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 Computer Network & Hardware Essentials

Let's start with the components of a network. Hardware components are essential for network communication. One important component is the Network Interface Card (NIC), which is a circuit board or chip installed on a computer. The NIC allows the computer to connect to the network. Another component is the network medium, which can be a cable that plugs into the NIC or even airwaves for wireless networks. Additionally, interconnecting devices enable communication between two or more computers without a direct connection.

Now, let's talk about the software components of a network. Network client and server software play crucial roles in network communication. The client software, such as the Chrome web browser, requests information stored on network computers. On the other hand, server software, like the Apache web server, allows a computer to share its resources with other computers on the network. Protocols are also important in network communication, as they define the rules and format that computers must use when sending information. An example of a protocol is the TCP/IP protocol stack. Lastly, the NIC driver receives data from protocols and forwards it to the physical NIC.

To understand the network communication process, it's helpful to know the layers involved. The process starts with a user application trying to access a network resource. The client software detects the request and passes the message to the network software. The network protocols then package the message in a suitable format and send it to the NIC driver. Finally, the NIC driver sends the data to the NIC card.

Now, let's delve into how two computers communicate on a LAN (Local Area Network). The most common protocol used on networks is TCP/IP. It consists of a logical address, known as the IP address, and a physical address, called the MAC address. Broadcast IP addressing is designed to facilitate message delivery.

Understanding network terminology is crucial for anyone managing a server. It guides operating system agnostic and helps navigate the profession's own language and acronyms. Additionally, internetworks are collections of LANs tied together, while Personal Area Networks (PANs) are groups of network devices that communicate with various connected devices under private ownership. LANs, on the other hand, are private networks where network devices communicate with each other. Wireless LANs are computer networks that are wireless and link two or more devices in a limited area. Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) cover larger areas than LANs but can be expensive. Wide Area Networks (WANs) cover even larger areas and may not be owned by a single organization.

Let's also clarify the terminology related to the internet, intranet, and extranet. The internet refers to the worldwide public internetwork, while an intranet is a private internetwork where devices and servers are only available to connected users. An extranet allows limited and controlled access to internal resources by outside users.

Private IP addresses are reserved for private networks. Organizations that distribute IP addresses reserve a range of addresses for private networks. On the other hand, public IP addresses identify us to the wider internet, allowing information to find us. Private IP addresses are used within a private network to securely connect to other devices within the same network.

Lastly, let's discuss packets and frames. A packet is a chunk of data with source and destination IP addresses added to it. A frame, on the other hand, is a packet with source and destination MAC addresses added to it.

In terms of client and server roles, a client can be a workstation running a client operating system or network software on a computer that requests network resources from a server. The client operating system is the OS installed on the computer, while the client computer's primary role is to run user applications and access network resources. Client software is responsible for requesting network resources from a server on another computer. On the other hand, a server is a computer with software installed that provides network services to client computers. The server operating system is designed to share network resources and provide other network services, while the server computer's primary role is to give client computers access to the network server. Server software responds to requests for resources from client software.

We hope this guide has provided you with a better understanding of computer network and hardware essentials. If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out to us.