A computer network consists of two or more computers that communicate directly with each other without human intervention. The computers in a network may be connected using wires or a wireless technology.
Wired | Description |
| Ethernet cable |
A wiring and signaling standard called IEEE 802.3. An Ethernet cable is a little thicker than a phone wire and contains eight wires (four twisted pairs of wires) while a phone wire contains four wires (two twisted pairs of wires). Theoretical maximum speeds are 10 and 100 Mbps (Megabits per second or millions of bits per second). An Ehternet modular jack is slightly larger than a phone jack and contains eight copper wires instead of the four copper wires in a phone jack. Please see HowStuffWorks, Webopedia, or Wikipedia for more details. |
| Fiber optic cable |
A glass or plastic fiber used to transmit light pulses. Theoretical maximum speeds are 40 Gbps (Gigabits per second or billions of bits per second). Please see HowStuffWorks, Webopedia, or Wikipedia for more details. |
Wireless | Description |
| High-frequency radio waves commonly called Wi-Fi |
A group of radio wave standards called IEEE 802.11. Has a range of 45 meters (indoors) to 90 meters (outdoors). Theoretical maximum speeds are found here (see Throughput column of the table). Please see HowStuffWorks, Webopedia, or Wikipedia for more details. |
| Infrared light waves |
An older communication technology that has been used in PDAs (personal digital assistants). |
| Bluetooth |
A short range radio wave technology used for personal area networks. Has a range of 1 meter (class 3) to 100 meters (class 1). Please see HowStuffWorks or Wikipedia for more details. |
| Satellite |
Includes geostationary orbits,
Molniya orbits, and
low polar Earch orbits. For satellite internet access, maximum download speeds (from satellite to computer) are 24 Mbps, while maximum upload speeds are 1 Mbps. |
Type | Description |
| client-server network |
A server computer acts as central storage location for program and data files. A client computer utilizes the resources provided by a server. A client-server network typically has many server computers and many client computers. When you use a web browser, your PC acts as the client and each domain name represents a server computer that provides your PC with web pages. Please see SearchNetworking.com, TechWeb.com, or Wikipedia for more details. |
| peer-to-peer network |
Any network that does not utilize server computers results in each computer having essentially equal capability. In this type of network, the program and data files are distributed amongst all of the peer computers. Please see TechSoup.com, Webopedia, or Wikipedia for more details. |
Configuration | Description |
| PAN |
Personal Area Network. Devices communicate over very short distances, typically no more than a few meters. Wired technology (e.g. USB, FireWire) or wireless technology (Bluetooth, infrared) are typically used in this configuration. Please see IBM Systems Journal, SearchMobileComputing.com, or Wikipedia for more details. |
| LAN |
Local Area Network. Devices communicate within the same building or in a cluster of buildings that are geographically close to each other. Wired technology (e.g., Ethernet, Fiber optics) or wireless technology (Wi-Fi) are typically used in this configuration. Please see SearchNetworking.com, Webopedia, or Wikipedia for more details. |
| MAN |
Metropolitan Area Network Devices communicate within the same city. Wired technology (e.g., Fiber optics) or wireless technology (Wi-Fi) are typically used in this configuration. Please see SearchNetworking.com, Webopedia, or Wikipedia for more details. |
| WAN |
Wide Area Network. Devices communicate over a very broad geographic range, typically spanning cities and countries. The largest and most well known WAN is the Internet. Wired technology (e.g., Fiber optics) or wireless technology (Satellite) are typically used in this configuration. Please see SearchNetworking.com, Webopedia, or Wikipedia for more details. |
Last updated on Monday, July 31, 2007