What is a Network?

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What is a Network?

• ICE3M1-01
• Min Baek

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Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Local Area Network
• Wide Area Network
• Advantages of a School Network
• Disadvantages of a School Network

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Introduction

• What is a Network?
• - A computer network is an interconnection of a
  group of computers.
• - The computers on a network may be linked
  through cables, telephone lines, radio waves,
  satellites, or infrared light beams.

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Local Area Network

• A local-area network is a computer network is a
  computer network covering a small geographic
  area, like a home, office or group of buildings
  e.g. a school.

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Example of LAN
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Wide Area Network

• Wide Area Network (WAN) is a computer network
  that covers a broad area (i.e., any network whose
  communications links cross metropolitan,
  regional, or national boundaries). Or, less
  formally, a network that uses router and public
  communications links.

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Example of WAN
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Advantages of Installing a School Network

• Speed
• - Networks provide a very rapid method for
  sharing and transferring files.
• Cost
• - Networkable versions of many popular software
  programs are available at considerable savings
  when compared to buying individually licensed
  copies.

• Security
• - Files and programs on a network can be
  designated as "copy inhibit," so that you do not
  have to worry about illegal copying of programs.
• Centralized Software Management
• - One of the greatest benefits of installing a
  network at a school is the fact that all of the
  software can be loaded on one computer (the file
  server).

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Advantages of Installing a School Network 2

• Resource Sharing
• - Sharing resources is another area in which a
  network exceeds stand-alone computers.
• Electronic Mail
• - The presence of a network provides the
  hardware necessary to install an e-mail system.

• Flexible Access
• - School networks allow students to access their
  files from computers throughout the school.
• Workgroup Computing
• - Workgroup software (such as Microsoft
  BackOffice) allows many users to work on a
  document or project concurrently.

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Disadvantages of Installing a School Network

• Expensive to Install
• - Although a network will generally save money
  over time, the initial costs of installation can
  be prohibitive.
• Requires Administrative Time
• - Proper maintenance of a network requires
  considerable time and expertise.

• File Server May Fail
• - Although a file server is no more susceptible
  to failure than any other computer, when the
  files server "goes down," the entire network may
  come to a halt.
• Cables May Break
• - The Topology chapter presents information
  about the various configurations of cables.

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THE END