A network is a group of computers which are linked in order to share resources. These computers may be linked by cables, telephone lines and satellites. There are 2 types of networks, local Area Network (LAN) or Wide Area Network (WAN).
Local Area Network is when computers are confined into a small area to and are connected from cables or wireless. LAN can use resources and share them such as files, software, hard disks and peripherals (devices used to input or output information in a computer).
Peripherals can reduce the amount you spend as you don’t need to buy a printer for each station as you can all share a printer. Also users of LAN can save their work to the main server which means they can retrieve their work from whatever work station they are working at which means they do not have to work at the same station all the time. LAN also makes sharing easier as you can save documents onto the main server then
It can also be an issue as the wiring can be expensive to buy and install and if the network is down, all computers would be out of use.
WAN is a network is a LAN network that has been connected to another LAN network to make a bigger network called a Wide Area Network. The LAN networks are connected by fibre optic cables, satellites, telephone systems or a modem. Many businesses use WAN as they can connect world-wide to their businesses in different countries.
WAN is useful as you can send messages quickly to anyone else who is on the network meaning communication occurs faster. They also can include images in the messages. WAN also allows peripherals to be used from all from all the people on the network. WAN is also useful as it is a larger network meaning you can share more without being so close to each other like the LAN network. It also allows you to send things to people which are in a different
In conclusion, a local area network is made up of computers and a myriad of devices, such as routers, servers, switches, and firewalls. In order for it to connect to the Internet, a router must be installed. Servers provide special functions such as printing, file sharing, etc. Switches connect the computers together from different parts of the network. Firewalls prevent unauthorized access. There are a host of other devices that may be used as well. These devices are hubs, gateways, repeaters, wireless access points,
Wireless networks – While the term wireless network may technically be used to refer to any type of network that is wireless, the term is most commonly used to refer to a telecommunications network whose interconnection between nodes is implemented without the use of wires, such as a computer network. Wireless telecommunication networks are generally implemented with some type of remote information transmission system that uses electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves, for the carrier and this implementation usually takes place at the physical level or “layer” network.
To attempt to define a network in a few sentences would be a fool’s errand. A network could be seen as simply a grid of interconnecting connections between multiple bodies. However when this vision is applied to real-world systems, they all start to differ. There is not anything that exists in the universe that is not part of a network. A network is the result of different parts or members which have similarities in parts of their identity. This similarity that they have in common, they will also have with other bodies forming a network between them. Most of these factors of identity are different from those of most others. As a result, each factor will be in common with different other members of different networks. Each factor includes this body in a multitude of networks. This means that no one thing is in one and only one network, but is included in many.
On the other hand, a computer network is a telecommunication network of computers that enables the networked computers to exchange data between each other. However, the Acceptable Use Policy of the computer systems and network still apply here. All the computer users are assigned a specific user ID as well as a specific password that enables them to access only the information that is allowed within their authority.
Historically WAN’s (Wide Area Networks) and LAN’s (Local Area Networks) have relied on independent technologies. At a physical layer WAN technologies today continue to be based largely on legacy TDM systems that were built initially to support voice, video and early data communications in a reliable fashion. WAN connectivity over distance often requires the use of regenerators and meet points between multiple Telco suppliers that may span the globe. Without strict adherence to standards, these connections would not function. WAN technologies depend on highly complex and expensive equipment, which can guarantee inter-operability and “five 9’s” reliability required to support the millions of paying customers utilizing the network.
A router is a device that connects two networks – frequently over large distances. It understands one or more protocols.
Some of technology they will need to decide on will be whether to install a server computer, which is a computer on a network that performs important network functions for client computers, such as serving up Web pages, storing data, and storing the network operating system (and hence controlling the network). Server software such as Microsoft Windows Server, Linux, and Novell Open Enterprise Server are the most widely used network operating systems. As well the network operating system (NOS) routes, manages communications on the network, and coordinates network resources. It can reside on every computer in the network, or it can reside primarily on a dedicated server computer for all the applications on the network. In considering how their workers will communicate with each other in...
When desktop computers and Local Area Networks (LAN) appeared in the 1980’s, they were small scale and being somewhat complex they required hands on technical skills, so were acquired in limited quantities. The low cash costs also meant they were often purchased without the approval of senior management.
Each computer on the network uses a modem to connect to the ISP (Internet service Provider eg Eircom) which operates the telephone lines. When you connect to the internet you become part of their network. Companies may be part of a Local Area Network all connected at points of presence in various cities. There is no overall connecting network but several high level networks connected to each other through Network Access Points or NAP's. Backbones, or fibre optic trunk lines, carry the information through routers, or specialised computers which sort and determine where to send your information.
In this modern times a revolution is taking place. Quietly this revolution has started and grown that it involved the world. A revolution is a sudden change in the way people live (Merriam-Webster). The birth of computer networking started during the early 1970's and began to flourish during the late 1970's. Various manufacturers in the computer industry launched small minicomputers with enough computational power to cater the needs of several users. Because of the cheap prices of such computers, every department in sizable organizations can afford one. In order to interconnect minicomputers and allow swift transfer of information among them, a number of organizations started to install Local Area Networks. Because LAN Technology is both cheap and easy to install, an individual department can buy, install and operate a LAN for their minicomputers without seeking the help of the administration (Comer, 2007)
Local Area Networks also called LANs have been a major player in industrialization of computers. In the past 20 or so years the worlds industry has be invaded with new computer technology. It has made such an impact on the way we do business that it has become essential with an ever-growing need for improvement. LANs give an employer the ability to share information between computers with a simple relatively inexpensive system of network cards and software. It also lets the user or users share hardware such as Printers and scanners. The speed of access between the computers is lighting fast because the data has a short distance to cover. In most cases a LAN only occupies one or a group of buildings located next to each other. For larger area need there are several other types of networks such as the Internet.
The Internet is a gigantic collection of millions of computers that are all linked together on a computer network.
First, by having an in-home computer network, and a file server, you can have a central location for storing all of your information. So, if you need more than one computer to access certain information, such as fonts, financial files, games, etc., you can do this through the network. This also eliminates the need for copying files to floppy diskettes, hand-carrying them to the other computers, and copying the files one-floppy-at-a-time to each, individual computer. This would be a very slow process, compared to a fast network speed. Additionally, if one computer on your network crashes, you can move to another computer and continue your work. So, if you use your network and file server effectively, you can have a high degree of reliability, security, and efficiency.
The Internet (Net) is a network of networks, connecting millions of computers together worldwide. It provides new ways of accessing, interacting, and connecting with people and content. It delivers packets of information similar to a postcard with a simple address on it, anywhere in the world. If you put the right address on a packet, and give it to any computer which is connected as part of the Net, each computer would figure out which cable to send it down next so that it would get to its destination.
A peer-to-peer network is relatively less expensive and much simpler to manage and setup, than client/server because money does not have to be invested in establishing server hardware or software and the number of users are minimal. Since, a peer-to-peer network is only preferable on networks operating on at least five to ten computers that do not need heavy file or application sharing, the cost is reasonable. On another note, based on a network with fifteen workstations, using a peer-to-peer configuration may save money upfront, but it could cost a business a lot of time and money in the long run. The reasons for this include, the lack of a central organization, which make data harder to find, no central storage location for archiving files, which may degrade client workstation performance, and lack of overall network management.