FINLANDIA SCHOOLCOMPONENTS OF COMPUTER NETWORK
1. Core components: The Computers:
a. Servers: A very powerful, high capacity computer that provides resources to other computers in a network. E.g. file server, print server, web server.
b. Client (or Node/Workstation): A regular computer that requests and uses the resources provided by the server.
2. Network Hardware(The connection Devices)
a. Network Interface Card(NIC): A piece of hardware inside the computer that allows it to physically connect to the network. It provides the "port" for the network cable( or the antenna for the Wi-Fi)
b. Hub: A simple older device used to connect multiple computers in a LAN(or star topology)
c. Switch: A modern, intelligent device used to connect multiple computers in a LAN.
D. Router: A "gateway" device that connects different networks together e.g, Wi-Fi router.
3. Network Media(The path)
a. Cabled Media(Wired)
(i) Twisted pair(Ethernet cable): The most common cable for LANs. it looks like a telephone cord but is thicker
(ii) Fibre Optic cable: it transmits data as pulses of light down a thin glass strand. it is extremely fast, expensive and used for high speed connections like WANs or MANs
b. Wireless Media: transmits data using electromagnetic waves(like radio waves) through the air, without needing cables e.g. wireless fidelity(Wi-Fi) uses radio waves to create a wireless LAN that we use in homes and offices.