Over a period of time, computers have become an indispensable part of businesses. Installation of computers, their support and maintenance are services all organizations require. As businesses grow, the number of computers in the organization also increase. It becomes imperative to establish a systematic way to connect these computers so that they function in a hassle-free manner. Therefore, computers are interconnected in various ways. This is the concept of a computer network.
What is a computer network?
A computer network can be understood as a number of computers connected together to share resources. The most common resource shared is the internet. Other resources can be printers, file servers, etc. The computers in the network may be connected through an Ethernet cable or wirelessly through radio waves.
Now we will see how the individual computers in a network are connected:
Computers connected in a network are referred to as nodes.
Star Topology:
In this case, there is a central node from which connections are provided to individual computers. In this case, even if there is any problem with a particular cable, the other computers can continue to function undisturbed. On the flipside, this type of connection requires a lot of cabling.
Bus Topology:
In this case, all the computers are connected by a single cable. The information that is intended for the last computer needs to travel through all the nodes. The chief benefit is that it requires minimal cabling. However, if there is any fault in the cable, all the computers are affected.
Ring Topology:
In this topology, all the computers are connected through a single cable. The end nodes are also connected to each other. The signal circulates through the network to reach the intended recipient. In case, a network node is configured incorrectly or there is some other issue, the signal will make numerous attempts to find the intended recipient.
Collapsed Ring Topology:
In this case, the central node is a network device known as the hub, router or switch. This device runs in a ring featuring plugins for cables. And, each computer is independently connected to the device through individual cables.
Each organization chooses its own topology of the computer network to ensure a streamlined functioning of their computers. Once the computers are connected, offices also have separate cabling closets, which is essentially a space containing a switch device that connects to the network.
There are a number of computer network companies that provide the services of installation, maintenance, and support services ensuring smooth and streamlined functioning of your systems.