Imagine a computer network as a bustling group of friends chatting and sharing things with each other. They use cables or wireless connections to connect and swap stuff. Connecting two laptops with a cable? That’s a small computer network. But the internet? It’s like a massive gang of computer networks worldwide, enabling everyone to share and communicate.

How do computer networks work?

Devices on a computer network use IP addresses, converted into hostnames through a domain name system server, to communicate over the internet and other networks. Various protocols and algorithms manage data transmission between endpoints.

For a network to function smoothly, it must adhere to specific standards or guidelines. These standards, set by organizations like IEEE and ISO, govern data communication for information exchange between devices. For example, the Ethernet standard establishes communication rules for wired networks, while the 802.11 standard outlines connectivity for wireless LANs.

Now, let’s break down Basic Network Connectivity.

1. Wired Connectivity: The trusty old method. It uses physical cables like Ethernet or fiber optics for data transmission. It’s reliable and lightning-fast, perfect for tasks requiring stable and speedy connections.

2. Wireless Connectivity: No more tangled wires! Thanks to Wi-Fi and cellular networks, wireless is the new trend. Wi-Fi lets us surf the internet without cables within a certain range, while cellular keeps us connected on the go, even in remote areas.

Network connectivity is a hero, but it faces challenges like signal interference, congestion, and security threats. But fear not! Technology comes to the rescue with mesh networks, signal boosters, and encryption protocols, ensuring our connectivity remains strong.

Two common computer network architectures:

1. Client-server: Multiple clients exist, with at least one serving as the central server. Clients request resources from the server, which houses them all.

2. Peer-to-peer (P2P): Each connected device acts as both a client and a server, sharing resources across the network. Many companies use this for memory-intensive applications across multiple devices.