Background

Networking
Overview | Network | Classroom net | Internet | Standalone PC | Local Area Network (LAN)

Overview

What type of user would benefit from a network ?

What are the benefits of connecting PC's together ?

This section gives a background to the networking module.

What is a computer network ?

a set of FUNCTIONS

Print sharing

File and database sharing

eMail

...

allows people to share and communicate more effectively.
includes hardware and software

Example - classroom PC's

Classroom network allows;
Printer sharing (access to an expensive device)
Drive sharing (access to common file areas)
Centralised home drive (computer independence)
eMail (via p-mail)
File transfer to other users (p-mail)
Internet connectivity

Example - Internet

Internet provides;

eMail (v's snail mail - the normal postal service!!)
File Transfer (via FTP)
Telnet connection (ability to connect your PC as a virtual terminal to a wide variety of remote systems)

World Wide Web. Information services provided by various organisations eg. shopping.

Usenet Newsgroups (around 5000 to choose from). Provide a forum for discussion, dissemination and debate.

Standalone PC's

Problems of Stand-alone PC's or paper records

Data distributed on local disks
Searching for letters sent may require searching through mountains of paper or diskettes.
Specialised printers attached to one PC, unable to be shared
Data entry only possible on one PC
Checking historical data may require a large amount of searching.

Advantages of Stand-alone PC's.

Better application performance
Security restricted to physical access (eg. Locked doors)
System may be customised to individual preferences

Local Area Network

Features

LANS accomplish 3 things

Share resources
Maintain and control the location of files, and file access.
Use nifty applications allowing multiuser access, eg databases or accounting packages.

LAN users

Users candidates for a LAN.

Interact with a growing Database
Share WP files or accounting information.
Require the use of expensive devices such as plotters and laser printers.

LAN benefits

Disadvantages of standalone PC's

Users dependant on own PC
Backup's rarely done

Advantages of Networking

Logon to another users PC if own down
Logon id's used to keep data secure
Electronic mail (eMAIL)
Databases and Accounting packages allow multiple/simultaneous access

[Rev: 26/1/08] Jun-97 © 1997-98 V/2-Com (Verhaart), P O Box 8415, Havelock North, New Zealand.