Computer Networks and Communication

Introduction

A data network, often known as a computer network, is a communication system that allows devices to exchange data. A computer network, often known as a data network, is a telecommunications system that will enable computers to connect. Data communications refer to the exchange of digital data among two or more computer systems. The cable and wireless media establish physical connectivity between networked computing systems. The most well-known computer network is the internet. 

What are the Benefits of Learning Data Communication and Computer Networking?

Network Basic Understanding

A computer network is a collection of computers and electrical devices, including printers, that are linked together. Computers can effortlessly share information because of such connections. Computers can connect using wired or wireless networks.

Network Engineering

Software, firmware, chip level engineering, and hardware, particularly electric signals, all play essential roles in networking engineering. The overall networking concept is made of various levels to simplify network engineering. Each layer is responsible for a specific task and is distinct from the others. Moreover, practically every networking operation utilises one or more of these layers somehow. Layers share information but only accept and send input and output from one another.

Internet

A network of networks is known as an internetwork, or simply the internet. It is the largest network of any type in the world. The internet connects all WANs and connects to LANs, primarily residential networks. The internet’s protocol suite is TCP/IP, and its addressing protocol is IP. IPv4 is widely used on the internet in today’s modern world. Due to a lack of address spaces, it is rapidly transitioning between IPv4 to IPv6.

The internet allows people to exchange and access vast information worldwide. 

It makes use of the World Wide Web, FTP, email services, audio and video streaming, and so forth. The internet operates on a Client-Server model at a large scale.

Advantages and Disadvantages of computer network

Advantages

• It could share computer data and software with other computers over a network.
• Only the network’s authorised users have access to the network’s services.
• On a network, computers can communicate with one another.

Disadvantages

• If the network’s security isn’t reliable, computer hackers could retrieve relevant data.
• If one computer in a network is affected by a computer virus, the other computers are likely to be infected.
• If one computer in a network is affected by a computer virus, the other computers in the network are likely spreading computer viruses. 

Modes of Data Communication

Data communication can be divided into three ways.

Simplex

One-way communication, such as a radio broadcast. Through the radio receiver, the listener is unable to talk back.

Half Duplex

Communication in both directions, but only one at a time, e.g. The sender gives information, and the recipient responds, as in a radio call.

Full Duplex

Simultaneous communication occurs in both directions, for example, when a computer sends and receives data through a network.

Network Categories

It is divided into three categories: LAN, MAN, and WAN. The size, ownership, distance covered, and physical architecture of a network define which groups it belongs to.

LAN

It usually belongs to a private company and connects devices in a single office, building, or campus. It is only just a few kilometres in length. It’s made to exchange resources (hardware, software, and data) between personal computers and workstations. In most cases, a LAN would only use one transmission medium. The bus, ring, and star topologies seem to be the most prevalent LAN topologies.

MAN

It is intended to cover the entirety of a city. A firm can use MAN to connect the LANs in all its offices across a city. It could be a private firm entirely owned and managed or a public company that provides a service (local telephone company).

WAN

It allows for long-distance data transmission across a country, a continent, or even just the entire world. An enterprise network is a network that is entirely owned but also operated by a single company.

Conclusion

A computer network is a collection of interconnected devices. A node can be a computer, printer, or any other device capable of delivering or receiving data. The links which connect the nodes are known as communication channels. When duties are shared across multiple machines in a computer network, distributed processing is performed. Instead of one computer handling the entire task, each computer is responsible for a portion of it. You can send and receive text messages and data in real-time using networking. Any gadget can access readily available information. All you need is a reliable internet connection.