What Is a Computer Network? A computer network is a system that connects two or more computing devices for transmitting and sharing information. Computing devices include everything from a mobile phone to a server. These devices are connected using physical wires such as fiber optics, but they can also be wireless. Network Devices Network devices or nodes are computing devices that need to be linked in the network. Some network devices include: + Computers, mobiles, and other consumer devices: These are end devices that users directly and frequently access. For example, an email originates from the mailing application on a laptop or mobile phone. + Servers: These are application or storage servers where the main computation and data storage occur. All requests for specific tasks or data come to the servers. + Routers: Routing is the process of selecting the network path through which the data packets traverse. Routers are devices that forward these packets between networks to ultimately reach the destination. They add efficiency to large networks. + Switches: Repeaters are to networks what transformersare to electricity grids—they are electronic devices that receive network signals and clean or strengthen them. Hubs are repeaters with multiple ports in them. They pass on the data to whichever ports are available. Bridges are smarter hubs that only pass the data to the destination port. A switch is a multi-port bridge. Multiple data cables can be plugged into switches to enable communication with multiple network devices. Gateways: Gateways are hardware devices that act as ‘gates’ between two distinct networks. They can be firewalls, routers, or servers. Links Links are the transmission media which can be of two types: Wired: Examples of wired technologies used in networks include coaxial cables, phone lines, twisted- pair cabling, and optical fibers. Optical fibers carry pulses of light to represent data. Wireless: Network connections can also be established through radio or other electromagnetic signals. This kind of transmission is called ‘wireless’. The most common examples of wireless links include communication satellites, cellular networks, and radio and technology spread spectrums. Wireless LANs use spectrum technology to establish connections within asmall area. Types of Computer Networks Computer networks can be classified based on several criteria, such as the transmission medium, the network size, the topology, and organizational intent. Based ona geographical scale, the different types of networks are: + Nanoscale networks: These networks enable communication between minuscule sensors and actuators. + Personal area network (PAN): PAN refers to a network used by just one person to connect multiple devices, such as laptops to scanners, etc. + Local area network (LAN): The local area network connects devices within a limited geographical area, such as schools, hospitals, or office buildings. + Storage area network (SAN): SAN is a dedicated network that facilitates block-level data storage. This is used in storage devices such as disk arrays and tape libraries. + Campus area network (CAN): Campus area networks are a collection of interconnected LANs. They are used by larger entities such as universities and governments.Metropolitan area network (MAN): MAN is a large computer network that spans across a city. Wide area network (WAN): Wide area networks cover larger areas such as large cities, states, and even countries. Enterprise private network (EPN): An enterprise private network is a single network that a large organization uses to connect its multiple office locations. Virtual private network (VPN): VPN is an overlay private network stretched on top of a public network. Cloud network: Technically, a cloud network is a WAN whose infrastructure is delivered via cloud services. Intranet: Intranet is a set of networks that is maintained and controlled by a single entity. It is generally the most secure type of network, with access to authorized users alone. An intranet usually exists behind the router in a local area network. Internet: The internet (or the internetwork) is a collection of multiple networks connected by routers and layered by networking software. This is a global system that connects governments, researchers, corporates, the public, and individual computer networks.Extranet: An extranet is similar to the intranet but with connections to particular external networks. It is generally used to share resources with partners, customers, or remote employees. Darknet: The darknet is an overlay network that runs on the internet and can only be accessed by specialized software. It uses unique, customized communication protocols.