1.3 Computer Networks, Connects and Protocols

-Covers a small geographical area located on a single site -All the hardware for a LAN is owned by the organisation using it -LANs are wired with UTP cables, fibre optic or wireless using Wi-Fi

-Covers a large geographical area connecting LANs together. -Infrastructure between LANs is leased with telecommunication companies who own and manage it. -WANs are connected with telephone lines, fibre optic cables or satellite links.

By a switch

By a router

-Users can share files -Users can share peripherals, such as printers, and connect to other networks, e.g. The Internet -Users can access their files form any computer on the network

-Increased security risks to data -Malware and viruses spread very easily between computers -If a server fails, the computers connected to it may not work -The computer may run more slowly if there is a lot of data travelling on the network

-Bandwidth -Number of Users -Transmission Media -Error rate -Latency

-The amount of data that can be sent and retrieved successfully in a given time. Measured in bits per second or bit rate.

-Too many users or devices on the same network can cause the network to slow down if there is insufficient bandwidth for the data.

-Wired connections have a higher bandwidth than wireless connections -Fibre optic cables have a higher bandwidth than copper cables

-Less reliable connections increase the number of errors that occur when data is transferred -This means that data has to be resent until it arrives correctly

The range of devices from the WAP and other environmental factors

The grade of material used which reduces interference

True

The delay from transmitting data to receiving it

-Bottlenecks in the infrastructure of the network e.g., not using switches appropriately segment traffic on a network. -Hardware such as switches and transmission media may not operate at the same speed

-A server controls access and security to one shared file store -A server manages access to The Internet -A server manages printing jobs -A server provides email services -A server runs a backup of data -A client makes requests to the server for data and connections

-Easier to manage files -Easier to take backups of all shared data -Easier to install software updates to all computers

-Can be expensive to set up -Requires IT specialists to maintain -The server is a single point of failure -Users will lose access if the server fails

-A peer is a computer on a network and is equal to all other peers -Peers serve their own files to each other -Each peer is responsible for its own security and backup -Peers usually have their own printer -You can send print jobs to another peer to process, but that peer would need to be switched on to be able to connect with the connected printer

-Very easy to maintain -Specialist staff not required -No dependency on a single computer -Cheaper to set up -no expensive hardware required

-The network is less secure -Users will need to manage their own backups -Can be difficult to maintain a well ordered file store

-Connects a device to wired/wireless networking connection -Uses a protocol to ensure successful communication

-Allows wireless-enabled devices to connect to the internet