Online Encyclopedia
Computer network
A computer network is a system for communication among two or more computers.
Computer networks may be categorized with respect to range:
- personal area network (PAN)
- local area network (LAN)
- metropolitan area network (MAN)
- wide area network (WAN)
Computer network applications may be categorized with respect to the functional relationships between components:
Computer networks may be categorized with respect to network topologies:
- bus network
- star network
- ring network
- grid network
- toroidal networks and hypercubes
- tree and hypertree networks
Computer networks may be categorized with respect to specialised functions
- Storage area networks
- Server farms
- Process control network s
- Value added network
- SOHO network
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Protocol stacks
Computer networks may be implemented using a variety of protocol stack architectures, computer buses or combinations of media and protocol layers, incorporating one or more of:
- ARCNET
- DECnet
- Ethernet
- IP
- TCP
- UDP
- AppleTalk
- Token Ring
- IPX
- FDDI
- HIPPI
- Myrinet
- QsNet
- ATM
- RS-232
- IEEE-488
- USB
- IEEE 1394 aka Firewire, iLink
- X.25
- Frame relay
- Bluetooth
- IEEE 802.11
- System Network Architecture
For a list of more see Network protocols
For standards see IEEE 802.
Suggested topics
Further reading for acquiring an in-depth understanding of computer networks include:
- Communication theory
- OSI model
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Data transmission
-
Public switched telephone network
- Modems and dialup
- Wireless transmission
- Wired Transmission
- Optical fiber transmission
-
Public switched telephone network
- Computer networking device
- Network card
- Routing
- Bitnet
- Internet networks:
References
- Andrew S. Tanenbaum, "Computer Networks" (ISBN 0133499456).
- Important publications in computer networks
External links
- Networking and Microcomputers
- Network - eLook Computing Reference - defines what a network is and provides leading links
- Networking: K-12
See also computing, internet, routing