Understanding Computer Networks To make computer networks, switches and routers use various protocols and algorithms to exchange information and to bring data to the desired endpoint. Each endpoint (sometimes called a host) in a network has a unique identifier, often an IP address or Media Access Control address that is used to indicate the source or destination of the transmission. Endpoints can combine servers, personal computers, telephones, and various types of network hardware.
Maybe you have often heard the term LAN or WAN. Did you know if they are a computer network? In this article, we will discuss the definition of computer networks, types, and topologies.
Computer networks are two or more computers that are connected to each other and are used to share data. Computer networks are built with a combination of hardware and software.
Computer networks can also be made using wired and wireless technology. Communication devices through wired or wireless transmission media. For networks that use cables, you might need optical fiber, coaxial cable, or copper cable. Meanwhile, wireless network paths include computer networks that use wireless data connections to connect endpoints. These endpoints include broadcast radio, cellular radio, microwave and satellite.
The network can be private or public. Private network Usually a user is required to enter credentials to access the network. Usually, this is given manually by the network administrator or obtained directly by the user via a password or with other credentials. Public networks such as the internet cannot be accessed. Types of Computer Networks Outside there are many types of computer networks. The following are some types of computers that you might often see.
LAN (Local Area Network)
LANs connect network devices in relatively short distances. An office building, school, or home network usually contains one LAN, although sometimes one building will contain several small LANs (maybe one per room), and sometimes the LAN will reach a group of nearby buildings. In TCP / IP networks, LANs are often but not always implemented as single IP subnets.
Apart from operating in limited space, LANs are also usually owned, controlled, and managed by one person or organization. They also tend to use certain connectivity technologies, especially Ethernet and Token Ring. There is also a LAN that uses wireless network technology with Wi-Fi and is known as the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN).
MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
MAN is a computer network that connects two or more LAN networks in the same city. If the distance connecting two LANs is not possible to build a network, the MAN network is used. This is bigger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN. MAN uses special devices and cables to connect LANs.
WAN (Wide Area Network)
WAN can also be regarded as a collection of LANs that are geographically dispersed. A network device called a router connects the LAN to the WAN. In IP networks, routers store LAN addresses and WAN addresses. WAN is different from LAN in several important ways. Most WANs (such as the Internet) are not owned by one organization, but are under collective or distributed ownership and management. WAN tends to use technologies such as ATM, Frame Relay and X.25 for greater distance connectivity.
Like a LAN network, PAN usually covers smaller areas such as home or office networks. Usually this type of network is used to share resources such as the Internet or printer.
CAN (Campus Area Network)
CAN is arguably similar to MAN, but limited to universities or academies. This network is usually prepared for educational activities such as class updates, lab practices, e-mail, examinations, notifications, and others.
Internet
The internet is the largest computer network ever made by humans. The internet connects millions of computing devices including PCs, Laptops, Workstations, Servers, Smartphones, tablets, TVs, webcams, CCTV and many more. According to a report published in January 2018, there are 2150 million final systems connected to the internet. To connect this device, many technologies and infrastructure are used. The internet is open to everyone. Because anyone can connect to the internet, the internet is also considered the most insecure network.
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
VPN is the solution to providing a secure internet connection. For example, a company has two offices; one in Jakarta and the other in Bandung. In this case the company can use a VPN to connect the two offices. VPNs make secure lines on the Internet and can be used for data transmission.
Computer Network Topology
In computer networks, topology refers to the layout of connected devices. Topology can be considered as a form or structure of virtual networks. This form does not always correspond to the actual physical layout of the devices on the network. For example, computers in a home network can be arranged in a circle in the family room, but it is very unlikely to find a ring topology there.
Network topology is categorized into the following basic types:
More complex networks can be built as a hybrid of two or more of the basic topologies above.
Bus Topology
The bus network uses cables as its backbone. This Kabeli functions as a communication medium. Devices that want to communicate with other devices on the network send broadcast messages via a cable connected to the two devices, but only the intended recipient actually receives and processes the message.
Ring Topology
In ring networks, each device has two "neighbors" for communication purposes. All messages travel through the ring in the same direction (either "clockwise" or "counterclockwise"). If there is damage to the cable or the device damages the loop and can reduce the entire network. To implement ring networks, usually using FDDI, SONET, or Token Ring technology. Ring topology is found in several office buildings or campuses.
Star Topology
Many home networks use star topologies. The star network has a central connection point called a "hub node" which may be a network hub, switch or router. Devices are usually connected to hubs with Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Ethernet. Compared to bus topologies, star networks generally require more cable, but failures in star network cables will only reduce one computer network access and not the entire LAN. (If the hub fails, however, the entire network also fails.)
Tree Topology
Tree topology joins the star topology to form the bus topology. In its simplest form, only hub devices are connected directly to the tree bus, and each hub functions as the root of the device tree. The hybrid between the bus and the star supports network expansion with much better than just a bus or star.
Mesh Topology
Mesh topology introduces the concept of routes. Unlike the previous topology, messages sent on a mesh network can take one of several possible paths from source to destination. Some WANs, especially the Internet, use routing mesh.
Conclusion
In this article we have discussed various types of computer networks and their topologies. Hopefully this article helps you!
