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| What is a network? | Two or more computers connected together to share resources and information. |
| Computers connected to network | can be any type of computer |
| Each computer on a network | could have different operating system |
| Microprocessor is the | “brains” of a computer |
| A PC is the | most common tool to connect to network. |
| To communicate with external devices, | a PC needs an interface card |
| To connect a PC to a network you need an | interface card for network type, suitable cable and appropriate software. |
| Protocols are | rules which govern types of cables, interface cards, and electrical signal format |
| Transport protocols | govern information flow |
| Application level protocols determine | how a program on one computer communicates with a program on other computer. |
| Peer-to-peer? | All computers have equal authority |
| Windows NT (or higher) has a network component built in with more | complex protocols to connect computers. |
| A network server is dedicated | to controlling network traffic and managing resources. |
| A client computer | can be any type of computer with a network card an appropriate software to connect to a server. |
| A network server | can be any type of computer with server software installed. |
| LAN | is in one building |
| WAN | is when a network crosses a public street |
| Which options, devices, or software to use | depends on needs and requirements for the network |
| Coaxial | Wire with a center wire surrounded with insulation and then grounded cover of braided wire. |
| Fiber Optics | Made up of bundled glass or plastic fibers (threads) to transmit data. |
| Broadband | Single wire that can handle multiple paths or channels |
| Wireless | Work with radio frequencies for data transmission. |
| Infrared | Wireless option works with infrared light waves to transmit data. |
| To connect to a network | a PC must have a network interface card (NIC) |
| Each network interface card (NIC) | has an unique number or address and connector for the type of cabling chosen |
| The cable from a network interface card (NIC) in each PC | connects to a port on a hub |
| A hub | connects PCs to form a network |
| If a network has two or more network interface cards | each card considered a segment |
| Segments allow network traffic | to flow faster |
| A bridge | connects network segments to handle network requests |
| A bridge does not | analyze or re-route messages |
| A router | examines destination address of information and passes it to appropriate segments only |
| Bridges may be faster than routers but | do not check information coming in |
| With a wireless router you can set up encryption security options to | prevent unauthorized access from external sources using connection |
| A switch | is similar to hub, each user connected to it has access to full bandwidth, and it can also be used to join network segments |
| A firewall | prevents unauthorized external access into a network connected to the Internet |
| A firewall checks any messages that travels through the network and | ensures it matches the security requirements set up by company |
| Benefits of networking fall into two main categories | Communication and Sharing of Resources |
| Networking allows devices | to be shared |
| Files or folders can be set up to be shared | can be set up to be shared |
| Network, Mail, Database, File and Web | are types of dedicated servers |
| If a network fails: | Users lose access to information, cannot communicate electronically, can work from local drive but then have to transfer back to network for others to share and the cost of downtime can be very expensive |
| Disadvantages of a network: | Dependency, Expensive, Security Risk, Loss of Autonomy or Privacy, Viruses |
