1. Network Basics

Lesson Content

Let’s look at a typical home network, you have a few different components.

  • ISP - Your internet service provider, the company you pay to get Internet at your house.
  • Router - The router allows each machine on your network to connect to the Internet. In most modern routers, you can connect via wireless or an Ethernet cable.
  • WAN - Wide Area Network, this is what we call the network that encompasses everything between your router and a wider network such the Internet.
  • WLAN - Wireless Local Area Network, this is the network between your router and any wireless devices you may have such as laptops.
  • LAN - Local Area Network, this is the network between your router and any wired devices such as Desktop PCs.
  • Hosts - Each machine on a network is known as a host.

The data and information that gets transmitted through networks are known as packets and by the end of the Networking Nomad section, you’ll understand in detail how a packet travels to and from hosts.

Exercise

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Quiz Question

# What is the local area network known as? > - A local area network (LAN) consists of a series of computers linked together to form a network in a circumscribed location. The computers in a LAN connect to each other via TCP/IP ethernet or Wi-Fi. > - LANs are used mainly for resource sharing. Expensive hardware like laser printers and CD/ROM drives can be shared by several users when they are attached to a network. Further, purchasing a network version of software cuts the costs of purchasing them for each and every computer. 1. [ ] WAN 2. [ ] PAN 3. [ ] MAN 4. [x] LAN