Networking

A network is an interconnected system of things or people. When we are talking about networking with reference to computers, we refer to a group of systems that are connected to each other or to the Internet. You can connect televisions, game consoles, and even printers to exchange and share all kinds of resources.

Networking is a very popular tool that is used for business marketing and social communication. Types of networking include local area networking, wide area networking, wireless networking, social networking, and dial-up networking. Routers, switches, Ethernet cables, and network adapters are required to connect systems.

Networking Types

There are different networking types that you can choose from when it comes to sharing and exchanging information. Types of networking include simple networking, local area networking (LAN), Wide Area Networking (WAN), remote access, and wireless networking. A LAN is used to connect systems in a small area like an office or company while a WAN refers to a connection of computers that is spread over a wide geographical area. Wireless networking connects systems without wires or cables.

Application Protocol

The top most layer of Open System Interconnectivity (OSI) is the application protocol. There are seven layers in an OSI model. They are the physical layer, data link layer, network layer, application layer, transport layer, session layer, and presentation layer. An application protocol helps carry out communication using an Internet Protocol. Proper validation and authentication of the device that carries the message is done by application protocol. Common Application Specific Elements (CASE) and Specific Application Specific Elements (SASE) are the two types of application protocols.

Data Transfer Rates

The speed at which data is transferred from one system to another is known as a data transfer rate. The transfer of data does not take place at the same speed between different computer systems. In order to calculate the data transfer rate, we need to consider the amount of data that is being sent and the type of system that is being used. Data transfer rates are measured in Kilobits per second (kbps), Megabits per second (Mbps), Kilobytes per second (KB/s), and Megabytes per second (MB/s).

Network Monitoring

When information is sent across a network, it is essential to have a security patrol system that keeps a check on the data that is being sent and the processes that is used for data transfer. This security system is known as network monitoring. This monitoring system checks data transactions that take place and notifies the system administrator through e-mails or pagers in case a problem crops up. Pinging, packet sniffing, monitoring software, and port scanning are examples of network monitoring techniques.

Wireless Networking

Wireless networking connects systems without cables or wires. Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth, Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology, Personal Communications Services (PCS), 3G technology, and Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN) are examples of wireless networking systems. Wireless networking has gained a lot of popularity in the recent times by enabling faster data transfer.