What are the factors that influence the choice of a network?
- Cost of network
- Size of organisation
- How the system will be used
- Linking to existing systems
- Performance required from the system
- Security issues concerned with the network
Advantages of networks
- Printers can be shared - save money
- Program’s can be shared
- Data can be shared between all work stations
- Users can communicate with each other
- Users can email
- You don’t have to use the same computer
- Can monitor the work of individuals
- Can control (access rights) what workers do on the computers
Advantages of WIFI
- Able to set up a simple network LAN at home
- Freedom of working anywhere within range of signal
- No need for cables
Disadvantages of WIFI
- Power consumption is high, laptops will use battery quickly.
- Security issues with encryption of data
- Maybe health problems - radio waves?
- Have limited range - further you are the weaker the signal
- Possible interference with other signals
Disadvantages of networks
- Expensive to purchase and maintain - large businesses would employ staff/technicians to maintain the system.
- If a network breaks down everybody is affected
- Special security measures are needed to stop users from using program’s and data that they shouldn’t have access to.
Advantages of a bus network
- Cheapest + easiest system to set up + install
- If one computer breaks others will work
- Easy to add on other workstations
Disadvantages of a bus network
- Because there is only one cable supplying all the computers the transmission of data is slow going backwards + forwards
- The performance of the network slows down when there are more users
- If cable fails - computers from that point will not work
Advantages of a client server system
- Work is backed up centrally
- Better security + management systems
- Processing tasks will be quicker than peer to peer systems
Disadvantages of a client server system
- Set up costs are expensive
- Require specialist personnel to manage the system
- If server breaks all computers will be affected
Advantages of a peer to peer system
- Initial set up costs are low
- Simpler to set up + maintain
- Less chances of crashes because it doesn’t depend on a central server
Disadvantages of a peer to peer system
- Data can be difficult to find
- Security + back up not centralised so more difficult to control
- More difficult use, users will have to be trained to use the system
Explain a peer to peer system and what are the uses
A group of workstations networked together no central server used. Each workstation communicates with each other, data can be shared from one computer to another.
USES - small office or companies - less than 15 computers
Explain a client server system and what are the uses
This system is set up with a central server that stores all the data and controls the use of all the workstations connected,
USES- medium to large organisations, more than 15 computers
