NETWORK

NETWORK

1. TYPES OF NETWORK

   • WAN
     • A network that spans a large area or multiple organisations
   • LAN
     • A network in a small area or a single organisation

2. 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

3. 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

4. Topology

   • Bus
     • Advantage
       • 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 collisions (fast)
     • Disadvantages
       • High chance of catastrophic failure
       • Difficult to expand
   • Star
     • Advantages
       • Low chance of failure
       • No collisions (fast)
     • Disadvantages
       • Expensive
       • Depends on a switch

5. IP address

   • Definition?
     • A unique value assigned to every computer on a network to identify it
   • What is it for?
     • So a computer knows where to send something
   • How many IP addresses are there?
     • What does it look like?
       • 86.188.242.210
     • 4,294,967,296

6. Internet

   • What kind of topology?
     • It's a mesh topology
   • How are routes chosen?
     • They are chosen by how long it takes to get to each node
   • How are large files sent?
     • Big file is broken down into small packets and reassembled at the destination