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3 COMPUTER NETWORKS
TYPES OF NETWORKS
STARTER

What is the internet?

 What is the WWW?
 What is the difference between these two things?
STARTER
 What is the Internet?
 The internet is the worlds largest WAN. A computer network that spans the globe
 What is the WWW?
 The World Wide Web is a service that uses the Internet
 Accessed using web browsers to view linked webpages and other resources
 What is the difference between these two things?
 The Internet connects up global networks, the WWW uses these connections to
share websites and data
ADVANTAGES OF NETWORKS
 Users can share files
 Users can share peripherals
 Users can access files from anywhere on the network
 Servers can be used to control security, software updates and backups
 Communication with other users e.g?
DISADVANTAGES OF NETWORKS
 Increased security risk
 Malware and viruses can spread easily when on the network
 Why does it spread easier when within the network?

 Can create single points of failure e.g. servers with files and software stored
 Can slow down computer if there is a lot of data traveling
 Different types of hardware can avoid this
LAN (LOCAL AREA NETWORK)
 Small geographical area
 All the hardware in the LAN is owned by a single
organisation using it
 LANs are connected using UTP cables, fibre optic or
wireless using Wi-Fi
 May use hardware such as hubs and switches
 Can you think of any examples of LANs?
WAN (WIDE AREA NETWORK)
 Covers a large geographical area
 Multiple LANs connected together
 Connection hardware usually owned by a third party
 What would these third parties be?

 Connected using telephone lines, fibre optic cables or

satellite links
 What are some examples of WANs?
 How do we think WANs are connected across continents?