In the simplest of terms, a computer network is a collection of computers interconnected with each other, thus forming a network. One of the greatest advantages of computer networks is that they allow users to access and share large amounts of information without having to store that information and use up personal disk space on personal computers. Computer networks are generally classified by the hardware and software that is employed to establish the network with. For example, there are Ethernet networks, optical fiber networks, and wireless LAN networks to mention some of the most common types of computer networks. Networks are supported by one of two ways, and sometimes a combination of the two. The two ways are hard wired or wireless service. Hard Wired Service Of the two means of establishing and accessing a computer network hard wired service is the oldest, and often the most dependable. Below are the three most common wired technologies available in today's networking market. Twisted-pair wire is the most common means of telecommunications, which includes computer networking. Coaxial cable is extensively used for office buildings, work-sites, as well as television systems. The advantage of coaxial cable is in its transmission speed. Cable can transmit over 500 million bits per second and is highly dependable. Optical fiber, or fiber-optic, is a relatively new type of hard-wire system. Fiber-optics doesn't use electricity to transmit information like the previous two do. Instead it uses light and can transmit in the trillions of bits per second. Moreover, electromagnetic radiation, like from the sun's solar flares, does not interrupt fiber-optic transmissions like other services are susceptible to. Wireless Services Terrestrial microwave use a transmitter/receiver system of antennas to transmit information. However, the transmission distance, although very secure, is limited to about thirty miles. This network service is used extensively by local police departments. Communication satellites use microwave radio signals to transmit information. These satellites orbit the earth and as they do they receive and send signals of communications. However, the signals to and from these satellites can be affected by such things as the sun's solar flare activities. Cellular and PCS transmission systems utilize a combination of communications technologies such as relay antenna and even satellites. However, they use is restricted by geographic locations, dependent on where the antenna might be located. Wireless LANs is perhaps the most popular means for computer network communications
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