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DEFINITION

networking (computer)
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By

 Paul Kirvan
 Jessica Scarpati

What is networking (computer)?

Networking, also known as computer networking, is the practice of
transporting and exchanging data between nodes over a shared medium in an
information system. Networking comprises not only the design, construction
and use of a network, but also the management, maintenance and operation
of the network infrastructure, software and policies.
Computer networking enables devices and endpoints to be connected to each
other on a local area network (LAN) or to a larger network, such as the
internet or a private wide area network (WAN). This is an essential function for
service providers, businesses and consumers worldwide to share resources,
use or offer services, and communicate. Networking facilitates everything from
telephone calls and text messaging to streaming video and the internet of
things (IoT).

Who uses networking?

The level of skill required to operate a network directly correlates to the
complexity of a given network. For example, a large enterprise may have
thousands of network nodes and rigorous security requirements, such as end-
to-end encryption, requiring specialized network administrators to oversee the
network.

Conversely, a layperson may set up and perform basic troubleshooting for

a home Wi-Fi network with a short instruction manual. Both examples
constitute computer networking.

Wired vs. wireless networking

When looking at the physical layer of a computer network, there are two
primary types:

1. Wired networking requires the use of a physical medium for

transport between nodes. Copper-based Ethernet cabling, popular
due to its low cost and durability, is commonly used for digital
communications in businesses and homes. Alternatively, optical
fiber is used to transport data over greater distances and at faster
speeds, but it has several tradeoffs, including higher costs and more
fragile components.
 2. Wireless networking uses radio waves to transport data over the
air, enabling devices to be connected to a network without any
cabling. Wireless LANs (WLANs) are the most well-known and widely
deployed form of wireless networking. Alternatives include microwave,
satellite, cellular and Bluetooth.

Generally, wired networking offers greater speed, reliability and security

compared to wireless networks; wireless networking provides more flexibility,
mobility and scalability.

Types of computer networks

Networks can also be classified according to how they're designed and built,
encompassing approaches that include software-defined networking (SDN)
and overlay networks. Networking can also be categorized by environment and
scale, such as LANs, campus, WANs, data center networks and storage area
networks (SANs). These include the following:

 LANs. LANs are used in business, government and home

environments to interconnect devices within a specific domain, such
as an office building.

 WANs. WANs connect multiple LANs and link large geographic

areas, such as a headquarters location and branch offices across
multiple cities, states or countries.

 Metropolitan area networks. MANs are similar to WANs, with the

key difference being that they encompass one metropolitan area.
Such networks can be used to connect multiple buildings of a large
company, such as a bank, within a city. Multiple organizations can
share high-bandwidth MANs for intracity communications. MANs can
connect to WANs and the internet.

 Campus area networks. CANs are the next size down from MANs.
Government buildings, large enterprises and universities that have
 multiple buildings within a defined geographic area may have a
campus environment. Linking these buildings and the network
infrastructures they contain can be achieved using a CAN.

 SANs. SANs support connections from multiple servers to multiple

storage devices. They're generally secure and can support disaster
recovery.

 WLANs. Most commonly implemented as Wi-Fi, WLANs form LANs

using radio technology.

 Virtual LANs. VLANs are used to create logically segmented

networks within the same physical network, a concept known as
an overlay. This enables network administrators to separate different
types of traffic along the same physical infrastructure.

 Cloud networks. This term can refer to the network infrastructure

and software that connects to public, private or hybrid cloud services.
It can also refer to networking resources that are hosted in the cloud.

 Carrier networks. Large telecommunications companies operate

these large networks, which are among the largest in the world. They
are enormously complex, are highly redundant and have extremely
high bandwidth.
 Network
types vary in terms of scale and the environments they serve.
Network topologies
The physical and logical way a network is configured is called its topology. The
physical deployment may look the same for each topology, but the internal
workings of the network -- its logical structure -- differentiate one network
architecture from another. Network diagrams typically are used to depict
different topologies, with nodes depicted as dots and network links shown as
lines.

The following are six main types of network topologies:

1. Star network. Each node in a star network is connected to a central

hub, typically a computer or server, but not directly to other nodes.
It's also referred to as a hub-and-spoke topology.
2. Ring network. Each node has two connection points for linking to
other devices; in practice, such as when using a token ring network,
each device has a single physical network connection.

3. Mesh network. Each node in a mesh network connects to every other

node; this is often a costly arrangement considering the number of
links required.

4. Point-to-point network. This topology describes dedicated

connections between two nodes. It's most often used in wireless
communications that require line of sight, such as microwave
antennas. It may also be used for dedicated fiber connections
between two sites.

5. Bus network. Each device in a bus network connects to a single

cable called a bus. When data packets traverse the bus, they look for
the "station" containing the correct destination address. This
topology is easy to set up and works well on small networks, but it
quickly runs into scalability and performance challenges on larger
networks.

6. Tree network. Connecting multiple star networks to a shared bus

creates a tree topology.
 Network
topologies map where nodes, such as switches and routers, are placed on a network and
how they're interconnected.
Components of networking
At a high level, computer networking requires a physical network infrastructure
that includes components such as switches, routers and wireless access points.
In addition, networks have underlying firmware that operates such equipment.
Other components include the software to monitor, manage and secure the
network. These network components are present in wired and wireless
networks.

Network devices
Various components connect computing devices to a network medium,
whether wired or wireless. On one side of this connection is data terminal
equipment (DTE), such as computers and telephones. These devices connect
to data communications equipment (DCE), such as modems, routers,
switches and gateways. Network protocols and standards govern the
mechanisms by which DTE connect to DCE, as well as communications
among different types of DCE. Once connected to the network, DTE and DCE
are assigned unique IP addresses.

