A network of computers (also known as network computers or computer network) is a set of equipment (computers and / or devices) connected by cables, signals, waves or any other method transport of data, sharing data (files), resource (CD-ROM, printers, etc.) and services (Internet access, email, chat, games), ...
Para simplificar la comunicación entre programas (aplicaciones) de distintos equipos, se definió el Modelo OSI por la ISO, el cual especifica 7 distintas capas de abstracción. Con ello, cada capa desarrolla una función específica con un alcance definido
Types of networks
Public: a public network is defined as a network that anyone can use and not the networks that are configured with a personal password. It is a network of interconnected computers capable of sharing information and allowing users to communicate regardless of geographical location.
Private Network: A private network is defined as a network that only certain people can use and that are configured with a personal password.
Personal Area Network (PAN): (Personal Area Network) is a computer network used for communication among computer devices (phones, including personal digital assistants) close to a person. The devices may or may not belong to the person in question. The scope of a PAN is typically a few meters. The PAN can be used for communication between personal devices themselves (intrapersonal communication) or to connect to a high-level network and the Internet (up a link). Personal area networks may be connected with cables to the computer buses such as USB and FireWire. A network of wireless personal area (WPAN) can also be made possible with network technologies such as IrDA and Bluetooth.
Local area network (LAN): a network that is limited to a special area as a relatively small room, one building, a ship or an airplane. Local area networks are sometimes called a single network location. Note: For administrative purposes, large LANs are often divided into smaller logical segments called Workgroups. A Workgroups is a group of computers that share a common system of resources within a LAN.