The fourth week

Week four was very interested to me. Our lecturer showed us some videos about the network. The videos were very good and I have learnt lots of concept about the network. Firstly, I have learnt that a computer network means a group of interconnected computers. This leads to some advantages such as resource sharing, information sharing, and promote communication and collaboration. I also learnt the components of a computer network which are communication media, interconnecting devices, computers, networking software, and applications. I also learnt the basic network concepts which are topology, protocol, and architecture. After that, I have learnt some concepts for data transmission such as bandwidth, analog, serial, and parallel transmission. I also learnt the types of signal which are analog signal (radio signal) and digital signal. Secondly, I have learnt that communication channel means some type of link throw which the data can be transmitted or transferred from one computer to another. Therefore, to send data through a channel requires some type of transmission media, which may be either physical or wireless. Physical media such as twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable, fiber- optic cable, and ISDN- line. However, wireless media such as microwave system, satellite system, cellular technology, and infrared technology.

Thirdly, I have learnt the types of network (LAN, MAN, and WAN). LAN-Local Area Network is a network of computers that are in the same physical location, or that spans a small area such as a building or an office and it usually connecting using Ethernet. MAN-Metropolitan Area is a network in a City a Network. However, WAN-Wide Area network is a network that spans a wide geographical area. Then I learnt about peer-to peer networking. It has some advantages such as all the computers in peer to peer network are considered equal and it is inexpensive and easy to install. However, the problem in peer-to peer networking is it just works best with 10 or fewer users. Finally, I learnt about the server based network. It has some advantages such as it may handle thousands of users. However, it has also some disadvantages such as it is more expensive.