Networks

Networks

1. Advantages

   • Consistent User Experience - You can log on to any computer in the school using the same username and password Your files are available on every computer you use, even if you created them on a different computer You can print, use the Internet, email and use the same software on any computer

2. WAN

   • wide area network

3. Disadvantages

   • Expensive – extra hardware and wiring needed More room for error – if something goes wrong it can affect every computer Difficult – it requires a technical expertise Malware – viruses and other malicious software can spread through the network

4. LAN

   • local area network

5. topologies

   • disadvantages
     • High chance of catastrophic failure (if any cable breaks or any computer goes down, the entire network fails Difficult to add new computers
   • advantages
     • Cheap to install (one cable per computer) No collisions - only one computer is transmitting on each cable
   • bus
     • The network consists of a single cable that runs through the network All devices attach to this single cable
   • star
     • All computers are connected to a central switch. The switch directs the traffic to the appropriate computer
   • ring
     • Computers are connected to each other in a ring Communication only goes in one direction Each computer receives a message, and if it is not the intended recipient, passes it on to the next computer No central cable, each connection is between two computers

6. IP address

   • external IP
     • the IP address for your house
   • internal IP
     • the device inside of the building

Images and files in the map