Basic Networking

Networking is a process of linking two or more computers / devices together to share resources. The minimum requirement needed for implementing a network is :-

• Two computers
• Network Interface Card [NIC] - A NIC is acting as a mediator between a computer and network.
  
• Network Operating System [ NOS] - which can send and receive data or message to a network (eg: Windows 9x, Windows XP, Linux, etc)
  
• Media - It is a physical media used to connect two devices (eg: copper cable, fiber optic cable, air, etc)

Types of Networking

Network can be classified according to :

1. Geographical condition :


• LAN (Local Area Network) - It is implementing in a office or in a building
  
• MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) - It is the interconnection of networks in a city into a single larger network.
• WAN (Wide Area Network) - It is the interconnection of networks globally.


2. Topology - A network topology refers to either the physical or logical layout of a network installation.


• Bus Topology - It is a network architecture in which a set of computers are connected via a shared communications line, called a bus. The signal travels from one end of the bus to the other. A terminator is required at each to absorb the signal so as it does not reflect back across the bus.


• Star Topology
• Ring Topology


3. Processing

• Peer to Peer
  
• Client / Server