This document discusses communication networks and provides details about various types of networks:
- It classifies networks according to how information flows, including switching networks and broadcast networks. It describes circuit switching and packet switching in switching networks.
- It discusses different types of networks based on coverage area, including local area networks (LANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs), and wide area networks (WANs). It provides examples for each type.
- It describes the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model and its seven layers, using the link layer as an example to explain protocols.