Networks and Communications Part A

Networks and Communications Part A

1. Local Area Network

   • This is in a local area geographically, such as in an office
   • Workstations with network cards or wireless connectivity
   • Connected via its own dedicated cables or wireless devices, they are owned by the company
   • Often has shared peripherals

2. Wide Area network

   • This is over a wide area geographically
   • External communication hardware is needed such as telephone lines, leased lines, mobile phone lines. These are used to connect the computers.
   • The internet is a WAN; computers are connected via external comm links and the information is shared through the WWW
     • This offers e-mail, internet and instant messaging
     • To connect to the internet, ISP's are needed.
   • Used in large organisations
     • Universities
     • ATM's
     • Large businesses with lots of offices

3. Virtual Network

   • These computers in a virtual network communicate as if they were a single LAN without knowing that they are in a bigger network
     • These computers in the VLAN cannot communicate with the others in the LAN if they are not part of the VLAN
   • These Virtual Networks can exist across multiple LAN's through a WAN or the internet
   • Data for virtual networks travelling through cables on a LAN do not affect the data from the LAN or other virtual networks

4. Connecting a LAN and WAN

   • Most LAN's are connected to a WAN meaning that those in a LAN can connect to others on a WAN
     • This is done using a router that connects LAN's to and external communication device such as Mobile lines