3.5.1 Computer Networks

2/21/23, 12:44 PM 3.5.
1 Computer Networks
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1 Computer Networks
Learn It: What are Networks?
When two or more computers/devices are connected together through a

communication medium , allowing them to exchange data , share resources and
communicate , we have a computer network.
Often a computer network conforms to the server / client model.
Examples of networks could include:
Mobile Phones/Devices using Bluetooth (PAN).
Bourne Grammar School using wired or wireless (LAN).
The Internet (WAN).
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2/21/23, 12:44 PM 3.5.1 Computer Networks
The largest and most famous Wide Area Network (WAN) in the WorldTable
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Internet. This is a collection of inter-connected networks (LANs).
The Internet is a Worldwide collection of computers/devices and
networks , not owned or managed by any one group of people. Anyone can access the
Internet using either wired or wireless connections.
The World Wide Web (WWW) - Is a collection of html documents and web
pages that are all linked to each other using hyperlinks . Sir Tim Berners-Lee invented
the WWW in 1989.
Websites are stored on web servers connected to the Internet, and each website
has a unique web address (IP Address), so that it can be accessed. All information on
the WWW is stored as HTML
documents known as web pages .
Web Pages can be accessed using a program called a Web Browser such as Google
Chrome, Firefox or Safari.
Let's define some of those terms:

Communication Media refers to the connection between computers. This
could be standard copper cable (normally Cat5e or 6), Fibre Optic cable or Wireless
Radio.
Resources are devices such as printers or storage devices, that computers on
the network have shared access to.
Servers are just another computer. They may sometimes be very high-
powered if the service they are providing is computationally hard (such as serving
millions of web-pages or performing advanced modelling) or they can be tiny devices
such as a Raspberry Pi (serving media over a home network).
Clients are computers that use the services provided by the server.
Try It: Benefits and Risks of Computer Networks
Networking provides many benefits because of the ability to communicate between

users and devices, but there are also risks!
Research and *complete the following table explaining the benefits & risks of
computer networks:
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Try It: Research Advantages and Disadvantages of Computer Networks
Research and make use each of the keywords shown below to write sentences
describing the advantages and disadvantages of networking computers
Advantages of Networks:
1 Files
2 Communication
3 Resources
4 Distance
5 Software, server
6 Security
7 Licensing, money
8 Backups
Disadvantages of Networks:
1 Malware
2 Single point of failure
3 Infrastructure cost
4 Administrative cost
5 Hackers
Networks Explained Video
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Computer Networks: Crash Course Computer Science #28
2 Types of Computer Networks
Learn It: What are the main types of Networks?
Computer networks allows computers and devices to be connected together to share

data. This includes:
Computer to computer communications.
Computers communicating with devices such as printers, a mouse and a
keyboard.
Mobile phone networks.
Smart Devices (Televisions, Digital Assistants, Fridges, iKettles, iToasters,
wearable tech, Smart Home Devices etc..)
Tablets amd media players downloading/streaming videos and music and playing
them through external devices such as speakers and digital projectors.
Personal Area Networks (PANs)
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Local Area Networks (LANs)
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Wide Area Networks (WANs)
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3 Network Hardware Table of Contents
Learn It: What are Networks made of?
In order to connect to a network, a computer device needs some hardware and also software that
allows it to communicate with each other.
A Network Interface Card (NIC) is a component that connects a device to a

network. It formats the data sent into the required format according to the protocols (rules)
of the network. NICs can exist for both wired and wireless connections.
Switch – Switches connect devices on a LAN. Switches receive data (in units called
frames) from one device and transmit this data to the device on the network with the
correct MAC address. They build up a table of MAC addresses on the network.
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Routers – Are responsible for transmitting data between networks – They’re always
connected to at least two different networks. Routers have a crucial role on the Internet,
directing data (in units called packets) to their destination. They are used in homes and
offices to connect the LAN to the Internet.
MAC Address (Media Access Control) – Every device needs a unique

