Although a stand-alone computer can do more than an unconnected telephone, networks that tie computers together are at the core of the Information Revolution. They allow for the rapid exchange of data between machines and the sharing of data processing tasks.
Networks come in different sizes, and different kinds of networks utilize different protocols.
At one end of the spectrum is the LAN, or local area network. At the other end is the Internet, a global computer network. At Oberlin, institutionally-owned computers are set up so they can communicate effectively with other machines by a variety of protocols. Any networked environment requires a certain level of standardization and cooperation among individual machines. Upgrades are inevitable and we ask for your patience and assistance when the upgrades are being done.