Connect

• Describe a situation where someone may want to use their private key
to scramble data before sending it across a public network.
Computer Networks
WHAT IS A NETWORK?
A network is....
• “a linked set of computer systems, which may be capable of sharing
computer power and resources”

• Mobile phone, TV, PC, tablet, laptop, printers, IOT etc.

• Individual devices are called nodes

• Can be connected in a variety of different ways

Video help- Advantages of networks
Advantages of Networks
• Can share files across a network so everyone can work on the same up to date
version.

• Users can work collaboratively benefit from the knowledge and expertise of
other even if they are not in the same room/building/coutry,.

• Share hardware resources such as printers

• Can access files from any computer in the network

• Communication is improved through messaging, VOIP and email services

• Software can be installed and updated centrally rather than having to do it on

every device
Disadvantages of networks
• Can be expensive to set up

• Expensive to maintain, often need to employ a specialist team to maintain the network

• If the server goes down the network goes down

• Queues to use resources as they are shared (e.g. waiting to use printer)

• Network speed can be slow as there are too many users/downloads

• Internet speeds vary , more users mean a slower internet speed

• Viruses spread quickly & easily

• Hackers can gain access to all of the files

LAN vs. WAN
Differences

Local Area Network Wide Area Network

Differences

Local Area Network Wide Area Network

• Cover a small geographical area, usually in • Connected multiple LANs across a large
one building or site. Doesn’t matter how geographical area, could be across countries or
many devices are connected to it. continents

• Not owned by one organisation, organisations hire

• Owned by the organisation that bought the the equipment to connect a WAN i.e. telephone
hardware lines

• Connected using dedicated cables or Wi-Fi • Connected using fibre optic cables, telephone
lines, satellite links or radio links

• Examples include schools, offices, home wi-

• Examples include the internet, mobile phone
fi networks
Network Topology

A network topology is simply the shape or structure

of the network.

How the workstations, servers and switches etc. are

connected together.
 BUS
• One main cable (backbone) with terminators at
each end.

• Data flows both ways through the main cable

Bus Networks
• Advantages
• Nodes connected off cable in series easy to extend
• Cheap

• Disadvantages
• Slows down with heavy traffic as it gets bigger
• Collisions occur – large collision domain
• If main cable fails all nodes fail
• Poor security due to all nodes being able to see data transmissions
STAR
• One or more nodes could be a server

• Central point is a hub or switch (NOT a server) which directs

traffic to the correct node
Star Networks
• Advantages
• It is very reliable – if one cable or device fails then all the others will still work
• It is high-performing as no data collisions can occur
• Easy to add/remove nodes
• High security

• Disadvantages
• Expensive
• Lots of cabling required
• If switch fails, the whole network fails
Extended Star
• Connects several stars
together via
a core switch
• Segments the
network reducing
traffic
• Scales well
• Macmillan
network
model
 Partial MESH Full MESH
• Decentralised design
• Each node connects to 2+ nodes All nodes connected to each other
• No SPoF (single point of failure)
• Nodes connect directly to
other nodes or to other
routers (nodes share router/s)

• With introduction of WiFI Full mesh now very common.

• The internet uses a Mesh System as do your home networks
Mesh Topologies
• Advantages
• Failure of single or even multiple connections/nodes do not affect the rest of the
network.
• High security
• Faster communication due to direct points of contact (connections)
• Little to no data collisions
• If wireless – no cabling costs

• Disadvantages
• Costly
• Difficult to set up
• Difficult to maintain
Physical Vs Logical topology
• Physical Topology
• Reflects the physical layout of devices and cables, taking into account the placement
of nodes and the distance between them.
• Depends on the ease of installation and setup of the network, which in turn affects cost
and bandwidth capacity.

• Logical Topology
• Independent of physical topology the logical topology reflects the arrangement of
devices and their communication.
• It is the arrangement of transmission of data over physical topology.
• Reconfigured using routers and switches
• Therefore, a physical star network can transmit data as a bus topology.
• Used to ensure maximum data flow across the physical network
Logical Networks
• In order to control the flow of data a network must use protocols e.g. Ethernet, TCP/IP
etc.

• Some physical topologies use certain protocols which have been designed to work with
that topology e.g the Ethernet protocol was designed to work on a cabled Bus and now
Star Network and 802.11 was designed for wireless transmissions

• These protocols can be applied onto a physical network to change the data flow around
it, therefore become logical protocols.

• The protocols have been “layered” onto a topology

• This means the control of data can be manipulated without affecting the physical
topology and vice versa
• Physical Star and Logical Bus Topologies (youtube.com)
Not just LAN’s and WAN’s….
• Whilst yes networks fall under the category of a LAN or a WAN there
are some sub divisions of these….
MAN
• Metropolitan area network
• A network deployed around a town for example – some UK towns and
cities have a free WiFi service for residents, eg Norwich.
SAN
• Storage Area Network

• Special, dedicated network used for large scale storage of data in

data centres

• Email servers,
databases etc.
PAN
• Personal Area Network

• Data transmission among devices such as computers, smartphones,

audio devices
• e.g. Bluetooth, or a hotspot
VAN
• Value Added Network
• Infrastructure and hosting companies “sublet” part of their system for use by
third parties – eg, EE providing a network service for Tesco Mobile or SKY
using BT lines for their internet provision

• This saves smaller companies the huge expense of providing infrastructure,

leasing it instead from an existing provider.
Consolidate
• Exam Questions