Networks & security · Both

Networks & the Internet

Networks connect devices to share data and resources. The internet is a global network of networks.

Types and hardware

• **LAN** – local (site); **WAN** – wide area • Hardware: NIC, switch, router, wireless access point • Topologies (e.g. star) affect performance and resilience • Client–server vs peer-to-peer models

Internet basics

• **IP addressing** identifies devices • **DNS** translates domain names to IP addresses • **Protocols** (rules): TCP/IP, HTTP/HTTPS, etc. • Packets carry data across networks

Practice questions

1. LAN vs WAN?

2. What does DNS do?