Most of us remain ignorant over how a computer works. We simply just turn on the computer and connect to the internet to access various websites. However, have you ever wondered how we can log on to the internet?

Basically, you are connected by a computer network which is divided into two major categories. They are the client/server network and peer-to-peer network. In the client/server network, there is a computer which plays the major role known as server whereby all the files, data in the form of web pages, documents or spread sheets files, videos, database and resources are kept. Other computers which get information and data from the server are therefore known as client. Hence the term client/server network whereas in the peer-to-peer network, all the computers play equal roles because no computer act as the centralized server.

In a computer network, there is something called a network topology which describes the structure or layout of a network. Some of the network topologies are described as the star, bus, ring and mesh structure. For example in the star topology, all the computers in the network are connected by a centralized device such as hub or switch which form a ‘star structure.’ However if one of the hubs fails to function, then the computers within the network will lose their connectivity and communication.

Using the same principle of language as a form of communication, computers too have their communication language known as protocol. For example, a form of protocol is known as the TCP/IP protocol which is also the most commonly used protocol and it consists of a few protocols. The data flow is regulated by seven logical layers called the OSI layers. They are the Application layer, Presentation layer, Session layer, Transport layer, Network layer, Data Link layer and Physical layer. The Data Link layer is unique because it can be divided into sub-categories which are the Media access control sub-layer and logical link sub-layer.