Networks

Networks

1. Advantages

   • 1. Share Files
     • So the same files are available whichever computer

2. Disadvantages

   • 1. Cost
     • Networks are expensive to set up
   • 2. Increased Risk
     • Problems such as viruses can affect every computer on the network.
   • 3. Difficulty
     • Expertise is needed to set up and maintain a network.

3. Types

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

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 collision
     • Disadvantages
       • expensive
       • depends on a hub or switch

5. IP Addresses

   • Is a unique value assigned to every computer on a network, used to identify it.
   • The internet is a huge network with more devices than it's possible to assign a unique address to
   • Unique addresses are assigned to businesses and houses
   • These houses and businesses run their own mini- network inside with different IP addresses