Networks and network hardware
Kinds of network
A network is two or more devices connected so they can share data and resources.
- LAN (local area network): a small area such as one building; the organisation owns the hardware.
- WAN (wide area network): a large area, linking LANs over lines rented from other companies. The internet is the biggest WAN.
Client-server: a central server stores files, accounts and services; clients request them. Easy to back up and secure centrally, but servers cost money and need managing, and a server failure affects everyone.
Peer-to-peer: every computer is both client and server. Cheap and simple for a few machines, but there is no central backup or security.
Hardware and media
| Hardware | Job |
|---|---|
| NIC (network interface controller) | lets a device connect to a network; has the MAC address |
| Switch | connects devices on a LAN and sends each frame only to the device it is for |
| Router | forwards packets between networks, such as a LAN and the internet |
| Wireless access point | lets devices join the network by Wi-Fi |
Transmission media: copper cable (cheap, short distances), fibre optic (light, very fast over long distances), radio waves (Wi-Fi: no cables, but slower, shorter range, more interference, and must be encrypted).
Performance depends on bandwidth, the number of users sharing it, the media, distance, interference and latency.
This question is in Brainlag Plus