NETWORK

Computer Hardware Servicing

NETWORK

▪ A network consists of two or more computers

that are linked in order to share resources
(such as printers and CD-ROMs), exchange
files, or allow electronic communications. The
computers on a network may be linked
through cables, telephone lines, radio waves,
satellites, or infrared light beams.
There are two basic types of networks which
includes the following:
▪ Local Area Network (LAN)
▪ Wide Area Network (WAN)
Local Area Network

▪ A Local Area Network (LAN) is a

network that is confined to a
relatively small area. It is generally
limited to a geographic area such as a
writing lab, school, or building. Rarely
are LAN computers more than a mile
apart.
In a typical LAN configuration, one computer is
designated as the file server. It stores all of the
software that controls the network, as well as the
software that can be shared by the computers
attached to the network. Computers connected to
the file server are called workstations. The
workstations can be less powerful than the file server,
and they may have additional software on their hard
drives. On most LANs, cables are used to connect the
network interface cards in each computer.
Wide Area Network

▪ Wide Area Networks (WANs) connect

larger geographic areas, such as
Florida, the United States, or the
world. Dedicated transoceanic
cabling or satellite uplinks may be
used to connect this type of network.
 Networking Devices
Consist of, but are not limited to non-local
printers, workstations, servers, webcams,
data loggers, instruments, dial-in devices,
and, in general anything that requires an
Ethernet connection. These devices are
supported on a best-effort basis limited by
the staffing and equipment level available.
Hub is a small, simple, inexpensive device
that joins multiple computers together.
Many network hubs available today
support the Ethernet standard. Other
types including USB hubs also exist, but
Ethernet is the type traditionally used in
home networking.
▪ Ethernet switch is a device that
gathers the signals from devices
that are connected to it, and then
regenerates a new copy of each
signal.
Bridge is a device filters data traffic
at a network boundary. Bridges
reduce the amount of traffic on a
LAN by dividing it into two
segments.
Routers are small physical
devices that join multiple
networks together.
Network gateway is an internetworking
system capable of joining together two
networks that use different base
protocols. A network gateway can be
implemented completely in software,
completely in hardware, or as a
combination of both.
Modem is a contraction of the terms
modulator and demodulator. Modems
perform a simple function: They translate
digital signals from a computer into analog
signals that can travel across conventional
phone lines. The modem modulates the
signal at the sending end and demodulates
at the receiving end.
▪ Network interface is a device that connects a
client computer, server, printer or other
component to your network. Most often, a
network interface consists of a small
electronic circuit board that is inserted into a
slot inside a computer or printer.
Alternatively, some computers, printers, or
other services include network interfaces as
part of their main circuit boards
(motherboards).
Network firewall protects a computer network
from unauthorized access. Network firewalls
may be hardware devices, software programs,
or a combination of the two. Network firewalls
guard an internal computer network (home,
school, business intranet) against malicious
access from the outside. Network firewalls may
also be configured to limit access to the outside
from internal users.