Glossary of IP communications
Network
A series of points or nodes interconnected by communication paths. Networks can interconnect with other networks and contain subnetworks. The most common configurations of networks include the bus, star, and Token ring topologies. Networks can also be characterised in terms of spatial distance as local area networks (LAN), metropolitan area networks (MAN), and wide area networks (WAN). A given network can also be characterized by the type of data transmission technology in use on it (for example, a TCP/IP or SNA network); by whether it carries voice, data, or both kinds of signals; by who can use the network (public or private); by the usual nature of its connections (dial-up or switched, dedicated or nonswitched, or virtual connections); and by the types of physical links (for example, optical fibre, coaxial cable, and unshielded twisted pair). Large telephone networks and networks using their infrastructure (such as the Internet) have sharing and exchange arrangements with other companies so that larger networks are created.