Reflection #3

Today's topic is Introduction to Networking and we are reminded to differentiate the difference between telecommunication and networking. first and foremost, Dr. Dayang gave us an example of networking from the stone age where the situation is Caveman A wanted to invite Caveman B who live too far away from him for a game of hurling stone to each other. Caveman A cannot use a drum because it cannot be heard. We have to give suggestion on how to solve the problem that Caveman A encounter. Finally, she gave out few solutions ;

Walk over Caveman B

Get a bigger drum

Ask Caveman C who lived halfway between them to forward the message

Voila! There we have a simple idea of networking before we proceed to the technical meaning of networking. Basically, networking means a collection of connected intelligent computing devices. The basic networking is a connection between two computer by direct cabling.

Besides that, networking also means connecting a computer with other computer or other devices to enable them to communicate with each other.

There are four popular networks in used:

LAN (Local Area Network)

WAN (Wide Area Network)

MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

PAN (Personal Area Network)

LAN is usually used in small area and limited to geographical area such as computer lab, school and building. This network is rarely used for more than a mile apart. A typical LAN such as in a computer lab usually use one computer as a server functioned to control the network shared by all computers attached to it. The are two ways of connecting LAN which are:

Bounded (by using cable)

Unbounded (without using cable or known as wireless)