Computer networking is a pretty handy skill for anyone working in IT or related technical fields. Knowing at least the basics can help you get a job or at the very least understand how your ethernet device works.
What Is Computer Networking?
Computer networking refers to the practice of interconnecting computing devices such that they can exchange data and share resources with each other. They use communication protocols to transmit information over physical or wireless technologies. Communication protocols is just a fancy term for the set rules and standards for information transfer in a computer network.
How It Works
Nodes and links are the basic building blocks in a computer network. A node could comprise any of the common networking products like a modem or switch. A link on the other hand is the transmission media connecting the two nodes. The links may be physical like optical fibers or wireless as in wireless networks.
In a standard computer network, the nodes follow communication protocols that define how electronic data is sent and received via the links. The computer network architecture defines the design of these physical and logical components by providing specifications for the network’s physical components, protocols and procedures.
Networking Products
Also called network devices or networking hardware, they are physical devices that are required for communication and interaction between hardware on a computer network.
Hub
Hubs connect computer networking devices together and also act as repeaters that amplify signals. After being transmitted over long distances, signals usually weaken and need to be boosted to protect the integrity of the data in transit.
When it comes to network connecting devices, the hub is the simplest because it connects LAN components with identical protocols.
You can tweak the settings on a hub to accommodate analog or digital data to prepare for the formatting of the incoming data. Here is what I mean:
If the incoming data is in digital format, the hub will pass it on as packets and if the data is in analog form, it will be passed on in signal form.
Ethernet Access Device
An ethernet access device is a compact carrier ethernet access platform that enables service providers to deliver high-bandwidth, high-carrier ethernet services with low latency. They come packed with fantastic capabilities like zero-touch deployment, traffic management, and performance monitoring.
Switch
A switch is a multiport device that improves network efficiency. The switch maintains limited routing information about nodes in the internal network and allows connection to systems like hubs and ethernet devices like routers.
Switches improve both network efficiency and network security. They achieve the former because of the virtual circuit capability and the latter because the virtual circuits are more difficult to examine with network monitors. A switch has the capabilities of both a hub and router rolled into one.
Switches however can be susceptible to DDoS attacks which are a flood of bogus traffic. Flood guards are used to prevent malicious traffic from bringing the switch to a stop.
Router
Routers help transmit packets to their destinations by charting a path through the sea of interconnected networking products all using different network topologies. Routers store information about the networks they are connected to.
Most routers can be configured to operate as packet-filtering firewalls and use access control lists. Border routers are used in translating from LAN framing to WAN framing – when used in conjunction with a data service unit. The reason for the translation is because both LANs and WANs use different network protocols.
Access Point
Access point could refer to either a wired or wireless connection although it commonly refers to a wireless device.
Wireless access points usually consist of a transmitter and a receiver used to create wireless LAN. Access points typically are separate network devices with a built-in antenna, transmitter and adapter.
