1.2.1 Components of a Network

peer-to-peer networks

Some networks are designed to connect a set of similar computers that share their data and software with each other

There are three basic hardware components

for a data communications network: a server (e.g., personal computer, mainframe), a client (e.g., personal computer, terminal), and a circuit (e.g., cable, modem) over which messages flow

The router

is a special device that connects two or more net- works. The router enables computers on this network to communicate with computers on other networks (e.g., the Internet).

The print server

is connected to a printer, manages all printing requests from the clients on the network

The client

is the input-output hardware device at the user's end of a communication circuit.

The circuit

is the pathway through which the messages travel.

The file server

stores data and software that can be used by computers on the network.

The server

stores data or software that can be accessed by the clients.

The Web server

stores documents and graphics that can be accessed from any Web browser, such as Internet Explorer.