Computer Networking Explained | Cisco CCNA 200-301

Summary

This video from CertBros dives into the world of computer networks, defining them as interconnected systems of devices, from traditional desktops and servers to modern smart devices. It explains the structure of home and business networks, including the role of local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs), such as the internet. The video highlights the importance of networks for resource sharing, communication, and access to global information, emphasizing their transformative impact on our daily lives and the endless opportunities for learning in the field.

Takeaways

• 💻 A computer network is a group or system of interconnected computers, including traditional devices like desktops, servers, and printers, as well as modern smart devices.
• 🏠 In a typical home network setup, devices like a switch, router, wireless access point, desktop, and phone are connected, often with the switch and wireless access point integrated into the router.
• 🌐 A Local Area Network (LAN) is a network that covers a small geographical area, like a home or office, and is connected to the internet through a socket provided by the Internet Service Provider (ISP).
• 🌐 The Wide Area Network (WAN) connects separate LANs, allowing for broader communication, with the internet being the most well-known example of a WAN.
• 🔌 In business networks, computers connect to the network through wall or floor sockets, which lead back to a wiring closet where devices connect to a stack of switches.
• 📱 Mobile phones are part of a giant wireless network, connecting to the internet via cellular towers, with signal strength improving as you get closer to these towers.
• 🔗 Networks enable resource sharing, such as printers and files, which can be accessed and used by multiple devices, enhancing efficiency and convenience.
• 🌟 The internet exemplifies the power of networking, providing access to a wealth of information, communication tools, and services that have transformed how we live and work.
• 📚 The video is part of a comprehensive CCNA course, suggesting that networking is a vast field with ongoing opportunities for learning and professional development.
• 🎥 The presenter expresses enthusiasm for networking, indicating that it's a dynamic and exciting area of technology with continuous advancements to explore.

Q & A

What is the definition of a network according to the video?

A network is defined as a group or system of interconnected people or things.

What is a computer network?

A computer network is a group or system of interconnected computers, allowing more than one computer to be connected to each other.

What are some traditional components of a computer network?

Traditional computer networks consist of desktop computers, servers, printers, and other devices.

How has the composition of computer networks evolved over time?

With the advent of smart devices, modern computer networks now include not only desktops, servers, and printers but also smartphones, tablets, security cameras, smart lights, and more.

What is a common home network setup according to the video?

A common home network setup includes a switch, a router, a wireless access point, a desktop, and a phone, all connected to the same network.

What is the term for a network in a single area?

A network in a single area is called a Local Area Network (LAN).

How is a LAN typically connected to the outside world?

A LAN is usually connected to the outside world using a socket in the wall installed by the internet service provider, which connects to a Wide Area Network (WAN).

What is the purpose of a Wide Area Network (WAN)?

The purpose of a WAN is to connect separate local area networks together, such as businesses with multiple sites or the internet as an example.

What is a wiring closet in the context of a business network?

A wiring closet is a special room where network cables from office computers plug into switches, which are mounted onto racks.

How do mobile networks like 3G, 4G, and 5G relate to computer networks?

Mobile networks can be considered as giant wireless networks for smartphones, providing internet access through towers, similar to how computer networks connect devices.

Why are networks important for sharing resources?

Networks allow for the sharing of resources such as printers and files, enabling users to send, share, and store information efficiently without the need for direct connections between devices.

What is the internet in relation to computer networks?

The internet is a giant network that connects various computer networks globally, providing access to a vast amount of information and services like email, messaging, and hosted computing.

What is the significance of networking in the modern world?

Networking has revolutionized the world by enabling the sharing of information and resources, facilitating communication, and providing access to global knowledge and services.

What course is mentioned in the video for further study on networking?

The video mentions a full CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) course for those interested in deeper study on networking.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Introduction to Computer Networks

This paragraph introduces the concept of computer networks, defining them as interconnected systems of computers and devices. It explains that traditional networks included desktops, servers, and printers, but modern networks also encompass smart devices like mobile phones, tablets, security cameras, and smart lights. The paragraph outlines the structure of a common home network, mentioning switches, routers, wireless access points, and the distinction between Local Area Networks (LAN) and Wide Area Networks (WAN), including the internet as a global WAN example. It also touches on the idea of mobile networks as a form of wireless WAN for devices like smartphones.

