A computer network connects computers and devices together through communication channels to allow sharing of data and resources. It consists of nodes, communication media, and protocols. The basic components are nodes like computers and servers connected by cables, routers, or wireless access points using protocols like TCP/IP. There are different types of networks including local area networks (LANs) spanning a single building, metropolitan area networks (MANs) spanning a city, and wide area networks (WANs) connecting multiple LANs over a large geographical area, with the largest being the global Internet.

1. What is a network? is TCP/IP or Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol.
A network can be defined as any system of lines
or channels interlacing or crossing. This term can Communication Media- A communication media
be used across multiple disciplines. Examples of a is a channel that enables a connection to a
network can be a network of veins, a network of network. Examples are a Fiber Optic connection, a
railroads, or a power transmission network. In wireless access point, a phone line, or network
this document we will be using the definition of a cable (often referred to as CAT5 or patch cable.)
network in terms of the computer industry.
Routers/Switches- A physical device that joins
What is a computer network? multiple wired or wireless networks together. A
router is used to connect an organization's Local
A computer network is a system of computers Area Network to the Internet or other external,
linked together by communication channels off-site network. A switch is used internally on a
allowing the exchange of data between the linked Local Area Network to connect nodes inside the
computers. The first computer network was network.
developed by ARPANET under the Department of
Defense in the 1960s. The What are some types
project included UCLA, of Networks?
Stanford, UC Santa
Local Area Network (LAN)-
Barbara, & the University
A local area network
of Utah.
connects nodes over a
What makes up a relatively short distance.
computer network? Examples of a LAN would
be a single office building,
Node(s)- A Node is any school, or home. A LAN
device with a network can also span multiple
interface card that buildings in a campus but
connects to a network within the same geographical location.
through an established medium and protocol.
Examples of a node are computers, servers, Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)-A WAN is a
printers, tablets, and smart phones. network of nodes that span a physical area larger
than a LAN but smaller than a WAN. An example
Network Interface Card (NIC)- A network of this would be a city owning a network that
interface card is a component on a node that employees could access across the entire region.
establishes a physical connection to the network.
This can include both wired and wireless adapters Wide Area Network (WAN)- A WAN is a
each with a unique identification number or MAC geographically-dispersed collection of LANs. The
(Media-Access Control ID). main difference between a LAN and a WAN is that
a WAN is not owned by a single organization or
Protocol- A protocol is an industry standard entity.
communication language established to allow
nodes on a network to talk with each other. The Internet- The internet is the largest Wide Area
most common protocol in the computer industry Network in the world. This is why it is called the
World Wide Web and uses the term WWW.