BROCADE IP PRIMER

Networking Basics1The world of computers has changed faster than many people dared dream.Scanning over the changes of the last four decades reveals an unfathomableand exponential growth in technology. Computers have become significantlysmaller and faster. Yet, the progress of computing technology seems to havereached the same conclusion that the progress of the human race in generalhas reached: two heads are better than one.Why Do I Need a Network?Over five centuries ago, John Donne penned the phrase: “No man is anisland.” In my experience, that applies to computers as well as mankind. Thinkof how you use your computer every day. Do you check your e-mail? Look at aWeb page? Download some software? Chat with a friend over Instant Messaging?What do all these examples have in common? Your computer mustcommunicate and cooperate with other computers, and this allows you to communicatewith other people.In the early days of computing, networking wasn't the focus. Manufacturerscreated powerful machines but focused more on having multiple users sharingthe same machine's resources. Is your computer not powerful enough to handlethe number of users you need? Get a more powerful computer!Well, as you can imagine, this method can only take you so far. It didn't taketoo long for people to realize that having multiple computers, and allowingthem to communicate with each other, would yield a myriad of benefits. Forone, remote locations could now quickly share ideas. A research lab at UCLAcould easily collaborate with another research lab in New York City. Two, datacould be easily shared with friends, families, and co-workers. And three,depending on the network, you could even combine the computing power ofmany computers to act as a single, very powerful computer.But what about the small business who just needs a computer to keep thebooks? There was certainly a time when it was common for a computer toserve just that simple a function. The early 1980's saw many home computersenter the business world to keep track of sales, accounting, etc. Could a computerbe used that was not part of a network? Sure, but its functionality wouldonly take it so far. Even the smallest of businesses today use their computersBrocade IP Primer 3