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Figure 3.S A virtual network _Q_U_E_ST_I_O_N_S_____________________________________

within a WAN
1 Identify three characteristics of a LAN .
2 Identify two characteristics of a WAN .
3 Describe the purpose of a virtual LAN .
4 Identify four services offered by an ISP.

Discuss the characteristics and purpose of intranets,

the internet and extranets
Internet
Characteristics
The internet is not the same as the World Wide Web and it is
important not to get the two terms mixed up. The internet is the
infrastructure provided to connect computers together across the
globe using telecommunications systems such as telephone lines,
leased lines, mobile phones and satellites. It uses the TCP/ IP
protocol for communication between devices. Any computer with
an external communication link can connect to the internet,
70
meaning that the internet can be referred to as an OPEN network.
Purpose
Once connected to the internet, users can gain access to a
number of services, for exampl~:

• Email
• World Wide Web
• internet relay chat (IRC - instant messaging)
• File transfer
Software is required to access these services. While most services
can be accessed using a web browser, there are dedicated
software packages available for email (e.g. Quaicomm Eudora), file
transfer (e.g. Ipswitch WSJTP) and IRe (e.g . Microsoft
Messenger). Remember in an examination that you should refer
I
to the types of software and not the brand names. These services
are available for communicating all over the world. For example,
you might want to send an email to somebody in Japan, chat to a ..,
UI

friend in the next street using IRC, visit the BBC website or transfer
files to update your anti-virus software. ...,
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Intranet ..,
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Characteristics
The intranet provides the same services as the internet, but only
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within one organisation. It is secure as it can only be used by .
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authorised people within that organisation and will almost
certainly require the use of a username and password to gain
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access. The intranet may be provided through a lAN or in a larger

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111
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organisation it will be available through a virtual network within a
WAN. Only computers that are part of the lAN or virtual network
will be able to gain access to the intranet, meaning that it can be
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referred to as a closed network. The intranet uses the same TCP/IP CI.
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protocol as the internet.
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Purpose C
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Users of an intranet have access to the same services as they do on U
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the internet, but they can only communicate within their own
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organisation. Services include:
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• internal email 111
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• internal web pages u
• internal chat .c
• file transfer. UI
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As with the internet, software is required to access these services. '"
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These services are available for communication only within the C
organisation . For example, an employee might want to send an
email to a colleague at the head office, chat to a colleague in the
Birmingham office, find out about the Health & Safety policy from 71
the internal web pages or download a piece of software that is
licensed for use within the organisation.
 Using an intra net means that users can provide information and
1/1
communicate with others knowing that nobody outside of the
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." organisation can gain access to that information. This means that
u sensitive documents, such as business plans, remain confidential.
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U With a partner, list the facilities available on your school intra net.

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Extranet
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2 Intranet
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Router

Employee on a trainB
logs on to intra net
from a laptop
connected to the
internet using a
mobile phone. He is
now connected to the
extra net.

Figure 3.6 A extranet Characteristics

Users of an extra net have access to an intranet using a username
and password from an internet-connected computer. Once
connected to the extra net, the user has access to all the intran et
services of the organisation . Access is usually provided by logging
on to a secu re server from a web page, although some
organisations will provide secure software that has to be installed
before access can be provided to the extra net.
Purpose
These services are still only available for communication within the
72 organisation, but employees and registered users can access the
 services from any internet-connected computer. For example, an
employee working from home may want to send an email or chat
to a colleague who is away working on business in a foreign
country, find out the direct telephone number for a colleague or
download files needed to prepare a report.

Using an intra net means that users can provide information and
communicate with others knowing that nobody outside of the
organisation can gain access to that information. Confidentiality is
maintained, but there is added risk that somebody could hack into
the extranet because it is available from any internet-connected
computer.

< Activity>
List the facilities of your school network that you can access from
home.
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1 Describe three facilities available on the internet, intra net and
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extra net. ".c
2 Explain how an intranet differs from the internet. ';l
3 Describe the purpose of an extra net.
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Discussing the characteristics and purpose

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In an examination, it is likely that you will be asked to discuss the
characteristics and purpose of intranets, the internet and b
.
extranets. You will therefore need to be able to write a balanced ...
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argument that compares the advantages and disadvantages of
each. The table below gives a summary of the characteristics and
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In
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purposes. ...C.
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Intranet Internet Extranet ".c
In
Characteristics • Enables communication • Infrastructure provided to • Enables communication u
within an organisation. connect computers within an organisation ''51
• Uses LANs or virtual
networks across a WAN.
together across the globe.
• Uses telecommunications
from any internet-
connected computer.
..
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tl
• Requires a username and
password to gain access.
systems such as telephone
lines, leased lines, mobile
• Uses the internet to
provide access to an
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• Uses the TCPj lP protocol. phones and satellites. intranet.
• Web pages are available to • Requires a username and J:
• Only available within the
physical network anybody - other resources password to gain access. In
In
infrastructure of an may require usernames and . Uses the TCPjlP protocol.
organisation. passwords. • Available from the
"In
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• Uses the TCPjlP protocol. internet, but only to is

• Available to the whole employees within an
world. organisation.
73
 Intranet Internet Extranet
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.;:; Purpose • Provides email • Provides email • Employees working away
111 communication only to comrnunication to any from the office can send
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·c other members of the other internet-connected and receive internal
organisation. user. emails.
"E • Web pages within the • Web pages can be visited • Employees working away
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CO
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organisation can be visited anywhere on the World from the office can find
....C to find internal information Wide Web to fi nd out internal information about
111 about the organisation. publicly available the organisation.
• Chat conversations can information. • Employees working away
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take place with other • Chat conversations can from the office can chat
~., employees within the
organisation .
take place with any other
intern et-con nected user.
with their colleagues.
• Employees working away
2 • Files that belong to the • Files can be transferred from the office can
M organisation can be to/from any file transfer download files needed to
downloaded for use site. carry out their duties.
within the organisation. • Employees do not have to
• Information that is shared be physically within the
is securely retained within organisation's premises
the organisation so that but providing access from
external users cannot gain the internet means there is
access to it. a security risk if a hacker
can find out a username
and password.

Describe client-server and peer-to-peer networks giving

advantages and disadvantages of each
A client-server network is often found in medium- to large-sized
organisations whereas a peer-to-peer network is often found in
small organisations (e.g. local churches, a family run shop, a
solicitor's practice) and homes.

Client-server network
A client-server network requires at least one computer that
performs the role of a server. A server performs roles such as:

• file storage
• back-up
• application sharing
• printer management.
The client computers are all connected to the server via a switch
or other network communication device. In order to access
resources such as files or printers on the network, users are
required to log on at the client computers using a username and
password. Some client computers use swipe cards instead of
usernames or finger print recognition instead of usernames and

74