Basic Networking Diagram

            [ Internet ]
                |
             [ Router ]
              /     \
       [ Switch ]  (Wi-Fi)
       /   |   \      |
[ PC ] [ Printer ] [ Server ]

Networking revolves around the idea of connecting devices to communicate and share resources. Here are the core concepts you should understand:

1. Network Devices

• Router: Directs data between different networks (like home network to the internet).
• Switch: Connects multiple devices within the same network, allowing them to communicate.
• Hub: A basic device that connects multiple devices but less efficient than a switch.
• Modem: Converts digital data from your ISP into a form your devices can understand.

2. Types of Networks

• LAN (Local Area Network): Connects devices within a small area (e.g., home, office).
• WAN (Wide Area Network): Connects networks over large distances (e.g., the internet).
• MAN (Metropolitan Area Network): Covers a city or large campus.
• PAN (Personal Area Network): For personal devices like smartphones, tablets, etc.

3. Network Topologies

• Bus Topology: All devices are connected to a single cable.
• Star Topology: All devices connect to a central hub or switch.
• Ring Topology: Devices form a circular pathway for data.
• Mesh Topology: Devices are interconnected for high redundancy.

4. IP Addressing

• IP Address: A unique identifier for each device on a network.
  • IPv4: Example – 192.168.1.1 (most common)
  • IPv6: Example – 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334 (newer, larger address space)

5. Networking Protocols

• TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol): Core protocol for internet communication.
• HTTP/HTTPS: Used for web browsing.
• FTP (File Transfer Protocol): For transferring files.
• DNS (Domain Name System): Translates domain names (like google.com) into IP addresses.

6. Client-Server Model vs. Peer-to-Peer

• Client-Server: Devices (clients) request services from a centralized server (common for websites).
• Peer-to-Peer (P2P): Devices communicate directly without a central server (like file-sharing apps).