Unit 11 computer networks

A01 First music computer

networks
119804
Zaynab Ali
John Dearden
Introduction
I have been asked to design and build a computer network for a friends music
shop and i have been asked to consider the costs of the hardware components
and software resources required to set up a computer network. Before i create the
network my manager has asked for me to make a short presentation about two
different networks and discuss the strength and weaknesses of each network and
how the uses and features affect the users experience.
Computer Networks
A computer network is made up of two or more computers connected to each
other so the computers can share the same data and the same resources. An
example of this is computers can be connected all to the same printers.
Wired networks
Wired networks use wires and ethernet cables to connect pcs to each other so
they can share the same information and resources. To allow the computers to
connect they are usually connected through routers and switches.
There are many advantages and disadvantages of wired networks. The
advantages of wired networks include is that it's easy to use, it's more secure and
its faster and reliable. The disadvantages of wired networks include lack of
mobility and the installation takes a long time.
Wireless networks
A wireless network uses radio waves to connect devices like phones and laptops
to the internet. It allows the device to stay connected to the internet without any of
the wires. Access points make the wifi signal have a longer range so the device
can stay connected even though its not close to the router.
There are many advantages and disadvantages of wireless networks. The
advantages of wireless networks may include that its cost effective, has easy
installation, its flexible and its efficient. The disadvantages of wireless networks
may include its less secure, its slower and is more likely to have an interference
more often.
Local area network (LAN)
LAN is is computers connected in a limited area like a school and home. It is
useful for sharing resources such as files, printers and games.
Advantages of LAN include reduced cost of hardware because more than one
computer can connect to one hardware and the same software can be used over
the network because it doesn't needed to be downloaded for each computer.
Disadvantages include the admin can access personal information so it doesn't
offer privacy and the installation of the local area network is high.
Wide area network (WAN)
A wide area network is a network spread over a larger geographical area and
could connect over a LAN that connect with other LANs using radio waves. WAN
is limited to an enterprise or an organisation.
Some advantages of WAN include that it covers a large geographical area so
businesses that have offices far apart can still communicate with each other and it
shares information and files over a larger area.
Some disadvantages of WAN include that to set it up the cost is hard, to maintain
the network you need skilled technicians and offers weaker security than other
networks.
Physical and logical topology
Physical topology is the way computers connect with the network through cables
that transmits data. This is the physical structure of networks. Some examples of
physical topology include bus, ring, star, mesh and tree topology.
Logical topology is the way data moves around the network. The most common
logical topology is ethernet and ring token.
Bus topology
Bus topology is the simplest type of topology where a common bus or channel is
used for communication in networks. The bus is connected to taps and droplines.
Taps are the connectors and droplines are the cables connecting the bus with the
computer.
Ring topology
Ring topology is where the computers are connected to other computers to form a
ring and uses a token for computers can add data and which computer it needs to
go to but this can only be done if the token doesn't have any data on it.
Star topology
Star topology is where computers are connected to a central device for example a
hub or switch. To connect the device to the hub and switch you only need one port
and one cable for each device. This topology is good for security because the data
does not pass through every device.
Gaming environment
For gaming you can either use a local area network to play with people online
nearest to you or a wide area network to play online with anyone across the world.
WAN user experience
Wide area networks covers large areas like cities and nations so this means that
wide area networks are slower than local area networks. The speed of a wide area
network is 150 mbps (megabits per second). Wide area networks connect
computers over large distances and is used mostly used by large business that
have offices that are far apart. Each of the offices are connected by several local
area networks through a wide area network. Wide area networks needs to have
firewalls and install antivirus software to be secure.
WAN frequency of network failure
Wide area networks can fail if the cables are damaged which may weaken the
connection. Users can stop having internet connection because the router can
malfunction.
Strengths and weaknesses of WAN
One strength of a wide area network is that it covers large areas which means that
if businesses have offices in different areas they can communicate and share the
same information and resources with each other. Another strength is that all the
data is in a main server and can be shared with the offices so there is no need to
purchase separate servers for each office.

One weakness of a wide area network is that wide area networks are less secure
than other networks which means it is most likely to have attacks and identity
thefts. Another weakness is that it is expensive to set up because you need to
purchase routers, switches and security software.
Local area network Wide area network

Uses ethernet and token to connect Uses technologies like frame relay and X.25 to
connect over large distances

Covers a small geographical area like a home or Covers a large geographical area like offices that
office are far apart from each other

LAN is private WAN can either be private or public

LAN speed is high WANs speed is slower than a LAN

LAN has more fault tolerance WAN has less fault tolerance

LANs are easy to design and maintain WANs are difficult to design and maintain
 LAN WAN
This shows that a LAN has
better performance than a
Speed 1000 mbps 150 mbps WAN because its faster and
has less problems as it is
smaller.
Connectivity One LAN can The computers are
connect to others often connected
using telephone through public
lines and radio networks and can
waves also be connected
through satellites

Reliability They have fewer They have more

problems because problems because
its small its big and has
more systems
connected
References
Wired Definition

What Is a Wireless Network? - Wired vs Wireless - Cisco

Wireless Network Advantages and Disadvantages | Advantages and Disadvantages of Wireless Network Communication - A Plus Topper

LAN vs WAN: What's the Difference?

What is Physical Topology? | Webopedia

What is Logical Topology? | Webopedia.

What is network topology and types of network topology?

Computer Networks.

What is a WAN? | WAN vs. LAN | Cloudflare.

What is WAN?

6 Advantages and Disadvantages of Wide Area Network | Limitations & Benefits of Wide Area Network

WAN Connection Down: Why And How to Fix It? – RouterCtrl

LAN vs WAN: What's the Difference?

LAN vs WAN - Difference and Comparison | Diffen