1. Introduction to Networking 🛰
A computer network is a system that connects numerous independent computers in order to share information (data)and resources. The integration of computers and other different devices allows users to communicate more easily. Computer networking refers to interconnected computing devices that can exchange data and share resources with each other.Each device in the network is called a node which is connected to other nodes through wired or wireless media.
In other words computer network is a group of computers that has the potential to transmit, receive and exchange voice, data, and video traffic. A network connection can be set up with the help of either cable or wireless media. In modern times, computer networks are very important as information technology is increasing rapidly all over the world. The network and data communication are the essential factors to rise information technology in the world as technology's advancement is on the system, including the gadgets. ARPANET began the networking long ago.
2. How data transmit from source to destination 📲
So how we access data from a specific server. In other words how a data moves from source to destination ! This particular work is done by optical fiber networks.
Suppose our phone is connected to a cellular tower or router but it is somehow connected via a optical fiber cables. All the data which we want to access via internet is store in a drive of a server. Now the main thing is that how this stored data transfer from my device via internet and geographical situation.
Every device which is connected by internet has a particular IP address (internet protocol). Ip address is a string of numbers by which a device identify uniquely. Your internet service provider decide the IP address of your device so that you can able to see your IP address in your specific device.
In other end the server also have IP address. when we search for websites basically we access the IP address of a specific website via domain name, because we can't remember the IP address of all website so, instead of we use domain names for example youtube.com, facebook.com etc. In Clint site the internet service provider manage our DNS services. In simple words when you search for domain name the browser send request to the DNS server to get the corresponding IP address after getting the IP address the browser forward the request to data center most specifically a respective server. Once the request gets access a particular website the server send the data as well via digital format with optical fiber cables. It's basically the light pulses that travels millions of distance to reach their destination. It can easily travel through hills and underwater that is maintain via many organisation. And finally data reach to the router and by Ethernet cable it serve in our local computer. If you use phone tower data the concept is same the data generally reach to cell tower and via signals it is reach to our mobile phone.
3. What is client & server 🖥
A client is a computer or a program that, as part of its operation, relies on sending a request to another program or a computer hardware or software that accesses a service made available by a server (which may or may not be located on another computer). In simple words a client is a program that runs on the local machine requesting service from the server. A client program is a finite program means that the service started by the user and terminates when the service is completed.
In computing, a server is a computer program or a device that provides functionality for called clients which are other programs or devices. This architecture is called the client–server model. A single overall computation is distributed across multiple processes or devices. Servers can provide various functionalities called services. These services include sharing data or resources among multiple clients, or performing computation for a client. In simple words servers provide services that is request by the client with own resources or extract from other resources.
4. What are network service providers 📡
In computing, a network service provider (NSP) is a company that provides network connectivity to commercial Internet service providers (ISP) and large organizations. The NSP provides the backbone of the large network clouds used across the world. This backbone makes it possible for an individual to connect to a local ISP and also communicate to groups on other ISPs throughout the world.
5. Network devices 🛠
Networking devices are important and necessary because to connect with local devices, retrieve and manage data etc. some are those mention below..
Hub : Hubs connect multiple computer networking devices together. A hub also acts as a repeater in that it amplifies signals that deteriorate after traveling long distances over connecting cables. A hub is the simplest in the family of network connecting devices because it connects LAN components with identical protocols.
Switch : Switches generally have a more intelligent role than hubs. A switch is a multi port device that improves network efficiency. The switch maintains limited routing information about nodes in the internal network, and it allows connections to systems like hubs or routers. Strands of LANs are usually connected using switches. Generally, switches can read the hardware addresses of incoming packets to transmit them to the appropriate destination.
Router :
The router is a physical or virtual inter networking device that is designed to receive, analyze, and forward data packets between computer networks. A router examines a destination IP address of a given data packet, and it uses the headers and forwarding tables to decide the best way to transfer the packets. There are some popular companies that develop routers; such are Cisco, HP, D-Link etc.
Bridge : Bridges are used to connect two or more hosts or network segments together. The basic role of bridges in network architecture is storing and forwarding frames between the different segments that the bridge connects. They use hardware Media Access Control (MAC) addresses for transferring frames. Bridges can also be used to connect two physical LANs into a larger logical LAN.
Gateway : Gateways provide translation between networking technologies such as Open System Interconnection (OSI) and Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Because of this, gateways connect two or more autonomous networks, each with its own routing algorithms, protocols, topology, domain name service, and network administration procedures and policies.
Modem : Modems (modulators-demodulators) are used to transmit digital signals over analog telephone lines. Thus, digital signals are converted by the modem into analog signals of different frequencies and transmitted to a modem at the receiving location. The receiving modem performs the reverse transformation and provides a digital output to a device connected to a modem, usually a computer. The digital data is usually transferred to or from the modem over a serial line through an industry standard interface, RS-232. Many telephone companies offer DSL services, and many cable operators use modems as end terminals for identification and recognition of home and personal users. Modems work on both the Physical and Data Link layers.
Repeater : A repeater is an electronic device that amplifies the signal it receives. You can think of repeater as a device which receives a signal and transmits it at a higher level or higher power so that the signal can cover longer distances, more than 100 meters for standard LAN cables. Repeaters work on the Physical layer.
6. Popular reference 🚩
Thanks for reading. I hope you will try it out and learn something new. Also incase i have missed something feel free to share your thoughts and feedback.
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