Chapter 1: Introducing Computer Networks
Exam Objectives
Describing the purpose and functions of computer networks
Describing common network applications
Describing common networking devices
Describing the operation flow of computer networks and seeing how networking devices control the operation flow
Describing the impact of applications (Voice over IP and Video over IP) on a network
Describing the components required for network and Internet communications
Describing the topologies of computer networks
CCNA certification not only attests your knowledge about Cisco networking, but it also attests your knowledge about networking technologies in general. This is one of the reasons why CCNA certification is the gold-standard certification in the networking industry.
Purpose of Computer Networks
You link computers in a network for the same reason that people network. People networks are necessary to accomplish tasks that cannot be accomplished by a single individual. The same applies to computers. Computer networks were developed to aggregate the computing power of several individual computers into initially local networks, then campus networks, then metropolitan networks, then countrywide networks, and finally, global networks.
A computer network is a group of computer host devices that communicate with each other. To enable this communication, the computer host devices are connected using wired or wireless connections. The communication is controlled by network software running ...