05:05

🚀 The Impact and Benefits of Networking

The second paragraph delves into the importance and benefits of computer networks. It starts by hypothesizing a world without networks and the inefficiencies that would arise, such as the need for multiple printers for multiple computers. It highlights the resource-sharing capabilities of networks, allowing for easy file transfers, shared printing, and server-based file storage. The paragraph also emphasizes the transformative effect of networking on the world, mentioning the internet's role in providing access to global knowledge, email, messaging, internet telephony, hosted computing, and entertainment platforms like YouTube. The paragraph concludes by promoting a full CCNA course and encouraging viewers to engage with the video content.

Keywords

💡Computer Network

A computer network is a collection of interconnected computing devices that can communicate and share resources with each other. In the video, it is defined as a group or system of interconnected computers, emphasizing the ability to connect more than one computer. This concept is central to understanding the video's theme, which revolves around the structure and function of networks in modern society.

💡Interconnected

The term 'interconnected' refers to the linking or joining of elements in a network. In the context of the video, it highlights how devices within a computer network are not isolated but are connected to enable data sharing and communication, as exemplified by the script's mention of desktop computers, servers, printers, and smart devices all being part of a network.

💡Smart Devices

Smart devices are electronic devices that can connect to the internet and perform various functions, such as smartphones, tablets, and smart lights. The video script mentions these devices to illustrate the evolution of computer networks, which now include a wide range of smart devices beyond traditional computing equipment.

💡Local Area Network (LAN)

A Local Area Network, or LAN, is a computer network that spans a small geographical area, such as a home, school, or office building. The video explains that a LAN typically includes devices like switches, routers, and wireless access points, all connected within a single area, and is a fundamental concept in understanding the basic setup of computer networks.

💡Wide Area Network (WAN)

A Wide Area Network, or WAN, is a network that covers a larger geographical area and connects multiple local area networks. The video script uses the example of the internet as the most obvious form of a WAN, showing its role in connecting separate LANs and enabling global communication.

💡Internet Service Provider (ISP)

An Internet Service Provider is a company that provides customers with access to the internet. In the video, the ISP is mentioned as the entity that installs a socket in the wall, which connects a home LAN to the WAN, specifically the internet, thus facilitating the user's online experience.

💡Wiring Closet

A wiring closet is a small room in a building where network cables are organized and connected to various devices. The video script describes it as a place where office computers plug into wall or floor sockets, with cables running back to the wiring closet where they connect to a stack of switches, illustrating the physical infrastructure behind a business network.

💡Switch

A switch is a networking device that connects devices together on a computer network, allowing them to communicate with each other. The video script explains that switches are often found in a wiring closet and are essential for creating a local area network by facilitating data transfer between connected devices.

💡Router

A router is a device that forwards data packets between computer networks, creating a pathway for data to travel from one network to another. In the video, routers are mentioned as integral to home networks, often combined with switches and wireless access points, to connect local networks to the wider internet.

💡Wireless Access Point

A wireless access point is a device that allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network using Wi-Fi. The video script describes it as a component of home networks, typically built into routers, enabling devices like smartphones and tablets to join the network without physical cables.

💡Resource Sharing

Resource sharing refers to the ability of multiple users to access and use shared resources, such as printers or files, over a network. The video script highlights the benefits of networks by explaining how resource sharing simplifies tasks like printing documents and accessing files from different devices, which would otherwise require direct connections.

Highlights

A computer network is defined as a group or system of interconnected computers.

Traditional computer networks consist of desktops, servers, and printers.

Modern networks include a vast array of smart devices such as mobile phones, tablets, security cameras, and smart lights.

A home network setup typically includes a switch, router, wireless access point, desktop, and phone.

In most home networks, the switch and wireless access point are integrated into the router.

