Networks

Two or more computers , that are CONNECTED together that are able to exchange data with each other. Allowing software and hardware to be shared.

🟢communication eg: emails & text messages 🟢file sharing , eg: stored centrally and worked upon centrally 🟢hardware sharing , eg printers , making it more cost effective 🟢user account allow you to log in from any device 🟢installing software centrally , takes less time

🟣expensive to set up as a lot of hardware is required. eg: NIC cards, switched , cables 🟣vulnerable to hacking and malware which can spread to networked computers 🟣hard to maintain and install , may require employing a specialist

Personal area network: - very short range(few meters) - cantered around 1 user A network that is spread over a very small area used to connect personal devices 🟡don’t require additional hardware, can used them on the move 🟡often wireless technology eg: Bluetooth

Local area network 🟡small geographical area located on a single site 🟡wired or wireless 🟡owned an maintained by the organisation

Wide area network 🟡A combination of LANs in different geographical locations 🟡expensive as they need to hire infrastructure 🟡under collected or distributed ownership

A wireless local area network

A network that connect computers to a network through electromagnetic ☢️ radiation

Makes use of physical wire to connect computers to the network

🟢Wireless are cheaper to set up. 🟢Wireless also requires less information and installation is automatic. 🟢wireless can add people more easily

🔴wired have a larger transmission speed, higher bandwidth, more reliable 🔴wired are more secured. As physical connection is needed to intercept data 🔴wired have no interference from other Wireless networks or physical obstructions like walls

Network interface card, a piece of hardware inside a device that allows it to be connected to devices

Wireless access point Needed in wireless networks Basically a switch needed to connect devices wirelessly

Used to connect devices within a LAN to form a network Device can access the switch simultaneously

Transmit data between different networks Used to connect to the internet

Fibre: transmits dat as light. More expensive but higher bandwidth No interference and very large distance Copper : cheaper but have lower bandwidth

All devices are connected to a central switch or server, controlling the network. Can be wired or wireless

A device connected to a network

✅if a device fails the network is unaffected ✅fewer data collisions as all devices can transmit data at the same time ✅easier to add devices ✅packets only sent to intended devices ❌expensive as it requires a switch and other hardware ❌problem with switch then the whole network is affected

Use a single ‘backbone ‘ cable to connect all devices. Two terminator at the end to stop data reflections (interference)

✅if one device fails the network remains unaffected ✅cheap to set up and maintain ✅not dependant on a switch ❌frequent data collisions slowing the network down ❌unsuitable for large networks as too many data collisions ❌network fails if the backbone cable is broken

A set of rules that determine how devices communicate the transmission of data across a network

🔌A family of protocols 🔌 manages data transfer for wired LANs

Hyper text transfer protocol Used by web browsers to access websites / communicate with web servers .