Network

Network

1. WAN

   • wide area network
   • over a large area or multiple organisations

2. LAN

   • based in a small location
     • or organisation
   • local area network

3. Advantages

   • Easy to share files
   • share logins on any computer
   • easy to share resources
   • can use any computer
   • Install software and updates at the same time
   • user restrictions are easy to install
   • sharing devices such as printers save money

4. Disadvantages

   • purchasing the network cabling and file servers can be expensive
   • managing a large network is difficult
   • viruses can be spread to other computers throughout a network

5. topologies

   • bus topology
     • single cable that runs through that all computers connect to
     • high risk of catastrophic failure
     • high chance of collisions
     • more computers - slower because of colisions
     • cheap to install
   • ring topology
     • connected in a ring
     • communications go the same way
     • each computer gets the same message, if its the wrong recipient then it goes to the next computer
     • no central cable- cable between two computers
   • star topology

6. IP address

   • computers on a network also need an address to identify them
   • an address is a unique identifier given to something
   • a house address is unique to identify that house
   • Internet Protocol Address
   • each IP address has to be unique
   • a 32 bit binary
   • we cant