What is a network ?
A computer network is defined as a group of computers which share the resources such as software, hardware and other computing resources like operating system, database, and others. Inside a network, computers are connected to each other through a communication channel. Apart from the shared resources, each computer has its own set of resource.
Client and Server
A server is responsible to have all the resources that can be shared. These resources form the services provided by the server like database service, printing service, and the like.
Clients are systems that access the shared resources that lie at the server.
How network works ?
The computers and the shared resources are connected to the network via network bus. When a computer transmits data for others, it is transmitted in the form of data groups called data packets. Each computer on the network acts as the receiver of the data packet.
The packet contains the addresses of the sender and the receiver. Based on the address, the actual recipient receives the packet. The other computers reject the packet since the address does not matches with their own address.
The sender’s address is included in order that the recipient should know the address so that response can be sent to the correct computer.
Network protocols
Every network functions according to the set of pre defined rules. These rules underline the communication which takes place between the computing systems in the network.
The rules are called network protocols.
The communication should take place according to the rules otherwise the networked systems can not communicate with each other.
Network security
Similar to an individual computer, the network also has its own security mechanism to prevent unauthorized access to the network and its components and data. Only the networked computers are authorized and allowed access.