Networks

Question 1

Advantages and disadvantages of network

Answer 1

ADVANTAGES :
1. Save some money as printers, programs and data can be shared between all workstations.
2. You don’t have to use the same computer.
3. You can monitor work of all employees.
4. Can control (access rights) what workers do on the computers.
DISADVANTAGES :
1. Expensive to purchase and maintain.
2. Need to employ specialists in order to maintain.
3. If network breaks down everyone will be affected.
4. Special security measures are needed to secure the use of networks.

Question 2

Factors which influence the choice of network

Answer 2

1. COST OF NETWORK - cost of initial purchasing of equipment (hardwares and softwares). Installation and training - maintenance cost.
2. SIZE OF ORGANISATION - needs can range from small LAN to global WAN.
3. HOW THE SYSTEM WILL BE USED - what type of applications do they require? Will they need large data storage?
4. EXISTING SYSTEMS TO INTEGRATE - networks are not developed from scratch but need to fit in with existing systems. Therefore any new network must fit in with operating systems and protocols of the existing systems. It must support any peripherals already in use for example barcode readers, printers Etc.
5. PERFORMANCE AND SPEED REQUIRED - needs to be reliable and user-friendly. Different parts of the organisation may have different performance requirements. Need to think about capacity and speed of processing.
6. SECURITY ISSUES - different organisations may have different priorities for example avoiding virus, prevention of hacking and secure payment site.

Question 3

Advantages of using Wi-Fi

Answer 3

1. Allows inexpensive LANs to be set up without cables/no cabling cost.
2. Allows people the freedom of working anywhere a signal can be received.
3. Health and safety- tidier desktop with no trailing cables.
4. Global set of standards- can use Wi-Fi all over the world.

Question 4

Disadvantages of using Wi-Fi

Answer 4

1. Power consumption is high-which means laptops soon exhaust their rechargeable batteries.
2. There may be security problems even when encryption is used.
3. Interference if wireless network signal start to overlap.
4. Transmission speed is slower than cable.

Question 5

What are the software components required for networking?

Answer 5

1. NETWORK MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE - enable system manager to control all system.
2. USER ACCOUNTS - created by system manager so that only people who are allowed to use the system can access the system.
3. LOG INS AND AUDIT TRAILS - software records activity every time a user logs in the system.
4. SECURITY STRATEGIES - reduces risks such as hacking in viruses.
5. DISASTER PLANNING - companies need to plan for when things go wrong, hardware or software failure.

Question 6

Describe tasks that the Network Manager could do using remote management?

Answer 6

1. Check to see right number of licenses.
2. Log of users who have forgotten to do so.
3. Shutdown/take control of stations.
4. Clear print queues remotely at stations.
5. Check virus scan has been done.
6. Update software/rebuild software on stations.

Question 7

Definition of network?

Answer 7

Groups of computers/terminals such as workstations, linked together by network cabling or by wireless links.