|  |  | Overview

In this introductory chapter, you will look at the components of a computer and at the role of computers in a networking system. You will use the "ground up" approach to learning networking, starting with the most basic component of a network – the computer. The more you know about computers, the easier it will be to understand networks and how they are designed and built.

To help you understand the role that computers play in a networking system, consider the Internet. You can think of the Internet as a tree, and computers as the leaves on the tree. Computers are the sources and receivers of information, both giving to and taking from the Internet. Note that computers can function without the Internet, but that the Internet cannot exist without computers. As time goes by, computer users are becoming increasingly dependent on the Internet.

Computers, along with being an integral part of a network, also play a vital role in the world of work. Businesses use their computers for a variety of purposes, but they also use them in some common ways. They use servers to store important data and to manage employee accounts. They use spreadsheet software to organize financial information, word processor software to maintain records and correspondence, and Web browsers to access company Web sites.

With all this in mind, you will begin to look at the inner workings of a computer. This will give you the foundation you need to begin your study of networking.