Computer Networks

The computer networks are the intercommunication systems between two or more than two computers. There is a great necessity for connecting the various computers within an organization or an office or at different places and sometimes within specific radii. All such interlinking comes under the purview of computer networks. This is very useful as it reduces the differences of time, distance and other hardware and software in such a way that the whole world is within your reach and you can access anything or anybody at anytime. The computer networks are of different types-range bound, functional and by specialized functions. When different electronic devices use this networking to interconnect each other to facilitate any single person, it is a personal area network or PAN. This eases out intercommunication between the devices and ensures better connectivity to the outside world. When this same interconnection is through the wireless, it is Wireless personal area network or WPAN. When the computer networks span a local area, which can be a house, a small office or any educational institution, it is a local area network or LAN. Such connectivity spread over a larger area is Metropolitan area network or MAN. When a still wider geographical area comes under a single network, it is a wide area network or WAN. Therefore, many LANs come together under a MAN to get links to WAN. Certain WANs are for private uses only while most Internet service providers establish

the desired connectivity through WAN. Another form of computer networks is that a client and the server connection. Here the client can use both the applications of the server and that of itself. Sometimes there exists a special network connection between the user and particular software. In some cases, peer-to-peer network or P2P is for communication between clients only. When the LAN is within a single room, it is Small office/Home office local area network or SOHO. These computer networks help in sharing information files or Internet access within a single room. All these narrow down the distances and the differences over the availability of soft wares to each individual computer.