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.
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