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What is computer Network?

A computer network, is a collection of computers and other hardware interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information. Simply, two or more computers connected together through a communication media form a computer network.

The computers are connected in a network to exchange information and data. The computers connected in a network can also use resources of other computers. When one process in one device is able to send/receive data to/from one process residing in a remote device, the two devices are said to be networked. Usually, this means that the speed of the connection is fast - faster than a normal connection to the Internet. Some basic types of computer networks include:

·         A Local Area Network (often called a LAN) connects two or more computers, and may be called a corporate network in an office or business setting.

·         An "internetwork", sometimes called a  Wide Area Network (because of the wide distance between networks) connects two or more smaller networks together. The largest internetwork is called the Internet.

 Computers can be part of several different networks. Networks can also be parts of bigger networks. The local area network in a small business is usually connected to the corporate network of the larger company.

Computer Network Components

The different components of a network are:

1. Server

2. Client

3. Media

4. Network Adopter

5. Resources

6. User

8. Protocols

Advantages of Computer Network

·         Networks allow data transmission among far areas also within local areas.

·         Networks allow different users share the processing characteristics of different computers.

·         Network allows users to share common set of data files and software stored in a main system.

·         Network allows users to share common hardware resources such as printers, fax machines, modem etc.

·         The cost of computing is reduced to each user as compared to the development and maintain of each single computer system.