Networking

LAN - Local Area Network:
a network that is confined to a relatively small area.

Examples: Home networks, LAN Parties, etc.

WAN - Wide Area Network:
a network that connects major businesses, corporations or organizations in a relatively large area.'

Examples: Government networks, School network, etc.

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Unshielded Twisted Pair Cable - about 100 meters
Coaxial Cable - about 1000 feet for SD broadcasts. 300 feet for HD
Fiber Optic Cable - about 2000 meters.

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Router - Bridges connections within a network. "Translates" information into a usable network connection.

Bridge - Enables communication between devices on a network, and combines them to other networks

Switch - Allows peer to peer connections with devices on a network.

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Peer to Peer : it enables users to share files with each others computers. Limewire or any other peer to peer downloading client is an example.

usually cheaper, but relies on the security and speed of each others computer. Can have latency issues.


Client / Server : Uses a dedicated file server for functions in a network.
Download sites such as megaupload, mediafire are examples.

Usually more reliable, and faster, however it's pretty expensive and needs to be maintained.