Computer networks can be interpreted as a series of two or more computers. This computer will be connected to one another with communication systems. With computer networks which may be for each computer that can be netted in which exchange of data, programs, and computer resources such as storage media, printers, and others. Computer network that connects computers located in different locations can also be used to send electronic mail (e-mail), transmit data files (upload) and retrieve data files from other places (download), and other information on the location of the access activities independently.
The main purpose of a computer network is the sharing of resources (read: resources), in which a computer can use resources from other computers within the same network.
The development of data communication technology and computer networks today are no longer limited only to the computer. Various devices are present communication technologies currently developed following the development of computer technology, which integrates the many computer devices such as microprocessors, memory, display, storage, and communications technologies into it but once the technology was developed for the computer we could see it was used on-the-go technology computer networks.
A computer network consists of:
- A minimum of two computers
- Network card (network interface card / NIC) on each computer
- Media connections, the network card that connects one computer to another, commonly referred to as a data transmission medium, may be a cable or wireless or non-cable (wireless such as radio, microwave, satellite, etc.).
- Software network operating system (network operating system software / Noss) which serves to make the management of network systems, such as: Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, Microsoft Windows NT, Novell Netware, Linux, and so on.
- Interconnection equipment such as Hub, Bridge, Switch, Router, Gateway, which was formed when the network expanded its scope.
Advantages of computer network :
- Access to remote information
- Person-to-person communication
- Interactive entertainment
- Program and file sharing
- Network and resource sharing
- Database sharing
- Economical expansion
- Ability to use network software
- Creation of workgroup
- Centralized management
- Security
- Access to more than one operation system
- Manufacturing