Overview of Networking: Architecture, Types, Topologies, Security

1
Abstract
The Overview of networking includes all the basic essentials about applications of networks. This report
will explain the importance of network in current scenario, the architecture of network applications, the
types of networks, fundamental of networking topologies, the communication standards of networking
applications and further it also cover the need of security in networking and the implementation ways. It
also discusses the types of security threats and how to overcome it.
Contents
Abstract.......................................................................................................................................................1
Introduction to Networks............................................................................................................................1
Network architecture..................................................................................................................................1
Types of Network........................................................................................................................................3
Network topologies.....................................................................................................................................3
Building block of a network.........................................................................................................................4
Identifying resource in a network................................................................................................................4
Security in network......................................................................................................................................4
Summary.....................................................................................................................................................5
References...................................................................................................................................................6
Introduction to Networks
In today’s digital world of communication, networking is just like oxygen for human body. Without
networking we cannot imagine anything. To communicate with each other, we are strongly dependent
on networks. In technological terms, “A network is a group of various devices which can be computers,
mobiles, PDAs, Scanners, printers and now it can be any home appliance as well.” The main objective to
create a network is to establish communication channel or sharing information among multiple devices.
A very thing about networking application is that it is not mandatory that two networks should be alike
in terms of size and configuration. It can be very dissimilar.
Network architecture
Network architecture represents the physical and logical design, in which all the devices can be
connected with each other by using wires or wireless network media. In simple terms we can say how all
the devices can be organized? There are three main types of network architecture:

2
P2P (Peer to Peer): In this type of architecture all the devices have their own task with their own data.
Actually all the devices have all the rights to control and share the data among each other [1]. There is
no need of any specific hierarchy in this type of architecture. Every device acts as a separate server in
P2P architecture.
Client Server: In this type of architecture all the devices can communicate with each other through a
centralized system only. This central system is called as Server, it has very high processing power. The
server can be connected with multiple client nodes
Hybrid: It is the composition of diverse type of devices. It is the combination of P2P and Client server
architecture. It is recommended in network when we want to get the benefits of both types of
architecture.

3
Types of Network
After defining the architecture of network, the next important thing is to decide which type of network
is preferred as per the requirements of an organization [2]. How the devices will be connected with each
other? The network can be categorized in various forms on the basis of their scope and scale. There are
following types of network:
 PAN (Personal Area Network)
 LAN (Local Area Network)
 SAN (Storage Area Network)
 CAN (Campus Area Network)
 MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
 WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network)
 WAN (Wide Area Network)
Network topologies
Network topology term is used to represent the layout of network, the way in which all the nodes can
be connected with each other and how they can communicate [3]. Topology may refer the physical
network of all the devices of logical schematic way of transmitting signals throughout the network.
There can be following types of network topologies:
 Bus
 Star
 Ring
 Mesh
 Tree
 Hybrid
All the above topologies have some advantages and disadvantages. We should choice the specific
topology as per the requirements, budget and the security concerns of our organization.