Network science

Network science is an interdisciplinary academic field which studies complex networks such as telecommunication networks, computer networks, biological networks, cognitive and semantic networks, and social networks. The field draws on theories and methods including graph theory from mathematics, statistical mechanics from physics, data mining and information visualization from computer science, inferential modeling from statistics, and social structure from sociology. The United States National Research Council defines network science as “the study of network representations of physical, biological, and social phenomena leading to predictive models of these phenomena.”

computer networking

Network science is an interdisciplinary academic field which studies complex networks such as telecommunication networks, computer networks, biological networks, cognitive and semantic networks, and social networks. The field draws on theories and methods including graph theory from mathematics, statistical mechanics from physics, data mining and information visualization from computer science, inferential modeling from statistics, and social structure from sociology. The United States National Research Council defines network science as “the study of network representations of physical, biological, and social phenomena leading to predictive models of these phenomena.”

computer networking

It is possible to connect a number of computers and other electronic devices to form what is called a computer network. The computers and devices which are part of the network can “talk” to each other and exchange information. In addition to the computers and devices which are connected, other devices are often needed for the network to operate properly. Examples for such devices include hubs and switches. A network using one technology can be connected to another one using a different technology with a component which is known as router. firewalls are commonly used to protect the network. In general, networks that use cables to connect can operate at higher speeds than those using wireless technology.

A Local Area Network (LAN) connects computers which are close together. Building a LAN is easier than connecting different networks (to what is called Wide Area Network). The largest internetwork is called the Internet.

Networks are either circuit switched or packet switched.

Computers can be part of several different networks. Networks can also be parts of bigger networks. The local area network in a small business is usually connected to the corporate network of the larger company. Any connected machine at any level of the organization may be able to access the Internet, for example to demonstrate computers in the store, display its catalogue through a web server, or convert received orders into shipping instructions.

Microsoft Windows, Linux and most other operating systems use TCP/IP for networking. Apple Macintosh computers used Appletalk in the past, but it uses TCP/IP now.

To set up a network an appropriate media is required. This can be wired or wireless. Twisted-pair, co-axial or fiber-optic are examples of cable and infra-red, blue-tooth, radio-wave, micro-wave etc. are wireless media used for networking. When you are working with a mere LAN, computers, media and peripherals are sufficient. But when you are working with a wider range you have use some additional devices like bridge, gateway or router to connect different small or large networks. And obviously a protocol must be maintained.

To set up a network you have to select an appropriate topology to arrange the hardware devices using the media. Topologies generally used are bus-topology, ring-topology, star-topology, tree-topology, object-oriented topology etc. Among these star-topology and tree-topology are most popular nowadays