Network Orientation defines networking and provides an overview of the networking environment including the benefits of networking, its essential components, and the standard network designs, or topologies.

Networks connect computers in order to share resources including information and peripherals. This ia done through:

 A peer-to-peer approach in which the networked computers can be both servers and clients.
 A server-based approach in which certain computers are designated as servers based on their power, storage capacity, and function in the network.
 A combination of both approachs in which some computers are dedicated servers but users can share their own resources.

The network is laid out according to one of three topologies: bus, star, or ring. Networks can also be created from a combination of topologies, resulting in either a star bus or a star ring.