Network Solutions

What is a Computer Network?

When Unique Computing Solutions talks about networks we describe three types of networks, Private, Public, and Demilitarize Zone (DMZ). In its simplest term a network is the most cost-effective way to share a collection of communication equipment such as servers, desktop computers, laptops, printers, and modems that have been connected together by cables or wireless devices. A network helps people work collectively, not just individually.

Peripherals such as printers, modems, copy machines, fax machines, high speed Internet connections, CD-ROM, CD writers, DVD writers, tape drives, hard disks and other data storage equipment. A small network may be as simple as just two computers linked together by cable. A large network can link hundreds or thousands of computers and peripherals together in various configurations.

What is a Private Networks?
Private Network contains all the computers, servers, printers, and network appliances used by the company to perform business related tasks.

Typically, Private networks contain addresses that are not routable across the public Internet.

Private network addresses are created and provided by the person who configures the network.

What is a Public Networks?
Public network is a network that is shared with the public such as, web sites, e-mail servers, and FTP servers.

When you type in a web-site or send a email it is sent across a public network to the final destination.

Public network addresses are provided to you by your Internet Service Provider.

What is a Demilitarize Zone (DMZ)?
Demilitarize Zone (DMZ) network is a private network inserted as a "neutral zone" between a company's private network and the outside public network. The DMZ network is secure approach for companies that desire to host web sites, e-mail, and FTP servers.

A DMZ prevents outside users from getting direct access to private network devices and company data. (The term comes from the geographic buffer zone that was set up between North Korea and South Korea following the UN "police action" in the early 1950s.)

Typically, a DMZ networks contain addresses that are not routable across the public Internet. DMZ traffic to and from the DMZ servers is usually routed through a firewall. The firewall responds to the request from the public network change the final destination address to a DMZ address and routes the traffic to the appropriate DMZ server.

DMZ network addresses are created and provided by the person who configures the network.