computer network
Let an agent explain what computer networks are and how they are built, identify kinds and components, relay standards and protocols, and route configuration and security questions to appropriate references and professionals.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain what computer networks are and how they are built, identify kinds and components, relay standards and protocols, and route configuration and security questions to appropriate references and professionals.
A set of computers and other devices connected by wired or wireless links so they can exchange data, from a home local area network through campus and enterprise networks to the global internet; networks are built from cables, connectors, switches, routers and access points, run protocols such as Ethernet and TCP/IP, and include specialised forms such as storage area networks.
What it is for: Exchanging data between computers and devices.
It can be explain kinds and components; explain protocols and layering; relay standards; route configuration and security questions.
Distinguishing features
Data exchange between computers
Layered protocols
Physical and wireless media
Scale from personal to global
What it looks like
Cables, connectors such as the 8P8C Ethernet plug, switches, routers and wireless access points linking devices.
Physical character
Ethernet speeds: 10 Mbit/s to 800 Gbit/s range - by standard
OSI layers: 7 count - reference model
How it is recognised
Devices linked to exchange data
Local, wide area and specialised networks
A telephone network or a broadcast network is a different kind of network
Related models
is a kind of - carrying data
is a kind of - in general terms
uses - a main LAN technology
includes - a specialised kind
In practice
Families and kinds
local area networks and Ethernet
wireless networks
wide area networks and the internet
storage area networks and virtual SANs
data centre and campus networks
components: connectors, ports, switches, routers
Identifiers
IEEE 802 standards family LAN and wireless
IETF RFCs per protocol internet protocols
Standards and regulation
IEEE 802.3 Ethernet and 802.11 wireless standards
IETF RFCs for TCP/IP
Cabling standards such as ISO/IEC 11801
Data protection and security regulations
Failure modes and hazards
Outages from failures and misconfiguration
Security breaches
Congestion and latency
Cabling and connector faults
Also called
+83
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Understand What networks are.
Definition.
Kinds
Kinds and scale.
Kinds
Kinds.
- What kinds of computer network exist, from personal to global? definition
- Is the question about a computer network or another kind of network? boundary
Components
Components.
Components
Components.
- What components make up a network, from connectors and ports to routers? definition
- Which entry fits the specific component? action
Protocols Protocols and standards.
Standards.
Layers
Layering.
Layers
Layers.
- How do layered models and protocols such as Ethernet and TCP/IP work together? definition
- Which entry fits a specific protocol? action
Standards
Standards bodies.
Standards
Standards.
- Which bodies set network standards, and where are they published? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Operate Building and running.
Practice.
Design
Design and configuration.
Design
Design.
- How are networks designed and configured, in general terms? provenance
- Is the question about a specific environment, which needs its documentation and administrators? boundary
Security
Security.
Security
Security.
- What security practices and standards apply to networks? provenance
- Which entry fits network security? action
Context History and specialised networks.
Context.
History
History.
History
History.
- How did computer networks develop from ARPANET and early Ethernet to today? provenance
- Which entry fits the history of the internet? action
Storage
Storage networks.
Storage
Storage.
- What are storage area networks and their virtual forms? provenance
- Which entry fits storage networking? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should Ethernet and storage networks be separate entries?
- How should standards be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases naming connectors, ports and storage network products; should they be split off?