Networks

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  • Created by: Mandy7367
  • Created on: 03-06-18 18:56

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Network (1/5)

Cost of the Network

  • Initial purchasing of equitment.
  • Installation, training and maintenance.
  • Size of avaliable budget - determines what can be done (E.g. fibre optic cables are faster, but more expensive.
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Factors to Consider When Choosing a Network (2/5)

Size of Organisation - NOT 'Size of Network'

  • Needs can range from a small LAN to a global WAN.
  • Some communication medias are limited by the distance they can travel.
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Factors to Consider When Choosing a Network (3/5)

How the System will be Used?

  • What type of applications will the users require? Are the users going to require a wide range of applications?
  • Will they need a large amount of data storage? Are the users going to store a large number of data files?
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Factors to Consider When Choosing a Network (4/5)

Existing Systems to Integrate

  • Networks are not always developed from scratch.
  • It is important that they support any peripherols already in use (E.g. bar code readers, printers, etc.).
  • Sometimes an extension is required (e.g. when a new branch office opens).
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Factors to Consider When Choosing a Network (5/5)

Performance in Terms of Speed of Processing

  • Different parts of the organisation may require different perfromance requirements.
  • E.g. A real time e-commerce system may require greater speeds than an in-house payroll system.
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Network Topology (1/4)

What is meant by the term Network Topology?

It's the physical configuration/shape of a network, which shows how everything is linked/connected together.

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Network Topology (2/4)

Ring

Advantages of Ring

  • Network not dependant on central computer.
  • Each computer has the same access as the others, so no one computer can hog the network.
  • Higher transmission speeds (flows in one direction only), so no data collisions.

Disadvantages of Ring

  • If there's a break in the connection, then the whole network fails.
  • Fault Intolerant - faults are difficult to locate
  • Impossible to keep network running whilst equitment is added/removed, because there is only one path for the data to follow.
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Network Topology (3/4)

Bus

Advantages of Bus

  • Cost effective option because of the small amout of cables needed.
  • Simple cabling makes it easy to install.
  • Extra devices can be attached easily to the network.

Disadvantages of Bus

  • Load Intolerant - if more than 12 devices are added then the performance of the network is degraded.
  • If there is a fault/break in the main backbone, the network cannot be used.
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Network Topology (4/4)

Star

Advantages of Star

  • Fault Tolerant - if one of the cables fail, then the other computers can still be used.
  • Load Tolerant - extra computers can be added without much loss in performance. This is because all computers have their own independant path to the server.
  • Different speeds are possible on different arms of the network.

Disadvantages of Star

  • Higher costs due to large amount of cabling needed.
  • Very dependant on the central server.
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Remote Management

Run by network manager, who can:

  • See which users are using the network.
  • Check on which sites employees visit on the network.
  • Check what hardware needs upgrading.
  • Log off users, if they have forgotten to do so themselves.
  • Shut down/control stations.
  • Clear printer queues at stations.

NOT - Manage Passwords/Delete Passwords

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Peer2Peer v Client Server (1/2)

Peer2Peer

Advantages of Peer2Peer

  • Cost saving, since no central server is needed.
  • No network manager is needed. All users take responsibility for the network.
  • Easy to setup. they are the simplest of the computer networks, so can be set up by anyone.

Disadvantages of Peer2Peer

  • Backups can not be made centrally. This places the responsibility on all the users to back up their own data, which you cannot be sure all users will.
  • Users need more IT knowledge, as they are responsible for their own files.
  • Users may experience difficulty in finding files as they are not organised or held centrally.
  • Only suitable for a network or less that 15 computers.
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Peer2Peer v Client Server (2/2)

Client Server

Advantages of Client Server

  • Load Tolerant - for larger networks, extra computers can be added without the loss of performance.
  • Better security because everything is centralised and one person is responsible for this.
  • Backups are centralised. They take place regularly, which means data and programs are less likley to be lost.

Disadvantages of Client Server

  • More expensive becase servers are expensive.
  • Need someone who has specialist expert IT knowledge and understands the technicalities of the network.
  • Software is more sophisticated and expensive.
  • For larger client server networks, it is necessary to buy network management software.
  • If the server breaks down it renders the whole network unusable until it is repaired.
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