Networking

Networking

1. Local area network (LAN)

   • Advantages
     • • Workstations can share peripheral devices like printers. This is cheaper than buying a printer for every workstations. • User can save their work centrally on the network’s file server. This means that they can retrieve their work from any workstation on the network. • They don’t need to go back to the same workstation all the time. • Users can communicate with each other and transfer data between workstations very easily. • One copy of each application package such as a word processor, spreadsheet etc. can be loaded onto the file and shared by all users. • When a new version comes out, it only has to be loaded onto the server instead of onto every workstation.
   • Disadvantages
     • LAN Disadvantages: • Special security measures are needed to stop users from using programs and data that they should not have access to; • Networks are difficult to set up and need to be maintained by skilled technicians. • If the file server develops a serious fault, all the users are affected, rather than just one user in the case of a stand-alone machine.
   • A Local Area Network is a group of computers close to each other, like in a school or office. These can share files, games, printers, or other apllications.

2. Wide Area Network

   • Advantages
     • One of the main advantages of a wide area network is that it connects two local area networks. This expands it and allows for more computers to run on one single network. Another advantage is that it allows some business persons to work from home while still being able to access work interfaces.
   • Disadvantages
     • A disadvantage is that a larger network is easier to compromise since more connections are being used. Another disadvantage is the use of live IP addresses which are an immediate target for hackers.
   • A WAN connection should truly only occur in large environments. WAN connections are available from house to house, city to city, and country to country.

3. Client/Server network

   • Advantages
     • A client server can be scaled up to many services that can also be used by multiple users. Security is more advanced than a peer-to-peer network, you can have passwords to own individual profiles so that nobody can access anything when they want. All the data is stored onto the servers which generally have far greater security controls than most clients. server can control the access and resources better to guarantee that only those clients with the appropriate permissions may access and change data.
   • Disadvantages
     • A client server can be scaled up to many services that can also be used by multiple users. Security is more advanced than a peer-to-peer network, you can have passwords to own individual profiles so that nobody can access anything when they want. All the data is stored onto the servers which generally have far greater security controls than most clients. server can control the access and resources better to guarantee that only those clients with the appropriate permissions may access and change data.
   • An arrangement where some programs, files or other resources are located on one computer, called the server, but are available to other systems on the network, called clients.

4. Peer to peer network

   • Disadvantage
     • Security is not good other than setting passwords for files that you don't want people to access. If the connections are not connected to the computers properly then there can be problems accessing certain files. It does not run efficient if you have many computers, it is best to used two to eight computers.
   • A peer-to-peer network is a type of decentralized and distributed network architecture in which individual nodes in the network act as both suppliers and consumers of resources
   • Advantage
     • Easy and simple to set up only requiring a hub or a switch to connect all computers together. You can access any file on the computer as-long as it is set to a shared folder. If one computer fails to work all the other computers connected to it still continue to work.

5. Intranet

   • Advantages
     • It serves information automatically and thus, one does have to face the contempt of not being aware of an important piece of informa­tion. Thus, demand for information is more frequent and detailed. Also, It improves productivity of the manager. With Intranet, the man­ager can spend more time in analysing information and not in seeking information and waiting for its delivery.
   • Disadvantages
     • As the Intranet communications are conven­ient and less expensive, the number of mails/queries is likely to increase and if these are not responded to quickly, they will pile up and the order will give way to chaos in the enterprise. 3. Another fear that is being talked about these days is the danger of reduced face-to-face interaction between employees leading to im-personalisation of the enterprise. However, studies have yet to prove anything of this sort.

6. Extranet

   • Disadvantages
     • It can be expensive to implement and maintain. Security can be a big concern when dealing with sensitive information, access needs to be carefully controlled to prevent this information from falling into the wrong hands. Another disadvantage that isn't too common. Some companies have many of their employee resources available only through the company intranet via an extranet connexion.
   • Advantages
     • It can provide Customers, Vendors, Other Businesses and Employees secure access to company resources through the internet on a site not generally accessible to the public.

7. Stand alone computer

   • Advantages
     • No viruses unless you plug in, and you wont be slowed down by others computers. Also, you know where all your files are.
   • Disadvantages
     • No internet, cannot share things, and you can lose all your stuff.

8. Disaster recovery plans

   • Disaster recovery plans usually contain three elements: Prevention, Detection, Correction
     • Prevention is just common sense: locked doors, strong passwords and security guards.
     • Detection is automatic: software can log and report suspicious activity.
     • A full set of steps must be laid down concerning recovery: This includes who is responsible for what, and how to deal with it.
     • Backing up data: Failover: Automatic switching to a backup computer system in the event of a system faliure.

9. Archiving

   • When data is no longer in regular use, it is copied, compressed and sent to a remote location. it is then deleted from the working environment, but kept if needed later.

10. Acceptable use

    • Most to all companies follow the same acceptable use policy
      • Using polite language online
      • Not revealing personal data
      • Not using the network for sending unsolicited mail
      • Not sending offensive documents or images
      • Not defaming anyone
      • Downloading programs