About Networking Computers

Type
Most homes and offices use a small-scale Local Area Network (LAN) for their networking needs. Many businesses also use an Intranet, a private network that uses TCP/IP protocols to securely transmit information through the company. The internet is a global, public Wide Area Network, also often used for private purposes.

The Facts
In order to set up a small home or office network, you will need a router and an access point for each computer on the network. This is true regardless of whether the network is wired or wireless. For a wired network, you will also need a long ethernet cable, as well as cables to connect the router to the modem or computer. Wireless standards include Wireless B, G and N. Wireless G is about 5 times faster than Wireless B, and Wireless N is about 12 times faster than Wireless G.

Benefits
With a home network, there's no need to download files separately to each individual computer. Instead, you can access files remotely on each connected computer. Printer and Internet sharing obviates the necessity of multiple, redundant printers and high-speed connections. It's also possible to play games with other users across a LAN. Each gamer sits at his own separate computer console, eliminating the need to take turns.
Wired networks have the benefit of greater security. Wireless network offer greater ease of use. Wireless N networking technology is backward compatible with both Wireless G and B standards.

Risk Factors
With a wireless network, you run the risk that transmissions will be picked up by others. Also, unauthorized users may log into your network if you use your router's default username and password. If you have printer and file sharing enabled, this may result in malicious or careless users causing damage to your computer's files.

History of
The U.S. Department of Defense's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) first began developing the Internet in the 1960s. In 1966, ARPAnet was born. Nodes were installed at UCLA, the Stanford Research Institute, the U.C. Santa Barbara and The University of Utah.
In 1977, the Datapoint Corporation developed the Attached Computer Resource (ARC) system. Dubbed ARCnet, its first commercial installation was at Chase Manhattan Bank in New York. Robert Metcalf developed the ethernet protocol at Xerox in 1979. The Department of Defense established the Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Version 4 as a standard in 1982.