"What Is Computer Networking? Key Characteristics Explained"

 

Introduction to Networks

A network is basically all of the components (hardware and software) involved in connecting computers and applications across small and large distances. Networks are used to provide easy access to information, thus increasing productivity for users. This section covers some of the components involved with networking as well as the basic types of topologies used to connect networking components, including computers. Resources that are commonly shared in a network include data and applications, printers, network storage components (shared disk space), and backup storage components.

Network Characteristics

 The following characteristics should be considered in network design and ongoing maintenance:

o             Cost Includes the cost of the network components, their installation, and their ongoing maintenance.
o   Security Includes the protection of the network components and the data they contain and/or the data transmitted between them.

o   Speed Includes how fast data is transmitted between network end points (the data rate).

o   Topology Describes the physical cabling layout and the logical way data moves between components.

o   Scalability Defines how well the network can adapt to new growth, including new users, applications, and network components.

o   Reliability Defines the reliability of the network components and the connectivity between them. Mean time between failures (MTBF) is a measurement commonly used to indicate the likelihood of a component failing.

o Availability Measures the likelihood of the network being available to the users, where downtime occurs when the network is not available because of an outage or scheduled maintenance. Availability is typically measured in a percentage based on the number of minutes that exist in a year. Therefore, uptime would be the number of minutes the network is available divided by the number of minutes in a year.