1.4 Networks_L2_Classification of Netwo

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Know the difference between a peer-to-peer and a client-server network.

SUCCESS CRITERIA

Success Criteria:

Explain the difference between client-server and peer-to-peer networks.
Know the advantages and disadvantages of each type of network.
Identify when a particular website would be most useful.

1.4 Wired and Wireless Networks

Learners should have studied the following:

types of networks:
LAN (Local Area Network)
WAN (Wide Area Network)
factors that affect the performance of networks
LO3 -the different roles of computers in a client-server and a peer-to-peer network
the hardware needed to connect stand-alone computers into a Local Area Network:
wireless access points
routers/switches
NIC (Network Interface Controller/Card)
transmission media
the internet as a worldwide collection of computer networks:
DNS (Domain Name Server)
hosting the cloud
the concept of virtual networks.

IEEE: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

This is a professional standards body based in New York. It oversees standards for electronic communications in order to promote good practice and interoperability between computer and communication systems.

Note

EXAM TIP

As well as being called peers computers in a peer-to-peer network are also called nodes.

KEYWORDS

Client - A computer that requests data and services from a server.

Server - a computer that provides services and data for other computers on a network.

Peer - a computer that is not controlled by a server.

Networks - LESSON 2

Classification on networks

STARTER

Following on from the HL that should have been completed in time for this lesson. Students should identify what other types of networks they have come across.

KEYWORDS

Ethernet - A set of standards used to connect devices in LAN. Nowadays it tends to use mainly UTP and fibre optic links or WiFi standards. Ethernet networks split messages into units called frames.

WiFi - A common standard for wireless connectivity based on a standard known as IEEE 802.11. This is a good example of how widely accepted standards have led to practical solutions for connecting devices

Click on the link to access the worksheet for this task.

Classification by how a network is organised

There are two major ways in which networks are organised. They differ in the roles given to the connected computers.

LO3 - Client-server:

Client-server is the most common way to organise a LAN. It contains two main types of computer, a client and a server. Each computer is connected to the network that is available for general use is called a client. Each of the clients is connected to a central computer in the network called a server. A client-server network may have a single central server or it may have several performing different functions.

The server allows a variety of functions to be performed on the network from a central computer, rather than having to carry each one out on the individual clients. These functions include:

Access control (usernames and passwords)
Security
Data storage
Monitoring network traffic
Managing Internet connections
Managing printing jobs
Providing email services
Running a backup

If the client server is particularly large, it will have a number of servers dedicated to performing each of the functions. This enables the network to run as efficiently as possible. They might also be specialised to do particular functions , for example there may be an server where corporate emails are stored.

LO3 - Peer to peer network:

Each computer in this type of network is known as a peer. A peer-to-peer network does not have a central server to manage the network; the management of all functions is down to the responsibility of each individual peer. Each computer on the network is able to share files and resources with other computers on the network. They can do this by making them available in a public area. The administration of a peer-to-peer network is entirely up to the owner to decide.