Networks

Networks

1. Advantages

   • Hardware/software/data can be shared
   • Network computers can communicate
   • Sharing devices such as printers saves money
   • Security is good

2. Disadvantages

   • Expensive to be installed as the cables cost lots
   • Viruses are easily spread through a network
   • Hackers can gain unorganised accsess

3. File Server

   • A device which controls access to separately stored files, as part of a multi-user system. It has everyone's files saved and has lots of storage

4. Client Server Network

   • A client-server network is designed for end-users called clients to access resources (such as files, songs, video collections or some other service) from a central computer called a server.

5. Peer to Peer Network

   • All computers have the same importance and they all store files.

6. Bus Networking

   • Advantages
     • Simple network
     • Cheap
     • If a computer fails the network continues to work
   • Disadvantages
     • If the main network cable breaks then none of the computers can work
     • Speed of data is slow

7. Star Networking

   • Advantages
     • Most reliable form of network
     • If a cable or computer breaks all the other computers can access the file server and the network can still be used
     • Discrete (quick) access to the server
   • Disadvantages
     • Most expensive network due to the cables
     • If the file server fails all the computers do too

8. Ring Network

   • Advantages
     • Used in peer to peer network so there is no need for one computer to be more powerful than the rest
     • Cheapest to create and set up
     • Data speed in quick and no data collision
   • Disadvantages
     • If any computer or cable breaks it can affect the whole network
     • Most unreliable