Computer networks are two or more computers that are connected to each other and are used to share data. Computer networks are built with a combination of hardware and software.
Computer networks can also be made using wired and wireless technology. Communication devices through wired or wireless transmission media. For networks that use cables, you might need optical fiber, coaxial cable, or copper cable. Meanwhile, wireless network paths include computer networks that use wireless data connections to connect endpoints. These endpoints include broadcast radio, cellular radio, microwave and satellite.
Understanding Computer Networks
To make computer networks, switches and routers use various protocols and algorithms to exchange information and to bring data to the desired endpoint. Each endpoint (sometimes called a host) in a network has a unique identifier, often an IP address or Media Access Control address that is used to indicate the source or destination of the transmission. Endpoints can combine servers, personal computers, telephones, and various types of network hardware.The network can be private or public. Private network Usually a user is required to enter credentials to access the network. Usually, this is given manually by the network administrator or obtained directly by the user via a password or with other credentials. Public networks such as the internet cannot be accessed. Types of Computer Networks Outside there are many types of computer networks. The following are some types of computers that you might often see.
LAN (Local Area Network)
LANs connect network devices in relatively short distances. An office building, school, or home network usually contains one LAN, although sometimes one building will contain several small LANs (maybe one per room), and sometimes the LAN will reach a group of nearby buildings. In TCP / IP networks, LANs are often but not always implemented as single IP subnets.
Apart from operating in limited space, LANs are also usually owned, controlled, and managed by one person or organization. They also tend to use certain connectivity technologies, especially Ethernet and Token Ring. There is also a LAN that uses wireless network technology with Wi-Fi and is known as the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN).
MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
MAN is a computer network that connects two or more LAN networks in the same city. If the distance connecting two LANs is not possible to build a network, the MAN network is used. This is bigger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN. MAN uses special devices and cables to connect LANs.
WAN (Wide Area Network)
WAN can also be regarded as a collection of LANs that are geographically dispersed. A network device called a router connects the LAN to the WAN. In IP networks, routers store LAN addresses and WAN addresses. WAN is different from LAN in several important ways. Most WANs (such as the Internet) are not owned by one organization, but are under collective or distributed ownership and management. WAN tends to use technologies such as ATM, Frame Relay and X.25 for greater distance connectivity.
Like a LAN network, PAN usually covers smaller areas such as home or office networks. Usually this type of network is used to share resources such as the Internet or printer.
CAN (Campus Area Network)
CAN is arguably similar to MAN, but limited to universities or academies. This network is usually prepared for educational activities such as class updates, lab practices, e-mail, examinations, notifications, and others.
Internet
The internet is the largest computer network ever made by humans. The internet connects millions of computing devices including PCs, Laptops, Workstations, Servers, Smartphones, tablets, TVs, webcams, CCTV and many more. According to a report published in January 2018, there are 2150 million final systems connected to the internet. To connect this device, many technologies and infrastructure are used. The internet is open to everyone. Because anyone can connect to the internet, the internet is also considered the most insecure network.
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
VPN is the solution to providing a secure internet connection. For example, a company has two offices; one in Jakarta and the other in Bandung. In this case the company can use a VPN to connect the two offices. VPNs make secure lines on the Internet and can be used for data transmission.
Computer Network Topology
In computer networks, topology refers to the layout of connected devices. Topology can be considered as a form or structure of virtual networks. This form does not always correspond to the actual physical layout of the devices on the network. For example, computers in a home network can be arranged in a circle in the family room, but it is very unlikely to find a ring topology there.
Network topology is categorized into the following basic types:
- Bus (bus)
- Ring
- Star (star)
- Tree
- Mesh
More complex networks can be built as a hybrid of two or more of the basic topologies above.
Bus Topology
The bus network uses cables as its backbone. This Kabeli functions as a communication medium. Devices that want to communicate with other devices on the network send broadcast messages via a cable connected to the two devices, but only the intended recipient actually receives and processes the message.
Ring Topology
In ring networks, each device has two "neighbors" for communication purposes. All messages travel through the ring in the same direction (either "clockwise" or "counterclockwise"). If there is damage to the cable or the device damages the loop and can reduce the entire network. To implement ring networks, usually using FDDI, SONET, or Token Ring technology. Ring topology is found in several office buildings or campuses.
Star Topology
Many home networks use star topologies. The star network has a central connection point called a "hub node" which may be a network hub, switch or router. Devices are usually connected to hubs with Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Ethernet. Compared to bus topologies, star networks generally require more cable, but failures in star network cables will only reduce one computer network access and not the entire LAN. (If the hub fails, however, the entire network also fails.)
Tree Topology
Tree topology joins the star topology to form the bus topology. In its simplest form, only hub devices are connected directly to the tree bus, and each hub functions as the root of the device tree. The hybrid between the bus and the star supports network expansion with much better than just a bus or star.
Mesh Topology
Mesh topology introduces the concept of routes. Unlike the previous topology, messages sent on a mesh network can take one of several possible paths from source to destination. Some WANs, especially the Internet, use routing mesh.
Conclusion
In this article we have discussed various types of computer networks and their topologies. Hopefully this article helps you!
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