NETWORKING

NETWORKING

A network is a group of system where a group of computers and other communication devices are interlinked to facilitate communication among users and permit resources to be shared. The users may be operating from the same workplace or geographical dispersed location.

Type of Networking

The distance covered by computers in networking may vary. As such networking could be group according to the area of coverage. In this sense therefore, we have Local Area Networks (LAN), Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN).

a. Local Area Networks (LAN)

A LAN is a group of computers confirmed to a single location, typically one building or complex. A LAN contains a limited number of computers and covers a small distance.

Metropolitan Networks (MAN

A Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN) is a network that covers entire city, cable television network are examples of MANs distribution television signals. A MAN is larger than a local Area Network but smaller than a Wide Area Network.

Wide Area Network

A Wide Area Network is a network that is spread over wide areas, like across cities, states or countries. Communication on a wide area network takes place via telephone lines, satellites or microwave transmission, internet is the widest area network.

ROLES OF COMPUTER NETWORKING

Computers play important role in networking. The roles are:

i. Service:         Computers that provide network resources.

ii. Clients: Computers that access network resources.

iii. Peer:           Computer that use access network resources and provide network resource.

Based on the role of computers, network can be divided into three categories these are:

Service based network

Peer-to-Peer network

Client based network

A service based: This has a saver, which provide network resources to the client that access it. A saver runs on saver operating system for example, Window NT Saver and Novel network. This type of network is required in an environment where the processing requirements are high. In a saver based network, the client computers depend on the services provided by the saver computer.

i. It provides a central location for file storage

ii. It helps in sharing hardware and software resources

iii. It provides less madding security in other to access the network resources.

iv. It can assist an appreciated number of users.

A saver based network has few demerits such as requiring an expensive hardware, network operating system software and client licenses.

Peer-to-peer Networks

In this type of network, there are no dedicated servers. All computers are termed as peer and they can act as both savers and clients.

This type has the advantages of simplicity in design and maintenance. It is usually less expensive to set up as compared to saver based  network. Peer-to-peers network are also called work group. In peer-to-peer network, users are allowed to share disk space and other resources. This type of networks are suitable in such environment where;

·         There is limited number of users

·         The users are located in close vicinity

·         Security is not important issue

·         The organization and the network have a limited growth.

Users need to freely access the data and processing functions that reside on other computers across the network. In a peer-to-peer Network, users administer their own computers. All users can share any of the resources on the network. No one is assigns the role of administration.

This type provide the following roles

·         Less expensive

·         Easy to set up

·         Allow Users to control the resources

·         Less investment in hardware and software compared to the Area Based Networks.

One of the disadvantages here is, there is no location for storing the data centrally. Also the security provided by this network is not strong.

Hybrid Network

A hybrid Network is a server that has resources on it and users can access resources shared by the peers. This type of network provides advantage of server based network and a peer network. It is made of the elements of the other two Area based and peer network.

IMPORTANCE OF NETWORKING

The importance of networking cannot be overemphasized  in the present computer world. Such importance are better comprehended under the following sub-headings;

Hardware sharing: A network allows you to share hardware such as printers, fax machines and other hardware resources. Other hardware that can be shared are scanner, hard disk, CD ROMs, Plotter etc. this has a financial advantage.

Data sharing: Network also allows you to share data message and graphics. A particular piece of information can be shared to a group of people on network. It allows timely access of data.

Software sharing:

It allows you to share software. If the software is installed on one machine then you can use that software over the other networks.

Communication:

This also serves as a medium for communication. For example communication is made possible through E-mail.