What is a Computer Network

A computer network is a group of computers or computer like devices connected together to share the network resources like files, data, software, printers, network services etc. A typical computer network consists of users working in workstation computers (also called as clients, or desktops), running client Operating Systems like Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 or Windows 10 and store their files inside a central networked file server.

Computer networks with speed of 10 Gbps (Giga bits per second) are becoming common. These high-speed networks are highly redundant also. If one path to destination is lost, within a fraction of a second another path to destination is found, up and running. Today’s computer networks are designed not only for file transfer or printing, but a variety of different traffic types like voice, video, torrents etc.

Computer networks are required for network communication and network resource sharing (printers, scanners, storage spaces etc.). To build and connect computer networks, we need computers (Clients and Servers) and special network infrastructure devices like switches, routers, firewalls, servers etc.

Computer networks are built using network infrastructure devices. Click the following link to learn about some important network infrastructure devices.