Tavis's+Network+Page

=Tavis's Afrostab page!= See also My Reflection Page

** Useful Definitions: **
Fileserver: Computer on a network that is used to provide users on a network with access to files. //__Intresting fact:__// Because servers commonly serve a high need, they are up all day and night; and when they fail, they commonly cause the network users or company a great deal of problems. Some server failures can cause a company and its employees to come to a complete halt in their work until they return. Because of this, servers are commonly high-end computers and are setup to be fault tolerant.
 * Printserver:** Computer responsible for managing one or more printers on a network. Generally, because of the load required for a print job, a print server does not need to be a fast computer.
 * Server:** A computer connected to a network that other computers may or may not access. Unlike other computers on a network, a **server** is a dedicated computer set up for one or more purposes. For example, a user may setup a server to authenticate and allow or prohibit users from accessing a network, and/or may be setup to manage print jobs, and/or host a website.
 * Router:** A hardware device designed to take incoming packets, analyzing the packets and then directing them to the appropriate locations, moving the packets to another network, converting the packets to be moved across a different type of network interface, dropping the packets, or performing any other number of other types of actions.

Task 2Question 4: The two main strategies for connecting computers are in other words, all computers are independent. Question 5: The common network topologies used are ‘Star’, ‘Bus’ and ‘Ring’. . Question 6: There are many types of servers that can be connected to a network. Describe the purpose of each of the following: 
 * Client/Server: A computer that retrieves information from and uses resources provided by a serveror main computer. Many corporate networks are comprised of a client computer at each of the employees' desks. Each of these computers connects to a central server or mainframe allowing the employees to work.
 * **Peer 2 Peer**: A peer to peer network is a network that does not have a central computer or dedicated server,
 * Star Topology: A star topology is one of the most common network setups where each of the devices and computers on a network connect to a central hub.
 * Bus Topology: A type of network setup where each of the computers and network devices are connected to a single cable or backbone.
 * Ring Topology: the ring topology is a type of computer network configuration where each network computer and device are connected to each other forming a large circle
 * File Server: Computer on a network that is used to provide users on a network with access to files.
 * Print Server: Computer responsible for managing one or more printers on a network.
 * Application Server: Server software that manages one or more other pieces of software in a way that makes the managed software available over a network, usually to a Web server

 = Task 3 = Question 4: BMR Consulting is a small consulting company with four professionals and a secretary. They have an office suite in a large city office building. Each staff member has a good personal computer and a printer. Victor Chan, BMR’s CEO, has a laser printer, as does Ann Jacobs, the secretary. The other consultants have colour inkjet printers. When a consultant with an inkjet printer needs a laser printout, he or she saves the file onto a floppy disk and gives it to Ann. Similarly, when consultants want to share a file, one has to save it to disk and walk it to the other consultant. The consultants, who are frequently on the road, have to copy files they would need to the firm’s one “loaner” notebook computer. If they needed an unexpected file on the road, there is no good way to retrieve it. Although all PCs have modems, only one can dial into the Internet at a time, and telephone access is very slow for the large maps they often have to download. ||

 a) Describe the problems with BMR’s information system.  Well, its slow, it makes it hard for them to do their jobs efficiently. Its hard for them to share their work or to simply print it is an adventure from one desk to another b) How would a network solve these problems? They would be able to send work to eachother easily, files would be easily accessable and you can print to any printer on the network from your desk. THEY WOULD BE RID OF THE DREADED FLOPPY DISK!!! c) List the equipment required to set up a network for BMR.
 * Computers (a neccesity)
 * Printers (also a neccesity)
 * network cables (if network isn't wireless)
 * router (wireless or other)
 * faster internet connection (to make their jobs easier (dloading maps .etc )
 * fileserver (to hold all their documents and files)
 * printserver (to manage their many print jobs)

d) Draw a diagram of your proposed network. aww do i really have to!!!

=I.T. Practice SAC Stuff=

Task 1 Doc. Inspiration Diagram