A network is a group of two or more computers that intelligently share hardware or software devices with each other. A network can be as small and simple as two computers that share the printer and CD-ROM drive attached to one of them or as large as the world’s largest network: the Internet.

Intelligently sharing means each computer that shares resources with another computer or computers maintains control of the resource. Thus, a switchbox for sharing a single printer between two computers doesn’t qualify as a network device; because the switchbox—not the computers—handles the print job, neither computer knows when the other one needs to print, and print jobs can interfere with each other.

A shared printer, on the other hand, can be controlled remotely and can store print jobs from different computers on the print server’s hard disk. Users can change the sequence of print jobs, hold them, or cancel them. And, sharing of the device can be controlled through passwords, further differentiating it from a switchbox.

Virtually any storage or output device can be shared over a network, but the most common devices include:

• Printers
• Disk drives
• CD-ROM and optical drives
• Modem
• Fax machines
• Tape backup units
• Scanners

Entire drives, selected folders, or individual files can be shared with other users via the network.

In addition to reducing hardware costs by sharing expensive printers and other peripherals among multiple users, networks provide additional benefits to users:

• Multiple users can share access to software and data files
• Electronic mail (email) can be sent and received
• Multiple users can contribute to a single document using collaboration features
• Remote-control programs can be used to troubleshoot problems or show new users how to perform a task.
• A single Internet connection can be shared among multiple computers.