identifier so that it can be found on a network that allow data to be sent to the correct
component. They are unique to the device and cannot be changed. MAC addresses areof48
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bits in length and are usually displayed as a 12-digit hexadecimal number.
4 Transmission Media
Learn It: What Networks use to communicate?
In order for a network to communicate, it requires a form of transmission media. The two ways
that network devices communicate over a network are either by cable or radio waves
(Wired or Wireless).
Ethernet Cables – The most common Ethernet cables are CAT5e and CAT6, they
containing four pairs of copper wires that are twisted together to reduce internal
interference. Data is sent as electrical currents.
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Fibre Optic Cables - Uses glass (or plastic) threads (fibres) to transmit data. A
fibre optic cable consists of a bundle of glass threads, each of which is capable of
transmitting messages modulated onto light waves. Pulses of light are generated by a
light emitting diode (LED) or a laser.
Wireless (Wi-Fi) Wireless Fidelity – Like mobile phones and TVs, wireless
networks use radio waves to transmit data. Microwaves are a type of radiowave that consist
of electromagnetic radiation travelling in waves with a frequency higher that 1 gigahertz
(1GHz to 300GHz per second). Data is transmitted across the network in frequency bands
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between 2.4 and 5GHz.
The bands are split into numbered channels that each cover a small frequency range.
They also use different Wi-Fi spectrums for example; 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n.
Try It: Benefits and Risks of Wired Compared to Wireless Networks
As we have previously learned, connections between computers on a network can

either be wired or wireless.
In a wired network, computers are connected through wires or cables, whereas in a
wireless network, radio waves are used to transmit data, so no cables are needed.
Mobile phones and televisions also use radio waves to transmit data.
Wi-Fi is the standard used in wireless networks.
Complete the following table comparing wired and wireless computer networks:
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Learn It: Client-Server and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Networks
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Learn It: Network Topologies
There are many different ways of configuring hardware on a computer network. The
two main topologies are
Bus
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Star
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Badge It: Exam Questions
Silver - Answer the following exam questions:
1 In an office there are six computers, a scanner and a router connected together in a
Local Area Network (LAN).
a) Define the term Local Area Network (LAN)? (1 Mark)
b) State three advantages of connecting the computers together into a Local
Area Network? (3 Marks)
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Gold - Answer the following exam questions:
1Dishley Academy is connected to other schools in the area using a Wide Area Network
(WAN).
a) Describe what is meant by a Wide Area Network (WAN)? (2 Marks)
b) Explain two of the potential benefits of using a WAN to connect the Academy
to other schools? (4 Marks)
c) Explain three factors that can affect the performance of a network? (6 Marks)
Upload to Fundamentals of Computer Networks - Computer Networks: Gold on BourneToLearn
Platinum - Answer the following two exam questions:
1Jane works from home. She connects her laptop and television to her home Local Area
Network (LAN). Jane uses a home router to connect her LAN together.
a) State the name of the hardware device inside the laptop that connects it to
the LAN? (1 Mark)
b) Jane connects her devices to the router using either Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
i) State how an Ethernet connection is different to a Wi-Fi connection? (1
Mark)
ii) Jane's television lacks any wireless capability. State the name of the
hardware Jane can use to allow her television to connect to the LAN wirelessy? (1
Mark)
2 Bill's graphic design business has ten members of staff, each with their own computer.
The staff work together by sharing files between their computers.
a) The staff's computers are connected together in a Peer-to-Peer network.
i)Describe what is meant by a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) network? (2 Marks)
ii) Identify two benefits and two drawbacks of using a Peer-to-Peer (P2P)
network? (4 Marks)
b) An IT consultant suggests the company should adopt a Client-Server network

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setup.
i) Describe what is meant by a Client-Server network? (2 Marks)
ii) Identify two benefits and two drawbacks of changing from a Peer-to-
Peer (P2P) network to a Client-Server network? (4 Marks)
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2/21/23, 12:44 PM 3.5.

3.5.1 Computer Networks

Learn It: What are Networks?

When two or more computers/devices are connected together through a

Let's define some of those terms:

Try It: Benefits and Risks of Computer Networks

Networking provides many benefits because of the ability to communicate between

Try It: Research Advantages and Disadvantages of Computer Networks

Networks Explained Video

2 Types of Computer Networks

Learn It: What are the main types of Networks?

Computer networks allows computers and devices to be connected together to share

Personal Area Networks (PANs)

Local Area Networks (LANs)

Wide Area Networks (WANs)

3 Network Hardware Table of Contents

Learn It: What are Networks made of?

A Network Interface Card (NIC) is a component that connects a device to a

MAC Address (Media Access Control) – Every device needs a unique

Learn It: What Networks use to communicate?

Try It: Benefits and Risks of Wired Compared to Wireless Networks

As we have previously learned, connections between computers on a network can

Learn It: Client-Server and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Networks

Learn It: Network Topologies

Silver - Answer the following exam questions:

Upload to Fundamentals of Computer Networks - Computer Networks: Silver on BourneToLearn

Badge It: Exam Questions

Gold - Answer the following exam questions:

Upload to Fundamentals of Computer Networks - Computer Networks: Gold on BourneToLearn

Badge It: Exam Questions

Platinum - Answer the following two exam questions:

b) An IT consultant suggests the company should adopt a Client-Server network

Upload to Fundamentals of Computer Networks - Computer Networks: Platinum on

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