COMPUTER

NETWORKS
 NETWORKS
A Computer Network is a
linking of two or more
computing devices such
as computers, PCs,
printers etc. in order to
share data, information
and resources.
Advantages
of Computer
Networks
Sharing of
expensive devices
such as printer,
scanner
Sharing of software
Sharing of files
Sharing of data &
information
Using of emails
to communicate.
Disadvantages
of Computer
Networks
It is expensive to set-
up and maintain.
If the network server
has a problem, the
entire network cannot
work.
Networks need
security measures to
restrict access to
users.
Hackers can easily
gain access to the
network.
Networks are
easily attacked by
viruses.
When one computer
is infected the entire
network is infected.
 Hardware
needed for
the network
 NETWORK CABLES:
Network cables
connect computers
to each other and
to other related
hardware.
NETWORK CABLES
NETWORK CABLES
 WORKSTATIONS:
These are
computers that
are connected
on the network.
 MODEM(Modulator
and Demodulator)
 This is a device or program
that enables a computer to
transmit data over
telephone or cable lines. It
is used to convert digital
signals to analog signals
and vise versa.
 NIC(Network Interface
Card):
 This is also known as
Network Adapters. They
connect computers to a
network so that they can
communicate.
NIC(Network Interface Card):
NIC(Network Interface Card):
 WNIC(Wireless Network
Interface Card):

 This is a network card

 A wireless network
adapter card broadcasts
and receives signals to
and from the
surrounding computers.
 ROUTER:
 This is a network device
that connects together
two or more networks.
It joins a Local Area
Network (LAN) to the
Wide Area Network
(WAN) or Internet.
 BRIDGE:
A bridge is a
network device
that links together
two different parts
of a LAN.
 FIREWALL:
A firewall is a device, or a
piece of software that is
placed between the
computer and the network
to block unauthorised
connections being made by
hackers.
 SWITCH OR HUB:
A hub is a device
that connects a
number of computers
together to make
a LAN.
SWITCH OR HUB
SWITCH OR HUB
ROUTER
BRIDGE
Types of
Computer
Networks
Local Area
Network
(LAN)
 Local Area Network
(LAN)
This is a network that
connects computers and
devices in a limited
geographical area such as
a home, school computer
lab, office building.
Local Area Network (LAN)
Advantages of
Local Area
Network (LAN)
Workstations can
share peripheral
devices like printers.
Users can save their
work centrally on
the network file
server.
Users can
communicate with
each other and
transfer data between
workstations very
easily.
Disadvantages of
Local Area
Network (LAN)
 Networks are difficult to
set up and need to be
maintained by skilled
technicians.
 Special security measures
are needed to stop users
from using programs.
If the file server
develops a fault, all
the users are
affected
It is limited to a
small area
Uses of Local
Area Network
(LAN)
 File transfers and Access
 Word and text processing
 Electronic message
handling
 Remote database access
 Personal computing
 Digital voice transmission
and storage
 Hardware needed
for a LAN
File server:This is a
computer that runs
software and stores files.
Terminals: Workstations
that give network access.
 Hardware needed
for a LAN
Print server:This is a
computer that queues up all
print jobs from users in a
network
Cables: They help to send
data around the network.
Wide Area
Network
(WAN)
 Wide Area Network
(WAN)
 This is a network that covers
an area wider than a LAN.
 Wide Area Network is
a computer network covering
a large area between
regions, cities or even
countries.
Wide Area Network (WAN)
Advantages of
Wide Area
Network (WAN)
Covers a large
geographical
area.
Shares software
and resources.
Expensive peripherals
such as printers can
be shared.
Messages can be sent
very quickly to
anyone else on the
network
Disadvantages of
Wide Area
Network (WAN)
 Vulnerable to hackers
and viruses
 Setting up a WAN can be
expensive and
complicated.
 Costs for equipment and
technology is very
expensive WAN.
Anyone can access
the network.
Low and easy
to lose connection
Personal
Area
Network
(PAN)
 Personal Area
Network (PAN)
 This is a computer network
used for communication
among computers and
different information
technology devices close to
one person such as telephones
and PDAs, within the range of
10 meters.
Personal Area Network
(PAN)
 Wireless
Personal Area
Network
(WPAN)
 Wireless Personal
Area Network (WPAN)
A wireless personal area
network (WPAN) is a PAN
carried over wireless
network technologies
such as Bluetooth and
wireless USB.
Common Devices
used in a
Personal Area
Network (PAN)
Personal Computers

