Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Network hardware - Coggle Diagram
Network hardware
advantages
Communication:it is easy (and often free) to communicate using email, text messages, voice calls and video calls.
Roaming: if information is stored on a network, it means users are not fixed to one place. They can use computers anywhere in the world to access their information.
Sharing information:it is easy to share files and information over a network. Music and video files, for instance, can be stored on one device and shared across many computers, so every computer does not need to fill the hard drive with files.
Sharing resources:it is easy to share resources such as printers. Twenty computers in a room could share one printer over a network.
Sharing software: It is possible to stream software using web applications. This avoids needing to download and store the whole software file.
Disadvantages
-
Hacking - criminal hackers attempt to break into networks in order to steal personal information and banking details. This wouldn't be possible on a stand-alone computer without physically getting into the room, but with a network it is easier to gain access.
Hardware – routers, network cards and other network hardware is required to set up a network. At home, it is quite easy to set up a wireless network without much technical expertise. However, a complicated network in a school or an office would require professional expertise.
Viruses - networks make it easier to share viruses and other malware. They can quickly spread and damage files on many computers via a network.
Lans and Wans: A network can be anything from two computers connected together, to millions of computers connected on the internet. There are many different types of networks such as LAN, WAN, VPN, WPAN and PAN.
-
Disadvantages
if the main cable fails or gets damaged, the whole network will fail
as more workstations are connected, the performance of the network will become slower because of data collisions
every workstation on the network 'sees' all of the data on the network, which can be a security risk
Topologies
There are different ways of setting up a LAN, each with different benefits in terms of network speed and cost.
Ring network
In a ring network, each device (eg workstation, server, printer) is connected in a ring so each one is connected to two other devices. Each data packet on the network travels in one direction. Each device receives each packet in turn until the destination device receives it.
Advantages
this type of network can transfer data quickly (even if there are a large number of devices connected) as data only flows in one direction so there won't be any data collisions
Disadvantages
if the main cable fails or any device is faulty, then the whole network will fail - a serious problem in a company where communication is vital
Ring network
Advantages: :this type of network can transfer data quickly (even if there are a large number of devices connected) as data only flows in one direction so there won't be any data collisions
Disadvantages: if the main cable fails or any device is faulty, then the whole network will fail - a serious problem in a company where communication is vital