COMPUTER NETWORKING

 

 

A computer network can be two computers connected:

A computer network can also consist of, and is usually made for, more than two computers:

The primary purpose of a computer network is to share resources:

• You can play CD music from one computer while sitting on another computer.
• You may have a computer that doesn’t have a DVD or Blu-Ray (BD) player. In this case, you can place a movie disc (DVD or BD) on the computer that has the player, and then view the movie on a computer that lacks the player.
• You may have a computer with a CD/DVD/BD writer or a backup system but the other computer(s) doesn’t (don't) have it. In this case, you can burn discs or make backups on a computer that has one of these but using data from a computer that doesn’t have a disc writer or a backup system.
• You can connect a printer (or a scanner, or a fax machine) to one computer and let other computers of the network print (or scan, or fax) to that printer (or scanner, or fax machine)
• You can place a disc with pictures on one computer and let other computers access those pictures.
• You can create files and store them in one computer, then access those files from the other computer(s) connected to it.

Peer-to-Peer Networking

Based on their layout (not the physical but the imagined layout, also referred to as topology), there are various types of networks. A network is referred to as peer-to-peer if most computers are similar and run workstation operating systems.

In a peer-to-peer network, each computer holds its files and resources. Other computers can access these resources but a computer that has a particular resource must be turned on for other computers to access the resource it has. For example, if a printer is connected to computer A and computer B wants to print to that printer, computer A must be turned on.

Accessing the Network

Microsoft Windows 7 provides a fast way to create a peer-to-peer network. To use it, start Windows Explorer. Depending on the computer or its manufacturer, in the left frame, you may see an icon labeled Homegroup:

 

 

If you see it, click it. A new window may come up:

Read the text and click Join Now. Another window would come up:

Click Next. You will be asked to provide a password.