IT3 Revision Cards

• <span style="font-size: 140%;">inexpensive - no expensive servers required.

Costs of sharing can be spread across all computers in the network</span>

• no network manager is required. Again, each user shares part of the burden
• easy to set up
• no reliance on a server
• lower setup and maintenance
• peer responsibility - each user decides which resources to share, and with whom.

• backups cannot be made centrally
• more users need more IT knowledge
• no central organisation of resources, so can be difficult to locate
• users with the most resources will have more responsibility, higher costs and slower speeds
• usually suited for networks of only a few computers
• poorer secutiry as resources are shared

• security is storng since it is centralised under the contorl of a manager
• resources are organised centrally, so shold be easy for clients to lcoate and quality should controlled.
• the network should be fast since the bandwidth to servers cna be planned in advanced
• backsups can be done centrally
• administration is done centrally so most users need little IT knowledge
• more efficient/load tolerant for large networks

• more expensive due to higher cost of servers
• specialist knowldge needed
• network managerment systems are more complex to manage and expensive
• critical reliance on server(s) - network can be unusable if a server fails
• one machine is more than important than the rest

• there is no dependence upon a central device
• very high transmission speeds are possible
• it is deterministic ie: different performance levesl can be determined for different traffic levels
• routing between devices is simple because message usually travel in one direction
• as data is in once direction it can transmit large volumes of data
• no collisions (as a result of previous point)
• cabling costs are lower than other topologies. However, star networks may need expensive cabling (fibre optic)
• each computer has the same access as others so no one node can dominate the network

• if there is a break in the connection then the whole network fails
• faults are difficult to locate
• it is impossible to keep the netowrk running whilst equipment is added or removed because there is only one path for the data to follow
• LAN only and usually peer-to-peer
• Security and reliability issues

• cost-effective due to small amount of cabling
• simple cable runs
• easy to add extra devices

• performance degrades quickly by number of devices
• break in backbone is fatal
• security is compromised by each message being received by each device

• fault tolerant of breaks in cabling - normally affects just the one device
• load tolerant: extra nodes each have their own link to the hub
• easy to reconfigure by adding, removing nodes
• used to facilitate WANs
• igf one node goes down the others can still function (but if the central device goes down it cannot function)
• you can have different transmission speeds between different devices. (faster between most used PCs, slower for printers)
  

• extra cost of more cabling
• critical importance of central device (swtich, hub, router)

• easy to set up - no cabling
• particuarly suited to buildings where cabling would not be acceptable
• physical topology is flexible - nodes free to move about within range
• easy to add and remove devices
• wifi is a global standard - devices can move easily between networks
• can be used to access wide range of devices including mobile
• health and safety advantage of no trailing cables

• low bandwidth (slow speed)
• high power consumptio
• prone to interference
• short range
• weak security due to broadcast technology - all signals can be received by all devices within range
• posisble health issues

• See which users are using the network

• Check on emails being sent when should be working

• Check on which sites employees visit

• Check on hardware to see what needs upgrading

• Check to see right number of licences

• Guide users through problems

• Log off users who have forgotten to do so

• Check on components to see if any failing

• Shut down stations

• Rebuild stations / re-setup stations / re-install/update software

• Send instant messages

• Clear printer queues at stations

• what applications will be used?
• how much data storage will be required>
• where will the bulk of processing be done?
• how heavy will communications requirements be?
• will remove working/telecommuting/videoconferencing etc be required
• will interactive processing bet done?
• will batch provessing be a requirement?

• how network is used will largely determine this: quanitity and speed of processing required, how interactive it is to be
• batch or real time?
• realiability and availability requirements
• user-friendlyness

• managing staff access to resources
•  DPA requirments if personal data is held
• handling copyrighted matreila
• appropriate use of email, etc
• use of itnerenet, access to undesirable material
• keeping outsiders out
• anti-virus and anti-malware protection
• handling financial transactions
• control of wireless devices and portable data storage devices

• sometimes just an extension of existing systems
• existing systems will often be incorporated into a new system
• will existing devices and software still work? e.g: computers, printers and other peripherals

• will a LAN or WAN be required
• effect on security, network management requirements

• hardware, inclusive of cabling, routers/switches, servers
• software: netowkr operating system, management software
• third party communication links
• staffing, esp network manager
• training
• maintenance, including upgrades, adding/moving devices

• database used to store an large organisation's historical data used by a MIS to extract information to help managers make decision
• contains archived data in an organised way to make interrogation more productive
• data is not time-sensitive

• Exam board example of how data warehousing might benefit a library service:
• - allows library to store information about every book
• - allows library to see who has borrowed books and when
• - can use it to plan future changes or developments in their library system
• - allows library system to use data mining
• - speeds up searching at the local library
• - allows library to find the most popular book and buy more

• :) - allows business to make use of historic, readily available data for decision making

• data warehouses are mined for useful information to help management make decisions
• - data not neccessarily collected with the intention of being warehoused
• - mining involves "presumption that dormant within the data are undiscovered patterns, groupings, sequences and associations
• - mining software uses complex algorithms* to search for patterns

• Exam board example of how data mining might help a company:
• - identification of customer needs - Virgin Media use Data Mining to segment and target customers most likely to buy new services or upgrades