Section 4 - Networks and the effects of using them

Question 1

What is a computer network?

Answer 1

A computer networks consists of 2 or more computers or electronic devices such as printers that have been linked together

Question 2

What do networks enable us to do?

Answer 2

Share files
Send emails to each other
Share resources

Question 3

How are networked computers joined together?

Answer 3

Cables
Radio signals
Telephone lines and satellites

Question 4

Advantages of computer networks

Answer 4

Resources such as printers, scanners and internet can be shared
Files and data can be shared
Easy to communication with people on the network
Access our data from any computer
Data can be backed up to a separate computer for security
Access huge amount of information and files

Question 5

Disadvantages of computer networks

Answer 5

If part of the network fails, the whole network can break down
Viruses can spread across the network very easily and quickly
If a computer on the network is hacked into then all other computers are prone to attack

Question 6

What are the two types of computers that make up a network?

Answer 6

Servers

Clients

Question 7

What is a server computer?

Answer 7

Powerful computers that provide ‘services’ to the client computers on the network.

Question 8

Services provided by server computers

Answer 8

Providing central storage
Sharing devices
Providing network security
Sharing internet connections

Question 9

Different types of servers

Answer 9

File servers
Application servers
Printer servers
Proxy servers

Question 10

What is a client computer?

Answer 10

A normal computer that is used to perform everyday tasks and to access info and programs from the server.

Question 11

What are the types of computer networks?

Answer 11

LAN
WLAN
WAN
Bluetooth

Question 12

LAN

Answer 12

Local Area Network
Usually located in a single room or small building.
Private and can only be accessed by people in the room/building.
e.g. a school network is only used by students of that school.

Question 13

Ads + disads of LAN

Answer 13

Ads:
Save money as each computer can share resources
Files and data can be shared easily
Files and data can be accessed from any computer within the server
Data can be sent around very fast
Can be monitored easily

Disads:
Viruses can spread very quickly
Security can be an issue
The network can become unusable if the main server computer breaks down
Slow internet connections
High initial cost

Question 14

WLAN

Answer 14

Wireless Local Area Networks
Similar to LANs but they connect computers together wirelessly without cables.
e.g. home networks

Question 15

Ads + disads of WLANs

Answer 15

Ads:
physically safer as no cables are needed
cheaper to set up than a WLAN
easier to add more computers
devices such as printers and scanners can be connected to the network easily
computers and devices can be used anywhere in the building

Disads:
some areas might not be able to pick up the signal
security can be an issue
wireless signals can be unreliable
data transfer is slower than LAN
signal range is limited, so useless in a large building

Question 16

WAN

Answer 16

Wide Area Network
made up of computers and devices that are connected in a large geographical area
created by connecting lots of LANs and individual computers together
computers and devices can connect to a WAN using telephone lines, fibre-optic cables and satellite signals
need a router or a modem
e.g. the internet

Question 17

Ads and disads of WANs

Answer 17

Ads:
computers can be connected over wide areas
files and data can be shard over a large area
users can communicate very quickly, over large areas
e-commerce
computers and devices can be used anywhere

Disads:
security can be an issue 
easy to accidentally download viruses
data is transferred across a WAN is a lot slower than a LAN
monitoring a WAN is difficult

Question 18

Bluetooth (WPAN)

Answer 18

Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN)

devices can connect to each other between 1 and 100 metres away from each other

Question 19

ads + disads of bluetooth

Answer 19

ads:
very easy to connect 
not easy to disrupt
works wirelessly so no messy cables
very little power needed

disads:
limited signal range
slow data transfer
very secure

Question 20

Internet

Answer 20

a computer network that connects computers worldwide

Question 21

Intranet

Answer 21

a private network within a company and it is only available to staff members of the organisation