Networks

Networks

1. Advantages

   • Share files, so the same files are available whichever computer you use.
   • share resorces such as printers and internet connection
   • share logins, so the same username and password can be used on every computyer on the network

2. 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

3. Types of network

   • LAN- Local Area Network a network in a small area or single organisation
   • WAN- Wide Area Network a network that spans a large area or multiple organisation

4. Topology

   • Bus Topology
     • Advantages
       • cheap to install
     • disadvantages
       • High chance of catastrophic failure
       • Lots of collisions
       • slows down as more computers are added
   • Ring Topology
     • Advantages
       • Cheapto install
       • No collisions (fast)
     • Disadvantages
       • High chance of catastrophic failure
       • Difficult to expand
   • Star topology
     • Advantages
       • Low chance of failure
       • No collisiopns (fast)
     • Disadvantages
       • Exprnsive
       • Depends on a switch

5. IP Address

   • An IP Address is a unique value assigned to every computer on a network, used to identify it.
   • Messages on a network have an IP Address attached, which is how a computer knows weather or not to keep the message.
   • The internet is a huge network with more devices than it's possible to assign a unique address to.
   • A network can have more than 4 billion devices connected to it.
   • An IP Address is used with lots of 0's and 1's.