Monday, January 30, 2012

What Is a Network?

What is a Network?

A network consists of 2 or additional computers that are linked so as to share resources (such as printers and CDs), exchange files, or permit electronic communications. The computers on a network could also be linked through cables, phonephone lines, radio waves, satellites, or infrared lightweight beams.
Two quite common kinds of networks include:
  • Local Area Network (LAN)
  • Wide Area Network (WAN)
You may additionally see references to a Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN), a Wireless LAN (WLAN), or a Wireless WAN (WWAN).



Local Area Network

A Local space Network (LAN) may be a network that's confined to a comparatively tiny space. it's usually restricted to a geographic space like a piece lab, school, or building.

Computers connected to a network are broadly categorized as servers or workstations. Servers are usually not utilized by humans directly, however rather run continuously to produce "services" to the opposite computers (and their human users) on the network. Services provided will embody printing and faxing, software hosting, file storage and sharing, messaging, information storage and retrieval, complete access management (security) for the network's resources, and lots of others.

Workstations are referred to as such as a result of they generally do have a personality's user that interacts with the network through them. Workstations were historically thought of a desktop, consisting of a pc, keyboard, display, and mouse, or a laptop, with integrated keyboard, display, and touchpad. With the arrival of the pill pc, and also the bit screen devices like iPad and iPhone, our definition of workstation is quickly evolving to incorporate those devices, as a result of their ability to interact with the network and utilize network services.

Servers tend to be a lot of powerful than workstations, though configurations are guided by desires. for instance, a bunch of servers may be located in a very secure space, removed from humans, and solely accessed through the network. In such cases, it'd be common for the servers to work while not an obsessive show or keyboard. However, the dimensions and speed of the server's processor(s), hard drive, and main memory may add dramatically to the value of the system. On the opposite hand, a workstation won't want the maximum amount storage or operating memory, however may need a chic show to accommodate the requirements of its user. each pc on a network ought to be appropriately configured for its use.

On one LAN, computers and servers could also be connected by cables or wirelessly. Wireless access to a wired network is formed doable by wireless access points (WAPs). These WAP devices give a bridge between computers and networks. A typical WAP might need the theoretical capability to attach a whole bunch or maybe thousands of wireless users to a network, though sensible capability may be way less.

Nearly continuously servers are connected by cables to the network, as a result of the cable connections stay the fastest. Workstations that are stationary (desktops) also are typically connected by a cable to the network, though the value of wireless adapters has dropped to the purpose that, when putting in workstations in an existing facility with inadequate wiring, it is easier and fewer expensive to use wireless for a desktop.

See the Topology, Cabling, and Hardware sections of this tutorial for a lot of info on the configuration of a LAN.


Wide Area Network

Wide Area Networks (WAN) connect networks in larger geographic areas, like Jakarta, the us, or the globe. Dedicated transoceanic cabling or satellite uplinks could also be used to attach this kind of world network.

Using a WAN, colleges in Jakarta will communicate with places like Tokyo during a matter of seconds, while not paying monumental phone bills. 2 users a half-world apart with workstations equipped with microphones and a webcams would possibly teleconference in real time. A WAN is difficult. It uses multiplexers, bridges, and routers to attach native and metropolitan networks to world communications networks just like the net. To users, however, a WAN won't seem to be a lot of totally different than a LAN.


Advantages of Installing a School Network

User access management.
Modern networks nearly always have one or a lot of servers that permits centralized management for users and for network resources to that they need access. User credentials on a privately-owned and operated network is also as straightforward as a user name and password, however with ever-increasing attention to computing security problems, these servers are vital to making sure that sensitive data is merely out there to approved users.

Information storing and sharing.
Computers permit users to make and manipulate data. data takes on a lifetime of its own on a network. The network provides each an area to store {the data|the knowledge|the data} and mechanisms to share that information with different network users.
Connections.
Administrators, instructors, and even students and guests are often connected using the campus network.
Services.
The school will offer services, like registration, faculty directories, course schedules, access to analysis, and email accounts, and plenty of others. (Remember, network services are usually provided by servers).
Internet.
The school will offer network users with access to the web, via an online gateway.
Computing resources.
The school will offer access to special purpose computing devices that individual users wouldn't normally own. for instance, a college network may need high-speed prime quality printers strategically located around a campus for instructor or student use.
Flexible Access.
School networks permit students to access their data from connected devices throughout the college. Students will begin an assignment in their classroom, save a part of it on a public access space of the network, then visit the media center once faculty to complete their work. Students also can work cooperatively through the network.
Workgroup Computing.
Collaborative software permits several users to figure on a document or project concurrently. for instance, educators located at varied faculties among a county might simultaneously contribute their ideas concerning new curriculum standards to identical document, spreadsheets, or website.


Disadvantages of Installing a School Network  

Expensive to put in.
Large campus networks will carry hefty worth tags. Cabling, network cards, routers, bridges, firewalls, wireless access points, and software will get expensive, and therefore the installation would definitely need the services of technicians. But, with the benefit of setup of home networks, an easy network with web access is setup for atiny low campus in a day.

Requires Administrative Time.
Proper maintenance of a network needs considerable time and experience. many faculties have put in a network, solely to search out that they failed to budget for the mandatory administrative support.

Servers Fail.
Although a network server isn't any additional vulnerable to failure than the other pc, when the files server "goes down" the whole network could come back to a halt. smart network style practices say that essential network services (provided by servers) ought to be redundant on the network whenever doable.
Cables could Break.
The Topology chapter presents data regarding the varied configurations of cables. a number of the configurations are designed to attenuate the inconvenience of a broken cable; with alternative configurations, one broken cable will stop the whole network.
Security and compliance.
Network security is pricey. it's additionally important. a college network might be subject to additional stringent security necessities than a similarly-sized company network, attributable to its probability of storing personal and confidential data of network users, the danger of which may be compounded if any network users are minors. an excellent deal of attention should be paid to network services to confirm all network content is suitable for the network community it serves.

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