Computer Network

Architecture
Network architecture-
is the design of a computer
network. It is a framework for the
specification of a network's physical
components and their functional
organization and configuration, its
operational principles and procedures,
as well as communication protocols
used.
Network Category
3 Types of Network category
LAN
MAN
WAN
 A local area network (LAN) is small network of
computer. It is a network of computers within small
area like room, building, or colleges. Nowadays
instead of cables, wireless media are used as data
transmission channel. LAN where wireless media
are used is known as Wireless Local Area Network
 Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
It is larger network than LAN.Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is a
network of computer within a city or between neighboring cities. Big
companies like banks, offices etc use MAN. In MAN, cables and
unbounded communication media are used as the transmission
channels.
 Wide Area Network (WAN)
A wide area network (WAN) is a very large network of computers. WAN
is a network of a computer in a wide geographical areas such as country,
neighboring countries, continent etc. A WAN can be formed by joining
many LANs and WANs. The Internet and Intranet are the WANs.
 Types of Network Topology
Network Topology is the schematic description
of a network arrangement, connecting various
nodes(sender and receiver) through lines of
connection.
 BUS Topology
Bus topology is a network type in which
every computer and network device is
connected to single cable. When it has
exactly two endpoints, then it is called Linear
Bus topology.
 Features of Bus Topology
1. It transmits data only in one direction.
2. Every device is connected to a single
cable
 RING Topology
It is called ring topology because it forms a ring as
each computer is connected to another computer,
with the last one connected to the first. Exactly two
neighbours for each device.
 STAR Topology
In this type of topology all the computers are
connected to a single hub through a cable. This hub is
the central node and all others nodes are connected
to the central node.
 The Different Types of
Communication Medium Used
in Networks
 Communication medium refers to the physical channel through which
data is sent and received. Data is sent in the form of voltage levels
which make up the digital signal. A digital signal consists of 0s and 1s;
essentially, a 1 corresponds to a high voltage, while a 0 corresponds to a
low voltage.
The speed of data transmission or data rate depends upon the type of
medium being used in the network. There are basically two types of
networks:

Wired network
Wireless network
Wired Network
In a wired network, data is
transmitted over a physical
medium. There are three types of
physical cables used in a wired
network.
Twisted pair cable
It consists of a pair of copper wires twisted around each other; the
wires are around 1 to 2 mm thick and they are twisted to reduce the
interference from the surrounding wires. Remember that a current
carrying wire has a magnetic field around it that can interfere with
that of another wire when in close proximity.
It is the most expensive of wired mediums and offers the
highest rates of data transmission. They are often used in
long distance communications and are never affected by
any electromagnetic fields. This is because it involves
light.
Offering better data rates and less signal attenuation, a coaxial cable
consist of a central copper conductor that is surrounded by a foil
shield. The foil is covered by yet another shield known as a braided
shield. Unlike twisted pairs, coaxial cables only have a single copper
conductor. The conductor and the foil shield are separated by a
dielectric.