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Computer Networks

Network Characteristics
In addition to these types, the following characteristics are also used to categorize different types of networks:

topology :The geometric arrangement of a computer system. Common topologies include a bus, star, and ring.

protocol : The protocol defines a common set of rules and signals that computers on the network use to communicate. One of the most popular protocols for LAN's is called Ethernet, a local-area network (LAN) protocol developed by Xerox Corporation in cooperation with DEC and Intel in 1976. Ethernet uses a bus or star topology and supports data transfer rates of 10 Mbps. It is one of the most widely implemented LAN standards. Another popular LAN protocol for PC's is the IBM token-ring network.

architecture: Networks can be broadly classified as using either a peer-to-peer or client/server architecture.

• peer-to-peer: Sharing single computers   with each other. One individual can access and save files to another individuals computer. This can be slow when large files are being transferred.
• client/server: A single computer is set aside to only save files and run programs. Each computer in the network can run any program, or save files, to this single computer, which is named the server.

Computers on a network are sometimes called nodes, a processing location. Every node has it's own unique network address. Computers and devices that allocate resources for a network are called servers.