Consider networking multiple computers in your home or office to share files and devices such as printers, scanners or net storage, or to simultaneously surf the internet from any computer in any room in your home.
Computer Networking:
· The Wired Network - Offers faster network speed for file transfers, and overall lower cost for hardware
· The Wireless Network - Offers the ability to roam within the covered area. It’s easily expandable and there are no cables to worry about. To connect wireless your devices must have either wireless capability built in, or a wireless card or adapter (wireless cards and adapters are available for laptops, desktops, PDA's, printers, etc.)
The two Main Types of Networks are the Local Area Network (LAN) and the Wide Area Network (WAN).
Local Area Network (LAN):
· Confined to a single building
· They connect workstations and personal computers
· Allows many users to share the same devices, such as printers, scanners and data
Wide-Area Network (WAN) - multiple LANs connected over any distance via telephone lines and radio waves:
· Allows multiple workstations that are not in the same building to be connected
· Enables your network to be setup as a Server-Client Network or as a Client-to-Client Network.