Backup systems [ks tis ona canbe sed tack up a sever an nc persona computers on tha network @ ONLINE For mareintoaton on o:al (LANs, WANs, and oer commen, ‘ypes of nett, visit ‘tp: eee. com? 248 Chapter 7 storage device thar employces can access through a network. Often the network manager makes regular backups of the data on the shared storage device (see Figure 7A,8), Managers also can use special software to back up files stored on employees’ hard drives from a central location, With this method, files do not have to be copied to the server before they ean be backed up. Common Types of Networks If you want to understand the different types of net- works and how they operate, you need ro know how networks are structured. ‘There are two main types of networks: local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANS). Local Area Networks (LANs) A local area network (LAN) is a data communication system consisting of several devices such as computers and printers. This type of network contains computers that are relatively near each other and are physically connected using cables, in- frared links, or wireless media. A LAN can consist of just two or three PCs con- nected together to share resources, or it can include hundreds of computers of different kinds. Any network that exists within a single building, or even a group of adjacent buildings, is considered a LAN. A LAN is not a system that connects to the public environment (such as the Internet) using phone or data lines. Ie is often helpful to connect separate LANs together so they can communicate and exchange data. In a large company, for example, two departments located on the same floor of a building may have their own separate LANs, but if the de- partments need to share data, then they can create a link between the two LANs. Wide Area Networks (WANs) Typically, a wiele area network (WAN) is two or more LANs connected together, generally across a wide geographical arca. For example, a company may have its corporate headquarters and manufacturing plant in one city and its marketing of- fice in another. Each site needs resources, data, and programs locally, but it also needs to share data with the other sites. To accomplish this feat of data commu nication, the company can attach devices that connect over public utilities to cre- ate,a WAN, (Note, however, that a WAN does not have to include any LAN systems. For example, two distant mainframe computers can communicate through a WAN, cven though neither is part of a local arca networ ‘These remote LANs are connected through a telecommunication network (3 phone company) or via the Internet through an Internet service provider (ISP) that eae with the telecommunication networks to gain access to the Internet's Hybrid Networks Between the LAN and WAN structures, you will find hybrid networks such as campus area networks (CANs) and metropolitan area netwarks (MANS). In addi- tion, a new form of network type is emerging called home area networks (HANS). ‘The need to access corporate Web sites has created two classifications known as intranets and extranets. The following sections introduce these networks.Campus Area Networks (CANs) A campus area network (CAN) follows the same principles as a local area net ‘work, only on a larger and more diversified scale. With a CAN, different campus ices and organizations can be linked together. For example, in atypical univer- sity setting, a bursar’s office might be linked to a registrar's office. In this manner, ‘once a student has paid his or her in fees to the bursar, this information is transmitted to the registrar's system so the student can enroll for classes. Some university departments of organizations might be linked to the CAN even though they already have their awn separate LANs, Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) 5. ANA META The metropolisan area network (MAN) is a large-scale net- work that connects multiple corporate LANs together. MANs usually are not owned by a single organization; their communication devices and equipment arc usually maintained by a geaup or single network provider that sells its networking services to corporate customers. MANs of- ten take the role of a high-speed network that allows for the sharing of regional resources. MANs also can provide a shared connection to other networks using a WAN link. Figure 7A.9 shows the relationship between LANs, MANS, and WANs. ] A ne erro Home Area Networks (HANs) A-home area network (HAN) is a network contained within a user’s home that connects a person’s digital devices, from multiple computers and their peripheral devices, such as a printer, to telephones, VCRs, DVDs, televisions, video games, home security systems, “smart” appliances, fax machines, and other digital de- vices that are wired into the netwark. Intranets and Extranets Much of the technology available on the Internet is also available for private net- work use. The company’s internal version of the Internet is called an intranet. As you learned in Chapter 8, an intranet uses the same Web server software that Bives the public access ta Web sites over the Internet, The major difference is that an intranet usually limits access to employees and selected contractors haying on- going business with the company. ‘Web pages have become very popular and, using integrated software, many: ‘operating systems offer complete Web server software or at least a personal Web server. This gives users the ability to ereate Web pages on their local computers that can