NETWORKING

Networking Networking is of linking two or more

computing devices together for the purpose of sharing data.

Standalone

Standalone is a self – contained device which doesn’t require any other devises to function.

Client

Client is a system or application that accesses a service made available by a server.

Server

 Server is a computer program that provides services to other computer programs in the same or other computer.

Client/ Server Networks

Client/ Server network is the relationships between two computer programs. One program is the client makes a service request from another program and the server fulfills the request.

Peer to Peer Network

Peer to Peer Networking is when two or more computers are connected and share resources.

WAN

WAN ( Wide Area Network) is a telecommunication network that covers a broad area

LAN

LAN ( local area network ) is a computer networking that interconnects computers in a limited area such as school, office buildings or home.

Advantages and disadvantages of LAN

Advantages  Workstations can share peripheral devices

like printers. This is cheaper than buying a printer for every workstations.• Workstations do not necessarily need their own hard disk or CD-ROM drives which make them cheaper to buy than stand-alone PCs.• User can save their work centrally on the network’s file server. This means that they can retrieve their work from any workstation on the network. • They don’t need to go back to the same workstation all the time. • Users can communicate with each other and transfer data between workstations very easily. • One copy of each application package such as a word processor, spreadsheet etc. can be loaded onto the file and shared by all users.• When a new version comes out, it only has to be loaded onto the server instead of onto every workstation.

Disadvantages Special security measures

are needed to stop users from using programs and data that they should not have access to; • Networks are difficult to set up and need to be maintained by skilled technicians. • If the file server develops a serious fault, all the users are affected, rather than just one user in the case of a stand-alone machine

Cabled LAN

LAN cable is the cable used to connect end devices with intermediary devices on a network.

Types of cables

There tree types of cables: Optical fibers Ordinary telephone wires Coaxial cables

Networking hardware

Networking hardware refers to devices facilitating the use of a computer network.

Network interface controller a piece of computer hardware to allow the attached computer to communicate by LAN.

LAN topologies

Local area network topologies is a description of the arrangement of a network, including its nodes and connecting lines.

Types of LAN topology

Star Ring Mesh Hybrids Line Bus

Line Topology

Advantages It is cheaper than other

topologies. Easy to connect a CPU

or peripheral to a linear bus.

Requires less cable length than Mesh or Star topologies.

Disadvantages Difficult to identify the

problem if the entire network shut down.

The managing cost of network is too high.

If the network cable breaks, the entire network will be down.

Star Topology

Advantages No disruptions to

the network when connecting or removing devices.

Easy to detect faults and to remove parts.

Less expensive

Disadvantages More expensive than bus

topology because of the cost of the hubs, etc.

Requires more cable length than a bus topology.

If the hub fails, the whole system is destroyed.

Wireless LAN A wireless local area is a link between two or more

devices using wireless distribution method.

Example: Internet. A WAN transmits data using common communication links such as telephone line, microwave link.

Data transmission

Data transmission is the transfer of data from point to point .

Definitions

Bandwidth Narrowband Broadband Baud Simplex Half duplex line Full duplex line

Bandwidth is a way of measuring how much data can travel along a certain path in a network.

Narrowband is an Internet connection speed that is most commonly associated with a dial-up connection.

Broadband is service provides higher-speed of data transmission.

Baud is is unit for measuring symbol rate, for example in communications system

Simplex is a communication which works only in one way. One host transmits, one receives, but they can't do both.

Half duplex line is transmission of data in both directions, but only one direction at a time.

Full duplex line is when data can be transmitted in both directions on a signal carrier at the same time.