ARD+Notes

A computer, which isn’t connected to a network, is known as a ‘stand alone’. When computers are fairly close to each other they can connect through a cable or wirelessly. This is known as a Local Area Network (LAN). Through LAN resources can be shared at the same time. They can share files, software hard disks and peripherals such as a printer or CD-ROM. To go to LAN you usually need a username and password. The username identifies you to the file server so that it can //serve// you the correct files.

Modern companies have their offices, factories and workers either nationwide or worldwide and even though they are so far apart from each other they still need to find and use the same information. It wouldn’t be very easy to connect computers in different buildings. Computers with LANs in one building can be connected to computers is a LAN in other buildings. They can be connected also be connected via fibre optic cable, microwave links or satellite.


 * **Advantages** ||  **Disadvantages**  ||
 * * You can access your work from any workstation on the network.
 * All users can share data at the same time.
 * Users can communicate with each other through the network by sending messages and sharing files.
 * Individual workstations do not need a printer; one better quality printer that can be on the same network can be shared.
 * Networks provide security. Each network requires a user name and password and user ID in order to be able to access the information on the network.
 * Private areas on the network allow each user can be set up that allows each user to store their own personal files.
 * Networks can be expensive to set up. They often take up a large amount of space for the hundreds of metres of cables.
 * The file server needs to be a powerful computer, which often is expensive.
 * If the main file server breaks down then the system becomes useless and no one can carry on working.
 * Because networks are complicated they often need an expert staff to look after them.
 * As the number of users increase on the network, the performance of the system can be affected and things start to slow down || * Networks can be expensive to set up. They often take up a large amount of space for the hundreds of metres of cables.
 * The file server needs to be a powerful computer, which often is expensive.
 * If the main file server breaks down then the system becomes useless and no one can carry on working.
 * Because networks are complicated they often need an expert staff to look after them.
 * As the number of users increase on the network, the performance of the system can be affected and things start to slow down. ||