he viewed by other members of the same network. Just like on the Inter net, users can allow others (again, usually employees) to browse theie Web site and to upload or download files, video clips, audio clips, and other such media. Users also can set controls and limit who may access the Web site. Extranets are becoming a popular method for employees to exchange infor- mation using the company’s Web site or e-mail while traveling or working from home. An extranet is a partially accessible internal company Web site for autho rized users physically located outside the organization, Whereas an intranet re- sides completely within the company’s internal network and is accessible only to people that are members of the same company or organization, an extranet pro= vides various levels of accessibility to outsiders. You can access an extranet only if you have a valid username and password, and your identity determines which parts of the extranet you can view. ‘TOOTHER wine ARES NETWORK, FIGURE 7A.9 Ths relationship between LAN, NAN, and WAN, Networks 249ONLINE Formore'n srcommen network suc itp wre mbihe.corn! peternorten. Saal aici FIGURE 74,10 A singe LAN wha he serves 250 Chapter 7 How Networks Are Structured Networks can be categorized by the roles the servers and PC’ play in terms of hi- erarchical and security interaction. Some networks use servers (server-based net- works) and some do not (peer-to-peer networks). These terms are defined in detail in the following sections, Server-Based Networks ‘To understand a server-based network, it is important to know the meaning of the rerm node ina network. A node is a processing location that can be a PC or some sther deviee such as a networked printer. Usually, server-based networks include many nodes and one or more servers, which control user access to the network's resources, ‘As described earles, chis central computer is known as the file server, nevwork server, application server, or just the server. Files and programs used by more than. ‘one user (at different nodes) are often stored on the server. A ile server network (se¢ Figure 74,10} isa fairy simple example of this kind ‘of nodes-and-server network. This arrangement gives each node access to the files ‘on the server, but not necessarily to files on other nodes. When a node needs in- formation from the server, it requests the file containing the information. The server simply stores files and forwards (sends) them to nodes that request them. ‘One way to identify a server-based nerwork is the point at which network re- ‘sources such as files are made available to users. In this environment, users gain access to file, printers, and other network-based objects by obtaining rights and permissions given through a centrally controlled server or groups of servers. Users must “log on” to the network 10 gain access to its resources. Client/Server Networks One popular type of server-based network is the client/server network, where ia- dividual computers share the processing and storage workload with a central server, This arrangement requires special software for the nodes and the server, I does not, however, require any specific type of network. Clientserver software ‘can be used on LANS or WANS, and a single client/server program can be used on a LAN where all the other software is based on a simple file server system. ‘The mast common example of client/server computing involves a database that scan be accessed by many different computers on the network. The database is stored on the network server, along with a portion of the database management Serio aaa Otte ceen tie organs zee ries Seen © ant this computer searches the ie or the desired intermation,system (DBMS}—the progeam that allows users to work with the database, The user's computer (which can be called the node, workstation, of client) stores and runs the client portion of the DBMS, When a user needs to find information in the darabase, he or she uses clisnt sofware to send a query to the server, which searches the database and returns the information to the user's PC (see Figure 7A.10). Peer-to-Peer Networks In a poer-to:pece nctwork (abbreviated as “P2PN" and sometimes called a work- group), all nodes on the network have equal relationships to all others, and all have similar types of software that support the sharing of resources (see Figure 7A.12).1n a typical peer-to-peer network, each node has access to at least some of the resources on all other nodes. If they are set up correctly, many multisuser op- crating systems give users access to files on hard disks and to printers attached to other computers in the network. Many client operating systems, such as Windows 9x, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows Me, Windows XP, and the Macintosh $, feature built-in support for pece-to-peer networking, This enables users 10 set up a simple peer-to-peer network using no other software than their PCS’ own operating systems. ‘@ittne user onthis computer ©} The server processes the search ‘needs information fom a an returns jst he requested \ Seiten trmaton ote tet. Gr | las, ‘he database search is composed tn the client computor, where the User interface for the database software fs running. “aly Some peerto-peer networks hhave fe servers; some do nat. {tthe usar on iis node needs ‘The usor on this machina ale on another node, the user ‘may not von know that ‘simply copies the file. the fle was copie. FIGURE 74.41 Pros a efor de, sees FIGURE 7A.12 to peer retucr Networks 251