NETWORKS

NETWORKS

1. WAN - Wide Area Network

   • computers that are geographically remote - large distance between them
   • External communications equipment such as telephone line, satellites, or mobile phone are used to connect computers
   • modem, router or other physical device is needed to connect to the WAN
   • Internet is largest example of WAN
   • Many computers connected together through external communication links
   • Need an ISP (Internet Service Provider) - IPS offers email, web hosting and file transfer
   • Sometimes used in large organizations:
     • universities with multiple campuses
     • local education authorities that connect many schools together
     • airline booking system
     • business with multiple offices / shops
     • Automated teller machines (ATMs)

2. LAN - Local Area Network

   • Usually confined within a local geographical area - building or campus
   • Direct connection between them
   • connected only by cables that are owned by the user
   • Able to share local peripherals e.g. printers
   • Usually a smart network - often found in schools, colleges and businesses and can be found in private homes
   • Software and data can be shared
   • Workstations have network cards or wireless connectivity

3. VLAN - Virtual Local Area Network

   • allows the computers to communicate with each other as if they within a single LAN
   • is a network that runs on top of a larger network - it is a subset.
   • Virtual network cam exist across more than one LAN - through WAN or the internet.
   • operate as if they are part of a single LAN
   • the computers can be physically remote but act as through they are on a local network and access local resources