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INTRODUCTION-
What is networking?
 A network is a collection of computers and devices connected to each other. The network allows computers to communicate with each other and share resources and information.
 In other words networking can be defined as inter-connection of two or more computers for sharing the resources(hardware and software)and provide security on them.
 Networks are built with a combination of computer hardware and computer software.
Types of computer networks :-
 LAN (LOCAL AREA NETWORK)
 WAN (WIDE AREA NETWORK)
 MAN (METROPOLITAN AREA NETWORK)
 PAN (PERSONAL AREA NETWORK)
 VPN (VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORK)
 CAN (CAMPUS AREA NETWORK)
 GAN(GLOBAL AREA NETWORK)
 SAN (STORAGE AREA NETWORK)
BASIC HARDWARE COMPONENTS
 All networks are made up of basic hardware building blocks to interconnect network nodes, such as Network Interface Cards (NICs), Bridges, Hubs, Switches, and Routers.
 In addition, some method of connecting these building blocks is required, usually in the form of galvanic cable .
 Less common are microwave links or optical cable (“optical fibre"). An Ethernet card may also be required.
Some of the basic components required for interconnecting the network nodes:
 NETWORK INTERFACE CARD
 REPEATERS
 NETWORK HUB
 NETWORK BRIDGE
 NETWORK SWITCH
 ROUTER
NETWORK INTERFACE CARD
 A network card, network adapter or NIC (network interface card) is a piece of computer hardware designed to allow computers to communicate over a computer network.
 It provides physical access to a networking medium and often provides a low-level addressing system through the use of MAC addresses.
REPEATER
 A repeater is an electronic device that receives a signal and retransmits it at a higher power level, or to the other side of an obstruction, so that the signal can cover longer distances without degradation.
 In most twisted pair Ethernet configurations, repeaters are required for cable runs longer than 100 meters.
NETWORK HUB
 A hub contains multiple ports.
 When a packet arrives at one port, it is copied unmodified to all ports of the hub for transmission.
 The destination address in the frame is not changed to a broadcast address.
ROUTER
 Routers are networking devices that forward data packets between networks using headers and forwarding tables to determine the best path to forward the packets.
 Routers work at the network layer .