In the world of computers, networking is the practice of linking two or more computing devices together for the purpose of sharing data. Networks are built with a mix of computer hardware and computer software.
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information.
Technically, Network is defined as "If at least one process in one computer is able to send/receive data to/from at least one process residing in a remote computer, then the two computers are said to be in network".
Networks may be classified according to a wide variety of characteristics such as the medium used to transport the data, communications protocol used, scale, topology, and organizational scope.
The rules and data formats for exchanging information in a computer network are defined by communications protocols. Well-known communications protocols are Ethernet, a hardware and Link Layer standard that is ubiquitous in local area networks, and the Internet Protocol Suite, which defines a set of protocols for internetworking, i.e. for data communication between multiple networks, as well as host-to-host data transfer, and application-specific data transmission formats.
Computer networking is sometimes considered a sub-discipline of electrical engineering, telecommunications, computer science, information technology or computer engineering, since it relies upon the theoretical and practical application of these disciplines.
types of network
There are about eight types of network which are used world wide these days, both in houses and commercially. These networks are used on the bases of their scale and scope, historical reasons, preferences for networking industries, and their design and implementation issues. LAN and WAN are mostly known and used widely. LAN, local area network was first invented for communication between two computers
LAN operates through cables and network cards. Later WLAN, Wireless local area network was formed through LAN concept, there are no wires involved in communication between computers, and Wireless LAN cards are required to connect to wireless network. LAN is the original network out of which other networks are formed according to requirements. They are as follow.
LAN - Local Area Network
WLAN - Wireless Local Area Network
WAN - Wide Area Network
MAN - Metropolitan Area Network
SAN - Storage Area Network, It can also refer with names like System Area Network, Server Area Network, or sometimes Small Area Network
CAN - Campus Area Network, Controller Area Network, and often Cluster Area Network
PAN - Personal Area Network
DAN - Desk Area Network
LAN - Local Area Network
LAN connects networking devices with in short spam of area, i.e. small offices, home, internet cafes etc. LAN uses TCP/IP network protocol for communication between computers. It is often but not always implemented as a single IP subnet. Since LAN is operated in short area so It can be control and administrate by single person or organization.
WAN - Wide Area Network
As “word” Wide implies, WAN, wide area network cover large distance for communication between computers. The Internet it self is the biggest example of Wide area network, WAN, which is covering the entire earth. WAN is distributed collection of geographically LANs. A network connecting device router connects LANs to WANs. WAN used network protocols like ATM, X.25, and Frame Relay for long distance connectivity.
Wireless - Local Area Network
A LAN, local area network based on wireless network technology mostly referred as Wi-Fi. Unlike LAN, in WLAN no wires are used, but radio signals are the medium for communication. Wireless network cards are required to be installed in the systems for accessing any wireless network around. Mostly wireless cards connect to wireless routers for communication among computers or accessing WAN, internet.
MAN - Metropolitan Area Network
This kind of network is not mostly used but it has its own importance for some government bodies and organizations on larger scale. MAN, metropolitan area network falls in middle of LAN and WAN, It covers large span of physical area than LAN but smaller than WAN, such as a city.
CAN - Campus Area Network
Networking spanning with multiple LANs but smaller than a Metropolitan area network, MAN. This kind of network mostly used in relatively large universities or local business offices and buildings.
SAN - Storage Area Network
SAM technology is used for data storage and it has no use for most of the organization but data oriented organizations. Storage area network connects servers to data storage devices by using Fiber channel technology.
SAN - System Area Network
SAN, system area networks are also known as cluster area network and it connects high performance computers with high speed connections in cluster configuration.
