A computer network is a digital telecommunications network which allows nodes to share resources. In computer networks, computing devices exchange data with each other using connections (data links) between nodes.

computer networking!!!

 A piece of a message transmitted over a packet-switching network. See under packet switching. One of the key features of a packet is that it contains the destination address in addition to the data. In IP networks, packets are often called diagrams.

packet!!!

a computer network in which the computers connected may be far apart, generally having a radius of half a mile or more.

whide area network!!!

A local-area network (LAN) is a computer network that spans a relatively small area. Most often, a LANis confined to a single room, building or group of buildings

LAN!!!

Node - A node is anything that is connected to the network. 

Media Access Control (MAC) address - This is the physical address of any device -- such as the NIC in a computer -- on the network. 

ip adress- Within an isolated network, you can assign IP addresses at random as long as each one is unique. However, connecting a private network to the Internet requires using registered IP addresses (called Internet addresses) to avoid duplicates.

bus-Each node is daisy-chained (connected one right after the other) along the same backbone, similar to Christmas lights. 

 token- is a special series of bits that travels around a token-ring network. As the token circulates, computers attached to the network can capture it. The token acts like a ticket, enabling its owner to send a message across the network.

star network-In a star network, each node is connected to a central device called a hub. The hub takes a signal that comes from any node and passes it along to all the other nodes in the network.

A tree topology combines characteristics of linear bus and star topologies. It consists of groups of star-configured workstations connected to a linear bus backbone cable.

protocal-From a user's point of view, the only interesting aspect about protocols is that your computer or device must support the right ones if you want to communicate with other computers. 

a peer to peer - a type of network in which each workstation has equivalent capabilities and responsibilities.

Client-server architecture (client/server) is a network architecture in which each computer or process on the network is either a client or a server.