NETWORKING

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS * Size *Cost *#of users *Storage capacity

1st Classification MICROCOMPUTER SINGLE USER

2nd Classification WORKSTATION Many processors Expensive More complex functions

3rd Classification MINICOMPUTER SPECIALIZED FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

4th Classification MAINFRAMES

Controls an entire system: NASA

NETWORKS TELECOMMUNICATIONS Two or more computers communicating Long distance communications

Design Considerations What type of modems and cables are needed? Is the telephone system needed? Is the geographical area of the network a consideration? Is all that is needed the hardware? Why should I use the network?

ADVANTAGES File sharing Software sharing Hardware sharing Information sharing

DISADVANTAGES Need for extra hardware Need for network software Need for security COST –maintaining/implementing/controlling

Why are networks used?

BENEFITS outweigh Installation Costs

Networks are used for:

2 types of TRANSACTION PROCESSING Centralized data processing – all processing done in one place Distributed data processing – processing done on several processors –Faster (can share files/data) –Requiress a network

Way the Processing is Done Contributes Directly to the Physical Classification 2 Network classifications by physical distribution of data to be processed.

2 Network Classifications Client server Peer to Peer

Client Server Configuration One computer provides services for all other computers in the network. Types of servers: print servers file servers communication server Thin client – a client that has no storage capability

Peer to Peer Configuration All computers are stand alone units. They may communicate but do not need each other for processing services.