Networking Fundamentals

Learn networking fundamentals: how to connect devices together on a network.

Useful for Dante and wireless control in audio, Artnet or sACN in lighting, programming LED walls (AV over IP), connecting PTZ cameras to controllers and computers, and tons of other use cases.

Check out the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNwEVYkx2Kk

TLDR:

What Is a Network? A Beginner's Guide to How Networks Work

A clear, foundational breakdown of what computer networks are, how devices connect, and the key network types you'll encounter — whether you're setting up your first home network or studying for a certification like CCNA or Network+.

What a network actually is:

A network is a group of connected devices — computers, printers, TVs, phones — that share data with each other. That data might be a print job, an email, a streamed video, or a shared internet connection. Most people use networks every day without thinking about them, as long as everything just works.

How devices connect:

Devices connect to a network in two ways — wired or wireless. Wired devices plug into a switch via ethernet cable, sometimes through wall sockets and patch panels. Wireless devices connect through a wireless access point, which functions like a cable-free switch. In most modern setups both exist on the same network, giving users the flexibility to go wired at a desk and switch to Wi-Fi in a meeting room.

Protocols — the common language of networks:

For devices to communicate, they need to agree on how data is sent, received, and organized. That agreed-upon process is called a protocol. Common examples include Ethernet and TCP for sending and receiving data, HTTP for web browsing, and SMTP for email. Multiple protocols typically work together to complete any given task.

Network types by size:

Networks come in different sizes depending on their purpose. A SOHO (Small Office Home Office) network handles a handful of devices in a home or small workspace. An enterprise network scales across multiple floors, buildings, or even countries — like a bank with offices nationwide. A service provider network is larger still, forming the backbone of internet access and connecting enterprise customers across regions. When devices are grouped in a local area, that's called a LAN (Local Area Network). When separate networks in different locations are joined together, that's a WAN (Wide Area Network).

The bottom line:

Understanding these core concepts — what a network is, how devices connect, what protocols do, and how networks scale — is the foundation everything else in networking builds on.