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Network Tutorial
Networks can generally be split into two categories:
LAN-Local Area Network. This type of network is limited to a relatively small area. This type of network is used where a small group needs to share printers, files, and other resources located on-site. This type of network is generally fairly secure as as the only access to the network is limited by the physical location. The simplest type of LAN would be two computers connected to each other via a cable allowing the sharing of printers and files between the two otherwise independent systems.
LAN networks most often are wired using the standards commonly referred to as Ethernet. Ethernet is a buss style network where connections or drops may be connected and disconnected from the network without impacting other connections. Data on this type of network is broadcast to the entire LAN infrastructure at one time. Still seen in some sites is the use of Token Ring networks, which as the name implies are on a ring of devices where the data is passed through one device to the other until the destination is reached.
WAN-Wide Area Network, The network spans multiple locations. This type of network is used in the situation where the resources to be shared are located in diverse locations. This type of network is not inherently as secure, as access is possible from multiple locations, as well as within the equipment & facilities used for spanning the locations. A single computer using a modem to talk over a phone line to another computer using its own modem is the simplest type of WAN connection.
In actuality, many networks are seen as a combination of a LAN and WAN. Usually multi-location businesses or organizations will interconnect their LAN's via a WAN connection. Also a majority of networks have some sort of connection to the Internet.
The Internet is an example of many WAN's being interconnected to each other allowing the sharing of resources among many different users on a worldwide basis. By the nature of this open community of computers the internet, the security of the internet is very low with each access point expected to protect itself from intruders and others that you do not want to accessing the information systems behind the access point.
Web Site/Web Page. A web site is a one or more files written in HTML (or more advanced code) that is accessable to others on a network. Normally these files will have references to other files that provide graphical and formating information to control the page displayed to the viewer.
HTML or HyperText Markup Language consists of common text based commands that are (supposedly) universally understood by web browsers (web clients) regardless of platform or operating system.
HTTP or HyperText Transport Protocol is a set of rules for a client and server to exchange requests and responses for html files.HTTPS or HyperText Transport Protocol Secure defines rules for transporting encrypted HTML data. It should be noted that the security is in the TRANSPORT of the data, not the handling of that data at either end.
