A network is a link between two or more network devices, such as computers, routers, and switches, that allows them to share hardware, software, and other data resources. When a computer network is built, it can be wired or wireless, depending on the communication channel’s demands. One can opt for a network that meets personal and professional needs. Now, let’s have a look at the available various network types, accessories, courses, and some of their essential properties.

Types of networks
Depending on the communication requirements, various types of network connections are possible. The most basic type of network classification is based on the network’s geographic coverage are:

• Local Area Network (LAN)
  A Local Area Network (LAN) can connect several network devices and systems within a limited geographical area. The devices are linked via several protocols to share data and services reliably and effectively.
• Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
  The Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), a type of network, provides network connectivity for an entire city or a small area. The covered region is connected through a wired network like data cables.
• Wide Area Network (WAN)
  The Wide Area Network (WAN) is designed to connect devices over long distances, such as between states or countries. Most of the time, the link is wireless and relies on radio towers for communication. The WAN network may incorporate several LAN and MAN networks.

Networking accessories
Networking gear, often known as network devices, is the hardware required for computer network communication and interaction. The following is a list of standard networking equipment:

Hub
A hub is just a connector that connects wires coming from different directions. There is no signal processing or regeneration. It is an electronic device that solely operates on the physical layers of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model.
It is also known as a repeater hub since it emits a signal to all ports, save the one from which the signal is received. Furthermore, hubs’ communication and information processing capacities for the second and third tiers are essential.

Switch
A switch is a multicast networking device that connects several computers or other devices in a network and operates at the Datalink layer of the OSI model. It saves data and is usually used to send private communications.
A switch can rapidly determine which device is plugged into which port by using a MAC address, allowing it to relay the message to a specified machine.

Router
A router is a networking device that operates at the network layer of the OSI model to connect two or more networks. It is a tool that establishes a shared link between networks to allow data to flow between them.
Dynamic routing algorithms allow it to choose the best path via the network. It creates collision domains to reduce network traffic and provides connections between various network designs.

Bridge
A bridge connects the physical and data link levels of the OSI model. A bridge can connect two previously separated LANs, as well as segment a large network into smaller portions. The function of a bridge is to transmit frames between two separate LANs.
After receiving a frame, a bridge regenerates the signal, examines the destination address, and only provides a fresh copy of the frame to the segment to which it belongs. A bridge forwards the frame to the destination/receiver station; it does not broadcast the frame to all stations in the receiver segment.

Gateway
Gateways are packet switches that operate at different OSI model layers. Since they operate at numerous layers, they are more flexible than bridges in translating addresses between several networks. A gateway is any hardware and software combination that connects two independent networks that employ different protocols. The gateway translates the protocols, allowing computers on the two networks to communicate.

Knowing the available network devices can help you plan and build a safe network that serves your organization well. To ensure the security and availability of your network, you should carefully monitor your network devices and activities around them. This will assist you in detecting hardware issues, configuration difficulties, and attacks as soon as they occur.

Check out networking courses that combine IT technical learning and skill development to prepare for a rewarding career in the networking field. After completing these professional courses, you will be more familiar with computer network terminology.