Computer networks - Definition and Overview

A computer network is a system for communication among two or more computers.

Categorizing

By range

• personal area network (PAN)
  • wireless PAN
• local area network (LAN)
  • wireless LAN
• metropolitan area network (MAN)
• wide area network (WAN)

By functional relationship

• client-server
• multitier architecture
• Peer-to-peer

By network topology

• bus network
• star network
• ring network
• grid network
• toroidal networks and hypercubes
• tree and hypertree networks

By specialized function

• Storage area networks
• Server farms
• Process control networks
• Value added network
• SOHO network
• Wireless community network

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
  • Application layer
  • Presentation layer
  • Session layer
  • Transport layer
  • Network layer
  • Data link layer
  • Physical layer
• Data transmission
  • Public switched telephone network
    • Modems and dialup
  • Wireless transmission
    • Short range
      • Bluetooth
    • Medium range
      • IEEE 802.11
    • Long range
      • Satellite
      • MMDS
      • SMDS
      • Cellular telephone data transmission
        • CDMA
        • CDPD
        • GSM
        • TDMA
      • Paging networks
        • DataTAC
        • Mobitex
        • Motient
  • Wired Transmission
    • Dedicated lines (leased lines)
    • Time-division multiplexing
    • Packet switching
    • Frame relay
    • PDH
    • Ethernet
    • RS-232
  • Optical fiber transmission
    • Synchronous optical networking
    • Fiber distributed data interface
• Computer networking device
• Network card
• Routing
• Bitnet
• Internet networks:
  • Backbone
  • Transit
  • Stub
• Network Naming Schemes

See also

• Computing
• Internet
• Routing

References

• Andrew S. Tanenbaum, "Computer Networks" (ISBN 0133499456).
• Important publications in computer networks

External links

• Networking and Microcomputers (http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-921/networking.htm)
• Network - eLook Computing Reference (http://www.elook.org/computing/network.htm) - defines what a network is and provides leading links
• Networking: K-12 (http://www.ericdigests.org/1993/k-12.htm)