DEFINITION OF NETWORK
1) In information technology, a network is a series of points or nodes interconnected by communication paths.
2) Networks can interconnect with other networks and contain subnetworks.
BENEFIT OF COMPUTER NETWORK
The many benefits that networking offers to us are:
1.Helps to enhance connectivity : Networks connect and link unlimited number of computers. This in turn connects the people using those computers. Individuals within a work group are connected through local area networks. Many LANs in far off locations are interconnected through larger wide area networks (WANs). These connections ease out communication between people using technologies like e-mail. Today e-mail has become the easiest, and cheapest mode of transformation of information between the users.
2.Networking helps in sharing of hardware:
Networks help in sharing of different kinds of hardware devices. For example, sharing of a single printer in an office of twenty people is done through networking of wires. This saves lot of cost that could otherwise have incurred if twenty different printers were provided for each computer in use.
3.Eases out management of data.
Networking provides the advantage of centralization of data from all the user systems to one system where it can be managed in an easy and better way. Administrators can thus manage all this data efficiently and in the best interest of the company. Even the access of this data becomes easy for the users.
4.Internet
The most beautiful gift of networking is internet that is massively used by people all over the world. Whenever you are accessing Internet, you are making use of a network. The benefits of internet need no mentioning. Thanks to the wonderful world of networking.
5.Data Sharing
Sharing of data through the use of networks helps save a lot of time and energy. It also facilitates the use of applications like databases that are based on ability of many individuals to access and to share exactly the same data.
6.Networking has promoted gaming.
Many internet games like WOW accounts are being played by players all over the world using common servers. These give fun and enjoyment to people and also improve their skills.
THE DEVICES NEEDED IN COMPUTER NETWORKS
1) Computer network devices also known as communication devices and they constitute a data communication network.
2) These devices are routers, switches, hubs, LAN cards, gateway, modems, hardware firewall, CSU/DSU, ISDN terminals and transceivers.
