Microsoft® Windows® Networking: Essentials

Chapter 1

Introduction to Networking

Just about any computer you’ll use today is on a network. Networked computers are so common it’s easy to take them for granted. However, many components and technologies are working together behind the scenes to ensure a networked computer can access resources on the network.

In this chapter, I start by identifying the names of many of the physical and logical components of a network. I then introduce the components included in very small networks and show you how additional components are added as a network grows. I conclude with information on some standards organizations that help ensure all of these computers can work together no matter who manufactured them or where they’re operating.

• Comparing logical ...