Computer Network
n Interconnection of two or more computers and peripherals
n Allows user to share and transfer information
Types of Computer Networks
n Networks are classified depending on the geographical area covered by the network
n Covers a small area
n Connects computers and workstations covering a local area like, office or home
n Advantages of LAN:
q Improves productivity due to faster work
q Provides easy maintenance
q New systems can be installed and configured easily
n Disadvantages of LAN:
q Limited number of systems can only be connected
q Cannot cover large area
q Network performance degrades as number of users exceeds
LANs are classified depending on the techniques used for data sharing
LAN Types Ethernet Token Ring Token Bus FDDI
n Made up of multiple LANs within limited area
n Connects different LANs in a campus
Metropolitan Area Network
n Interconnects networks within a city
n Supports data and voice transmission
Wide Area Network
n Covers a wide geographical area which includes multiple computers or LANs e.g. Internet
Client/Server Configuration
n Consists of two elements, Client and Server
n Server:
q A centralized element which provides resources to client
q Manages data, printers or network traffic
n Client:
q Manages local resources used by users such as monitor, keyboard, CPU and peripherals
Open System Interconnection (OSI) Model - I
n Also known as ISO-OSI Reference Model
n Developed by International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
n Describes flow of information from one computer to another
n Consists of seven layers
Open System Interconnection (OSI) Model - II
Network Selection Criteria
n Helps to improve network functionality
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