What is a Network?
Getting Connected
Generally speaking, a network is essentially the connecting of two or more computers together. That's it, nothing fancy. More specifically, a network can be either wired or wireless (see Wiring for more), and on the geographical level, networks can range from smaller local networks to broader wide area networks.
Local Area Networks
A local area network (LAN) is a network of computers confined to a single location. They are commonly found in homes, offices, and throughout office buildings. The biggest LANs are found connecting entire sites such as university campuses and military bases. A basic LAN setup requires each PC equipped with a network interface card (or NIC) connected to a hub or switch through wiring. A server may be added to make the network a client-server situation.
Wide Area Networks
A wide area network (WAN), on the other hand, consists of a mutiplicity of LANs. For example, an organization or school could have multiple sites, each site having a LAN. But in order to link the LANs in those multiple locations together, a WAN is needed. Communication between these networks and all networks is done through a certain protocol, or network language.
The Internet
The Internet is a prime example of a WAN. Connections to the Internet in different formats (dial-up, cable modem, DSL, etc) are mediated by a variety of Internet service providers (ISPs).
Depending on the type of service and hardware offered, the costs of Internet service providers vary from very inexpensive to highly expensive ($10/month--$10,000/month).
Last Updated 3/29/04
Dustin Wilder
Student, University at Albany