What Is a Network?
A network is a connected collection of
devices and end systems, such as computers and servers, which can communicate with each other.
Networks carry data in many types of environments, including homes, small businesses, and large enterprises.
Common Physical Components of a Network
These are the four major categories of physical components in a
computer network:
Personal computers (PCs): The
computers serve as end points in the network, sending and receiving data.
Interconnections: a means for data to travel from one point to
another. Interconnections include:
— Network interface cards (NICs) that
translate the data produced by the computer into network
— Network media, such as cables or wireless
media.
— Connectors that provide the connection
points for the media
Switches: Switches
are devices that provide network attachment to the end systems and switching of
the data within the local network.
Routers: Routers interconnect networks and choose
the best paths between networks
Physical
Topologies
The physical topology of a network refers
to the physical layout of the devices and cabling. Here are the three primary categories
of physical topologies:
Bus: computers
and other network devices were cabled together in a line using coaxial cable.
Ring: Computers
and other network devices are cabled together, with the last device connected
to the first to form a circle, or ring. The physical connection can be made
using either coaxial or fiber.
Star: A
central cabling device connects the computers and other network devices. This category
includes both star and extended-star topologies. The physical connection is commonly
made using twisted-pair wiring.
Extended Star
full-mesh:
topology connects all devices (or nodes) to one another for redundancy and
fault tolerance. Implementing a full-mesh topology is expensive and difficult.
This method is the most resistant to failures, because any single link failing
will not affect reach ability.
partial-mesh:
topology, at least one device maintains multiple connections to all other devices,
without being fully meshed.
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