|  |  | Summary

In this chapter, you learned about the components of a computer and the role of computers in a networking system. More specifically, you learned that:

- Computers are vital components of every network.
- The more that we know about computers, the easier it is to understand networks.
- It is important to be familiar with the components of a computer and to be able to install a NIC. Also, troubleshooting PCs is a necessary skill for someone who works on networks.
- Software is the piece of the puzzle that allows the user to interface with the hardware. In networking, web browsers and email are commonly used software programs.
- In general, office applications, browsers, and email programs are used to perform business tasks.

- Computers can only understand and process data that is in a binary format, which is represented by 0s and 1s.
- The two main types of networks are LANs and WANs.
- WANs connect LANs together.
- LANs and WANs use protocols as languages to allow for computers and networking devices to communicate with each other.
- Bandwidth and throughput are measures of the speed or capacity of a network.

In the next chapter, you will learn about the OSI reference model and how each layer of the OSI model performs certain functions as data travels through the layers.