A personal laptop or
computer is able to
connect with other
devices. e.g. USB and
Bluetooth technology
 Tablet Devices
Tablet devices are
used in PAN to
bring up calendar,
photos, music,
videos and more.
Tablet Devices
 Smartphones
Smartphones work like
tablet devices to access
files. This minimizes the
need to always be near
your computer.
Smartphones
 PDAs (Personal
Digital Assistants)
PDAs connect to the
PAN through USB cable
or Bluetooth technology.
You can see and access
your files on a PDA.
 PDAs (Personal
Digital Assistants)
Advantages of
Personal Area
Network (PAN)
 PAN users can move
around with their mobile
devices.
 There is security because
there is no risk of any leak
of data.
 Resources are best shared
via Bluetooth
Disadvantages of
Personal Area
Network (PAN)
 PAN has limited
transmission range
about 10 meters.
 The data rate for
PANs are very less in
the case of infrared
sensors
Storage Area
Network
(SAN)
 Storage Area
Network (SAN)
This is a dedicated and
high speed network of
storage devices that
connects with servers to
provide access to data
storage.
Advantages of
Storage Area
Network (SAN)
 It continues to
operate even if a
server fails.
 Data is retrieved at a
high-Speed.
 It provides Central
Backup
Disadvantages
of Storage
Area Network
(SAN)
It is difficult to
keep/store data if
it breaks down.
It is very
expensive
Metropolitan
Area
Network
(MAN)
 Metropolitan Area
Network (MAN)
This is a type of
network that connects
cities, towns, campus
or regions including the
surrounding areas.
 Metropolitan Area
Network (MAN)
In terms of geographic
size, MANs are larger than
local-area networks (LANs),
but smaller than wide-area
networks (WANs).
Metropolitan Area
Network (MAN)
 Advantages of
Metropolitan Area
Network (MAN)
 MAN can cover a wider
area than a LAN.
 Transmission of
information is very fast.
 Public libraries and
government agencies
connect using a MAN.
Disadvantages of
Metropolitan Area
Network (MAN)
 MAN is very expensive
because a lot of cables
is required to connect.
 MAN is difficult to
manage.
 MAN is not secure
because it can be
hacked.
Client-Server
and
Peer-to-Peer
Networks
 Server
A server is a computer
that provides services to
clients and controls
access to hardware,
software & other
resources.
 Client
A Client is a
computer that
requests or receives
services from a
server computer.
Networks on which
all computers have
equal status are
called peer-to-peer
networks.
The computers that
make use of the
services are called
clients or workstations.
A network such as this
is called a client-server
network.
A server which is
used for the
central storage of
files is called a
file server.
A computer attached to
a printer which users
can access is called a
print server. Having a
single printer rather
than having several
printers saves money.
 Differences
between Client-
Server
and
Peer-to-Peer
Networks
A client/server network is
one which has a central
computer called a server
which share its resources
with other computers on a
network called clients. In a
peer-to-peer network, each
computer act as a server
and client.
 Wired
Networks and
Wireless
Network
 Wired
Network
 Wired Network
A wired network is
one in which all the
components are
physically connected
with network cables.
 Wired Network
Most wired networks
use Ethernet cables
to transfer data
between
connected PCs.
Wireless
Network
 Wireless Network
Wireless networks
are computer
networks that are
not connected by
cables of any kind.
 Wireless Network
wireless network
uses radio waves to
connect devices
such as laptops to
the Internet.
 Advantages or
Benefits of
Wireless Network
It is convenient to
access internet
resources from any
location within the
coverage area.
You can easily expand
wireless networks with
existing equipment
 Disadvantages
of
Wireless Network
Wireless connections
are slower because
every person can
connect to it.
Wireless hardware is
more expensive
Wireless network is
not secure anyone
can gain access.
Wireless Network can
be hacked and can be
infected with a virus.
 Types
of
Wireless
Network
A variety of
technologies have
been developed to
support wireless
networking in
different usages.
 Wi-Fi
It is popular used in
home networks and
as a wireless
hotspot technology
 Bluetooth
It is used in low
power and embedded
applications such as
smartphones, PDAs
etc.