WEEK 3 TOPIC : INTRODUCTION TO NETWORKING What is Networking? Networking can be defined as the linking of two or more Computers together in order to share resources (such as Printers and CDs), exchange files or allow electronic communication. The computers on a network can be linked through cables, Telephone lines, radio waves, satellites or infra red light Beams.

TYPES OF NETWORKS 1.LOCAL AREA NETWORK (LAN) : A LAN connects network devices over a relatively short distance. A network office building or home usually contains a single LAN. LAN tend to use certain connectivity technology which includes; (i) Ethernet (ii) Token Ring (iii) ArcNet (Attached Resource Computing Network) 2. WIDE AREA NETWORK (WAN): A WAN spans a larger physical distance. The internet is the largest WAN, spanning the earth. A WAN is a geographically dispersed collections of LANs.

OTHER TYPES OF AREA NETWORK 3. Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) – This is a LAN based On WiFi wireless network technology. 4. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) – this is a network Spanning a physical area larger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN, such as a city 5. Campus Area Network – this is a Network spanning Multiple LANs but smaller than a MAN, such as a university or Local Business Campus.

NETWORK TOPOLOGY Topology simply means arrangement. There are three common Network topologies. 1.BUS NETWORK – In this type of network topology, a long central Cable called the ‘bus’ is used to connect all the computers together. 2. RING NETWORK – In this type of network, each computer is connected to a loop of cable called the ‘Ring’ 3. STAR NETWORK – In this type of network, every computer is connected to a central device. The device passes messages between computers.

ASSINGNMENT Make a sketch of the three (3) network topologies.

ASSIGNMENT 1.LIST THE STEPS INVOLVED IN CREATING ACCOUNT 2. STATE THREE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AND WEBSITE 3. WHAT IS CHATTING?