or public, users can easily access that data using an internet connection whenever they want. Cloud network services can include virtual routers, firewalls, network management programs, virtual routers, bandwidth, etc. Cloud networks are time savers and also increase the customer base.
Conclusion
There are two types of networks: peer-to-peer and client-server. Enterprises use client-server networks for secure data communication, and this networking utilizes standard protocols and internet addresses to facilitate smooth data exchange. A network address, or IP address, is assigned to each device on a network to ensure that the data is delivered to the right client. In addition, the network protocols determine how data will be established on the server and how the communications between network components will be controlled. You now know what a computer network is and how it works. Let us know if you still have questions in the comments section.