Networks

Networks

1. Hardware

   • Router
     • Most routers can connect you to a wide area network (such as the Internet) as it has a modem built in.
   • Switch
     • cSwitches can connect to other switches and routers to build large local area networks (like a school).
   • Ethernet cable
     • Ethernet cables allow high data transfer speeds across your local area network of up to 1000Mbps.
   • Network Interface Card
     • In portable devices a network interface card can be wireless. Desktop PCs will usually have a network interface with an Ethernet port and an antenna to connect wirelessly.
   • Wireless access point
     • Wireless access points are used to improve the signal in places where the router cannot reach.
   • Server
     • All of your files will be stored on the server Websites and cloud storage is stored on a web server. Your computer connects to this using a wide area network.
   • Modem
     • A modem is used to connect you to a wide area network such as the Internet. Your router normally has this built in so that many devices can share the same internet connection.
   • Peripherals
     • These are any devices which connect to your computer system. A peripheral such as a printer or a scanner can connect to a local area network if they have a network interface card.

2. Networks types

   • LAN
     • Large Area Network is a group of computers and other devices that are connected together over a network and are all in the same location. LAN is also devices which are connected over a small geographical area
   • WPAN
     • Wireless Personal Area Network is a personal area network - a network for interconnecting devices centered around an individual person's workspace - in which the connections are wireless.
   • WAN
     • Wide Area Network A computer network that spans a relatively large geographical area. Typically, a WAN consists of two or more local-area networks (LANs). Computers connected to a wide-area network are often connected through public networks, such as the telephone system. They can also be connected through leased lines or satellites.