With the presence of the Internet, dissemination of information is becoming faster accepted by various communities, even if they live far away in different continents with us. They will still be able to receive the latest information only with the Internet.
Internet is one of the computer networks that are still being used by many people to support their activities, whether they communicate, sell online and so on. What we cover this time is not about the Internet, but about the computer network. Do you know understanding of computer networks? And what are the benefits that we can take from the computer network?
Understanding Computer Networks
A computer network is a system consisting of two or more computers that connect with each other through transmission media or communication media so that they can share data, applications or share computer hardware.
The term computer network itself can also be interpreted as a collection of a number of communication terminals consisting of two or more interconnected computers. The purpose of the computer network is to have the information/data that the transmitter can bring to the receiver precisely and accurately.
Computer networks allow users to easily communicate with each other. In addition, the role of computer networking is indispensable to integrate data between client computers so that the relevant data is obtained.
Computer network Benefits
We have already discussed about the understanding of computer networks, we will then talk about the benefits of the computer network itself. There are a lot of computer network benefits, such as:
- With a computer network, we can access the files we have as well as other people's files that have been deployed through a network, such as Internet networks.
- Through a computer network, we can do the data transfer process quickly and efficiently.
- The computer network helps one connect with others from different countries easily.
- In addition, users can also send text, images, audio, or video in real time with the help of a computer network.
- We can access the news or information very easily via the Internet because the Internet is one example of a computer network.
- Suppose that in an office requires a printer, we do not need to buy a printer a number with the computer that is in the office. We simply buy one printer to be used by all employees of the office with the help of a computer network.
Various computer networks
Generally, computer networks are grouped into 5 categories, which are based on geographical range, distribution of information/data sources, data transmission media, the role and relationship of each computer in processing data, and based on the type of topology used. Here's the full description:
A. Geographical reach
1. LAN
Local Area Network or often abbreviated LAN is a network that includes only a small area, such as a cafe, office, or school. Generally, the area's wide LAN network is not far from 1 square km. Normally the LAN network uses IEEE 802.3 Ethernet technology which has data transfer speeds of about 10, 100, even 1000 MB/s. In addition to using Ethernet technology, not a few also use wireless technologies such as Wi-fi for LAN networks.
2. MAN
The Metropolitan Area Network or MAN is a network that includes a city with a high data transfer rate. Arguably, the MAN network is a composite of several LAN networks. The range of the MAN network ranges from 10-50 km. MAN has only one or two cables and is not equipped with switching elements that function to make the draft more simple.
3. WAN
Wide Area Network or WAN is a network whose reach includes a wide geographic area, such as a country even continents. WAN is generally used to connect two or more local networks so that users can communicate with other users even in different locations.
B. Based on distribution of information/Data sources
1. Centralized Network
A centralized network is a network consisting of a client computer and a server computer where the client's computer serves as an intermediary in accessing the source of information/data originating from the server computer. In a centralized network, there is the term dumb terminal, where the terminal does not have a data processor.
2. Distributed Network
This network is the result of a combination of several centralized networks that allows multiple interconnected server and client computers to form a specific network system.
C. Based on the Data transmission Media used
1. Wired Network (Wired Network)
The data transmission Media used in this network is a cable. The cable is used to connect one computer to another computer in order to exchange information/data or connect to the Internet. One of the transmission media used in the wired network is a UTP cable.
2. Wireless network
In this network required electromagnetic waves as the data transmission medium. Unlike wired network, this network does not use cables to exchange information/data with other computers but instead uses electromagnetic waves to transmit information/data signal between computers one with other computer. Wireless adapters, one of the transmission media used in wireless network.
D. Based on the role and relationship of each computer in processing Data
This network consists of one or more computer servers and client computers. It usually consists of one server computer and several client computers. The server computer is tasked with providing data resources, while the client computer can only use that data resource.
2. Peer to Peer Network
In this network, each computer, whether it is a server computer or a client computer has the same position. So, a server computer can be a client computer, and vice versa the client computer can also be a server computer.
E. Based on network topology used
The computer network topology is a form/network structure that connects the computer to one another. For more detailed discussion of network topology, please read the various computer network topology articles that I have written before.
For articles about the understanding of computer networks and the benefits and various computer networks. Hopefully this short writing is useful and understandable.
