![[HomePage]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/meta/3/32/Wiki_orig_logo.png){kind=logo}
A computer network is a system for communication among two or more computers.
Computer networks may be categorized with respect to range:
- personal area network (PAN)
- local area network (LAN)
- metropolitan area network (MAN)
- wide area network (WAN)
Computer network applications may be categorized with respect to the functional relationships between components:
Computer networks may be categorized with respect to connective topologies:
Computer networks may be implemented using a variety of protocol stack architectures, or combinations of media and protocol layers, incorporating one or more of:
- Ethernet
- IP
- TCP
- Appletalk
- Token Ring
- IPX
- FIDDI
- HIPPI
- Myrinet
- ATM
- RS-232
- RS-488
- IEEE-4888
- UDP
- ICMP
- USB
- IEEE 1394, aka Firewire, iLink
- SCSI
For standards see IEEE 802.
Suggested topics:
An often cited reference is Andy Tannenbaum, "Computer Networks" (ISBN: 0133499456).