Page 16 - Handout Computer Network.

CHAPTER 2

NETWORK FUNDAMENTAL AND LAYERED NETWORK

ARCHITECTURE

2.1 Introduction

Data networks developed as a result of businesses and government agencies needing to
exchange electronic information across long distances. At the time, microcomputers were not
connected as mainframe computer terminals, so there was no efficient way of sharing data between
multiple microcomputers, It became apparent that sharing data through the use of floppy disks was
not an efficient or cost-effective manner in which to conduct business. Each time a file was modified,
it had to be shared again with all the other people who needed it. If two people modified the file and
then tried to share it, one of the sets of changes would be lost.

Businesses needed a solution that would address the following concerns:

• How to avoid duplication of equipment and resources

• How to communicate efficiently

• How to set up and manage a network Businesses realized that networking technology
could increase productivity while saving money.
Networks were added and expanded almost as rapidly as new network technologies and
products were introduced. In the early 1980s, networking saw a tremendous expansion, even
though the early development of networking was chaotic.
2.2 Networking Terminology

This section introduces the concept and history of the data network.
It also discusses the basic features of the following types of networks:

• Local-area networks (LANs)
• Wide-area networks (WANs)
• Metropolitan-area networks (MANs)

• Storage-area networks (SANs)
• Data centers

• Intranets
• Extranets

• Virtual private networks (VPNs)

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