Free Essay About Computer Networks

Network switches are used to connect end user devices like computers and printers and enable them to communicate with one another. Switches are used to enable communication to take place in a computer network. They enable the sharing of resources on the internet as computers can access resources in a network.
Routers, on the other hand, connect networks that are found in an organization. While a switch connects computers in a network, a router connects networks. The router is intelligent. This means that it is able to look for the best path that a packet can take to reach to their destination. Switches are not intelligent. Routers also enable computers to access the internet.
A collision domain is a network where collision can take place. This is a network where the computers in that network use shared media, like bus topology. In this network, collision can happen between any devices at any time. A broadcast domain has all the devices which can receive any broadcast packet that comes from any device in any network segment. A network segment is part of a computer network that is separated from the rest of the network by a computer network device like a hub, repeater or bridge.
Network segmentation is the process of separating networks that have sensitive information from the network parts that do not have sensitive information. One method of segmenting a collision domain is to use OSI layer 1, 2, 3 devices. Broadcast domain segmentation is done by use of layer 3 devices like routers or layer 2 switches. There is also logical segmentation where there is the use of switches in replacement of hubs and repeaters. The procedure of configuring the network involves having a way of assigning IP addresses to the computers. There will be the need to develop an IP scheme to be used