1.2. Common Network Components

There are a lot of different machines, devices, and media that make up our networks. Right now, I'm going to tell you about three of the most common:

  • Workstations

  • Servers

  • Hosts

1.2.1.

1.2.1.1. Workstations

Workstations are often seriously powerful computers that run more than one central processing unit (CPU) and whose resources are available to other users on the network to access when needed. Don't confuse workstations with client machines, which can be workstations but aren't always. A client machine is any device on the network that can ask for access to resources from a workstation—for instance, a printer.

NOTE

The terms workstation and host are used interchangeably because computers have become more and ...

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