Introduction to Computer Networking

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER NETWORKING

Computer Networking is the art of connecting two or more computers in order to share peripherals (resources) e.g. printers, faxes, photocopiers, CD ROM, etc. and data, hence a computer network will be the interconnection of two or more computers. A Computer network can also be defined as any collection of independent computers that exchange information with each other over a shared communication medium.

A computer network consists of a group of computers connected together by a specific type of transmission media (the cable that is used to transmit data across the network), network adapters, and network operating systems that support communication protocols.

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NOTE: - Protocols:-These are rules that define how two or more computers systems communicate in a network.

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• A Computer that is not connected to another is known as a stand-alone computer.
• Before networks became widespread, computers operated in a stand-alone environment. Information was shared by print outs or copying data to a floppy disk, CD, and passing it to others. This method of data sharing is called sneaker net. This play on words stems from the idea that a person is using their feet, i.e., sneakers, to transfer data instead of through the Internet or an organization’s intranet. If others made changes to the document, there was no easy way to merge the changes.
• Computer Networks nowadays make work and communication efficient and they also enhance a faster passage of data.

NETWORK COMPONENTS

In computer networking, components that make a network can be classified into two categories:

• Hardware
• Software

HARDWARE

1. The sender (source): - This is the computer or device that is sending data.
2. The receiver (Destination): - This is the computer or any other device that is intended to receive the transmitted data.
3. Transmission medium: – provides passage of data and it can be in the form of cable or wireless media such as infrared, microwave and radio.
4. Client: - A client is a computer connected on the network accessing the shared resources from a server.
5. Servers: – They are powerful computers that provide shared resources such as storage, printing, email etc, which allows client to access information on a network. The server machine often has a faster CPU, more memory, and more disk space than a typical client machine.
6. Node:- A node is a device that is connected as part of a computer network e.g. computer, PDA, Cell phone, router, switches, servers, printers etc. and can communicate on the network.
7. Host: - The term host can mean:- (1) A computer system that is accessed by a user working at a remote location. Typically, the term is used when there are two computer systems connected by modems and telephone lines. The system that contains the data is called the host, while the computer at which the user sits is called the remote terminal. (2) A computer that is connected to a TCP/IP network, including the Internet. Each host has a unique IP address.
8. Segment: - It is a part or unit of a lager network that is linked by a connecting device such as a hub or router.
9. Backbone: - A link (usually fast) between segments of a network. The backbone or trunk segment is the main cable from which transceiver cables are connected to computers, repeaters and bridges.
10. NIC: - Network Interface Card, it is a device that acts as the physical interface (link) between the computers and the network cables.

SOFTWARE

Software allows computers to communicate over a computer network. They control the network operation and its message traffic and queues. Software includes:-

1. Network operating system (NOS): - They run on servers, giving the server the ability to share resources e.g. Windows NT, Novel Netware, UNIX, Linux etc.
2. Client application software: -This is the software that allows a client to access shared resources.

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