Have you ever wondered how a message from my place can reach someone in another city, state, or even country? It’s because of Computer Network. If you ask developers to explain it they will start throwing jargon like HTTP, TCP, Headers, Payload etc and you may feel overwhelmed.

In the next few blogs, I will try to break down the commonly used Computer Network jargon into easily understandable words so that you will not feel overwhelmed.

Let’s divide them into different parts and cover them one by one.

• Network Fundamentals

• Network Types

• Network Components

• Network Layers (OSI Model)

• Network Protocols

• Data Transmission

• Network Configurations

• Network Concepts

• Security Terms

In this blog let’s cover the Network Fundamentals, which is the foundation for the remaining topics.

What is a Network?

A network is a collection of interconnected devices such as your computer, mobile, servers and other hardware and software that communicate with each other to share resources and data.

The connection can be wired or wireless.

Example Analogy: You can think of networks as connected railway stations. The railway station is your hardware and the people who run it are software

Why network is important?

• It allows the sharing of resources

  • Just like multiple railways share the track, a Network enables the sharing of resources for everyone.

• It allows communication

  • Just like the railway enables signals to communicate with drivers, a Network enables several ways for communication.

• It allows collaboration

  • The railway allows for ticket booking from multiple vendors and provides a seamless experience, the same way the network enables collaboration for users to work seamlessly.

• Access to Information and Services

  • The railway station provides services like halting, food etc and information for tourists the same way the network offers services and information to the user such as cloud storage and data as information.

• Cost Efficiency

  • Building separate railway tracks for each train would be inefficient and costly. Similarly, networks allow organizations to reduce costs by sharing resources.

• Scalability and Flexibility

  • As demand increases railway can increase or decrease the railway and add or remove the coaches which offers Scalability and Flexibility, same way whenever needed network can add or remove the servers, users etc

Key Principles of Networking

• Connectivity

  • The railway tracks connect the stations, making connectivity possible. Similarly, connectivity in a network lets multiple devices talk to each other and stay connected.

• Addressing

  • Every railway station has a unique name and code to identify. Networks also have addressing to uniquely identify the devices.

• Routing

  • Every railway will have some route to reach. The network provides routing which helps to reach the destination in less time and ensures efficient and reliable communication.

• Security

  • Railway stations and trains employ security measures like CCTV cameras, alarms etc. In networking, security measures like firewalls, encryption, and access controls safeguard data and devices from unauthorized access

Conclusion

Understanding computer network fundamentals is essential for navigating our digital world, enabling efficient communication and resource sharing. Stay tuned for more insights as we delve deeper into networking concepts.

Happy Learning...! ✌️✌️✌️

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