Different Elements of Networking

You might have worked in computers in the labs of your school or college. As a student, have you ever wondered how an admin could operate and control every other system without physical interaction with those? Because all the systems are connected, the admin can add/delete/ or monitor the activities of any system. This is how networking works. 

Computer networks are an essential component of any office, large or small. While large organisations often have corporate networks with thousands of users, including a complicated array of servers, systems, linkages, and the like, small businesses must function at a much lower level, which should be carefully structured.

A typical small office network might have a dozen or two PCs and other critical components such as servers, networked printers, and network access. Such computer networks must find the ideal balance between capability and cost. Given that most firms have just one or two people administering the computer network, it is critical that such a system be as simple as feasible following a one-time installation by a consultant.

Sharing information between users is one of the essential uses of an office network. It allows numerous people to share a single printer or other peripheral devices. But before we go into the different network elements, let us define a network.

Define Network

It is the linking of more than two computing devices for data exchange and communication. These computer devices may be smartphones, IoT devices, laptops, tablets, and so on, and they are linked through a channel such as wired or wireless.

WhatsApp, browser, email, and so on are all software that uses computer networks in the background to share information with other computers. Both software and hardware work together to enable successful computer communication and the formation of a computer network.

The internet has grown quite popular in today's globe. So, the INTERNET is nothing more than a massive scale of computing equipment linked to exchange data. This is a good example of a computer network.

There is a concept known as Network and Networking -

• The network is a collection of computing devices communicating with one another over media.
• When there is communication between networking devices utilising a set of protocols, this is referred to as networking.

Elements of Networking

A computer network's components are the pieces (hardware, software, or media) of computing equipment that contribute to the formation of a computer network. A computer network is made up of three network layers:

• Node
• Media
• Services

These are further subdivided into several separate components that we shall see later in this post. First, let's go through the fundamentals of these three components -

• Node: It could be a printer, computer, or any other device that has the potential to deliver and receive data created by other network nodes. Routers, switches/hubs, computers, and so forth are such examples.
• Media: It is a transmission channel that links multiple nodes and aids in transmitting data from a single node to another in a network. It could be wireless or wired.
• Services: These are activities that may be carried out with the assistance of a computer network. Web browsing, chat, email, and so on are such examples.

These are the superset of the basic components required to establish a computer network, and these are Hardware-related.

So, the word protocol refers to the rules that every node in the network must agree on for data transmission to be successful.

In the actual world, a computer network contains a number of network protocols that are used to move data over the network, such as the TCP/IP network architecture.

These are the fundamentals of computer networks. And now, the components of the computer network are

Node

A node is a computational device linked to the network to exchange data. Nodes can be any device that receives and transmits data via a network for communication to be effective. Laptops, smartphones, routers, and other such devices are examples. Nodes are also classified into two types:

• End Nodes: 
• Intermediate Nodes

End Nodes: End nodes are nodes that are either the starting or the final point of communication. If two devices, A and B, desire to interact, the End Node is the device that starts the connection and the other device that accepts the connection. These devices connect through the use of intermediate nodes.

The End Nodes are

• Network Printers
• Computers
• Telepresence Endpoints
• VoIP Phones
• Mobile Handheld Devices,
• Security Cameras

Intermediary Nodes: Well, Intermediary Nodes are those nodes that serve as a conduit for messages or data to be passed from one node to another. These are also known as routing nodes. In other words, intermediary nodes are located between end nodes.

The Intermediary Nodes are as follows:

Repeaters:

• Analog Repeaters
• Digital Repeaters
• Wired Repeaters
• Wireless Repeaters
• Local Repeaters
• Remote Repeaters

HUB:

• Active HUB
• Intelligent HUB
• Passive Hub

Switch:

• Managed Switch
• Unmatched Switch
• PoE Switch
• LAN Switch

Routers:

• Edge Routers
• Core Routers - Label Edge Routers - Subscriber Edge Routers
• Broadband Routers
• Brouters
• Wireless Routers
• Distribution Routers

Bridge:

• Remote Bridge
• Local Bridge

Media

It is the medium via which the signal is sent between nodes. It is also known as the node connection. The backbone that allows nodes to connect is media. It is classified into two categories:

• Wireless Media
• Wired Media

Wireless Media: Data is sent wirelessly without the use of a physical cable. The data is said to be sent over the air. It is also known as unguided media. We used the following forms of wireless media:

• Infrared
• Radio (WiFi)
• Microwave (Radio Frequency)
• Satellite

Wired Media: It contains a physical cable that connects the nodes. It is also known as the guided medium. The signals were sent using several forms of wired media.

• Twisted Pair Cable
• Shielded Twisted Pair Cable
• Coaxial Cable
• Optical Fiber Cable

Services

Well, computer networks provide various services that we rely on in our everyday lives. Services like:

• World Wide Web
• Video Conferencing
• Online Games
• Instant Messaging
• File Sharing
• Storage
• Email

Wrapping Up

A network is an operational glue that holds a firm together in today's business ecosystem. It allows for communication, cooperation, and the storing of data. Nonetheless, if that "glue" is insufficient, it undermines a company's network infrastructure, putting crucial assets at risk. The diverse structure of a network implies that threats are always growing, from personal devices to remote workstations. 

So, businesses hire skilled professionals who are efficient in managing networking protocols and securing data. At Skill-Lync, we offer industry-relevant technical training courses in networking and its associated concepts. Students who pursue a networking course will be closer to obtaining diverse learning skills and total working knowledge. So, what are you waiting for? Contact us immediately to enter a whole new world of online education!