A local area network (LAN) is a network within a single area, such as a home or office.

The internet service provider's socket connects the LAN to the wide area network (WAN).

A WAN's purpose is to connect separate LANs, like the internet or private business networks.

Business networks often involve office computers connected to wall or floor sockets leading to a wiring closet.

Wiring closets house switches and may be referred to as patch rooms or server rooms.

Larger networks may have multiple wiring closets interconnected across different floors.

Mobile networks are vast wireless networks that provide internet access to smartphones via towers.

Proximity to mobile network towers affects the quality of the internet connection.

Networks enable resource sharing, such as printers and files, among multiple devices.

The internet exemplifies a giant network that provides global access to information and communication.

Networking has revolutionized the world, offering new ways to learn and communicate.

The video is part of a full CCNA course, which can be found in the video description for further learning.

Transcripts

Hey what's up guys welcome to CertBros

In this video we're going to be talking about computer networks

OK, so what is a computer network?

Well first let's break it down. What is a network?

The definition of a network is a group or system of interconnected people or things

So it would be fair to say, a computer network would be a group or system of interconnected computers. Right?

and that's exactly what it is. A computer network is anything where more than one computer is connected to each other

Traditionally a computer network would consist of desktop computers servers printers etc

But these days we live in a connected world

We still have desktops, servers, printers, but we now have a vast number of smart devices connected to our networks as well

Most of you will have a mobile phone, maybe a tablet. Security cameras. Even smart lights are found on networks these days.

And the list really does go on and on

So let's take a look at some basic networks and we can see what they look like

First, one that should be familiar to most of you

Here we have a switch, a router, a wireless access point, a desktop and a phone, all connected to the same network

This is a pretty common home setup.

It's worth noting that in most home networks, the switch and wireless access point will be built into the Rooter

Generally speaking any network in a single area is called a local area network or LAN

The LAN is usually connected to the outside world using a socket in the wall that your internet service provider has installed

This socket connects you to something called the wide area network or WAN

the purpose of a WAN is to connect separate local area networks together

The most obvious example of a one would be the internet however businesses might have

private WANs to connect multiple sites together

So now let's look at a more business type network

So we have all of our office computers and these would usually plug into a wall or floor socket

And these sockets will have cables either running through the floor or the ceiling back to a special room called a wiring closet

This room might also be called a patch room or a server room

In the wiring closet all of these devices will connect to a stack of switches

which are mounted onto racks depending on the size of the network

there may be multiple wiring closets which all connect to each other. Say for example on different floors

Keep in mind though this has been simplified to give you a general idea

lastly, we'll look at another type of network that might not be so obvious

Now, I said before I'm sure you all have smartphones of some sort

Now, these phones generally have internet

access via 3G, 4G and even 5g

Well you can think of these as basically a giant wireless network for your phones

Somewhere close to you there will be a

giant tower that allows you to connect and get internet access

The closer you are to these towers the better the connection is likely to be

So these are just some common network types and really just an introduction to some

basic networking devices.

So the next logical question is why. Why do we need networks?

well let's imagine life without networks for a second

If we want to print a document we would need to directly connect a printer

which is fine

but what if we have multiple computers?

we would need multiple directly connected printers, right?

Which isn't so fine

The beauty of a network is we can share resources.

if I have a file and I want to send it to someone I can.

They can also share the file with everyone else

we can have shared printers that everyone can use. We can even have servers that could store these files for us

Of course, file sharing and printing is just one example

but this could be pretty much anything. And all of this even before we

start talking about the internet, which by the way, is just a giant network

with the internet, we can search for anything we want

we literally have the world's knowledge at our fingertips

We have Email

We can message our friends telephone calls over the

We can use hosted computing

Telephone calls over the internet

and of course, awesome YouTube content

So networking has changed the world and how we live in it

It's a topic I still get excited about and there's no

shortage of new things to learn. We'll go over a lot of this in more detail as we go

This video is part of our full CCNA course which can be found in the description

So please feel free to go and check that out

If you like this video don't forget to like comment and subscribe

other than that, thank you for watching