network

networking Hardware and software data communication systems.

The OSI seven layer model attempts to provide a way of

partitioning any computer network into independent modules

from the lowest (physical) layer to the highest (application)

layer. Many different specifications exist at each of these

layers.

Networks are often also classified according to their

geographical extent: local area network (LAN), metropolitanarea network (MAN), wide area network (WAN) and also

according to the protocols used.

See BITNET, Ethernet, Internet, Novell, PSTN,

network, the.

[Tanenbaum, A., "Computer Networks; 2nd ed.", Prentice Hall,

Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1989.]

(1995-03-10)