Study Notes on Computer Network for Paper-1 for UGC NET Exam 2021

UGC NET EXAM consists of Paper 1 and Paper 2. Paper 1 is the most important part of UGC NET preparation. Every topic must be thoroughly studied and aspirants should aim 70+ in this paper for clearing NET/NET JRF. In today's post we are providing study notes related to Network which is an important subsection of Information and communication technology for UGC NET EXAM 2020. Soon UGC will be announcing dates for UGC NET EXAM 2021. Start working hard. 

What is a network?

• A computer network is a group of the computer that are connected to each other for the purpose of communication.
• It allows computers to communicate with many other computers and share resources and information.
• ARPANET was the first operational computer network in the world. 

Devices required to establish a network

1. Repeater
2. Bridge
3. Hub
4. Switches
5. Routers
6. Gateways

Types of Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

• LANs use the cable to connect a number of computers within the same location or in close proximity.
• Most often, LAN is confined to a single room, building or groups of buildings.
• One LAN can be connected to other LAN over a distance via telephone lines and radio waves.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

• It is a collection of computers and network resources connected via a network over a geographical area.
• WANs use telephone lines or other telecommunication devices to link computer in widely separated locations.

Wireless Local Area Network(WLAN)

• WLAN links two or more devices using some wireless distribution method and provides a connection through an access point to the wider Internet.
• This gives the ability to move around within the area and remain connected to the network.
• Through a gateway, a WLAN can also provide a connection to the wider internet.

Personal Area Network (PAN)

• PAN is a computer used for communication among computers and different IT devices close to one person.
• A PAN provides data transmission among devices such as computers, smartphones, tablets and personal digital assistants.
• A PAN may be wireless or carried over wired interfaces such as USB.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

• A network of computers located at different sites within a large fixed area, such as city.
• A MAN is much larger that the standard LAN, but not as large as a WAN.
• MAN is commonly used in school campuses and large companies with multiple buildings.

Storage Area Network(SAN)

• It is also known as storage area network or server area network.
• It provides access to consolidated, block-level data storage.
• SAN are primarily used to access storage devices, such as disk arrays and tape libraries.

Internet

The internet is a system that links existing networks into a worldwide network.

Intranet

A private network inside a company or an educational organisation and used over its LAN. This can be taken as akin to local Internet. It is under single administrative set-up.

Extranet

A technology that permits user of an organisation's intranet to enter portions of another organisation's intranet in order to conduct business transactions or collaboration on joint projects.

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

It is computer network in which some of the links between the nodes are carried out by the open connections or virtual circuits in some larger network (eg. The Internet) instead of physical wires.

Network Topology

Topology

The physical topology of a network refers to the configuration of cables, computer, and other peripherals or simply as arrangement o computers. Here, workstation or node refers to computer system which are in the network. The topology can be

1. Bus topology: Here, every computer is connected to a main (single) cable like a bus.
2. Star topology: There is a hub or switch box to which all workstations are directly connected.
3. Ring topology: Here, every device has exactly two neighbours.
4. Mesh topology: Every computer is connected to another, so message can take any path.
5. Tree topology: It is a combination of two or more star networks.

We hope you understood the terms related to Network for paper-1 for UGC NET EXAM 2021.

Thank you, Team gradeup.