Contents

1 Introduction to Computer Network....................................................2

1.1 Application of computer network.................................................3
1.2 Peer-to-Peer Networking............................................................4
1.3 Client/Server Networking...........................................................5
2 Types of Network...........................................................................7
2.1 LAN - Local Area Network...........................................................7
2.2 WAN - Wide Area Network..........................................................8
2.3 WLAN - Wireless Local Area Network............................................8
2.4 MAN - Metropolitan Area Network................................................8
2.5 CAN - Campus Area Network......................................................8
2.6 Storage Area Network................................................................9
2.7 System Area Network................................................................9
1 Introduction to Computer Network
A computer network is a group of interconnected computers. Networks
may be classified according to a wide variety of characteristics. A computer
network can be two computers connected:

A computer network can also consist of, and is usually made for, more than
two computers:

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1.1 Application of computer network

 Resource Sharing
 Hardware (computing resources, disks, printers)
 Software (application software)

 Information Sharing
 Easy accessibility from anywhere (files, databases)
 Search Capability (WWW)

 Communication
 Email
 Message broadcast

 Remote computing

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1.2 Peer-to-Peer Networking

Based on their layout (not the physical but the imagined layout, also
referred to as topology), there are two types of networks. A network is
referred to as peer-to-peer if most computers are similar and run
workstation operating systems:

It typically has a mix of Microsoft Windows 9X, Me, Windows XP Home

Edition, or Windows XP Professional (you can also connect a Novell SUSE
Linux as part of a Microsoft Windows-based network; the current release of
the operating system is really easily to install and made part of the
network).

In a peer-to-peer network, each computer holds its files and resources.

Other computers can access these resources but a computer that has a
particular resource must be turned on for other computers to access the

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resource it has. For example, if a printer is connected to computer A and
computer B wants to printer to that printer, computer A must be turned On.

1.3 Client/Server Networking

A computer network is referred to as client/server if (at least) one of the

computers is used to "serve" other computers referred to as "clients".
Besides the computers, other types of devices can be part of the network:

In a client/server environment, each computer still holds (or can still hold)
its (or some) resources and files. Other computers can also access the
resources stored in a computer, as in a peer-to-peer scenario. One of the
particularities of a client/server network is that the files and resources are
centralized. This means that a computer, the server, can hold them and
other computers can access them. Since the server is always On, the client

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machines can access the files and resources without caring whether a certain
computer is On.

Another big advantage of a client/server network is that security is created,

managed, and can highly get enforced. To access the network, a person,
called a user must provide some credentials, including a username and a
password. If the credentials are not valid, the user can be prevented from
accessing the network.

The client/server type of network also provides many other advantages such
as centralized backup, Intranet capability, Internet monitoring, etc.

In these series of lessons, the network we will build is based on Microsoft

Windows operating systems (I have been able to fully connect some versions
of Linux, such as Novell SUSE Linux, into a Microsoft Windows-based
network but at the time of this writing, I will not be able to address that).

In our lessons, we will mention the names of companies or provide links.

These are only indications and not advertisements. Any other company or
link that provides the mentioned service is suitable.

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2 Types of Network
One way to categorize the different types of computer network designs is by
their scope or scale. For historical reasons, the networking industry refers to
nearly every type of design as some kind of area network. Common
examples of area network types are:

 LAN - Local Area Network

 WLAN - Wireless Local Area Network
 WAN - Wide Area Network
 MAN - Metropolitan Area Network
 SAN - Storage Area Network
 CAN - Campus Area Network
 PAN - Personal Area Network

LAN and WAN were the original categories of area networks, while the others
have gradually emerged over many years of technology evolution.

2.1 LAN - Local Area Network

 Definition: A local area network (LAN) supplies networking capability

to a group of computers in close proximity to each other such as in an
office building, a school, or a home. A LAN is useful for sharing resources
like files, printers, games or other applications. A LAN in turn often
connects to other LANs, and to the Internet or other WAN.

 Most local area networks are built with relatively inexpensive hardware
such as Ethernet cables, network adapters, and hubs. Wireless LAN and
other more advanced LAN hardware options also exist.

 Specialized operating system software may be used to configure a local

area network. For example, most flavors of Microsoft Windows provide a
software package called Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) that supports
controlled access to LAN resources.

 Examples: The most common type of local area network is an Ethernet

LAN. The smallest home LAN can have exactly two computers; a large
LAN can accommodate many thousands of computers.

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2.2 WAN - Wide Area Network

 Definition: A WAN spans a large geographic area, such as a state,

province or country. WANs often connect multiple smaller networks, such
as local area networks (LANs) or metro area networks (MANs).

 The world's most popular WAN is the Internet. Some segments of the
Internet, like VPN-based extranets, are also WANs in themselves. Finally,
many WANs are corporate or research networks that utilize leased lines.

 WANs generally utilize different and much more expensive networking

equipment than do LANs. Key technologies often found in WANs include
SONET, Frame Relay, and ATM.

2.3 WLAN - Wireless Local Area Network

 Definition: WLANs provide wireless network communication over short

distances using radio or infrared signals instead of traditional network
cabling.

 A WLAN typically extends an existing wired local area network. WLANs

are built by attaching a device called the access point (AP) to the edge of
the wired network. Clients communicate with the AP using a wireless
network adapter similar in function to a traditional Ethernet adapter.

 Network security remains an important issue for WLANs. Random wireless

clients must usually be prohibited from joining the WLAN. Technologies
like WEP raise the level of security on wireless networks to rival that of
traditional wired networks.

 Examples: For WLANs that connect to the Internet, Wireless Application

Protocol (WAP) technology allows Web content to be more easily
downloaded to a WLAN and rendered on wireless clients like cell phones
and PDAs.

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2.4 MAN - Metropolitan Area Network

 Metropolitan Area Network - A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is a

large computer network that spans a metropolitan area or campus. Its
geographic scope falls between a WAN and LAN.

 MANs provide Internet connectivity for LANs in a metropolitan region, and

connect them to wider area networks like the Internet.

 A MAN is typically owned and operated by a single entity such as a

government body or large corporation.

2.5 SAN - Storage Area Network

 Definition: A storage area network (SAN) is a type of local area

network (LAN) designed to handle large data transfers. A SAN typically
supports data storage, retrieval and replication on business networks
using high-end servers, multiple disk arrays and Fiber Channel
interconnection technology.

 The term SAN can sometimes refer to system area networks instead of a
storage area network. System area networks are clusters of high
performance computers used for distributed processing applications
requiring fast local network performance. Storage area networks, on the
other, are designed specifically for data management.

2.6 CAN - Campus Area Network

 Campus Area Network – A (CAN) is a computer network that

interconnects local area networks throughout a limited geographical area,
such as a university campus, a corporate campus, or a military base.

 It could be considered a metropolitan area network that is specific to a

campus setting. A campus area network is, therefore, larger than a local
area network but smaller than a wide area network.

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2.7 Personal Area Network

 A Personal Area Network (PAN) is a computer network used for

communication among computer devices (including telephones and
personal digital assistants) close to one person. The reach of a PAN is
typically a few meters.

 PAN’s can be used for communication among the personal devices

themselves (intrapersonal communication), or for connecting to a higher
level network and the Internet.

 Personal area networks may be wired with computer buses such as USB
and FireWire. However, a Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) is
made possible with network technologies such as Infrared (IrDA) and
Bluetooth.