Components of a Network
Hub
Switch
Router
Server
A computer or computer program that manages access to a centralized resource or service in a network.It provides data to other computers and may serve data to systems on a Local Area Network (LAN) or a Wide Area Network (WAN) over the internet.
Client
NIC
LAN
WAN
Client Server Network
In a large network it is common to have shared files and resources on centralized servers. The computers that you use around school are referred to as clients. The advantage of a client server network is that management is centralized and clients are not dependent on other clients just the server.
Peer to Peer Network
In smaller offices this is not practical if you run a small company with a handful of computers it is not cost effective to have a specialized server or someone to run the network. in a small office the computers will simply be cabled together. Each computer is configured so it will share specified files and folders with other peer computers on the LAN. PCs on the LAN can only access files on another computer if access rights have been granted. This is called peer to peer network because all of the computers have equal status and the same role in the network.