How Does a Computer Network

Work?
• Basics building blocks of a Computer network are Nodes and Links. A
Network Node can be illustrated as Equipment for Data
Communication like a Modem, Router, etc., or Equipment of a Data
Terminal like connecting two computers or more. Link in Computer
Networks can be defined as wires or cables or free space of wireless
networks.
• The working of Computer Networks can be simply defined as rules or
protocols which help in sending and receiving data via the links which
allow Computer networks to communicate. Each device has an IP
Address, that helps in identifying a device.
Basic Terminologies of
Computer Networks
• Network: A network is a collection of computers and devices that are
connected together to enable communication and data exchange.
• Nodes: Nodes are devices that are connected to a network. These can
include computers, Servers, Printers, Routers, Switches, and other
devices.
• Protocol: A protocol is a set of rules and standards that govern how data
is transmitted over a network. Examples of protocols include TCP/IP,
HTTP, and FTP.
• Topology: Network topology refers to the physical and logical
arrangement of nodes on a network. The common network topologies
include bus, star, ring, mesh, and tree.
• Service Provider Networks: These types of Networks give permission
to take Network Capacity and Functionality on lease from the
Provider. Service Provider Networks include Wireless
Communications, Data Carriers, etc.
• IP Address: An IP address is a unique numerical identifier that is
assigned to every device on a network. IP addresses are used to
identify devices and enable communication between them.
• DNS: The Domain Name System (DNS) is a protocol that is used to
translate human-readable domain names (such as www.google.com)
into IP addresses that computers can understand.
• Firewall: A firewall is a security device that is used to monitor and
control incoming and outgoing network traffic. Firewalls are used to
protect networks from unauthorized access and other security
threats.
Types of Enterprise Computer
Networks
• LAN: A Local Area Network (LAN) is a network that covers a small
area, such as an office or a home. LANs are typically used to connect
computers and other devices within a building or a campus.
• WAN: A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a network that covers a large
geographic area, such as a city, country, or even the entire world.
WANs are used to connect LANs together and are typically used for
long-distance communication.
• Cloud Networks: Cloud Networks can be visualized with a Wide Area
Network (WAN) as they can be hosted on public or private cloud
service providers and cloud networks are available if there is a
demand. Cloud Networks consist of Virtual Routers, Firewalls, etc.
Types of Computer Network
Architecture
• Computer Network falls under these broad Categories:
• Client-Server Architecture: Client-Server Architecture is a type of
Computer Network Architecture in which Nodes can be Servers or
Clients. Here, the server node can manage the Client Node Behaviour.
• Peer-to-Peer Architecture: In P2P (Peer-to-Peer) Architecture, there is
not any concept of a Central Server. Each device is free for working as
either client or server.
Network Devices
• An interconnection of multiple devices, also known as hosts, that are
connected using multiple paths for the purpose of sending/receiving
data or media. Computer networks can also include multiple
devices/mediums which help in the communication between two
different devices; these are known as Network devices and include
things such as routers, switches, hubs, and bridges.
Network Topology
• The Network Topology is the layout arrangement of the different
devices in a network. Common examples include Bus, Star, Mesh,
Ring, and Daisy chain.
OSI Model
• OSI stands for Open Systems Interconnection. It is a reference model
that specifies standards for communications protocols and also the
functionalities of each layer. The OSI has been developed by the
International Organization For Standardization and it is 7 layer
architecture. Each layer of OSI has different functions and each layer
has to follow different protocols. The 7 layers are as follows:
• Physical Layer
• Data link Layer
• Network Layer
• Transport Layer
• Session Layer
• Presentation Layer
• Application Layer
Protocol
• A protocol is a set of rules or algorithms which define the way how
two entities can communicate across the network and there exists a
different protocol defined at each layer of the OSI model. A few such
protocols are TCP, IP, UDP, ARP, DHCP, FTP, and so on.