NETWORKS
Amna Bibi
WHAT IS NETWORK
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 waves, satellites, or infrared light
beams.
Two types of network:
Local Area Network (LAN)
Wide Area Network (WAN)
LOCAL AREA NETWORK
A Local Area Network (LAN) is a network that is confined to a relatively small area. It is
generally limited to a geographic area such as a writing lab, school, or building.
Computers connected to a network are broadly categorized as servers or workstations. Servers
are generally not used by humans directly, but rather run continuously to provide "services" to
the other computers (and their human users) on the network. Services provided can include
printing and faxing, software hosting, file storage and sharing, messaging, data storage and
retrieval, complete access control (security) for the network's resources, and many others.
WIDE AREA NETWORK
Wide Area Networks (WANs) connect networks in larger geographic area wans
are often used to connect different buildings owned by national and international
business, law enforcement agencies, health and education organization and
government departments.
Wans often use connectivety provided by third party telecommunications company,
often linking lans together through the internet. Because of there wide reach, wans
often have slower transfer speeds then lans.
PERSONAL AREA NETWORK
Pan is a group of connected devices that are all near an
individual user. Eg: a user could connect there smartwatch to
their smartphone, which is connected to laptop and home
cinema speaker system.
Devices in pan can either be connected to each other directly
or through access points.
ADVANTAGES OF INSTALLING A SCHOOL
NETWORK
User access control.
Information storing and sharing.
Flexible Access.
Workgroup Computing.
Computing resources.
DISADVANTAGES OF INSTALLING A SCHOOL
NETWORK
Expensive to Install.
Requires Administrative Time.
Security and compliance.
Cables May Break
Servers Fail.
METHODS TO IDENTIFY
DEVICES
1. Internet protocol
2. Mac address
3. Device name
