Networking is a way to connect to the Internet, game consoles, printers and other computers in small office or your home. It is relationship building among people with similar interests and goals. It involves actively getting to know people and developing an ever-increasing list of connections.
Networking is not a one-time event or a one-sided approach in which you never give anything back. Rather, it’s a key strategy in the career management process.
In information technology, networking is the construction, design, and use of a network, including the physical (hub, cabling, bridge, router switch and so forth),.
It can be easily transfers files, pictures, music and information without using a disk or burning a CD. It also enables you in your home or office to share one broadband Internet connection, one printer, one scanner etc.
Why do you need Network?
- Networking is smart, efficient and cost effective.
- Share your Broadband connection with high-speed access.
- Ability to share files, pictures, music and more with everyone on the network.
- Printer and other peripherals now everyone can use without any fuss.
- Secure your home network, so intruders can’t access your private files.
- Secure your computers
- Expand your Network by using standard technologies and it will be easy to add new computers and devices to your network.
- Get leads on other organizations that may be hiring
- Get referrals to other people
- Find out what skills, abilities, etc. are needed for the job or field you’re Targeting
- Get information about management styles and culture to see if you fit
Types of Network
- LAN – Local Area Network
- WAN – Wide Area Network
- PAN – Personal Area Network
- DAN – Desk Area Network
- MAN – Metropolitan Area Network
- WLAN – Wireless Local Area Network
- SAN – Storage Area Network, System Area Network, Server Area Network, or sometimes Small Area Network
- CAN – Campus Area Network, Controller Area Network, or sometimes Cluster Area Network
Local Area Network(LAN) – It connects network devices over a relatively short distance. A networked office building, home or school usually contains a single LAN, though sometimes one building will contain a few small LANs (perhaps one per room), and a LAN will span a group of nearby buildings.
Wide Area Network(WAN) – It spans a large physical distance. The Internet is the largest WAN, spanning the Earth.
A network device called a router connects LANs to a WAN. In IP networking, the router maintains both a WAN address a LAN address. Most WANs (like the Internet) are not owned by any one organization or a person but rather exist under collective or distributed ownership and management. It tends to use technology like ATM, Frame Relay and X.25 for connectivity over the longer distances.
While LAN and WAN are by far the most popular network types mentioned:
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN )- a LAN based on WiFi wireless network technology
Campus Area Network (CAN) – a network spanning multiple LANs but smaller than a MAN, such as on a university or local business campus.
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN )- a network spanning a physical area larger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN, such as a city. A MAN is typically owned an operated by a single entity such as a government body or large corporation.
System Area Network – links high-performance computers with high-speed connections in a cluster configuration. Also known as Cluster Area Network.
Storage Area Network – connects servers to data storage devices through a technology like Fibre Channel.
So, in short, a network is convenient and it can save you money.