Networks

Networks

1. Advantages

   • Share files
     • So the same files are available whichever computer you use
   • Share resources
     • Such as printers and Internet connection.
   • Share logins
     • So the same username and password can be used on every computer on the network.

2. Disadvantages

   • Cost
     • Networks are expensive to set up
   • Increased risk
     • Problems such as viruses can affect every computer on the network
   • Difficulty
     • Expertise is needed to set up and maintain a network.

3. Types of Networks

   • Lan
     • Local Area Network
     • A network contained in a single geographical location or organisation
   • Wan
     • Wide Area Network
     • A network that spans a large geographical area, or multiple organisations
   • PSN

4. Topologies

   • Network Topologies
     • The arrangement of computers and other elements of a network
   • Bus Topology
     • Advantages
       • Cheap to install
     • Disadvantages
       • High chance of catastrophic failure
       • Lots of collisions
       • Slows down as more computers are added
   • Ring Topology
     • Advantages
       • Cheap to install
       • No collisions
     • Disadvantages
       • High chance of catastrophic failure
       • Difficult to expand
   • Star Topology
     • Advantages
       • Low chance of failure
       • No collisions (fast)
     • Disadvantages
       • Expensive
       • Depends on a switch

5. Ip address

   • 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
   • The Internet is a huge network with more devices than it’s possible to assign a unique address to
   • Unique addresses are assigned to businesses and houses
   • These houses and businesses run their own mini-network inside with different IP Addresses