The first stage: The late 1960s to the early 1970s was the embryonic stage of computer network development. Its main feature is to connect small computers into an experimental network in order to increase the computing power and resources of the system. ARPANET, the first long-distance packet switching network, was built by the US Department of Defense in 1969, and a computer network system consisting of a communication network and a resource network was realized for the first time.
ARPANET is a typical representative of this stage, which marks the real emergence of computer networks.
The second stage: The middle and late 1970s is an important stage for the development of local area network (LAN). Its main characteristics are: as a new computer architecture, LAN has begun to enter the industry. LAN technology originates from remote packet-switched communication networks and computer systems with I/O bus structure.
The Palo Alto Research Center of American Xerox Company launched Ethernet, and successfully adopted the basic principles of the ALOHA wireless network system of the University of Hawaii, making it the first local area network with bus competition.
The Computer Research Institute of Cambridge University developed the famous Cambridge Ring. The successful realization of these networks, on the one hand, marks the emergence of local area networks, on the other hand, their Ethernet and ring networks play a navigation role in the future development of local area networks. ?
The third stage: 80' s is the development period of computer local area network. Its main feature is the ability of LAN to realize ISO open system interconnection communication mode protocol completely on hardware.
The integration of computer LAN and its interconnection products makes the technology of LAN interconnection, LAN interconnection with various hosts and LAN interconnection with WAN more and more mature. The development of integrated service data communication network (ISDN) and intelligent network (IN) indicates the rapid development of local area network.
The fourth stage: from the early 1990s to the present, it is a stage of rapid development of computer networks, characterized by the development of computer networking, collaborative computing capacity and the popularization of the global Internet.
The development of computer has been completely integrated with the network, which embodies the slogan of "network is computer".
At present, the computer network has really entered all walks of life and has been adopted by all walks of life. In addition, with the application of virtual network FDDI and ATM technology, network technology has flourished and quickly entered the market and ordinary people's lives.