Chapter 3 CISCO
SOHO networks enable sharing of resources, such as printers, documents, pictures and music between a few local computers.
Hosts can send and receive messages on the network.
Servers are hosts that have software installed that enable them to provide information, like email or web pages, to other hosts on the network.
Clients are computer hosts that have software installed that enable them to request and display the information obtained from the server.
Advantages of Peer to Peer Networking:
· Easy to set up
· Less complexity
· Lower cost since network devices and dedicated servers may not be required
· Can be used for simple tasks such as transferring files and sharing networks
Disadvantages of Peer to Peer network:
· No centralized administration
· Not as secure
· Not scalable
· All devices may act as both clients and servers which can slow their performance
Client and server software usually runs on separate computers, but it is also possible for one computer to carry out both roles at the same time. In small businesses and homes, many computers function as the servers and clients on the network. This type of network is called a peer-to-peer network.
The simplest peer-to-peer network consists of two directly connected computers using a wired or wireless connection.
Multiple PCs can also be connected to create a larger peer-to-peer network but this requires a network device, such as a hub, to interconnect the computers.
The main disadvantage of a peer-to-peer environment is that the performance of a host can be slowed down if it is acting as both a client and a server at the same time.
In larger businesses, due to the potential for high amounts of network traffic, it is often necessary to have dedicated servers to support the number of service requests.
1. Hardware - the physical components, both internal and external, that make up a computer.
2. Operating System - a set of computer programs that manages the hardware of a computer. An operating system controls the resources on a computer, including memory and disk storage. An example of an operating system is Windows XP.
3. Application Software - programs loaded on the computer to perform a specific function using the capabilities of the computer. An example of application software is a word processor or a computer game.
4. The computer is only as useful as the program or application on it. Applications can be divided into two general categories:
5. Business/Industry Software - Software designed for use by a specific industry or market. Examples include: medical practice management tools, educational tools and legal software.
6. General Use Software - Software used by a wide range of organizations and home users for various purposes. These applications can be used by any business or individual.
7. General use software includes integrated applications packages known as Office Suites. They usually include applications such as word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation and email/contacts/schedule management.
