Networks

Networks

1. Advantages

   • You can share files
     • The same files are available on whichever computer you use
   • Share Resources
     • Such as printers, internet connection and software
   • Sharing logins
     • So the same username and password can be used on every computer on the network

2. Disadvantages

   • Expense
     • It can be expensive to buy extra hardware and wiring
   • More room for error
     • If something goes wrong it can effect every computer

3. Topologies

   • Bus
     • Advantages
       • Cheap to install
     • Disadvantages
       • High chance of catastrophic failure
       • Lots of collisions
       • Slows down as more computers are added
   • Ring
     • Advantages
       • Cheap to install
       • No message collisions
     • Disadvantages
       • High chance of catastrophic failure
       • Difficult to add new computers too
   • Star
     • Advantages
       • Low chance of failures
       • No message collisions
     • Disadvantages
       • Expensive
       • It depends on a switch
   • Mesh
     • Used for the internet

4. Types of Networks

   • LAN
     • Local Area Network
   • WAN
     • Wide Area Network

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

Images and files in the map