Network systems
Network Systems
- Network systems enable interconnected computers and devices to communicate and share resources.
- When talking about network systems, the scale can range from Local Area Networks (LAN) within a building, to Wide Area Networks (WAN) spread across the globe.
Types of Networks
- LAN is a network system covering a small geographic area such as within a building or campus.
- WAN is a network system that covers a large geographic area using a collection of LANs, often connected via the internet.
- Personal Area Network (PAN) involves connecting devices centred around an individual person’s workspace.
- Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) connects LANs within a city or town.
Key Components
- Hardware components in a network can include servers, computers, routers, network cards, cables etc.
- Network systems operate with the aid of software components like network operating systems, firewalls, antivirus software etc.
- The network interface card (NIC) enables a device to connect to a network.
Network Protocols
- At the heart of network communication lies various protocols such as TCP/IP, HTTP, FTP, etc.
- These protocols standardise the way information is formatted, sent, received, and acknowledged on a network.
- For instance, HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) guides the transmission of data for web browsing.
Benefits and Challenges
- Network systems bring operational efficiency, easy information sharing, centralised data management, and cost-effectiveness.
- However, they also present challenges such as potential security threats, privacy concerns, and dependence on network reliability.
Security Measures
- Implementing firewalls, using encryption, enforcing strong password policies, and maintaining up-to-date antivirus software help secure network systems.
- Network administrators are crucial in managing, securing, and troubleshooting network systems.
Internet
- The Internet is the largest example of a WAN, connecting billions of devices worldwide.
- World Wide Web (WWW), a service on the Internet, consists of interlinked documents and resources, accessed through browsers.
- Features like email, instant messaging, file transfer (FTP), streaming services etc all operate over the Internet.