Computer Networking

A computer network is that connection that is created between two or more computer with the aim of sharing different resource and creating a medium for communication between the connected devices.

Why we need a network

• it is economical
  Running a network will mean not buying the same equipment for all workstations. Because networks allows the sharing of resources, a networked office can share a single printer instead of buying a printer for every computer. The same principal applies to other resources like scanner, Modems, storage and so on.

• Files and memos can be sent around without the need of flash drives and other storage medium. And information and resources can be classified so that only authorized persons can access specific resources.

• Besides sharing physical resources, computers on a network can share software. Instead of buying a copy of Microsoft office for every computer in the company, systems on a network can share the software from a server.

• With a network, a grouo of people can collaborate and work on a single document, allowing massive task to be cut into smaller chunk and so they can be simultaneously processed from different nodes

• installing a software like LAN Messenger could help reduce the stress of having to go to the other office for minor matters that could be messaged over. This could also strikeout the need to hire messengers.

Types of computer Networks

Server based Network

This type of network is also known as a client-server network. It is a centralised Network with nodes that are are not equal. One of the node functions as a server while the others are clients.
The server allows it's resources to be used by other nodes in the network.

Advantages of clients Server Network:

• Because it is centralized, it makes it easy to run administration.
• a lot of resources like storage is centralized with effective management
• Data backup is fairly easy

Disadvantages of Server-Based Network:

• Once the server is down, the all clients are down
• Someone will be employed to take care of the network
  The cost of setting it up is high
• Client are not authonomus, they dependent on a server.

Peer to peer network

On a peer-to-peer network, all computers are having equal status with equal privilege. There is no server and client, all the systems are peers

Advantage of a peer-to-peer

• it's easy to setup and manage
• the cost for setting it up is very low when compared to a server based.
• the failure of any Node will not affect others.

Disadvantage of a peer-to-peer network:

• every node will have to manage its own files
• security is not strong
• No room for backup on a peer to pear to pear
• resources are poorly managed

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Network Topology

This is concerned with the logical arrangement of computers on a network.

The besic types of network topologies are

The bus topology
All nodes are connected to a single backbone. It has very poor collusion management and any problem with a single node can cripple the whole network

The ring topology
This is a bus topology who's two ends are connected together. It's a little better compared to the bus topology.

The star topology
This is the most preferred topology, it has all node connecting to a central point. A faulty node will not affect other computers.