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Networks

The document discusses various types of computer networks, including Personal Area Networks (PAN), Local Area Networks (LAN), Wide Area Networks (WAN), client-server networks, and peer-to-peer networks. It highlights their functionalities, advantages, and disadvantages, emphasizing the importance of networks in modern communication and resource sharing. Additionally, it compares client-server and peer-to-peer networks in terms of cost, security, performance, and management.

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lakakal375
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5 views

Networks

The document discusses various types of computer networks, including Personal Area Networks (PAN), Local Area Networks (LAN), Wide Area Networks (WAN), client-server networks, and peer-to-peer networks. It highlights their functionalities, advantages, and disadvantages, emphasizing the importance of networks in modern communication and resource sharing. Additionally, it compares client-server and peer-to-peer networks in terms of cost, security, performance, and management.

Uploaded by

lakakal375
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Types of networks

The sharing of resources and data between computers has revolutionised the lives
of practically evry inhabitant of the world.

The mobile phone network allowing voice and text messaging has allowed people to
communicate for the first time across continents with no traditional telephone
infrastructure.
Just think about a few of the ways you make use of computer networks – sending
and receiving emails, video-conferencing, online shopping, streaming music and
videos, social networking, researching material for your homework and handing it in
online.
All these would be imposible without computer networks.

Network’s vary in sizes and scale from a personal area network (PAN) that allows an
individuals personal device such as mobile phone, tablet, television and computer to
communicate and share data to networks spanning the globe.

A personal area network allows the devices of a single person or several people to
communicate over small distances. The range depends on the method of
communication used.

1 LAN – Local Area Network

Your school probably has a LAN as it alows computers at a single site or within a
small geographical area such to connect with each other.
LAN’s are commonly used in the home schools, office buildings or a group of
buildings on a local site.

A LAN in an office building allows the computers to communicate and share


resources such as printers and internet connections.

Local area networks are relatively easy to set up and manage as they are owned by
a shingle organisation.

2 WAN – Wide Area Network


A WAN is a network that connects separate LANs over a large geographical area.
This ensures that computers in one location can communicate with computers and
users in other locations.

A WAN allows the WANs at different sites of a multinational company to comunicate


with each other. The WAN will therefore be managed by several different people or
parts of an organisation working together.

(c) Client-server networks


In a client-server network there are two types of computers: the computers that
control access to the network (servers) and the computers on which the users work
(clients).
In a client-server network the server controls access to the network.
From the client machines, the users log into the network servers in order to be able
to access programs and peripherals and save data on them.

3 Peer-to-peer networks

In a peer-to-peer network, the computers are connected together without any one
computer having any superiority over the others. All of the computers on a peer-to-
peer network are equal.

In a peer to peer network all of the computers are connected together without any
one computer controlling access to the network.
Each computer acts as both a client and a server and can communicate directly with
the others.

Though sharing rights granted by the users any computer can share the programs of
another, save data onto their hard disk and use printers connected to them.

Security is distributed and the users of each computer have to be able to grant
access rights to its resources and allot of passwords.

4 Comparison of client-server and peer-to-peer networks

Client-server Peer-to-peer
More expensive – need a dedicated file Cheaper and easier to install and does
server which is usually a more high- not require an expensive server.
powered PC. Do not have to buy an expensive
Need to buy a network operating network operating system and learn
system and learn how to use it. how to use it.
May have to employ a network Easier to maintain – do not need to
manager. employ a network manager.
Data and programs are saved on the If you have work saved on another
central file server and are more secure. computer’s hard disk drive it may be lost
if that computer crashes or a user
deletes it.
The server manages access to the Each user has to know how to grant and
network and gives access rights to maintain share rights to their computer.
different users e.g. whether they can
see, read, write to, modify, delete
certain files.
Higher performance as the server is Often poor performance as another
handling all of data storage and transfer computer may be accessing your hard
and printing and so client computers are disk drive to run programs or load and
free to carry out user related tasks. save data.
Security is high as it is not set by each Security is often a problem. If password
computer user for individual machines. protection is employed, anyone who
knows the password can access a
shared resource. If no passwords are
used, anyone who can access the
workgroup can access shared
resources.
Backup is central and only the file No central backup. Each hard disk drive
server needs to be backed up as that is must be backed up independently.
where the data is stored.
If the server crashes then programs and
data cannot be accessed and may be
lost for all users.

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