Essay About Strategic Network Operation And Computer Science

Strategic Network Operation
Essay title: Strategic Network Operation
Anyone whos run a network operations group knows the frustration that accompanies
management inquiries about “our network strategy.” To be successful, a strategic
network plan must define the services the network will offer the line operations of the
business.
Network, in computer science, techniques, physical connections, and computer
programs used to link two or more computers. Network users are able to share files,
printers, and other resources; send electronic messages; and run programs on other
computers. A network has three layers of components: application software, network
software, and network hardware. Application software consists of computer programs
that interface with network users and permit the sharing of information, such as files,
graphics, and video, and resources, such as printers and disks.
Network software consists of computer programs that establish protocols, or
rules, for computers to talk to one another. These protocols are carried out by sending
and receiving formatted instructions of data called packets. Protocols make logical
connections between network applications, direct the movement of packets through the
physical network, and minimize the possibility of collisions between packets sent at the
same time. These are some of the different types of Network software: Appletalk,
Arpanet, Bitnet, CWIS, Ethernet, IBM Token Ring netwrok, Internet, LAN, and
USENET. Also Class A, B, & C network refer to the different types of subnet protocol.
Local Area Networks(LANs), which connect computers separated by short distances,
such as in an office or a university campus, commonly use bus, star, or ring topologies.
Wide area networks (WANs), which connect distant equipment across the country or
internationally, often use special leased telephone lines as point-to-point links, and is the
biggest network.
When computers share physical connections to transmit information packets, a set
of Media Access Control (MAC) protocols are used to allow information to flow
smoothly through the network. An efficient MAC protocol ensures that the transmission
medium is not idle if computers have information to transmit. It also prevents collisions
due to simultaneous transmission that would waste media capacity. MAC protocols also
allow different computers fair access to the medium.
One type of MAC is Ethernet, which is used by bus or star network topologies. An
Ethernet-linked computer first checks if the shared medium is in use. If not, the
computer transmits. Since two computers can both sense an idle medium and send
packets at the same time, transmitting computers continue to monitor the shared
connection and stop transmitting information if a collision occurs. Ethernet can transmit
information at a rate of 10 Mbps.
The most significant – and successful – encroachment occurred when switched
Ethernet devices appeared on the scene. This approach multiplies rather than divides
bandwidth by the number of devices on the network and is the essential ingredient for
building truly scalable networks. These changes, along with the price benefits of using
copper (because virtually all ATM connections were fiber) and avoidance of ATMs
massive complexity, doomed ATM as the “end-to-end everywhere” solution it was long
purported to be.
Computers also can use Token Ring MAC protocols,