Local Area and Wide Area Networks

Networks

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Getting Started

presentation.

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Local Area Networks

A

group

of

computers

connected together form a

network

. 2 of 8 Computers in a

Local Area Network

(

LAN

) are fairly close together, generally within a building.

Computers can be connected together using cabling or infrared transmitters to provide a

wireless

LAN.

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Wide Area Networks

A

Wide Area Network

(

WAN

) is spread over a much 3 of 8

larger area and connects computers in different buildings,

on different sites or even in different countries.

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WANs use

global communications

such as

telephones

,

satellite

or

cable

to connect the computers.

4 of 8 The

Internet

is a global WAN.

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Advantages and disadvantages

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Network management

A

network manager

will be in charge of running the network. There are lots of things to decide when you set up a network: What user names and passwords will be used?

Where will the programs and data files be stored?

Who is allowed to see which files?

Where will the printers go?

How often will it be backed up?

Networks need special software called

network operating systems

to control security and handle administrative tasks.

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7 of 8 Users of a network often have different levels of access. What does each person's level of access allow them to do?

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Summary

Computers can be

linked

together into

networks

. Networked computers can

share hardware

,

software

and

data

with other users on the network.

LANs

are

Local Area Networks

– fairly

close together

and usually joined by cables.

WANs

are

Wide Area Networks

–

bigger

linked by

communication satellites

and usually through the telephone system.

Networks need

network operating systems

.

They also need trained

network managers

.

Different users of a network will have different

rights

. 8 of 8 © Boardworks Ltd 2004