• LAN: The computers are geographically close together (i.e., in the same building).
• MAN: The computers are farther apart and are connected (i.e., in the same city).
• WAN: The computers are farther apart and are connected (i.e., not in the same city).
• Topology: The geometric arrangement of a computer system. Common topologies include a bus, star, and ring. Hybrids of these are star bus & star ring.
• Protocol: The protocol defines a common set of rules and signals that computers on the network use to communicate.
• Switches: Switches work as a controller which connects computers, printers, and other hardware devices to a network in a campus or a building.
• Routers: Routers help you to connect with multiple networks. It enables you to share a single internet connection with multiple devices and saves money.
• Clients: Clients are computer devices which access and uses the network as well as shares network resources.
• Servers: Servers are computers that hold shared programs, files, and the network operating system. Servers allow access to network resources to all the users of the network.
• Transmission Media: Transmission media is a carrier used to interconnect computers in a network, such as coaxial cable, twisted-pair wire, and optical fiber cable. It is also known as links, channels, or lines.
• Network Interface Card: Network Interface card sends, receives data, and controls data flow between the computer and the network.