Computer networking how does it work

Press ESC to cancel. Skip to content Home Philosophy How do computer networks work? Ben Davis January 17, How do computer networks work? Is Lan better than WiFi? What is difference between wireless and WiFi? Can WiFi work without Internet? What is WLAN example?

Why is WiFi called WiFi? What is the full name of WiFi? Who has the best fiber Internet? Which Internet company is the best? Who is the cheapest home Internet provider?

Who has the faster Internet? Which country has 7G network? Do I need or Mbps? Previous Article How do you explain there and their? Routers connect your home and business to the world and help protect information from outside security threats.

While switches and routers differ in several ways, one key difference is how they identify end devices. A Layer 2 switch uniquely identifies a device by its "burned-in" MAC address. A Layer 3 router uniquely identifies a device's network connection with a network-assigned IP address. MAC and IP addresses uniquely define devices and network connections, respectively, in a network.

An IP address is a number assigned to a network connection. Modern-day networks deliver more than connectivity. Organizations are embarking on transforming themselves digitally. Their networks are critical to this transformation and to their success. The types of network architectures that are evolving to meet these needs are as follows:. Only Cisco offers a complete portfolio of modern network architectures for access, WANs, data centers, and cloud.

While similar in their overall objectives, various types of networks fulfill different purposes. Networks today are classified in the broad categories below. A LAN is a collection of connected devices in one physical location, such as a home or an office.

A LAN can be small or large, ranging from a home network with one user to a large enterprise network with thousands of users and devices. A LAN may include both wired and wireless devices. Regardless of size, a LAN's particular characteristic is that it connects devices that are in a single, limited area. The Internet can be considered a WAN.

Large organizations use WANs to connect their various sites, remote employees, suppliers, and data centers so they can run applications and access necessary data. Physical connectivity in WANs can be achieved by leased lines, cellular connections, satellite links, and other means.

A network built for a large organization, typically called an enterprise, needs to fulfill exacting requirements. Since networking is crucial for any modern enterprise to function, enterprise networks must be highly available, scalable, and robust. These networks have tools that enable network engineers and operators to design, deploy, debug, and remediate them. Service providers operate WANs to provide connectivity to individual users or organizations.

They may offer simple connectivity, in the form of leased lines, or more-advanced, managed services to enterprises. Service providers also supply Internet and cellular connectivity to their customers.

Skip to content Skip to search Skip to footer. Solutions Networking What is Computer Networking? Basic networking Contact Cisco. Get a call from Sales. How does a computer network work Specialized devices such as switches, routers, and access points form the foundation of computer networks.