First we had the industrial revolution in the 19th and 20th century, which swept the whole world. The computer revolution is said to be the next big thing which is going to downsize the achievements of the earlier revolution.

Computer revolution has arrived in part and parcels in the 21st century and it is just going to grow bigger by the minute. Every minute at least a hundred PC's are bought all around the world, and majority of them are nowadays connected to the internet. When its all about connecting two or more computer systems, in different parts of the world, bang comes the need for networking.

Networking allows various intelligent devices like computers, PDA, mobile phones to communicate with each other either through physical wires or wireless signals. This is nothing but the much used word "convergence" of technology.

We all send emails, don't we? But have we ever wondered how this email knows where to go? Well devices like routers act like postmen, who look at the IP address the email address originated from and they then forward it to the destination IP address, who is the actually intended recipient of the email. Networking basically explains one how this sequence of occurs happens in real time world and as to how the data packets reach where they have to.

Software and Networking are inter-dependant. A Client Server application created by the tireless programmer can run only on a network, formed by your hardware guy, whose majority of the time goes into tripping about CAT5 cables and sorting them out. The operating system (network operating system) used by the system administrator is actually the successful execution of the code of a software programmer, at runtime.

Currently the software field is very much saturated, as all that one requires in the software field is good logic, imagination and creativity. Hence even if you are not from a technical background as such, still you can pick up a course on say CC++ or Java and climb the steps of being a coder from day one itself. But networking is all about troubleshooting in real life situations. No matter how badly one messes up with a computer system, the networking guy has to get the machine up and running ASAP.

In the forthcoming articles in this section, you will get to know more about the standard models over which the internet was built, a preview on the various devices that make a network work, like your hub, router, repeater, switch and also about the various networking operating systems. Useful tips regarding cracking certifications like CCNA, MCSE will also be given.

So watch out for this space, where you can quench your thirst for technical knowledge, with a cherry of philosophy and real life examples on top.