Network types

LANs

Local area network Serves a local area,housed usually within a

building or a number of buildings within a small geographical area.

A LAN is used to share software, hardware and files of data

LAN consist out of computers and other devices connected to hubs, or switches. One of the hubs is connected to a router, cable modem or a broadband modem, in order to connect to the internet, thus becoming a part of a WAN

Ring networks Ring networks are rarely found today,

and are falling out of favour Each computer is connected to each of

its neighbours, and the data is transmitted through the network

Advantages Performs better

than a star network when the traffic is very heavy

Disadvantages A faulty connection

between two computers results in the entire network crashing

Adding a new device is a bit complicated, as the new device has to go between the two existing devices

Bus networks

A bus network has each device connected to a common spine.

When a computer or a device sends data, it will travel along the spine, untill it raches the target computer

Each end of the spine has a terminator so that the data doesn’t disappear into thin air

Advantages It is easy to connect a

new device to the network

If one of the devices fails, the rest of the network can carry on as normal

It does not have to rely ona a hub or switch, less cabel, therefore lower costs, compared to a star network

Disadvantages Difficult to identify the

cause of the problem if the entire network breaks down

If there is a fault on the spine, all computers shut down

The technology beign employed is considered to be old fashioned

Star networks

A star network has each computer or a device connected to a central hub, or a switch

Each computer sends it’s data along a cable to the hub, and then the hub sends the data to all other computers and devices on the network

Advantages If one computer or

device fails, the rest of the network can carry on

If there is a problm with the network, each device or a computer can be inspected without disturbing the others

Disadvantages If the concentrator

breaks down, the whole network will crash

Hybrid/tree networks

A hybrid network is made up of star networks where each hub and the server are connected to a common bus-type backbone

This type of network is very popular with network managers

Advantages It employs the

advatages of star network with those of the bus network

Disadvantages It can be difficult to

wire the sections together

Same limitations as the star network, if the hub doesn’t work the entire network fails

If there is a fault in the spine, the network fails as well

Intranets

The most common use of LANs is to create an intranet

An intranet is a website located on a private network within an organisation

Works like internet, but only accesible to members of the organisation

The data transfer is faster than with the internet

The main difference is the size

Benefits of the intranet

They provide e-mail, although it is only a local e-mail, and can be sent withing the organisation

Members and employees are more in contact with each other

Easier data sharing Faster acces to documents and statistics Sharing diaries, and organising, meeting times Bringing members and employees up to date

with the organisation’s policies

Local e-mail and bussines networks

Very useful for companies and bussineses

Reducing costs, paper costs, saving time to find somethnig, and so on

Discussion forums are a great thing