Links
The wired or wireless network medium that connects devices in a network is
called a link. Today's wired networks can use copper twisted-pair, fiber optic
or coaxial cables. Wireless links use different protocols for sending data and
voice via Wi-Fi, cellular, satellite and microwave technologies. Links can have
physical and logical attributes that correspond to a specific topology
describing how they connect to each other.

Communication protocols
Specifications that define how network devices connect to each other are
called protocols. Protocols are used in wired and wireless networks. For
instance, voice over IP transports IP telephony traffic to any endpoint that
supports the protocol. Hypertext Transfer Protocol provides a common way for
browsers to display webpages. The IP suite, also known as Transmission
Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), is a family of protocols responsible
for transporting data and services over an IP-based network. The TCP/IP
model is divided into four protocol categories, also known as layers, according
to the aspect of network communications they facilitate:

1. Physical layer. Sometimes referred to as the network interface

layer, this layer specifies how devices connect to a network and how
bits are transmitted over the physical media being used. Some
models of TCP/IP have a fifth network access layer.

2. Internet layer. These protocols govern data transfers -- how data

moves from the point of origin to the point of termination. Data is put
in packets with addressing and routing instructions embedded in
each packet. The internet layer determines the most appropriate
route through a network for the packet to reach its destination.
Among the protocols in this layer are IP, Address Resolution
Protocol and Internet Control Message Protocol.

3. Transport layer. Packet switching typically breaks data streams into

discrete packets that contain routing instructions via an IP address.
 Each time a packet queues up for transmission, its path is likely to be
different from other packets based on network traffic and other
criteria. The disassembled packets are subsequently reassembled at
the destination in the correct sequence via the transport layer. This
layer also ensures error-free delivery of packets and can retransmit
packets that are lost or dropped. Transport layer protocols include
TCP and User Datagram Protocol.

4. Application layer. This layer specifies how applications connect to

the network and can transmit and receive data packets. It also
includes security protocols, such as Transport Layer Security.

Networks
are made up of a range of different components and devices.
Advantages of computer networks
Computer networks are ubiquitous today. Businesses, governments,
individuals and communities depend on networking for various benefits:

 Convenience and flexibility. Networks make it faster and easier to

access all kinds of information and resources. With internet-
 connected devices in nearly every pocket, a person can coordinate
transportation, conduct financial transactions, participate in meetings
and perform an almost infinite number of digital activities from almost
anywhere.

 Resource sharing. Network technology links people with all kinds of

information, devices and resources, making it easy to share them.
Access to servers, printers, copiers and scanners helps businesses
of all types and sizes use technology in efficient and cost-effective
ways. Otherwise, each user would need their own copy of each
resource.

 Innovation. The ability to interconnect devices and share data

among them creates the opportunity for new ways of doing business,
operating communities, communicating with others, automating tasks
and more. Notably, networks are a fundamental requirement for IoT,
which encompasses a broad range of innovative applications centered
on the ability for endpoints to share and receive data over a network.

 Data storage. Networks play a key role in data storage. Getting data
from the point of creation to a storage location depends on
networking. Whether stored locally or hosted remotely in a cloud
service, networks transport data to a storage device. Without a network,
people would need to physically transport data from one device to
another.

 Entertainment. Networks make access to an enormous selection of

entertainment sources, such as games, music and video, possible.
The internet enables people around the world to participate in
multiplayer games, for example.
Risks to computer networks
Data networks come with their own set of risks that users must be aware of.
They include the following:
  Security threats. Networks are an attractive target for hackers and
other malicious actors who wish to cause disruptions, divert
resources, steal data or access sensitive information. Ransomware
and phishing are among the most prevalent threats. Encryption, access
control, firewalls and antivirus software are all used to counter
security threats.

 Outages. While service-level agreements provide some measure of

protection against disruption, the reality is that network service
providers can and do experience unplanned outages. For a
business, the loss of internet or WAN connectivity can bring all
operations to a halt.

 Misconfigurations. Network devices must be configured for proper

operation -- a process that's susceptible to human error. For
example, if an incorrect command is issued, a device might not
transmit data as needed.

 Equipment failure. Like any other type of equipment, network

devices can experience hardware- or software-related failures, with
or without warning. To avoid machine failures, network administrators
must maintain an up-to-date inventory of backup devices.

 Power loss. Communications systems need power to operate, so

loss of power without a suitable backup can disrupt business
operations.

 Infrastructure damage. Network integrity depends on the

continuous availability of the supporting infrastructure. This can
include underground cables, aerial cables on poles, carrier switching
center buildings, wireless transmission towers and buildings, and
electric utilities. This infrastructure is susceptible to tornadoes,
earthquakes, floods, electrical storms, solar flares, physical and
cybersecurity breaches, vandalism and terrorism.
The future of networking
Wired and wireless networking will continue to coexist in the coming years.
Speeds are likely to increase as demands for greater speed and bandwidth
continue. Advances in network technology have raised the bar on performance
and reduced latency.

SDN, software-defined WAN and network virtualization have reshaped

networking. It's likely that they will continue to introduce more flexibility and
less reliance on proprietary hardware.

Artificial intelligence, machine learning and automation have the potential to

dramatically influence network performance and management as well. Given the
ever-growing threat of network attacks, AI will likely play an increasingly
important role in network security.

Networks entail a confusing array of wires, switches and other hardware

devices. Learn some best practices for handling network components from a
networking expert.

This was last updated in April 2024

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