Networks

Networks

1. Advantages

   • Sharing info Across the Network
     • Files
     • Logins
       • Passwords and Usernames
     • Resources
       • Printing
       • Internet Connection

2. Disadvantages

   • Corruption of Software
     • Viruses
     • Hacking
   • Issues with Hardware
     • Cost of equipment
     • Difficulties With Setup
     • External Interruption

3. Types of Network

   • L.A.N
     • Local Area Network
     • Covers a small or local network
   • W.A.N
     • Wide Area Network
     • Covers a large or worldwide network

4. Topologies

   • Bus
     • A network layout which follows a large central cable
       • High chance of catastrophic failure
       • Lots of collisions
       • Slows down as more computers are added
       • Cheap to install
   • Ring
     • A network layout which follows a large ring like cable structure
       • High chance of catastrophic failure
       • Difficult to expand
       • Cheap to install
       • No collisions (fast)
   • Star
     • A network layout which follows a star like structure with one central hub
       • Expensive
       • Depends on a switch/hub
       • Low chance of failure
       • No collisions (fast)

5. IP Adresses

   • An IP Address is a unique value assigned to every computer on a network, used to identify it.
   • eg: 86.188.242.210
   • unique addresses are given to houses and buissneses
   • There are more computers and devices than IP Addresses

6. The Internet

   • Laid out in a Mesh Topolgy
     • Connected via each node
   • Multiple routes to each node
     • It is impossible to break the internet as there will always be another route
   • each node continually tests its connections and assigns them a “cost”
     • a lower cost means faster connection.
   • Route-finding algorithms are used to find the lowest cost route between two nodes
   • Packets
     • Data is split into small chunks called packets
     • Each packet is sent along the lowest cost route
     • The packets are re-assembled on the other side