A network consists of two or more computers that are linked in order to share

resources (such as printers and CDs), exchange files, or allow electronic

communications. The computers on a network may be linked through cables,
telephone lines, radio waes, satellites, or infrared light beams.
Two ery common types of networks include!
"ocal Area #etwork ("A#)
$ide Area #etwork ($A#)
%ou may also see references to a &etropolitan Area #etworks (&A#), a
$ireless "A# ($"A#), or a $ireless $A# ($$A#).
Local Area Network
A "ocal Area #etwork ("A#) is a network that is confined to a relatiely small
area. 't is generally limited to a geographic area such as a writing lab, school, or
building.
Computers connected to a network are broadly categori(ed as serers or
workstations. )erers are generally not used by humans directly, but rather run
continuously to proide *serices* to the other computers (and their human
users) on the network. )erices proided can include printing and faxing,
software hosting, file storage and sharing, messaging, data storage and
retrieal, complete access control (security) for the network+s resources, and
many others.
$orkstations are called such because they typically do hae a human user
which interacts with the network through them. $orkstations were traditionally
considered a desktop, consisting of a computer, keyboard, display, and mouse,
or a laptop, with with integrated keyboard, display, and touchpad. $ith the
adent of the tablet computer, and the touch screen deices such as i,ad and
i,hone, our definition of workstation is -uickly eoling to include those
deices, because of their ability to interact with the network and utili(e network
serices.
)erers tend to be more powerful than workstations, although configurations
are guided by needs. .or example, a group of serers might be located in a
secure area, away from humans, and only accessed through the network. 'n
such cases, it would be common for the serers to operate without a dedicated
display or keyboard. /oweer, the si(e and speed of the serer+s processor(s),
hard drie, and main memory might add dramatically to the cost of the system.
0n the other hand, a workstation might not need as much storage or working
memory, but might re-uire an expensie display to accommodate the needs of
its user. 1ery computer on a network should be appropriately configured for
its use.
0n a single "A#, computers and serers may be connected by cables or
wirelessly. $ireless access to a wired network is made possible by wireless
access points ($A,s). These $A, deices proide a bridge between computers
and networks. A typical $A, might hae the theoretical capacity to connect
hundreds or een thousands of wireless users to a network, although practical
capacity might be far less.
#early always serers will be connected by cables to the network, because the
cable connections remain the fastest. $orkstations which are stationary
(desktops) are also usually connected by a cable to the network, although the
cost of wireless adapters has dropped to the point that, when installing
workstations in an existing facility with inade-uate wiring, it can be easier and
less expensie to use wireless for a desktop.
)ee the Topology, Cabling, and /ardware sections of this tutorial for more
information on the configuration of a "A#.
Wide Area Network
$ide Area #etworks ($A#s) connect networks in larger geographic areas,
such as .lorida, the 2nited )tates, or the world. Dedicated transoceanic cabling
or satellite uplinks may be used to connect this type of global network.
2sing a $A#, schools in .lorida can communicate with places like Tokyo in a
matter of seconds, without paying enormous phone bills. Two users a half3
world apart with workstations e-uipped with microphones and a webcams
might teleconference in real time. A $A# is complicated. 't uses multiplexers,
bridges, and routers to connect local and metropolitan networks to global
communications networks like the 'nternet. To users, howeer, a $A# will not
appear to be much different than a "A#.
Advantages of Installing a School Network
2ser access control.
&odern networks almost always hae one or more serers which allows
centrali(ed management for users and for network resources to which
they hae access. 2ser credentials on a priately3owned and operated
network may be as simple as a user name and password, but with eer3
increasing attention to computing security issues, these serers are
critical to ensuring that sensitie information is only aailable to
authori(ed users.
'nformation storing and sharing.
Computers allow users to create and manipulate information.
'nformation takes on a life of its own on a network. The network
proides both a place to store the information and mechanisms to share
that information with other network users.
Connections.
Administrators, instructors, and een students and guests can be
connected using the campus network.
)erices.
The school can proide serices, such as registration, school directories,
course schedules, access to research, and email accounts, and many
others. (4emember, network serices are generally proided by serers).
'nternet.
The school can proide network users with access to the internet, ia an
internet gateway.
Computing resources.
The school can proide access to special purpose computing deices
which indiidual users would not normally own. .or example, a school
network might hae high3speed high -uality printers strategically located
around a campus for instructor or student use.
.lexible Access.
)chool networks allow students to access their information from
connected deices throughout the school. )tudents can begin an
assignment in their classroom, sae part of it on a public access area of
the network, then go to the media center after school to finish their work.
)tudents can also work cooperatiely through the network.
$orkgroup Computing.
Collaboratie software allows many users to work on a document or
pro5ect concurrently. .or example, educators located at arious schools
within a county could simultaneously contribute their ideas about new
curriculum standards to the same document, spreadsheets, or website.
Disadvantages of Installing a School
Network
1xpensie to 'nstall.
"arge campus networks can carry hefty price tags. Cabling, network
cards, routers, bridges, firewalls, wireless access points, and software
can get expensie, and the installation would certainly re-uire the
serices of technicians. 6ut, with the ease of setup of home networks, a
simple network with internet access can be setup for a small campus in
an afternoon.
4e-uires Administratie Time.
,roper maintenance of a network re-uires considerable time and
expertise. &any schools hae installed a network, only to find that they
did not budget for the necessary administratie support.
)erers .ail.
Although a network serer is no more susceptible to failure than any
other computer, when the files serer *goes down* the entire network
may come to a halt. 7ood network design practices say that critical
network serices (proided by serers) should be redundant on the
network wheneer possible.
Cables &ay 6reak.
The Topology chapter presents information about the arious
configurations of cables. )ome of the configurations are designed to
minimi(e the inconenience of a broken cable8 with other configurations,
one broken cable can stop the entire network.
)ecurity and compliance.
#etwork security is expensie. 't is also ery important. A school
network would possibly be sub5ect to more stringent security
re-uirements than a similarly3si(ed corporate network, because of its
likelihood of storing personal and confidential information of network
users, the danger of which can be compounded if any network users are
minors. A great deal of attention must be paid to network serices to
ensure all network content is appropriate for the network community it
seres.