Networks

Networks

1. Types of Network

   • LAN - Local area network
     • WAN - Wide area network

2. Disadvantages

   • Expensive - Extra hardware and wiring needed
   • More room for error - if something goes wrong it can affect every single computor
   • Difficult - it requires a technical expertise
   • Malware - Viruses and other malicious software can spread through thre network

3. Advantages

   • Consistent user experience - You can log on to any computer in the school using the same username and password!
   • Your files are available on every computer you use, even if you created them on a different computer, they will be saved!
   • You can print, use the internet, email and use the same software on any computer!

4. Topologies

   • Bus Topology - The Network consists of a single cable that runs through the network - All devices attach to this single cable!
   • Ring Topology- Computors are connected to each other in a ring - Communication only goes in one direction - No central cable, each connection is between two computers - Each computer receives a messsage, and if it's not the intended recipient, it then passes it on to the next computer
   • Star Topology - All computers are connected to a central switch - The switch directs the traffic to the appropriate computer
   • Mesh Topology - In a mesh network topology there is no central connection point. Instead, each node is connected to at least one other node and usually to more than one. Each node is capable of sending messages to and receiving messages from other nodes. The nodes act as relays, passing on a message towards its final destination.

5. IP Addresses

   • An IP Address is a unique value assigned to every computer on a network, used to identify it
   • Messages on a network have an IP address attached, which is how a computer knows whether or not to keep the message
   • IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses as opposed to the 32-bit addresses used by IPv4, allowing for a substantially larger number of possible addresses.