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What is a Computer Network

A computer network is a group of computers or computer like devices connected together to share the network resources like files, data, software, printers, network services etc. A typical computer network consists of users working in workstation computers (also called as clients, or desktops), running client Operating Systems like Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 or Windows 10 and store their files inside a central networked file server.

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Computer networks with speed of 10 Gbps (Giga bits per second) are becoming common. These high-speed networks are highly redundant also. If one path to destination is lost, within a fraction of a second another path to destination is found, up and running. Today’s computer networks are designed not only for file transfer or printing, but a variety of different traffic types like voice, video, torrents etc.

Computer networks are required for network communication and network resource sharing (printers, scanners, storage spaces etc.). To build and connect computer networks, we need computers (Clients and Servers) and special network infrastructure devices like switches, routers, firewalls, servers etc.

Computer networks are built using network infrastructure devices. Click the following link to learn about some important network infrastructure devices.

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Introduction to Computer Networking
Responsibilities of a network engineer
Why we need computer networks?
Different types devices used to create a computer network
Client Operating Systems and Network Operating Systems (NOS)
Common Network Application Software
Local Area Networks (LAN) and Wide Area Networks (WAN)
Campus Area Networks (CAN) and Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Logical Classification of Computer Networks - Peer to Peer Networks and Client/Server Networks
Logical Classification of Computer Networks - Centralized and Distributed Computer Network Models
Internetworks, Internet, Intranet and Extranet
What is a Network Protocol
Difference between Proprietary and Standard Protocols
What are RFCs (Request for Comments)
Organizations which control Internet, Network Protocols and Standards
What is network topology
Difference between physical topology and logical topology
Network Topologies - Bus Topology
Network Topologies - Star Topology
Network Topologies - Mesh, Ring and Hybrid Topologies
Network Topologies - Partial-Mesh Topology
Network Topologies - Full-Mesh Topology
Advantages and disadvantages of full-mesh topology
Network Topologies - Ring Topology
Network Topologies - Dual Ring Topology
Network Topologies - Hybrid Topology
Network Topologies - Tree Topology
Point-to-point Topology and Point-to-multipoint Topology
What are wireless networks? Advantages and disadvantages of wireless networks.
Ad hoc Wireless Topology
Infrastructure Wireless Topology
Wireless Mesh Topology
Network Infrastructure Devices and Icons
Network Infrastructure Devices - What is a Hub?
Network Infrastructure Devices - What are Bridges and Switches?
Network Infrastructure Devices - What is a Router?
Network Infrastructure devices - What is a Firewall
Main office (Head Office) and Branch Office Networks
Site-to-Site Network Topologies - Hub and Spoke Toplogy
Site-to-Site Network Topologies - Partial-Mesh Toplogy
Site-to-Site Network Topologies - Full Mesh Topology
What is NIC (Network Interface Card)
Common Network Cable types
Differences between STP and UTP twisted pair cables
Twisted pair cable bandwidth and frequency range
Different types of shields used in STP (shielded twisted pair cable)
TIA/EIA 568A and TIA/EIA-568B standards
Straight-Through and Cross-Over cables
What is Auto-MDIX feature in ethernet switches
Difference between Baseband and Broadband
Network Access Methods - CSMA/CD, CSMA/CA and Token Passing
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
IEEE 802 Standards
IEEE 802.11 Standards
LAN Technologies - Ethernet
Ethernet Media Standards
100Base-TX Ethernet Media Standard
100Base-FX Ethernet Media Standard
4D-PAM5 encoding in Gigabit Ethernet
1000Base-T Ethernet Media Standard
1000Base-SX Ethernet Media Standard
1000Base-LX Ethernet Media Standard
10GBase-T 10 Gigabit Ethernet Media Standard
10GBase-SR 10 Gigabit Optical Fiber Ethernet Media Standard
Meaning of 10/100/1000 Ethernet
Twisted pair Cable categories for 1 Gigbit and 10 Gigabit networks
Broadband over Power Line (IEEE 1901-2010 standard)
What is Power over Ethernet (PoE)
What is PoE (Power over Ethernet) Switch
LAN Technologies - Token Ring
Advantages and disadvantages of Fiber optic cable
Structure of fiber optic cable (FOC)
Single Mode Fiber Optic Cable (SMF fiber cable)
Multimode Fiber Optic Cable (MMF fiber cable)
Different types of fiber optic cables
Fiber optic transceivers
Fiber optic connectors
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