LAN Switching first-step

What Is a Network?

A network is a system of interconnecting lines, such as telephone lines for communication or subway tracks for transportation. We use transportation networks during the course of an average day for a number of different purposes: the train or subway for daily expeditions, the roads for commuting to and from work, and the airlines for longer trips. In the computer and Information Technology (IT) environment, a network is just defined as a group of computers and connecting circuitry functioning in a specific manner. A transportation network is defined as a system of crossing or interconnecting routes, such as roads or subway tracks. This chapter analogizes transportation systems and computer systems to help you apply computer ...